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)
Testing of the end effector, or grappling end, of the Space Shuttle robotic arm successfully concluded this week. Installation of the wing leading edge instrumentation is 50 percent complete. Closeout work was completed in the orbiter midbody in bay 1 and in left-hand bay 9. Those areas will be covered and closed out for flight.
Also accomplished this week were the flow liner cleaning and inspection of Main Propulsion System Engine 2. Checkout of the computer complex portion of the Data Processing System, which is part of the orbiter’s control system, was completed.
Atlantis (OV-104)
Final power-down work continues in the Orbiter Processing Facility prior to the scheduled power up of Atlantis in December. During the extensive power-down period, technicians performed Return to Flight modifications including wiring installation for the External Tank separation camera, wing leading edge sensors and relay units and the Orbiter Boom Sensor System.
Fuel cell No. 1 was installed this week. Fuel cells use oxygen and hydrogen to provide electrical power and water during a mission. In the midbody of the orbiter, the left side Manipulator Pedestal Mounts installation continues for the Shuttle robotic arm. These posts will support the arm when it’s not in use. Freon Coolant Loop No. 1, which cools electrical components during flight, was serviced this week.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003. Electrical modifications continue in the crew module. Three-String Global Positioning System wire routing in the avionics bay and flight deck continues.
Tent buildup for painting of the body flap and the right-hand wing leading edge is under way. Engine 1 dome heat shield painting began this week. The right main landing gear was extended to support recession and compression tests on the thermal barriers.
Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports are available on the Internet at:
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/status.htm
For information about NASA’s Return to Flight efforts on the Internet, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/news/highlights/returntoflight.html