The Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla.
Mission: STS-114 – 17th ISS Flight (LF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: Targeted for May 15 with a launch window through June 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Technicians in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3 made final preparations for Discovery’s rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Monday. The work is completed in the payload bay on the fasteners in the wire trays that were causing minor chafing on the tubing surrounding the wires. The wire tray covers were removed and chafe protection added. Borescope inspections were performed to ensure there was clearance between the fasteners and the wires.
The payload bay doors were closed today, following payload bay cleaning, final radiator inspections and completion of closeout photography. The payload bay doors will be reopened at the launch pad for the installation of the Italian-built Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Raffaello.
Discovery will be powered down tomorrow in preparation for rollover. The aft area of the vehicle, where the Space Shuttle Main Engines and Main Propulsion System are located, is closed out for flight. Over the weekend, technicians will remove the ground support equipment stands from the vehicle and take final vehicle weight and center of gravity measurements. Discovery will be loaded on the Orbiter Transporter System on Sunday.
In the VAB, a sling will lift, then lower, the vehicle between its twin Solid Rocket Boosters. Discovery will be attached to its External Tank (ET). Once mated, the fully assembled Shuttle stack will undergo final closeouts including installation of the new digital camera, electrical and mechanical attachments, umbilical checks, and the interface verification test.
In the Space Station Processing Facility, cargo stowage installation into Raffaello continues in preparation for MPLM hatch closure in mid-April. Raffaello will carry food, clothing and spare parts to the Space Station. The STS-114 crew participated in the Payload Crew Equipment Interface Test on March 18. The crew performed equipment interface fit checks of the Thermal Protection System repair sample box, the Control Moment Gyroscope and the External Stowage Platform-2 in preparation for the mission’s three scheduled spacewalks. The crew also inspected resupply stowage containers in Raffaello.
Mission: STS-121 – 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) – Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 12 – July 31, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak and Wilson
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Technicians continue work in OPF bay 1 for Atlantis’ mission (STS-121) to the Space Station. Borescope inspections of wire trays on Atlantis continue. Atlantis’ new Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) arrived at KSC last week. It was transported to the Remote Manipulator System lab in the VAB for checkout and final testing before installation. The boom is scheduled to arrive in the bay on April 4 for installation on April 6.
The four Manipulator Positioning Mechanisms that will hold Atlantis’ OBSS on the starboard side of the payload bay are installed. The 50-foot-long OBSS will attach to the Remote Manipulator System, or 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 its Thermal Protection System while in space.
Next week Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) stacking will begin for Atlantis’ launch. The right aft booster is scheduled to be moved from the Rotation Processing and Surge Facility to the VAB and lifted onto the Mobile Launch Platform. The ET remains in the checkout cell for final testing. Following the completion of SRB stacking, the ET will be moved and attached to the SRBs in late April.
Endeavour (OV-105): In Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003.
Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports are available on the Internet at:
http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight