Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
(Phone: 202/358-4769)
Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)
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Nov. 12, 2004
| RELEASE:
S04-038
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Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: S04-038
The Space Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. The order the Space Shuttles are listed does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future missions.
Discovery (OV-103)
Technicians have completed more than 50 percent of Discovery's powered-up system testing for its Return to Flight mission, designated STS-114, to the International Space Station. System testing is continuing with the new Multi-functional Electronic Display System, or "glass cockpit," closed circuit television system heater checks and orbiter docking system voltage tests.
The end effector, or grappling end, of the Space Shuttle robotic arm saw an unexpected temperature increase during previous testing and has been removed and replaced. The retest is scheduled for today. Main Propulsion System flow liner slot polishing is complete on all three engines. The polishing was performed to decrease the likelihood of microscopic cracks initiating in the flow liner.
Atlantis (OV-104)
Final power-down work continues in the Orbiter Processing Facility prior to Atlantis' scheduled power up. During the extensive power-down period, technicians performed Return to Flight modifications including wiring installation for the External Tank separation camera, wing leading edge sensors and relay units, and the Orbiter Boom Sensor System.
Preparations for fuel cell installations are under way. Fuel cells No. 1, 2 and 3 are out of the shipping containers and fuel cell No. 1 has been inspected. It is scheduled today for installation. Fuel cells use oxygen and hydrogen to provide electrical power during a mission.
Endeavour (OV-105)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003. Electrical modifications continue in the crew module. Three-String Global Positioning System wire routing in the avionics bay and flight deck continues.
The left outboard elevon actuator is installed. With the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels off the vehicle, work continues on removing the miniscule corrosion on the wing leading edge. Left-hand wing leading edge eddy current tests continue. Eddy current is a form of non-destructive evaluation that would reveal any microscopic flaws or cracks on the wing surface.
Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports are available on the Internet at: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/status.htm For information about NASA's Return to Flight efforts on the Internet, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, visit: http://www.nasa.gov
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