06.28.06
Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
STATUS REPORT: S-062806
NASA’S SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT
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. 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:
Mission: STS-121 - 18th International Space Station Flight (ULF1.1) -
Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: July 1, 2006, 3:49 p.m. EDT
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
The countdown for the Space Shuttle Discovery launch begins at 5 p.m.
today at the T-43 hour mark. Launch remains scheduled for Saturday at
3:49 p.m.
Discovery’s flight crew is relaxing today and reviewing its flight
data file. The Launch Complex 39 avian detection and monitoring
continues through launch.
On Tuesday afternoon, a lightning strike was detected near the south
perimeter of Pad B. Discovery was not powered up and was not struck.
There was one report of hail that was not confirmed. Initial
walkdowns indicate there was some damage to facility electrical
equipment supporting liquid hydrogen operations, but no vehicle
damage was reported. None of the damage is expected to impact
Discovery’s launch. Further assessments of the shuttle and facilities
will continue today.
U.S. Air Force weather officers are forecasting a 60-percent chance of
weather prohibiting a launch attempt on Saturday. The primary weather
concerns are anvil clouds from inland thunderstorms, cumulus clouds
within 10 nautical miles of the flight path, and showers within 20
nautical miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility. The forecast is
similar in the event of a 24-hour delay.
-end-