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Next, on the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report: Space Shuttle Discovery makes a much-anticipated
return to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Plus, Discovery's payloads stand ready for flight.
And the third Return to Flight External Tank is on its way to Kennedy Space Center.
The Space Shuttle Status Report and the countdown to the opening of Space Shuttle Discovery's July launch window starts right now!
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After two years on the ground, the opening of the launch window for a safe return to flight of NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery is now just weeks away.
I'm Brian Meade, NASA test director, and this is the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report.
Topping NASA Space Shuttle news this week: the return of Discovery to Launch Pad 39B.
On June 15, the giant Shuttle Crawler Transporter began its trip, carrying Discovery out of the Vehicle Assembly Building,
down the more than four-mile crawlerway to the launch pad.
Discovery, now equipped with its replacement External Tank and twin white Solid Rocket Boosters, arrived safely at the pad later that day.
This is the second rollout for mission STS-114.
Discovery returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building May 26 so it could be outfitted with a different tank and boosters.
The tank that will now help Discovery soar into space is equipped with a new heater to minimize the potential for ice
and frost buildup on the tank's thermal protective coating.
At the pad, engineers will perform final closeouts and checkouts as NASA prepares for STS-114's launch window that begins July 13 and ends July 31.
Just prior to Discovery's return to the launch pad, the mission payloads arrived.
One of the payloads, the Italian-built logistics module known as Raffaello, was opened May 31 for additional work on the resupply
stowage rack fasteners. The hatch was closed again on June 6 and is ready for flight.
In another Return to Flight milestone, the third redesigned Return to Flight External Tank is on its way to Kennedy Space Center.
The tank left New Orleans on June 13 and should arrive at KSC about five days later.
The tank's departure was delayed three days due to Tropical Storm Arlene.
That’s all the time we have for this week’s Space Shuttle Status Report
Be sure to check back next week for the latest updates as NASA prepares for a safe
Return to Flight mission to the International Space Station this July.
Until then, log on to nasa.gov for Return to Flight updates and other NASA mission news.
I'm Brian Meade for the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report.
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