Space Shuttle Processing Status 4 Mar 2002

MISSION: STS-109 – HST Servicing Mission 3B

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102

KSC LAUNCH DATE: March 1, 2002 at 6:22 a.m.

Target KSC LANDING DATE: March 12, 2002 at 4:35 a.m.

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 Columbia is on orbit, completing Flight Day 4 of the STS-109 mission. Astronauts John Grunsfeld and Rick Linnehan successfully performed a seven-hour spacewalk to install the new starboard solar away on the Hubble Space Telescope.

On Saturday with the spent booster canisters in tow, Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) retrieval ships Liberty Star and Freedom Star returned to their berths at Hangar AF on the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The dockside lift to a segment dolly has been delayed due to high winds over the weekend. The recovery team hopes to complete the lifting operations later today. Initial inspection of the SRB’s indicates no unusual damage on impact.

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

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104

TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE: 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: In the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF), Shuttle Atlantis is completing processing operations prior to rolling to the Vehicle Assembly Building for space vehicle mate. Aft closeouts are complete and forward closeouts are in work. The orbiter will be jacked down later today for weight and center of gravity checks before being placed on its transporter.

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: Shuttle Endeavour is in the OPF undergoing main engine leak checks and water spray boiler servicing. Heat shield installation will be completed later today. The STS-111 astronauts will arrive at KSC later this week to participate in the Crew Equipment Interface Test.

ORBITER MAINTENANCE AND MODIFICATION PERIOD

Shuttle Processing Note: Discovery is in the OPF awaiting the start of its Orbiter Major Modification (OMM) period that is scheduled to begin at the Kennedy Space Center late this summer. Pre-OMM work completed includes removing the Auxiliary Power Units and waterproofing the Thermal Protection System tiles.