STS-114 MCC Status Report #20

STS-114 MCC Status Report #20

Thursday, Aug. 4, 2005 - 11:45 p.m. CDT
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

Now in their eleventh day of the mission and with three successful
spacewalks behind them, the STS-114 crew of Space Shuttle Discovery is
slated to begin preparations for undocking and the final day with their
International Space Station counterparts. Their activities for the day
include final equipment transfers, stowage and return of the robotic arm,
boom and cargo container to the Shuttle payload bay.

"Anchors Aweigh" was the Shuttle crew wake-up song for the day, played at
9:15 p.m. CDT. The song was dedicated to Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence
at the request of Commander Eileen Collins. Space Station Expedition 11
crewmates John Phillips and Sergei Krikalev woke 30 minutes later.

The first tasks of the day center on preparation of the Raffaello
Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) for its berthing back into Discovery's
cargo bay. That module was removed from Discovery on Flight Day 4, mated to
the Station and unloaded. Discovery and the MPLM are now loaded with 7,055
lbs. of unneeded equipment and trash for return to Earth.

Pilot Jim Kelly and Lawrence will operate the Station robotic arm later in
the day to move Raffaello from the Station and gently place it back into
Discovery's cargo bay at 6:34 a.m. CDT. Then, joined by Mission Specialists
Charlie Camarda and Andy Thomas, the four will use the Shuttle arm to return
the Orbiter Boom Sensor System to its secured position on the sill of the
payload bay for the ride back to Earth.

Throughout the day, the on-orbit team will continue with stowing equipment
on Discovery's middeck and configurations for undocking, including Mission
Specialists Soichi Noguchi, Steve Robinson and Thomas making final
configurations and stowage of the spacesuits.

Both crews are scheduled for sleep at 1:09 p.m. CDT Friday with hatch
closing and undocking scheduled early Saturday morning.

The next STS-114 mission status report will be issued Friday, or earlier, if
events warrant.


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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info