The Final Inspection Team, formerly known as the Ice Team, is at Launch Pad 39A to begin careful examination of space shuttle Discovery’s external fuel tank. An additional person was added to the team today, so eight technicians will use scanners, cameras and high-powered lenses to survey the outside of the tank for foam cracks, ice buildup or other abnormalities. It is the same kind of scanning that would be performed on launch day.
The tank has been loaded with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants. The hydrogen loading was completed at 9:28 a.m. and the oxygen loading was completed at 9:59 a.m. At 2:18 p.m. EST the tank will be fully pressurized to flight levels for five minutes and the test will terminate at 2:24 p.m. The tank will then be drained. The sensors on the tank will take readings through tomorrow to monitor changes as the tank returns to ambient temperature.
After today’s tanking test, Discovery will be prepped for a return to the Vehicle Assembly Building next week. The rollback is scheduled for no earlier than Tuesday, Dec. 21, and would begin in the early morning hours.