The Space Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Every week, NASA will issue the latest information about Space Shuttle processing and payloads in a status report.
This Space Shuttle Processing Status Report is numbered S04-001. It corresponds with the Space Shuttle Processing Status Report Vol. 1 No. 2 issued from KSC. The content in both are identical. The order of the Space Shuttles in this report do not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future Space Shuttle missions. Previous reports are archived on the Internet at:
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/status.htm
Discovery (OV-103)
Return to Flight preparations continue on orbiter Discovery in the processing facility at KSC. Following the decision by NASA management to remove and X-ray the Rudder Speed Brake actuator gears, the four actuators were removed from the vehicle and sent to the NASA Shuttle Logistics Depot in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for X-ray beginning Monday. The X-ray will determine if the gears were installed correctly.
The Body Flap actuators are installed, with a fit check set for today. The Body Flap re-installation is scheduled for Friday. Build-up of Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels and associated fittings is ongoing. The first RCC panels are scheduled to be hung starting early next week.
Atlantis (OV-104)
Processing of Atlantis continues at KSC in preparation for its future mission. Installation of the C-shaped T-seals that fit between each RCC panel is beginning on the left-hand wing leading edge. Right-hand RCC spar fittings are being installed, with the first panels being placed on the vehicle starting next week.
Remote Manipulator System hi-potential voltage tests are ongoing. Installation of window No. 2 is scheduled for next week.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003. Thermal Protection System blankets are being removed to support removal and inspection of the Rudder Speed Brake actuators. RCC panels continue to be removed from the vehicle and returned to the vendor for inspection.
For more information about the NASA’s Return to Flight efforts on the Internet, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/news/highlights/returntoflight.html