SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT: S04-16

The Space Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. The order the Space Shuttles are listed in this report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future missions.

Discovery (OV-103)

Discovery’s month-long power-down period continues for its Return to Flight mission, STS-114, to the International Space Station. The Forward Reaction Control System was moved Wednesday from the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility to the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF). Installation on the vehicle is scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Return to Flight modifications continue, including the orbiter boom sensor system wiring and preparations for installation of the wing leading edge sensors. Both Freon Coolant Loop No. 1 and 2 have been drained, and water coolant loop No. 2 leak checks are in work.

Atlantis (OV-104)

Atlantis’ four-month power-down period continues in the OPF in support of Return to Flight modifications, as well as structural and baseline wire inspections. On Wednesday, right-hand radiator No. 3 and 4 were removed from the vehicle.

Left-hand Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels No. 19 and 20 have been removed to support the addition of wing leading edge sensor instrumentation. The sensors will allow mission managers to receive data that will help to determine any impacts to the wing during launch.

Endeavour (OV-105)

Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began last December. Electrical modifications continue in the crew module. Wire inspections are ongoing in the Environmental Control and Life Support System bay.

Installation of left-hand radiator No. 1 is scheduled for today, with the No. 2 radiator scheduled for installation early next week. Flex hose inspections continued throughout the week.

Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports are available on the Internet at:

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/status.htm