Sat, May 05, 2007
Agency Shooting For Four Launches Before End Of Year
NASA continues to work towards its goal of four shuttle flights
between now and the end of the year. In an update released to ANN,
the space agency says work continues on readying Atlantis for its
planned June 8 launch... with Endeavour and Discovery counting down
to launches in August and October, respectively.
Mission: STS-117 - 21st International Space Station Flight
(13A) -
S3/S4 Truss Segment Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Vehicle Assembly Building
Launch Date: Targeted for June 8, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Sturckow, Archambault, Reilly, Swanson, Forrester, Olivas and
Anderson Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical
miles
In high bay No. 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, technicians
and engineers continue repairing foam on the hail-damaged STS-117
external fuel tank, ET-124. Spray foam repairs began this week, and
an area on the "ogive pencil point" (at the top of the tank) is
scheduled to undergo a spray foam repair this weekend.
Atlantis' three main engines were removed this week for flow
liner contamination inspections, which are now complete. A small
piece of RepliSet found in the engine No. 2 flow liner has been
removed. The silicon rubber RepliSet is used in making 3-D
impressions that help to detect cracks in the main propulsion
system fuel line flow liners.
Engine No. 3 has been reinstalled, and engineers are reinstalling
engines No. 1 and 2.
Mission: STS-118 - 22nd International Space Station Flight
(13A.1) -
S5 Truss Segment
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2 Launch Date: Targeted
for Aug. 9, 2007 Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Kelly, Hobaugh, Williams, Morgan, Mastracchio, Caldwell and
Drew Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical
miles
Workers in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2 are installing the
orbiter engine heat shields and have completed the engine interface
connections. Technicians are also working on modifications to the
orbiter's engine cutoff sensor wiring. This work involves rerouting
new wires and installing new resisters. The crew hatch carrier
panel fit check was successfully completed this week. Checkout of
the orbiter's three inertial measurement units is complete. These
units are part of the orbiter's navigation system. Nose landing
gear door rigging continues, and orbiter aft closeout work began
this week.
ET-117, the external fuel tank to be used for STS-118, was
transported Monday from the barge in the turn basin to the Vehicle
Assembly Building. The next day, the tank was lifted into a
checkout cell in high bay No. 2 for processing.
Mission: STS-120 - 23rd International Space Station Flight
(10A) - U.S. Node 2
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 Launch Date: Targeted
for Oct. 20, 2007 Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Melroy, Zamka, Parazynski, Wheelock, Wilson, Nespoli and Tani
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 3, workers have completed
verifying the forward reaction control system interface
connections.
New, stronger tile known as BRI tile is being installed around the
main landing gear doors and the external tank doors. Checkout of
the "station to shuttle power transfer system" is under way.
Technicians are also working on modifications to the orbiter's
engine cutoff sensor wiring. This work involves rerouting new wires
and installing new resisters. APU lube oil servicing is complete,
and functional testing of the atmospheric revitalization pressure
control system, part of the orbiter's life support system, is in
progress.
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