Shortly after space shuttle Discovery reached orbit today, the shuttle’s Ku-Band antenna did not successfully complete its standard initial activation sequence and is not operational at this time.
The dish-shaped antenna is used for high data rate communications with the ground, including television, and for the shuttle’s radar system that is used during rendezvous with the International Space Station. Discovery can safely rendezvous and dock with the station and successfully complete all of its planned mission objectives without use of the Ku-Band antenna, if needed. The Ku-Band system is one of several shuttle communications systems that can be used for transmission of voice and data to and from the ground. The other systems — S-band and UHF — are operating normally. Discovery also has multiple systems that provide backup capability for the rendezvous radar system. In addition, the station has a Ku-band system that also is used for transmission of television to the ground and can be used to transmit shuttle television views after docking.
STS-131 Flight controllers are continuing to troubleshoot the problem with Discovery’s Ku-band antenna while also formulating plans to conduct the mission without use of the shuttle Ku system if necessary.
The Ku antenna is typically used by the crew and the ground teams during flight day 2’s inspection using the OBSS. If the Ku still is not working tomorrow, the crew will record all of the inspection video and play it back after docking with the station, using the station’s Ku antenna. The crew will monitor the video in real time tomorrow and will note the time stamps of any areas of concern.