Kennedy Space Center workers are preparing to deliver Discovery's payload to launch pad 39A early Friday, then conduct weekend tests that will help managers decide if the shuttle is fit for an April 5 launch to the International Space Station. The pad's Rotating Service Structure was opened around 8:30 a.m., exposing the "changeout" room into which a large cargo carrier holding supplies and experiments, and another smaller carrier holding replacement parts, will be installed Friday.
A canister holding the roughly 31,000 pounds of cargo is due to begin rolling out to the pad at 12:01 a.m.
But the payload won't be installed in Discovery before Wednesday, after an important Tuesday meeting of shuttle program managers called a Program Requirements Control Board.
The meeting will review data from tests planned this weekend of regulators that govern the flow of helium used to pressurize maneuvering jets in a pod on the right, rear end of the orbiter. A valve problem was detected last weekend during loading of helium and the propellants that power steering jets, called the right Reaction Control System, which are housed in the right Orbital Maneuvering System pod.
A little-used "cart-like" device needed to conduct the tests is expected to be hooked up to the pod Saturday. The device had to refurbished after being removed from launch pad 39B, where it was kept in storage because the regulators have rarely experienced problems.
If the regulators are found to be working properly, managers may decide to proceed with the April 5 launch despite uncertainty about the helium isolation valves. A final Flight Readiness Review to set an official launch date is planned next Friday.
The April 5 launch schedule still has several contingency days to allow for delays, according to KSC officials. NASA has until April 14th or 15th to launch before it would need to stand down until April 30 because of a "beta angle cutout" -- a period when the sun's angle to the station could damage the orbiter while it was docked.
Discovery's mission is one of four remaining before NASA plans to retire the shuttle fleet. The last flight is planned in September.
3 comments:
That cutaway diagram you used...I used to have a poster of this when I was a kid and it was ruined. Any idea where I can get that poster again?
How our country that this program and will end with nothing ready in wings to take over.
where are the JFK'S when you need them 50 years down the drain
Mark -- here's the NASA link: http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/434121main_cutaway.jpg.
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