Jacques van Oene
September 17th 04, 09:38 PM
Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
Contact: Jessica Rye
Vol. 1 No. 28
(321) 867-6185
Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 (2:30 p.m.)
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-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao.htm
Orbiters
NASA's three Space Shuttle orbiters -- Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour -
along with the Shuttle launch pads and all of the critical flight hardware
for the orbiters and the International Space Station, remained well
protected and sustained no damage during Hurricane Frances over Labor Day
weekend.
On Monday, workers began the process of taking the orbiters out of a
hurricane preparedness status and returning to regular processing
activities. Discovery was powered up on Tuesday and the landing gear lowered
back down. Since the payload bay doors were closed during hurricane
preparations, they will remain that way for technicians to perform an optics
check of the Heads Up Display, a standard check performed during processing
activities. The display provides visual alignment cues to Space Shuttle
commanders and pilots during approach and landing. The payload bay doors are
scheduled to open next Tuesday.
Atlantis and Endeavour have also returned to pre-hurricane processing
activities, following deconfiguring from storm preparations.
Space Shuttle facilities including the Vehicle Assembly Building, the
Thermal Protection System Facility and the Processing Control Center felt
the most effect from the hurricane and received significant damage. The KSC
Recovery Team continues to perform assessments of the damage and create
recovery plans to ensure Space Shuttle facilities are fully operational as
quickly and safely as possible.
Processing activities associated with orbiter Thermal Protection System
(TPS) tiles are scheduled to begin Monday. Following the move of the second
floor TPS blanket area to a hangar at the Shuttle Landing Facility (offered
by the Florida Space Authority), TPS blanket production could begin as early
as Sept. 27.
Managers at KSC are currently watching Hurricane Jeanne's track to determine
what steps, if any, need to be taken in preparation for the storm. A
decision will be made Saturday to determine if the Center will enter
Hurricane Condition IV (50 knot winds expected within 72 hours). If
Hurricane Condition III (50 knot winds expected within 48 hours) was
declared, the orbiters will be prepared once again to ensure their safe
ride-out of the storm.
-end-
--
---------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Contact: Jessica Rye
Vol. 1 No. 28
(321) 867-6185
Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
Friday, Sept. 17, 2004 (2:30 p.m.)
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-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao.htm
Orbiters
NASA's three Space Shuttle orbiters -- Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour -
along with the Shuttle launch pads and all of the critical flight hardware
for the orbiters and the International Space Station, remained well
protected and sustained no damage during Hurricane Frances over Labor Day
weekend.
On Monday, workers began the process of taking the orbiters out of a
hurricane preparedness status and returning to regular processing
activities. Discovery was powered up on Tuesday and the landing gear lowered
back down. Since the payload bay doors were closed during hurricane
preparations, they will remain that way for technicians to perform an optics
check of the Heads Up Display, a standard check performed during processing
activities. The display provides visual alignment cues to Space Shuttle
commanders and pilots during approach and landing. The payload bay doors are
scheduled to open next Tuesday.
Atlantis and Endeavour have also returned to pre-hurricane processing
activities, following deconfiguring from storm preparations.
Space Shuttle facilities including the Vehicle Assembly Building, the
Thermal Protection System Facility and the Processing Control Center felt
the most effect from the hurricane and received significant damage. The KSC
Recovery Team continues to perform assessments of the damage and create
recovery plans to ensure Space Shuttle facilities are fully operational as
quickly and safely as possible.
Processing activities associated with orbiter Thermal Protection System
(TPS) tiles are scheduled to begin Monday. Following the move of the second
floor TPS blanket area to a hangar at the Shuttle Landing Facility (offered
by the Florida Space Authority), TPS blanket production could begin as early
as Sept. 27.
Managers at KSC are currently watching Hurricane Jeanne's track to determine
what steps, if any, need to be taken in preparation for the storm. A
decision will be made Saturday to determine if the Center will enter
Hurricane Condition IV (50 knot winds expected within 72 hours). If
Hurricane Condition III (50 knot winds expected within 48 hours) was
declared, the orbiters will be prepared once again to ensure their safe
ride-out of the storm.
-end-
--
---------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info