Space Shuttle Processing Status 20 Nov 2002
MISSION: STS-113 – 16th ISS Flight (11A) – P1 Truss Segment
- VEHICLE:Endeavour/OV-105
- TARGET LAUNCH DATE:Nov. 22, 2002
- TARGET LAUNCH TIME: 7 – 11 p.m.
- TARGET LANDING DATE: Dec. 3, 2002
- MISSION DURATION:11 days
- SHUTTLE CREW:Wetherbee, Lockhart, Lopez-Alegria, Herrington
- ISS CREW UP: Bowersox, Budarin, Pettit
- ISS CREW DOWN: Korzun, Whitson, Treschev
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE AND INCLINATION:122 nautical miles/51.6 degrees
Shuttle Processing Note:Shuttle managers today cleared Endeavour for launch on mission STS-113, resolving two technical issues that had been the focus of extensive analysis and evaluation. The countdown already is under way toward Endeavour’s launch on Friday.
Tests in Toronto, Canada, along with other analysis, showed that damage to Endeavour’s robotic arm would not affect its operations during STS-113. The arm was bumped by a work platform being installed in Endeavour’s payload bay last week, resulting in a roughly two-inch-square “bruise” to its carbon composite structure.
Managers also reviewed concerns regarding flex hoses throughout the shuttle fleet that have been evaluated as a result of a leaking oxygen flex hose found during Endeavour’s first launch attempt. Two flex hose lines — one that carries oxygen and another that carries nitrogen — have been replaced aboard Endeavour, and managers concluded no further work was required aboard Endeavour prior to flight. Analysis of the leaking flex hose showed the cause to be fatigue from normal use coupled with a weak configuration that allowed excessive flexing of the lines.
