Jan. 27, 2006

Katherine Trinidad 
Headquarters, Washington 
(202) 358-3749

Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(321) 867-2468 

STATUS REPORT: S06-003

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT: S06-003

NASA's space shuttle fleet is housed and processed at Kennedy Space 
Center, Fla. 

Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics 
Module 
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 
Launch Date: No earlier than May 2006 
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter 
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles 

Technicians worked on inspections and closeouts prior to next week's 
installation of the forward reaction control system. Installation of 
the dome-mounted heat shields that surround the shuttle's three 
engines will begin when main engine leak checks are complete. 

Removal and replacement of gap fillers is complete in the forward and 
mid-body sections of the vehicle. Work starts next week on gap 
fillers in other areas on the orbiter's belly. Technicians are using 
new installation procedures to ensure the gap fillers stay in place 
during re-entry to the atmosphere. 

Solid rocket booster stacking for STS-121 is under way. The left and 
right aft boosters were delivered to the Vehicle Assembly Building 
this week and placed on the Mobile Launch Platform in High Bay 3. The 
aft segments were bolted to the platform, and work begun to stack the 
left and right aft center segments. 

Mission: STS-115 - 19th ISS Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays 
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104) 
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 
Launch Date: TBD 

Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper 
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles 

Power down operations continue. Cold plate removal and replacement in 
the shuttle's aft area were completed. Cold plates keep electronics 
boxes cool. The mechanical release latches for the shuttle arm 
(remote manipulator system) are installed, and pre-load tests are 
under way. 

Removal and replacement of gap fillers began this week in the priority 
one forward and mid-body areas. One of two reaction jet drivers 
located in the shuttle aft area was installed. These drivers power 
the reaction control thrusters of the orbiter maneuvering system pods 
while in orbit. Technicians removed mid power control assembly #2 and 
#3 for inspection. These units are part of the system that controls 
power distribution in the orbiter. 

Endeavour (OV-105)  

In Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2, technicians leveled the shuttle 
in preparation for Heads Up Display alignment. The display is used to 
optically align the orbiter for landing. Preparations for power up 
continue. All wiring tests and connector mates are complete. 
Technicians are finishing the installation of body flap hardware. 

Work continues on the manipulator positioning mechanism for the 
shuttle's robotic arm before installation. The pedestal mechanisms 
keep the arm secured in the payload bay when it's not in use. 

External Tanks 

NASA has adjusted its contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems to 
produce 18 instead of 35 shuttle external fuel tanks. The reduction 
aligns the contract with planned missions through 2010. 

For previous space shuttle processing status reports on the Web, 
visit: 

/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html" 
class="featureLnk">http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle



For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/home

	
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