SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT: S05-004

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)

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 to 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 to progress well for Discovery’s Return to Flight mission (STS-114) to the International Space Station (ISS). Orbiter Maneuvering System redundant electrical circuit verification testing is complete. Rudder Speed Brake cove panel installation is complete. Work continues to complete seal and Thermal Protection System blanket installation.

On Jan. 24, the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) was installed into the starboard side of Discovery’s payload bay. Measurements of the boom and Remote Manipulator System camera clearance checks are complete. 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. It equips the orbiter with cameras and laser systems to inspect the Thermal Protection System while in space.

In the Vehicle Assembly Building, the Solid Rocket Boosters for STS-114 are stacked on the Mobile Launcher Platform and final closeouts continue. Right-hand External Tank attach ring foam application is complete. The Return to Flight External Tank, ET-120, is in the checkout cell, and technicians are nearly complete with the electrical checkouts. The ET is due to be moved to the integration cell and mated with the Solid Rocket Boosters on Feb. 9.

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 Wilson
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Technicians continue to process Atlantis for its mission to the ISS. Preparations are under way to service water coolant loop Number 1 this weekend. The body flap actuator installation continues with three of the four actuators installed.

Yesterday the left-hand Orbiter Maneuvering System (OMS) pod was removed. It will be moved to the Hypergol Maintenance Facility early next week. The pod was removed so inspections could be performed on the thrusters. Following thorough inspections of the thrusters on another OMS pod, it will be transferred to the bay for installation on the vehicle. The aft flight deck mission and event timer was installed on Wednesday. The drive shafts for the Manipulator Positioning Mechanisms, that will support the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System, were installed on the starboard side of Atlantis’ payload bay.

Endeavour (OV-105)

Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003. Previous 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