NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

STATUS REPORT : S05-011 Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: S05-011 The Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla.

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

In Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) bay 3, final processing work continues on Discovery in preparation for its rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and attaching to its Solid Rocket Boosters and External Tank. The rollover milestone is moving to March 27 (previously March 22), due to additional work needed on wiring in the payload bay and on the main and nose landing gear doors. Because work is scheduled to end late that day, rollover could take place the morning of March 28. If the work is completed safely and correctly, the orbiter could be moved to the VAB earlier than March 27.

On orbiter Endeavour, wiring was found in a cable tray in the payload bay which showed fasteners were causing minor chafing on the tubing surrounding the wires. Boroscope inspections of wire trays on Discovery are complete, and some wires will require additional work. The wire tray covers will be removed and chafe protection will be added. Work on seal installations and cycle checks on the main and nose landing gear doors are almost complete.

Installation of resupply stowage racks in the Italian-built Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), Raffaello was completed on Monday. Installation of the resupply stowage bags continues in preparation for MPLM hatch closure, scheduled for mid-April. Installation of a Control Moment Gyro (CMG) onto a Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier was completed on March 14. During the STS-114 mission, a spacewalk will be performed to replace an inoperable CMG.

Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics Module/Crew Rotation
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, work continues on Atlantis’ Return to Flight mission, designated STS-121, to the International Space Station. Technicians are completing the final work in preparation for engine installation scheduled for next week. Main Propulsion System leak and functional electrical checks continue. Electrical checkouts of fuel cells No. 1 and 3 are complete.

Preparations continue for the installation of the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS), which was scheduled to arrive at KSC yesterday. Checkout and installation of the four Manipulator Positioning Mechanisms that will hold Atlantis’ OBSS on the starboard side of the payload bay is under way. The 50-foot-long OBSS will attach to the Remote Manipulator System (Shuttle robotic arm). It 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.

NASA’s second redesigned Space Shuttle External Tank for STS-121 arrived on Tuesday at KSC. It was offloaded and transported to the VAB. It was lifted Wednesday into the checkout cell for final processing. Technicians are beginning preparations for the aft hard-point closeout spray

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

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