NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Report 27 April 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: Vehicle Assembly Building
Launch Date: Targeted for June 8, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Sturckow, Archambault, Reilly, Swanson, Forrester, Olivas and Anderson
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

In high bay No. 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, technicians and engineers continue repairing foam on the hail-damaged STS-117 external fuel tank, ET-124. Spray foam repairs are scheduled to begin Monday. Workers have begun disassembling the special scaffolding built for the foam repair work, to allow for the removal next week of Atlantis’ three main engines to inspect for flow liner contamination.

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 Aug. 9, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Kelly, Hobaugh, Williams, Morgan, Mastracchio, and Caldwell Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

All three main engines have been reinstalled after an inspection of the engine flow liners showed no contaminant. Engine leak checks are complete. Technicians are now in the process of completing the engine interface connections and installing the engine heat shields. Nose landing gear door rigging began this week, and preparations are under way for installation of the tunnel adapter, which is located in the midbody between the external airlock and a container used to transport experiments and cargo.

ET-117, the external fuel tank to be used for STS-118, is scheduled to be transported from the barge in the turn basin to the Vehicle Assembly Building on April 30. The next day, the tank will be lifted into a checkout cell in high bay No. 2 for processing.

Mission: STS-120 – 23rd International Space Station Flight (10A) – U.S. Node 2
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: Targeted for Oct. 20, 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, technicians have installed the orbiter’s remote manipulator system, also known as the shuttle arm, or RMS. Checkout and servicing of water spray boiler No. 1 is complete. The forward reaction control system was installed this week.