Discovery Status release (Monday 25th April)

[Chris Bergin]

Discovery (OV-103)

Mission: STS-114 -- 17th ISS Flight (LF1) -- Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Launch Pad 39B
Launch Date: Launch Planning Window: May 15-June 3, 2005
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Collins, Kelly, Noguchi, Robinson, Thomas, Lawrence and Camarda
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Following the Space Shuttle Program's Design Certification Review (DCR), senior management identified May 22 as the target launch date for STS-114. This will allow additional time to complete the required engineering analysis, validation and verification testing of the Shuttle for a safe Return to Flight.

Work continues at Launch Pad 39B for Discovery's launch to the International Space Station (ISS). The payload bay doors were opened Tuesday. The Remote Manipulator System (Shuttle arm) and the Orbiter Boom Sensor System clearance checks were completed. Flight readiness tests have been successfully performed on all three Shuttle Main Engines.

This weekend, technicians will finalize work to prepare for loading the hypergolic propellants for flight. This process includes loading the propellants, monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, into the Orbiter Maneuvering System and the Forward Reaction Control System. On April 28, the Rotating Service Structure will be rotated away from the vehicle in preparation for hot-fire tests of the Auxiliary Power Units on Discovery and the right-hand Solid Rocket Booster Hydraulic Power Unit.

Two of the mission payloads were installed into the Payload Transportation Canister in preparation for their move to Launch Pad 39B. The External Stowage Platform-2 (ESP-2) was installed on Tuesday and the Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier (LMC) on Wednesday. The ESP-2 will carry replacement parts to the Station. It will be deployed and attached to the Station's airlock as a permanent spare-parts facility. The LMC will carry a replacement Control Moment Gyroscope and a tile-repair sample test kit. The Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Raffaello is scheduled for installation into its payload canister on Monday. It will be transferred to the pad next week.