Space Shuttle Processing Status Report, 01-04-2005

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

Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(321) 867-6185

STATUS REPORT: S2-13

SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT

Note: NASA's Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing
Status Reports each week, and is the source for information regarding
processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. This
report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future
Space Shuttle missions. If you are a member of the media and would
like further information, visit
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html.

Mission: STS-114 - 17th ISS Flight (LF1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics
Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Vehicle Assembly Building
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window May 15 - June 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Discovery was rolled from its hanger, Orbiter Processing Facility
(OPF) bay 3, to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Tuesday, March
29. First motion of the vehicle was at 1:29 a.m. EST. Once Discovery
arrived in the VAB, a sling lifted and lowered the vehicle between
its twin Solid Rocket Boosters and Discovery was mated, or attached,
to its redesigned External Tank.

Mating operations were completed yesterday and the sling was removed
from the vehicle. Technicians are currently working final closeouts
on the fully assembled Space Shuttle stack. The liquid oxygen and
liquid hydrogen electrical mates continue. The installation of a new
digital camera in the orbiter is scheduled for today. The Shuttle
will be powered up tomorrow for the interface verification test to be
performed.

Space Shuttle Discovery could begin its four-mile journey to Launch
Pad 39B atop a Crawler Transporter as early as 12 a.m. Tuesday, April
5.

In the Space Station Processing Facility, cargo stowage installation
into the MPLM Raffaello continues in preparation for MPLM hatch
closure scheduled for mid-April. Raffaello will carry supplies such
as food, clothing and spare parts to the International Space Station.


Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics
Module
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 12 - July 31, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak and Wilson
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

In OPF bay 1, technicians continue processing Atlantis for its mission
to the International Space Station. The commander and pilot seat
installation on the flight deck is under way. Space Shuttle Main
Engine (SSME) installation began today with an engine for position
No. 1 being moved from the SSME Shop to the bay installed in
Atlantis. The other two engines are scheduled to be installed later
today.

Atlantis' new Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) is in the Remote
Manipulator System lab in the VAB for checkout and final testing
before installation in Atlantis. The boom is scheduled to arrive in
the bay on April 4 for installation on April 6. The 50-foot-long OBSS
will attach to the Remote Manipulator System, or Shuttle robotic arm,
and is one of the new safety measures for Return to Flight, equipping
the orbiter with cameras and laser systems to inspect the Shuttle's
Thermal Protection System while in space.

Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) stacking for Atlantis' launch began when
the left aft booster was moved from the Rotation Processing and Surge
Facility to the VAB yesterday. It will be lifted onto the Mobile
Launch Platform early next week. The External Tank remains in the
checkout cell for final testing. Following the completion of SRB
stacking, the tank will be moved and attached to the SRBs in late
April.

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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Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info