The Space Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. The order the Space Shuttles are listed does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future missions.
Discovery (OV-103)
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 12 – June 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Processing continues in the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) for Return to Flight mission (STS-114) to the International Space Station. Testing of the thousands of systems onboard Discovery is 80 percent complete. Preparations for leak tests of the crew module were performed yesterday. Main Propulsion System leak checks are complete.
Following final checkout, testing and installation of the avionics box, the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) was transferred from the Remote Manipulator System lab in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to the OPF Thursday. The boom is scheduled for installation into the starboard side of Discovery’s payload bay early next week. The 50-foot-long OBSS will attach to the Remote Manipulator System Shuttle robotic arm. It 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.
In integrated operations in the VAB, the team is working final closeouts of the stacked Solid Rocket Boosters for STS-114. The External Tank (ET) is located in the checkout cell, and technicians have completed the aft hard-point closeout foam spray. The aft hard-point is an area of the tank where the ET is mated to the transporter. Foam is not applied to that area at the Michoud Assembly Facility, La., to avoid during transport to Kennedy Space Center.
ATLANTIS (OV-104)
Mission: STS-121; 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module/Crew
Rotation
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 12 – August 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak and WilsonInclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Technicians continue processing Atlantis for its mission to the International Space Station. Orbiter system testing is well under way. The airlock was installed on Monday, and the hatch functional test was successfully completed.
The left inboard, left outboard and right inboard body flap actuators are installed for flight. Fuel cell electrical connections are nearing completion. Fuel cells use oxygen and hydrogen to provide electrical power and water during a mission. Atlantis’ Forward Reaction Control System was moved to the OPF Wednesday for installation on the vehicle. Freon coolant loop No. 2 servicing is complete. Wing leading edge sensor installation and wiring modifications for the ET camera continue.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003.
Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports are available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/index.html
For information about NASA’s Return to Flight efforts visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight