NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Report 18 February 2005
Mission: STS-114 – 17th ISS Flight (LF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window May 15 – June 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
At today’s Space Flight Leadership Council, NASA managers met and refined the launch planning window for orbiter Discovery’s Return to Flight mission, designated STS-114, to the International Space Station to May 15 – June 3, 2005. This is to accommodate for daylight launch attempts and to ensure the most detailed and clear photography of the External Tank.
Orbiter system testing is approximately 90 percent complete on Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, work continued on the Auxiliary Power Unit controller checkout and drain system checks. Orbiter Maneuvering System heat shields were installed and controller checkouts were completed.
Thermal Protection System blanket bonding continues on the vertical stabilizer, which is the tail of the orbiter. Checkout work is progressing with the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System on the starboard side of Discovery’s payload bay. Testing on one of the boom sensor packages is complete.
Manipulator Positioning Mechanism (MPM) adjustments were completed and closeouts continue. The MPMs are the pedestals that hold and latch the boom in the payload bay.
In the Vehicle Assembly Building, all final closeouts have been completed on the External Tank (ET) in the checkout cell prior to the tank being mated, or attached, to the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs). The SRBs for the STS-114 mission are stacked on the Mobile Launcher Platform and closeouts and preps for ET attaching, or mating, continue. SRB alignment optics were completed this week in preparation for the ET mating. Repairs continue on the SRB aft inactive stub ring, an attach ring surrounding the booster located about 10 feet below the ET attach point. The paint replacement on the stub ring is complete, and pull tests are planned for this weekend. The ET is scheduled to be moved to the integration cell and mated with the SRBs no earlier than Feb. 25.
Mission: STS-121 – 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics
Module/Crew Rotation
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 12 – July 31, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak and Wilson
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Processing and system testing continues on Atlantis in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 for its mission to the International Space Station. The body flap installation was completed this week, and the left-hand Orbiter Maneuvering System pod was also installed. Water coolant loop No. 1 servicing is under way, and water coolant loop No. 2 is scheduled for de-servicing over the weekend. The Rudder Speed Brake installation is nearly complete, while seal installation and Thermal Protection System blanket bonding on the vertical stabilizer is ongoing. Fuel cell No. 3 mechanical mates and re-pressurization are complete and leak checks have been successfully performed on all three fuel cells. Preparations are under way for the installation of the Forward Reaction Control System next week.
Mobile Launch Platform No. 3 was moved into High Bay 3 of the VAB this week, in preparation for STS-121 stacking.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003.
