NASA NEWS
Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
Contact: Jessica Rye Vol. 1 No. 26
(321) 867-6185
Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
Friday, Aug. 20, 2004 (3:30 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 is making significant progress for its Return to Flight mission to the International Space Station planned for next March. Prior to the arrival of Hurricane Charley last week, workers in the Orbiter Processing Facility prepared Discovery for the impending storm by closing the payload bay doors and powering down the vehicle. On Sunday, technicians reinstated power to the orbiter and resumed normal processing activities.
Both Freon coolant loops No. 1 and 2 are ready for flight, following servicing and successful leak checks. The Space Shuttle commander and pilot seats are mounted for the mission, and technicians are currently installing the seat harnesses.
Atlantis (OV-104)
Atlantis is in a four-month power-down period, and the critical path wiring inspections and Return to Flight electrical modifications continue on schedule. Preparations for Rudder Speed Brake actuator and panel installations continue.
Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panel installation continues with 14 right-hand panels and 21 spar fittings installed. A spar fitting is the floating joint that mechanically attaches the RCC panel to the orbiter’s wing leading edge. Technicians continue to install Thermal Protection System blankets in the nose cap, with installation of the nose cap scheduled for early next week.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December. Electrical modifications continue in the crew module. Body flap and left-hand wing leading edge corrosion clean-up work continues.
Three string Global Positioning System wire routing in the avionics bay and flight deck continues. Preparations are underway for the removal of water spray boilers No. 1 and 2. Each orbiter has three water spray boilers that are responsible for cooling the Auxiliary Power Units that activate the orbiter's hydraulic system.
-end-
<<08.20 Status Report.doc>>
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.
Attachment:
08.20 Status Report.doc
Description: 08.20 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 .
