George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov
STATUS REPORT: S-101207
NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT
Note: NASA's Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing
Status Reports periodically and is the source for information
regarding processing activities associated with the vehicles and
payloads. If you are a member of the media and would like further
information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html Mission: STS-120 - 23rd International Space Station Flight - U.S. Node
2 (Harmony)
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39A
Launch Date: Targeted for Oct. 23, 2007
Crew: Melroy, Zamka, Parazynski, Wheelock, Wilson, Nespoli and Tani
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
At Launch Pad 39A, the hypergolic propellants have been loaded into
the solid rocket booster hydraulic power units, as well as into
Discovery's orbital maneuvering system, forward reaction control
system and auxiliary power units. On Thursday, the rotating service
structure at the pad was rotated away from Discovery to allow for the
auxiliary power unit hotfire, which was successfully completed. The
rotating service structure was returned to the mate position later
that day. Orbiter aft closeout work begins today.
On Sunday, the STS-120 crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center for the
terminal countdown demonstration test, which involves a launch dress
rehearsal. Crew activities included practicing emergency egress
operations at the pad, reviewing the payload bay configuration, and
suiting up and climbing into the crew cabin of the orbiter to run
through the prelaunch checklist.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, a program-level flight readiness review was
held at Kennedy. Space Shuttle Program managers concluded the review
with a recommendation to proceed toward a targeted launch on Oct. 23.
An agency-level review will take place on Oct. 16 at Kennedy, where
an official launch date will be decided.
Mission: STS-122 - 24th International Space Station Flight - Columbus
Module
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: Targeted for Dec. 6, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Frick, Poindexter, Schlegel, Eyharts, Love, Melvin and Walheim
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
In Orbiter Processing Facility Bay No. 1, midbody closeout and
inspection work is complete and the payload bay doors were closed for
rollover. Workers continue to close out and inspect the forward and
aft sections. The landing gear functional test was successfully
performed.
In the Vehicle Assembly Building, processing continues on ET-125, the
external fuel tank for mission STS-122. Repairs to the liquid oxygen
feedline support bracket foam are complete and access platforms are
being removed. In high bay No. 3, stacking of the solid rocket
boosters is finished.
Mission: STS-123 - 25th International Space Station Flight - Kibo,
Dextre
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeted for Feb. 14, 2008
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Gorie, Johnson, Linnehan, Doi, Behnken, Foreman and Reisman
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2, window No. 1 was removed and
replaced this week, and the removal and replacement of window No. 6
is in progress. The external airlock upper hatch functional test is
complete.
Technicians continue to inspect the main propulsion system flow
liners, feedlines and gimbal joints. Preparations for installation of
BRI tile around the main landing gear doors continue. The BRI tile is
a stronger tile designed for critical areas on the orbiter. Work is
under way to configure the payload bay for the STS-123 cargo.
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