NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Report 26 January 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-117 – 21st International Space Station Flight (13A) – S3/S4 Truss Segment Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Targeted for March 15, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Sturckow, Archambault, Reilly, Swanson, Forrester and Olivas
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

On Wednesday, the Space Shuttle Program signed a change request moving the STS-117 targeted launch date to March 15, one day earlier than originally planned. Final vehicle closeouts are under way in preparation for technicians to move Atlantis to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Feb. 7.

Technicians completed the flight deck closeout and are working to finish closing out the forward area. The final vehicle power down and main landing gear functional test are scheduled for Jan. 29. Aft structural leak test preparations began today, and the test will begin early next week. On Jan. 31, technicians will perform the final weight and center-of-gravity measurements on the vehicle, and the orbiter transporter system will be brought into the bay on Feb. 1.

Last week, the external tank scheduled to fly with Atlantis, designated ET-124, was moved from the checkout cell in the Vehicle Assembly Building to be mated to the solid rocket boosters in high bay 1. Technicians are completing the final foam application and strut closeouts in preparation for attaching the orbiter on Feb. 7.

At Pad A, technicians performed a payload canister fit check. The canister will be used to transport the payload for the mission, the S3/S4 solar arrays, scheduled to go to the pad on Feb. 18.

Mission: STS-118 – 22nd International Space Station Flight (13A.1) – S5 Truss Segment
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeted for June 28, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Kelly, Hobaugh, Williams, Morgan, Mastracchio, Caldwell and Anderson
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Endeavour remains in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, and technicians continue preparing the vehicle for its first launch in just over four years. The vehicle has undergone an extensive modification period, including the addition of all of the return-to-flight safety upgrades added to both Discovery and Atlantis.

Last week, technicians installed Endeavour’s three space shuttle main engines. On Tuesday, the right-hand orbital maneuvering system pod was moved into the bay. Inspections then began in preparation for the pod to be installed on the vehicle, scheduled for early next week. Tile installations continue around the nose landing gear door to support the upcoming landing gear functional test.