02.24.06
Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Phone: (321) 867-2468
STATUS REPORT: S-022406
NASA’S SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT
Note: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing
Status Reports each week, and is the source for information regarding
processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. This
report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future
Space Shuttle missions. If you are a member of the media and would
like further information, visit
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html.
Discovery (OV-103)
Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1)
Payload: Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: No earlier than May 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
The forward reaction control system was installed Monday. The control
system provides the thrust for attitude (rotational) maneuvers
(pitch, yaw and roll) and for small velocity changes along the
orbiter axis.
Space shuttle main engines No. 2 and 3 were reinstalled in the vehicle
last weekend and leak checks were successfully completed. Because the
engines failed the previous leak checks, engineers evaluated the
interface seals and decided to replace them with better fitting
seals. Program management will continue its analysis to determine if
these seals will fly, or if additional work will be needed prior to
flight.
Analysis is under way to determine what effect, if any, a small
metallic shard found in Discovery’s 12-inch liquid oxygen feed line
filter screen will have. Options include cleaning or replacing the
screen or flying as is if analysis determines the shard is
inconsequential.
In the Vehicle Assembly Building, stacking of both solid rocket
boosters is complete, and booster closeouts are under way.
The external fuel tank, designated ET-119, that will fly on the
STS-121 mission is scheduled to leave the Michoud Assembly Facility
in New Orleans this weekend and be transported via barge to the
Kennedy Space Center. It usually takes about five days to transport
the tank.
Atlantis (OV-104)
Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A)
Payload: P3/P4 Solar Arrays
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: To be determined
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Preparations continue for Friday’s servicing of Freon coolant loops.
Only 57 thermal protection system tile cavities remain to be filled.
More than 680 gap fillers have been removed and replaced in the
top-priority area of the vehicle. This work is being performed due to
two gap fillers that were protruding from the underside of Discovery
on the first return-to-flight mission, STS-114. New installation
procedures were developed to ensure the gap fillers stay in place and
do not pose any hazard on re-entry to the atmosphere.
Endeavour (OV-105)
In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, work continues on Endeavour
following an extensive modification period. Powered-up system testing
continues, as well as implementation of the new return-to-flight
modifications to the vehicle.
Ku-band antenna testing continues this week. Optics work is being
performed on the shoulder and elbow pedestals that will hold the
remote manipulator system, or shuttle arm. This work ensures proper
alignment of the arm once installed.
For previous space shuttle processing status reports on the Web,
visit:
For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:
-end-
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