Melissa Mathews
Headquarters, Washington July 22, 2005
(Phone: 202/358-1272)
Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)
RELEASE: 05-198
RETURN TO FLIGHT LAUNCH COUNTDOWN BEGINS AGAIN SATURDAY
NASA will begin the countdown for the second Return to
Flight launch attempt of Space Shuttle Discovery at noon
EDT, July 23, 70 hours before the targeted liftoff. On
mission STS-114, Discovery's seven-member crew will test new
equipment and procedures to increase the safety of the Space
Shuttle and deliver supplies to the International Space
Station.
NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) launch team will conduct
the countdown from Firing Room 3 of the Launch Control
Center. The countdown includes nearly 28 hours of built-in
hold time, leading to a preferred launch time at about 10:39
a.m. EDT July 26. The launch opportunity lasts for about
five minutes.
This mission is the 114th Shuttle flight and 17th U.S.
flight to the Station. The 12-day mission has a planned KSC
landing at approximately 5:46 a.m. EDT, Aug. 7. For detailed
information about NASA's Return to Flight visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight
COUNTDOWN MILESTONES (ALL TIMES EDT & SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Launch-3 Days (Saturday, July 23): Countdown begins at the
T-43 hours (12:20 p.m.)
Launch-2 Days (Sunday, July 24)
Complete preparation to load power-reactant storage and
distribution system (3 a.m.); activate and test navigational
systems; flight deck preliminary inspections complete (4
a.m.).
Enter first built-in hold at T-27 hours for four hours (4
a.m.).
Resume countdown (8 a.m.); begin operations to load
cryogenic reactants into Discovery's fuel cell storage
tanks (9:30 p.m.).
Enter 4-hour built-in hold at T-19 hours (4 p.m.).
Resume countdown (8 p.m.).
Launch-1 Day (Monday, July 25)
Pad sound suppression system water tank filling complete (12
a.m.).
Enter planned hold at T-11 hours for 13 hours, 44 minutes (4
a.m.); begin star tracker functional checks (4:50 a.m.);
move Rotating Service Structure to the park position (1
p.m.)
Resume countdown at T-11 hours (6:44 p.m.)
Enter planned two-hour built-in hold at T-6 hours (10:44
p.m.)
Launch Day (Tuesday, July 26)
Verification of launch commit criteria prior to cryogenic
loading of External Tank (ET).
Resume countdown (12:44 a.m.); load ET with 500,000 gallons
of cryogenic propellants (about 12:54 a.m.-3:54 a.m.); final
Inspection Team to launch pad.
Enter planned 3-hour built-in hold at T-3 hours (3:44 a.m.);
perform inertial measurement unit preflight calibration;
align Merritt Island Launch Area tracking antennas.
Resume countdown at T-3 hours (6:44 a.m.); crew departs
Operations and Checkout Building for the pad (6:49 a.m.);
crew entry into orbiter (approx. 7:19 a.m.); begin to close
Discovery's crew hatch (about 8:24 a.m.).
Enter planned 10-minute hold at T-20 minutes (9:24 a.m.);
NASA Test Director conducts final launch team briefings;
inertial measurement unit preflight alignments
Resume countdown at T-20 minutes (9:34 a.m.); transition the
Orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration; backup
flight system to launch configuration.
Enter estimated 40-minute hold at T-9 minutes (9:45 a.m.);
launch director, Mission Management Team and NASA test
director conduct final polls for go/no-go to launch.
Resume countdown at T-9 minutes (about 10:25 a.m.); start
automatic ground launch sequencer (T-9:00 minutes); retract
orbiter crew access arm (T-7:30); ignition of three Shuttle
main engines (T-6.6 seconds); Solid Rocket Booster ignition
and liftoff (T-0)
STS-114 CREW & LAUNCH DAY ACTIVITIES (TV events (#)-times
may vary)
Commander Eileen Collins; pilot James Kelly; payload
commander Soichi Noguchi; mission specialists Stephen
Robinson, Andrew Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, Charles Camarda
12:30 a.m. Crew wake up
#5 a.m. Crew photo
#6:20 a.m. Suit up
6:30 a.m. Weather briefing
#6:49 a.m. Walkout
#7:19 a.m. Arrive at pad
#8:34 a.m. Close hatch
For NASA TV schedules, viewing and information on the Web,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
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Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info