Powered Up For First Time In Two Years
Engineers cheered as electricity
coursed through Space Shuttle Endeavour Thursday for the first time
in two years, signaling the end of the orbiter's major modification
period at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
"Having three operational vehicles in the fleet affords the
shuttle program great schedule flexibility as we move toward flying
safely and completing the international space station," said Space
Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale.
Engineers and technicians spent 900,000 hours performing 124
modifications to the vehicle. These included all recommended return
to flight safety modifications, bonding more than 1,000 thermal
protection system tiles and inspecting more than 150 miles of
wiring throughout Endeavour. Eighty five of the modifications are
completed, with work on the additional 39 modifications continuing
throughout the next few months.
Two of the more extensive modifications included the addition of
the multi-functional electronic display system, or "glass cockpit,"
and the three-string global positioning system that improves the
shuttle's landing capability.
The glass cockpit encompasses a new, full-color, flat-panel
display system that improves interaction between the crew and
orbiter with easy-to-read graphics portraying key flight indicators
like attitude display and mach speed. Endeavour was the last
vehicle in the fleet to receive this system.
The three-string global positioning system would allow Endeavour
to make an emergency landing at any runway, provided it was long
enough to accept a space shuttle. The previous system, TACAN, or
Tactical Air Navigation System, only allowed for a landing at a
military base.
"When Endeavour was powered up for the first time, the team
cheered at the completion of all of their hard work and
accomplishments during the modification period," said Tassos
Abadiotakis, Endeavour's vehicle manager. "The team worked
tirelessly to ensure the vehicle progressed though the modification
period on time and on budget."
Shuttle major modification periods are scheduled at regular
intervals to enhance safety and performance, infuse new technology
and allow for thorough inspections of the airframe and wiring of
the vehicles.
This was the second of these modification periods performed
entirely at Kennedy Space Center. Endeavour's previous modification
was completed in March 1997.
Endeavour is now beginning 10-12 months of launch processing and
power-up testing for a future space shuttle flight as soon as late
next year.