[sarex] SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT#SO4-07

[Arthur Z Rowe <n1orc@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Submitted by Arthur - N1ORC - Amsat #31468

Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington                   April 15, 2004
(Phone: 202/358-4769)

Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT: S04-07

     The Space Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at NASA's 
Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. The order of the Space 
Shuttles in this report does not necessarily reflect the 
chronological order of future missions. 

Discovery (OV-103)

Discovery is a step closer to its Return to Flight mission, 
STS-114, to the International Space Station. Vehicle power up 
work continues with communications system testing, drag chute 
instrumentation retest and wireless video system testing. The 
left-hand Orbital Maneuvering System pod is scheduled for 
installation Saturday. The launch planning window for STS-114 
opens in March 2005.
	
Technicians successfully installed the four new Rudder Speed 
Brake actuators Wednesday. Panel installation is scheduled to 
begin early next week. Build-up of left-hand Reinforced 
Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels and associated fittings is ongoing 
with 17 left-hand and six right-hand spar fittings installed 
on the vehicle. 

Atlantis (OV-104)

Technicians continue to prepare Atlantis in the Orbiter 
Processing Facility for future flight to the International 
Space Station. Preparations for right and left Orbital 
Maneuvering System Main Engine removal are complete. 

All of Atlantis' 44 RCC panels are at KSC, and all 22 panels 
have been hung on the left-hand wing. Nineteen left-hand T-
seals, the C-shaped seals that fit between each panel, have 
been installed. Build-up of right-hand RCC panels and 
associated fittings is ongoing. 

Endeavour (OV-105)

Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification 
(OMM) period, which began in December 2003. Electrical 
modifications associated with OMM continue in the crew module 
with the Multi-functional Electronic Display System, or the 
"glass cockpit." 

The four Rudder Speed Brake actuators were removed from the 
vehicle and sent to the Titan X-ray Facility at Cape Canaveral 
Air Force Station to be X-rayed. The actuators will be sent to 
the vendor for a complete inspection. 
Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports available on 
the Internet at:

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/status.htm

For information about the NASA's Return to Flight efforts on 
the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/news/highlights/returntoflight.html

For information about NASA and agency programs on the 
Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


-end-





----
Via the sarex mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe sarex" to Majordomo@amsat.org