Note: NASA's Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing Status Reports periodically and is the source for information regarding processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. If you are a member of the media and would like further information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html
Mission: STS-117 - 21st International Space Station Flight (13A) - S3/S4 Truss Segment Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Official Launch Date: June 8, 2007
Official Landing Date: June 22, 2007
Crew: Sturckow, Archambault, Reilly, Swanson, Forrester, Olivas and Williams
The crew of STS-117 completed its nearly two-week mission to the International Space Station today, landing at Edwards Air Force Base at 3:49 p.m. EDT. The orbiter's wheels came to a stop after 13 days, 20 hours, 12 minutes and 44 seconds in space.
While docked at the station on Sunday, the crew completed a fourth and final spacewalk. During the outing, crewmembers Patrick Forrester and Steven Swanson moved a TV camera from a stowage platform to the S3 truss, verified the configuration of drive lock assembly No. 2, and removed the last six launch restraints from the solar array rotary joints. They also installed a computer network cable on the Unity node, opened the hydrogen vent valve on the Destiny laboratory, and tethered two orbital debris shield panels.
On Monday, the crew transferred supplies from Atlantis to the station. On Tuesday, Atlantis undocked and executed a fly-around of the station, sending back imagery of the new configuration of the solar arrays. The space station now has four U.S. solar array wings tracking the sun through each orbit of the Earth. Later in the day, the crew completed a survey of the orbiter's thermal protection system using the shuttle arm and boom extension.
At NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Atlantis will be prepared for its ferry flight back to KSC that will occur in about one week.
Mission: STS-118 - 22nd International Space Station Flight (13A.1) - S5 Truss Segment
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeted for Aug. 9, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Kelly, Hobaugh, Williams, Morgan, Mastracchio, Caldwell and Drew
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2 this week, workers successfully completed the frequency response testing of the orbiter's flight control system. Pressurization of the nose landing gear and main landing gear struts has ended. Tile work around the payload bay door hinges is under way, and the main propulsion system valves have been configured for rollout. The forward external tank/orbiter yoke (attach point) has been installed. The shuttle main engine covers are installed, and the engines are ready for the vehicle's rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building, currently scheduled for July 2.
In the Vehicle Assembly Building, transfer of External Tank No. 117 from its checkout cell to the mobile launch platform in high bay No. 1 was completed on Sunday. The hard mating of the external tank and solid rocket boosters was completed that evening. The shuttle interface test is under way, and other scheduled processing of the tank and booster stack continues.
Mission: STS-120 - 23rd International Space Station Flight (10A) - U.S. Node 2
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: Targeted for Oct. 20, 2007
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Melroy, Zamka, Parazynski, Wheelock, Wilson, Nespoli and Tani
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 3, aft closeout work is under way. The orbiter docking mechanism has been stowed for flight. Checkout and servicing of water spray boiler No. 1 is scheduled for completion today. Modifications to Discovery's engine cutoff sensor wiring are complete, along with the installation of BRI tile around the main landing gear doors and external tank doors.
