For years I have been tracking the Space shuttle ( When its launched) by using a program called STS Plus but this will be the first time that I will be priviledged to have NASA TV available in our region whilst the Space shuttle is above us.<br />This will be very interesting to watch on a live feed, for more information look at the above SPACE SHUTTLE Forum for information on the first launch in years planned sometime in June.<br />Phil<br />Jessica Rye<br />Kennedy Space Center, Fla.<br />(321) 867-6185<br /><br />STATUS REPORT: S2-07<br /><br />SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT<br /><br />Note: NASA's Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing<br />Status Reports each week, and is the source for information regarding<br />processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. This<br />report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future<br />Space Shuttle missions. If you are a member of the media and would<br />like further information, visit<br />http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html.<br /><br />Mission: STS-114 - 17th ISS Flight (LF1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics<br />Module<br />Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)<br />Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3<br />Launch Date: Launch Planning Window May 15 - June 3, 2005<br />Launch Pad: 39B<br />Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda<br />Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles<br /><br />At today's Space Flight Leadership Council, NASA managers met and<br />refined the launch planning window for orbiter Discovery's Return to<br />Flight mission, designated STS-114, to the International Space<br />Station to May 15 - June 3, 2005. This is to accommodate for daylight<br />launch attempts and to ensure the most detailed and clear photography<br />of the External Tank.<br /><br />Orbiter system testing is approximately 90 percent complete on<br />Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3, work continued on the<br />Auxiliary Power Unit controller checkout and drain system checks.<br />Orbiter Maneuvering System heat shields were installed and controller<br />checkouts were completed.<br /><br />Thermal Protection System blanket bonding continues on the vertical<br />stabilizer, which is the tail of the orbiter. Checkout work is<br />progressing with the new Orbiter Boom Sensor System on the starboard<br />side of Discovery's payload bay. Testing on one of the boom sensor<br />packages is complete.<br /><br />Manipulator Positioning Mechanism (MPM) adjustments were completed and<br />closeouts continue. The MPMs are the pedestals that hold and latch<br />the boom in the payload bay.<br /><br />In the Vehicle Assembly Building, all final closeouts have been<br />completed on the External Tank (ET) in the checkout cell prior to the<br />tank being mated, or attached, to the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs).<br />The SRBs for the STS-114 mission are stacked on the Mobile Launcher<br />Platform and closeouts and preps for ET attaching, or mating,<br />continue. SRB alignment optics were completed this week in<br />preparation for the ET mating. Repairs continue on the SRB aft<br />inactive stub ring, an attach ring surrounding the booster located<br />about 10 feet below the ET attach point. The paint replacement on the<br />stub ring is complete, and pull tests are planned for this weekend.<br />The ET is scheduled to be moved to the integration cell and mated<br />with the SRBs no earlier than Feb. 25.<br /><br />Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics<br />Module/Crew Rotation<br />Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)<br />Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1<br />Launch Date: Launch Planning Window July 12 - July 31, 2005<br />Launch Pad: 39B<br />Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak and Wilson<br />Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles<br /><br />Processing and system testing continues on Atlantis in Orbiter<br />Processing Facility bay 1 for its mission to the International Space<br />Station. The body flap installation was completed this week, and the<br />left-hand Orbiter Maneuvering System pod was also installed. Water<br />coolant loop No. 1 servicing is under way, and water coolant loop No.<br />2 is scheduled for de-servicing over the weekend. The Rudder Speed<br />Brake installation is nearly complete, while seal installation and<br />Thermal Protection System blanket bonding on the vertical stabilizer<br />is ongoing. Fuel cell No. 3 mechanical mates and re-pressurization<br />are complete and leak checks have been successfully performed on all<br />three fuel cells. Preparations are under way for the installation of<br />the Forward Reaction Control System next week.<br /><br />Mobile Launch Platform No. 3 was moved into High Bay 3 of the VAB this<br />week, in preparation for STS-121 stacking.<br /><br />Endeavour (OV-105)<br /><br />Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period,<br />which began in December 2003.<br /><br />--------------------