NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Report 22 May 2006
Mission: STS-121 – 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Launch Processing Window July 1-19, 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
On May 19, the crawler transporter carrying Space Shuttle Discovery left the Vehicle Assembly Building at 12:45 p.m. on its 4.2-mile journey to Launch Pad 39B and arrived nearly eight hours later.
Technicians performed a “hot fire” test of the auxiliary power units on Saturday to ensure they are properly functioning. Later that evening, the rotating service structure was moved back around the vehicle to protect it from potential damage and the elements while at the pad.
Today, the launch team at the pad began preparing for the flight readiness test of the space shuttle main engines. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen system leak checks are scheduled for this afternoon. The test will ensure the engine hydraulics are working properly.
The payload arrived at the pad last week. Technicians will open the payload bay doors on the orbiter this afternoon and the payload will be transferred into the payload bay on Tuesday.
