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Now on the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report: In the Works! NASA lays out its plan to Return to Flight this July!
Plus: tank tasks! A test, and a swap of the Shuttles' fuel tanks are on the horizon.
And, preparations for a September launch for Atlantis.
The NASA Space Shuttle Status Report starts right now!
Intro Music.
I'm Randy Wade, NASA test director at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and this is the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report.
With a new launch window set for STS-114, NASA announced a plan to Return to Flight this July.
First, on Discovery, preparations are under way for a tanking test set for mid next week to
continue troubleshooting two issues that arose during the April 14 tanking test.
Engineers are evaluating the liquid hydrogen sensors in the tank that gave intermittent readings during that test.
These sensors serve as fuel gauges, signaling the Space Shuttle Main Engines to shut down
when propellants reach a certain level in the tank.
Engineers are continuing to evaluate a liquid hydrogen pressurization relief valve that
cycled more times during the tanking test than is standard.
Following the tanking test, technicians will begin preparations to roll Space Shuttle
Discovery back to the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Once in the VAB, orbiter Discovery most likely will be removed from its External Tank,
lowered into the transfer aisle and later attached to the External Tank and Solid Rocket
Boosters presently scheduled to fly with orbiter Atlantis on STS-121.
Technicians have replaced diffusers on ET-121's liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks.
The tank is scheduled to be attached to its Solid Rocket Boosters next week.
A new heater will also be added to the feedline bellows on that tank to minimize the
potential for ice and frost buildup.
Atlantis will likely fly with ET-119. That External Tank is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy next month.
Speaking of Atlantis, processing continues in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 for its
mission to the International Space Station. Vehicle power-up testing is about 70 percent
complete, and closeouts continue in the forward and aft areas of the orbiter.
On May 11, workers performed step and gap laser testing on the Thermal Protection System. The
laser checks the tiles to ensure they are properly installed at the correct distance and height from each adjacent tile.
A new Thermal Protection System seal has also been added in the nose and main landing gear
doors. Technicians performed cycles by raising and lowering the gear to check the doors for
the proper clearance and seal compression. Atlantis is set to launch in September.
That's all the time we have for this week's Space Shuttle Status Report.
Remember, July 13 to July 31, 2005, is NASA's new window for Space Shuttle Discovery's Return
to Flight mission, designated STS-114 to the International Space Station!
Until next time, log on to nasa.gov for the latest in Return to Flight and NASA mission news.
I'm Randy Wade for the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report.
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