NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status Report 28 September 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-120 – 23rd International Space Station Flight – U.S. Node 2 (Harmony)
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Vehicle Assembly Building
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
On Sunday, Discovery rolled from Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 3 to the Vehicle Assembly Building. The orbiter was transferred on Monday to high bay No. 1, where it was attached to the external fuel tank on the mobile launch platform. Engineers and technicians spent the week performing attachment operations, closing out electrical and mechanical connections on the shuttle stack. The shuttle interface test is nearing completion. Rollout to Pad 39A is targeted for Saturday evening, with arrival at the pad early Sunday, Sept. 30.
On Thursday, the STS-120 payload was transported to Launch Pad 39A and transferred to the payload changeout room on the rotating service structure.
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, workers have completed interface verification on the left orbital maneuvering system pod. Pyro mates of the orbiter docking system are complete. Technicians continue checking out the water spray boiler system. Discovery’s three main engines were installed this week. The auxiliary power unit leak test and functional electrical checkout are finished.
Friday and Saturday, the STS-122 crew will be at Kennedy Space Center for the crew equipment interface test, during which the astronauts will review the configuration of equipment in the crew cabin and payload bay.
In the Vehicle Assembly Building, processing continues on ET-125, the external fuel tank for the STS-122 mission. Stacking of the solid rocket boosters began on Thursday, with the transfer of the left aft booster to the mobile launch platform high bay No. 3.
Mission: STS-123 – 25th International Space Station Flight – Kibo, Dextre
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeted for Feb. 14, 2008
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Gorie, Johnson, Linnehan, Doi, Behnken, Foreman and Reisman
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2, freon coolant loop No. 1 pressurization and leak checks are complete and servicing is under way. The orbiter’s body flap and elevons were repositioned to allow for inspections. Functional testing of the external tank doors is finished.
