NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

[KSC News Center <ksc@mediaservices.nasa.gov>]

May 13, 2005

Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington 
(Phone: 202/358-4769) 

Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

STATUS REPORT: S-051305

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT

NASA's Space Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at Kennedy Space 
Center (KSC), Fla. 

Mission: STS-114 - 17th ISS Flight (LF1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics 
Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 13 - 31, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Work continues at Launch Pad 39B in preparation for an External Tank 
(ET) tanking test scheduled for no earlier than May 19 for the 
STS-114 mission to the International Space Station. Engineers and 
technicians are adding instrumentation to the tank to help 
troubleshoot two issues that arose during a tanking test on April 14.

The instrumentation will provide data to analyze the liquid hydrogen 
sensors that gave intermittent readings and the liquid hydrogen 
pressurization relief valve that cycled more times than standard 
during last month's test.

The tanking test involves the ground operations team at Kennedy Space 
Center filling the ET with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen fuel. 
The team evaluates how the tank, orbiter, Solid Rocket Boosters 
(SRBs) and ground systems perform under "cryo-load," when the tank is 
filled with the two ultra-low temperature fuels. The tank filling and 
draining portion of the test will take about 11 hours and includes a 
simulated countdown through the T minus 31 second hold. However, the 
total length of the test operations at KSC will take approximately 48 
hours.

Following the tanking test, technicians will begin preparations for 
rolling back Space Shuttle Discovery to the Vehicle Assembly Building 
by the end of the month. Once there, orbiter Discovery will be 
destacked (removed) from its ET and lowered into the transfer aisle.

In the Vehicle Assembly Building, preparations of ET-121 are currently 
taking place in the checkout cell. Final checkout of the vent valve 
assembly is complete. The change-out of the liquid oxygen and liquid 
hydrogen diffusers is complete. Following the ET/SRB mate review next 
week, the tank will be moved from the checkout cell and attached to 
the SRBs in the integration cell.

Once in the integration cell, a new heater will be added to the 
feedline bellows to minimize the potential for ice and frost buildup. 
It will take about 24 days to perform the modification. 

Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics 
Module
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Lighted Launch Planning Window September 9 - 24, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak and Wilson
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Processing continues on Atlantis in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 
for its mission, designated STS-121, to the International Space 
Station. The vehicle is currently powered down in support of orbiter 
electrical wiring and connector work. Forward-, midbody- and aft-area 
closeouts continue.

Camera verification is complete on the Remote Manipulator System, or 
Shuttle arm, in the payload bay. Payload bay door clearance checks 
were successfully completed on the Orbiter Boom Sensor System on the 
starboard side of the payload bay.

Nose and main landing gear cycles continue in preparation for the 
landing gear functional test, scheduled for today. Thermal Protection 
System tile installation is complete on the payload bay door hinge 
area and technicians are performing tile bond verification. 

Endeavour (OV-105)

Endeavour is in its 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

	
-end-



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