03.25.05 Jessica Rye Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (321) 867-6185 STATUS REPORT: S2-12 SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT 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.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html. Mission: STS-114 - 17th ISS Flight (LF1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 Launch Date: Launch Planning Window May 15 - June 3, 2005 Launch Pad: 39B Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles Technicians in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3 make final preparations for Discovery's rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Monday, March 28. The work is completed in the payload bay on the fasteners in the wire trays that were causing minor chafing on the tubing surrounding the wires. The wire tray covers were removed, the chafe protection added, and then borescope inspections were performed to ensure there was clearance between the fasteners and the wires. The payload bay doors were closed today, following payload bay cleaning, final radiator inspections and completion of closeout photography. The payload bay doors will be reopened at the launch pad for the installation of the payload, the Italian-built Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Raffaello. Discovery will be powered down tomorrow in preparation for its rollover. The aft area of the vehicle where the Space Shuttle Main Engines and Main Propulsion System are located is closed out for flight. Over the weekend, technicians will remove the ground support equipment stands from the vehicle and take final vehicle weight and center of gravity measurements. Discovery will be loaded on the Orbiter Transporter System on Sunday. Once Discovery arrives in the VAB, a sling will lift and lower the vehicle between its twin Solid Rocket Boosters and Discovery will be mated, or attached, to its redesigned External Tank. Once mated, the fully assembled Space Shuttle stack will undergo final closeouts including installation of the new digital camera in the orbiter, electrical and mechanical attachments, umbilical checks, and the interface verification test. In the Space Station Processing Facility, cargo stowage installation into the MPLM Raffaello continues in preparation for MPLM hatch closure scheduled for mid-April. Raffaello will carry supplies such as food, clothing and spare parts to the International Space Station. The STS-114 crew participated in the Payload Crew Equipment Interface Test on March 18. The crew performed equipment interface fit checks of the Thermal Protection System repair sample box, the Control Moment Gyroscope and the External Stowage Platform-2 in preparation for the mission's three scheduled spacewalks. The crew also inspected the resupply stowage containers installed in Raffaello. Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 12 - July 31, 2005 Launch Pad: 39B Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak and Wilson Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles Technicians continue work in OPF bay 1 for Atlantis' mission, designated STS-121, to the International Space Station. On orbiter Endeavour, wiring was found in a cable tray in the payload bay that showed the fasteners were causing minor chafing on the tubing surrounding the wires. Rework on Discovery is complete and borescope inspections of wire trays on Atlantis continue. Atlantis' new Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) arrived at Kennedy Space Center last week and was transported to the Remote Manipulator System lab in the VAB for checkout and final testing before installation in the vehicle. The boom is scheduled to arrive in the bay on April 4 for installation on April 6. The four Manipulator Positioning Mechanisms that will hold Atlantis' OBSS on the starboard side of the payload bay are installed. The 50-foot-long OBSS will attach to the Remote Manipulator System, or Shuttle robotic arm, and is one of the new safety measures for Return to Flight, equipping the orbiter with cameras and laser systems to inspect the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System while in space. Next week Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) stacking will begin for Atlantis' launch. The right aft booster is scheduled to be moved from the Rotation Processing and Surge Facility to the VAB and lifted onto the Mobile Launch Platform. The External Tank (ET) remains in the checkout cell for final testing. Following the completion of SRB stacking, the ET will be moved and attached to the SRBs in late April. Endeavour (OV-105) Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003. Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports are available on the Internet at: http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight -end- To subscribe to the list, send a message to: ksc-subscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov To remove your address from the list, send a message to: ksc-unsubscribe@newsletters.nasa.gov
