NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

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03.30.07

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

STATUS REPORT: S-033007

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:  
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html  


Mission: STS-117 - 21st International Space Station Flight (13A) - 
S3/S4 Truss Segment Solar Arrays 
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) 
Location: Vehicle Assembly Building 
Launch Date: Targeted for April 2007 
Launch Pad: 39A 
Crew: Sturckow, Archambault, Reilly, Swanson, Forrester and Olivas 
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles 

In high bay No. 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, work is under way 
to assess and repair hail damage to the STS-117 external fuel tank, 
ET-124. Special scaffolding and access platforms have been erected to 
allow access to the tank and orbiter for inspections and repairs. 
Foam repairs on the liquid hydrogen tank, which is located on the 
bottom of the external tank, are complete. The focus is currently on 
repairs to the liquid oxygen tank.

Shuttle program managers will meet on or about April 10 to decide 
whether to use ET-124 or substitute it with a new tank, ET-117, which 
is scheduled to arrive at KSC in early April. 


Mission: STS-118 - 22nd International Space Station Flight (13A.1) - 
S5 Truss Segment 
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105) 
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2 
Launch Date: Targeted for June 28, 2007 
Launch Pad: 39A 
Crew: Kelly, Hobaugh, Williams, Morgan, Mastracchio, Caldwell and 
Anderson 
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles 

Endeavour remains in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, and 
technicians continue preparing the vehicle for its first launch in 
more than four years. The vehicle has undergone an extensive 
modification period, including the addition of all of the 
return-to-flight safety upgrades added to both Discovery and 
Atlantis. 

This week, initial nose landing gear door closure was performed. 
Preparations are under way for the installation next week of the 
orbiter boom sensor system, which is a 50-foot extension for the 
shuttle's robotic arm. Technicians completed testing the audio/visual 
communications systems on the orbiter. The shuttle main engine 
"eyelids," which are thermal barriers that protect the aft 
compartment, were installed. Preparations are under way for the 
installation of the engine mounted heat shields. 


Mission: STS-122 - 24th International Space Station Flight (1E) - 
Columbus Laboratory 
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103) 
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 
Launch Date: Targeted for Fall 2007 
Launch Pad: 39-A 
Crew: Frick, Poindexter, Walheim, Love, Melvin, Schlegel and Eyharts 
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles 

Processing of Discovery, which returned from the STS-116 mission on 
Dec. 22, continues in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3.

The installation of the new station-to-shuttle power transfer system 
was completed this week. This system will allow the orbiter and 
International Space Station to share power, enabling the orbiter to 
remain docked for longer periods of time.

The orbiter power system validation was also finished this week. 
Technicians continue replacing thermal tile around the main landing 
gear door and the external tank doors with a stronger tile, known as 
BRI tile.

	
-end-



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