The Space Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. The order of the Space Shuttles in this report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future missions.
Discovery (OV-103)
Discovery is a step closer to its Return to Flight mission, STS-114, to the International Space Station. Vehicle power up work continues with communications system testing, drag chute instrumentation retest and wireless video system testing. The left-hand Orbital Maneuvering System pod is scheduled for installation Saturday. The launch planning window for STS-114 opens in March 2005.
Technicians successfully installed the four new Rudder Speed Brake actuators Wednesday. Panel installation is scheduled to begin early next week. Build-up of left-hand Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels and associated fittings is ongoing with 17 left-hand and six right-hand spar fittings installed on the vehicle.
Atlantis (OV-104)
Technicians continue to prepare Atlantis in the Orbiter Processing Facility for future flight to the International Space Station. Preparations for right and left Orbital Maneuvering System Main Engine removal are complete.
All of Atlantis’ 44 RCC panels are at KSC, and all 22 panels have been hung on the left-hand wing. Nineteen left-hand T-seals, the C-shaped seals that fit between each panel, have been installed. Build-up of right-hand RCC panels and associated fittings is ongoing.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification (OMM) period, which began in December 2003. Electrical modifications associated with OMM continue in the crew module with the Multi-functional Electronic Display System, or the “glass cockpit.”
The four Rudder Speed Brake actuators were removed from the vehicle and sent to the Titan X-ray Facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to be X-rayed. The actuators will be sent to the vendor for a complete inspection.
Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports available at:
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/status.htm