NASA NEWS
Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
Contact: Jessica Rye Vol. 1 No. 28
(321) 867-6185
Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 (2:30 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
Orbiters
NASA’s three Space Shuttle orbiters -- Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour – along with the Shuttle launch pads and all of the critical flight hardware for the orbiters and the International Space Station, remained well protected and sustained no damage during Hurricane Frances over Labor Day weekend.
On Monday, workers began the process of taking the orbiters out of a hurricane preparedness status and returning to regular processing activities. Discovery was powered up on Tuesday and the landing gear lowered back down. Since the payload bay doors were closed during hurricane preparations, they will remain that way for technicians to perform an optics check of the Heads Up Display, a standard check performed during processing activities. The display provides visual alignment cues to Space Shuttle commanders and pilots during approach and landing. The payload bay doors are scheduled to open next Tuesday.
Atlantis and Endeavour have also returned to pre-hurricane processing activities, following deconfiguring from storm preparations.
Space Shuttle facilities including the Vehicle Assembly Building, the Thermal Protection System Facility and the Processing Control Center felt the most effect from the hurricane and received significant damage. The KSC Recovery Team continues to perform assessments of the damage and create recovery plans to ensure Space Shuttle facilities are fully operational as quickly and safely as possible.
Processing activities associated with orbiter Thermal Protection System (TPS) tiles are scheduled to begin Monday. Following the move of the second floor TPS blanket area to a hangar at the Shuttle Landing Facility (offered by the Florida Space Authority), TPS blanket production could begin as early as Sept. 27.
Managers at KSC are currently watching Hurricane Jeanne’s track to determine what steps, if any, need to be taken in preparation for the storm. A decision will be made Saturday to determine if the Center will enter Hurricane Condition IV (50 knot winds expected within 72 hours). If Hurricane Condition III (50 knot winds expected within 48 hours) was declared, the orbiters will be prepared once again to ensure their safe ride-out of the storm.
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