09.01.06
Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
STATUS REPORT: S-090106
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. If you are a member of the media and would like further
information, visit:
Mission: STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) -
P3/P4 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Sept. 6, 2006, 12:29 p.m. EDT
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
At Launch Pad 39B, preparations for Wednesday’s launch are under way,
with the launch countdown scheduled to begin on Sunday at 8 a.m. The
liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen transfer lines used for filling the
external fuel tank (ET) were reconnected to the mobile launch
platform. The ET hydrogen vent line hook-up is complete. The ordnance
was disconnected to allow for vehicle power-up and will be
reconnected this weekend. The Orbiter Midbody Umbilical Unit (OMBUU)
mate is complete. This is the connection point for lines that will be
used to provide hydrogen and oxygen reactants for the fuel cells.
Weekend work includes pressurization of the orbital maneuvering
system, the reaction control system and the main propulsion system.
The two doors to the aft compartment of Atlantis were removed for
access to ordnance, and they will be closed during the weekend to
allow for the aft confidence test on Sunday. This test involves
powering up and testing all aft systems, such as the main propulsion
system circuits.
On Tuesday, the shuttle was moved off the pad in advance of Tropical
Storm Ernesto, then returned to the pad after traveling about 2 miles
toward the Vehicle Assembly Building when the storm predictions
became more favorable. On Thursday, engineers inspected the ET
thermal protection system, post-rollback, and found three areas of
minor foam damage. One area, about 3/8 inches long, is located at the
midsection of the liquid oxygen tank, about 2 feet outboard of the
ice frost ramps. A second area, about 1 inch long by 1/16 inch wide,
is located near the ET/right SRB aft fairing, which is the attach
point between the two components. Both of these resemble a scratch,
are accessible and are expected to be easily repaired. The third
area, a missing foam nodule from the liquid hydrogen barrel between
the ET and the left SRB, about five feet below the intertank flange
closeouts, will not need repair.
Mission: STS-116 - 20th International Space Station Flight (12A.1) -
P5 Truss Segment
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: No earlier than Dec. 14, 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Higginbotham, Patrick, Fuglesang
and Williams
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Processing of Discovery for its next mission, STS-116, continues in
Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3. Work was interrupted this week by
the arrival of Tropical Storm Ernesto, but the vehicle is now
configured for normal operations, and system testing on the main
propulsion system continues. Preparations for removal and replacement
of auxiliary power unit No. 3 are in work. The brake anti-skid and
nose wheel steering testing is in work. Final closeouts are under way
to complete installation of the orbiter’s drag chute. This weekend
the orbiter’s thermal protection system will be waterproofed.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing
Facility bay 2 following an extensive modification period. Work was
interrupted this week by the arrival of Tropical Storm Ernesto, but
the orbiter is now configured for normal work and technicians are
performing electrical tests on the remote manipulator system (shuttle
arm) pedestal wire harnesses. Rigging of the orbiter boom sensor
system pedestals is under way. Workers continue to remove and replace
gap fillers in the high priority areas of the orbiter’s underside.
-end-