Contact: Jessica Rye Vol. 1 No. 9
(321) 867-6185
Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
Thursday, April 22, 2004 (2:00 p.m.)
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-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao.htm
Discovery (OV-103)
Discovery passed important processing milestones this week as progress continues in preparation for the Return to Flight mission, STS-114, to the International Space Station. The left-hand Orbital Maneuvering System pod was installed on Wednesday, and the nose cap is scheduled to be reinstalled as early as Friday.
The nose cap had been removed from the vehicle in the summer of 2003 and returned to the vendor, where it underwent numerous forms of Non-Destructive Evaluation. These tests included X-ray, ultrasound and eddy current to ensure its structural integrity prior to its installation on the vehicle. The nose cap was also recoated. Once returned to KSC, new Thermal Protection System blankets were assembled inside of the nose cap and thermography was performed.
Atlantis (OV-104)
Atlantis is powered up in support of mission processing to prepare the vehicle for its future flight to the International Space Station. Preparations continue for Rudder Speed Brake actuator removal. Panel removal is scheduled for early May, followed soon after by actuator removal.
Build up of all 22 of the left-hand T-seals, the C-shaped seals that fit between each panel, is complete, and 19 have been installed. Right-hand panel assembly is ongoing, with eight of the 22 completed.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification (OMM) period, which began in December. Structural and wire inspections in support of the OMM continue in the forward, midbody and aft.
X-rays of the four Rudder Speed Brake actuators that were removed from the vehicle showed that all of the gears were correctly installed. The actuators were shipped to the vendor for a complete inspection. The vendor will begin inspections with actuators No. 1 and 3, followed by No. 2 and 4.
The Kennedy Space Center Newsroom offers an electronic subscription service for status reports, news releases and other notices issued from KSC. There are two possible ways to subscribe. You may send a blank e-mail message to ksc-news_release-subscribe@kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov or follow the instructions on the Web site at http://HYPERLINK "http://kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov/" kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov. The system will confirm the request via e-mail.
-end-
<<KSC Status Report.doc>>
Attachment:
04.23 Status Report.doc
Description: KSC Status Report.doc
------------------------------------------------------------- For automatic email subscriptions to this KSC originated press releases, send an Internet electronic mail message to mailto:ksc-news_release-subscribe@kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov. With no subject or message. The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription. To remove your name from the list at any time, send an email addressed to mailto:ksc-news_release-unsubscribe@kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov . With no subject or message. or you can (un)subscribe on the World Wide Web at: http://kscnews.ksc.nasa.gov/ Status reports and other NASA publications are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/kscpao.htm .
