Space Shuttle Processing Status 20 Dec 2001

MISSION: STS-109 – HST Servicing Mission 3B

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102

TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE: NET Feb. 21, 2002

TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: March 4, 2002

MISSION DURATION: 11 days

CREW: Altman, Carey, Grunsfeld, Currie, Newman, Linnehan, Massimino

ORBITAL INSERTION ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 308 nautical miles/28.5 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Shuttle managers made the decision today to postpone the launch of STS-109 one week (to Feb. 21) because of the reaction wheel problem being addressed with the Hubble Telescope. Launch readiness will be assessed again in early January. In the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF), the payload doors of Orbiter Columbia have been closed and aft closeouts are in work. No operations are scheduled for Christmas week.

MISSION: STS-110 – 13th ISS Flight (8A) – ITS SO TRUSS AND MOBILE TRANSPORTER

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104

TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE: NET April 4, 2002

TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: April 15, 2002

MISSION DURATION: 11 days

CREW: Bloomfield, Frick, Ross, Smith, Ochoa, Morin, Walheim

ORBITAL INSERTION ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 122 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: The launch of STS-110 to the International Space Station has been rescheduled for April 4 because of a program decision to remove at least one
of the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pods to verify the stress integrity of attach
point No.5. Bore scope checks have indicated that the dimensions of the attach point fittings may not meet flight requirements. Orbiter Atlantis was powered up in the OPF today after undergoing 2¸ months of planned modification work. Pre-launch processing will continue this week and resume after the Christmas holidays.

MISSION: STS-111 – 14th ISS flight (UF2) – MPLM

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105

TARGET LAUNCH DATE: May 2, 2002

TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: May 13, 2002

CREW: Cockrell, Lockhart, Chang-Diaz, Perrin; (ISS up) Korzun, Whitson, Treschev; (ISS down) Onufrienko, Bursch, Walz

ORBITAL INSERTION ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 122 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Endeavour was returned to its OPF bay on Monday after completing the highly successful STS-108 mission. Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) drying is in process and SCAPE operations are planned for Friday to off-load residual hypergolic propellants.

STRUCTURAL INSPECTION & MODIFICATION PERIOD

Shuttle Processing Note: Orbiter Discovery is in temporary storage in a high bay of the VAB awaiting a decision by shuttle managers on the content, schedule and location for the structural inspection and modification down period. Discovery is scheduled to return to the OPF mid-January.