NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Report 17 August 2007

Note: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing Status Reports periodically and is the source for information regarding processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. If you are a member of the media and would like further information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html

Mission: STS-118 – 22nd International Space Station Flight – S5 Truss Segment
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Official Launch Date: Aug. 8, 2007
Expected KSC Landing Date: Aug. 22, 2007
Crew: Kelly, Hobaugh, Williams, Morgan, Mastracchio, Caldwell and Drew
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Today is flight day 10 for STS-118. After extensive engineering analyses and testing, the Mission Management Team decided Thursday evening that damaged tile on the underbelly of the orbiter does not pose a threat to the crew or the vehicle, and no repair will be made. During the week, the crew conducted three successful spacewalks. During these excursions outside the International Space Station, crew members installed the Starboard 5 truss element, removed and replaced control moment gyroscope 3 on the Z1 truss, relocated several pieces of hardware outside the station to make way for the arrival of future station components, and retrieved experiments. On Tuesday, the crew worked from inside the station, using the robotic arms on the shuttle and the station to unberth external stowage platform 3 from Endeavour’s payload bay and install it on the P3 truss. On Saturday, a fourth spacewalk will take place, during which two experiment containers located outside the station will be retrieved, two antennae will be installed and several other tasks will be completed.

Mission: STS-120 – 23rd International Space Station Flight – U.S. Node 2
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: Targeted for Oct. 23, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Melroy, Zamka, Parazynski, Wheelock, Wilson, Nespoli and Tani
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 3 this week, forward, midbody and aft closeout work continues. The auxiliary power unit tank pressurization is complete. Freon coolant loop No. 1 and 2 top-off and sampling is finished. Technicians performed hydraulic operations to position the shuttle main engines for rollover. Testing of the orbital maneuvering system flight controls and gimbal system was successful. Functional testing of the radiators, located on the payload bay doors, is under way.

Stacking of the STS-120 solid rocket boosters in the Vehicle Assembly Building is complete and closeout work is under way.

Mission: STS-122 – 24th International Space Station Flight – Columbus Module
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Targeted for Dec. 6, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Frick, Poindexter, Schlegel, Eyharts, Love, Melvin and Walheim
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 1, work began this week on modifications to the orbiter’s engine cutoff sensor wiring, which involves rerouting new wires and installing new resistors. Workers also continued installing new, stronger tiles, known as BRI tiles, around the main landing gear doors. Installation of the main propulsion system tanks is under way. Removal of the left-hand orbital maneuvering system pod to allow for a valve replacement is scheduled for later today.