Tag: STS-131
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Playing musical chairs with Soyuz, STS-132 continues to track May launch
Despite STS-131’s slip to April, managers are continuing to push forward with plans to launch Atlantis on STS-132 the following month, on May 14. Dependant on Discovery launching in early April, Atlantis will target two launch windows – with a Soyuz-related Dual Docked Operations (DDO) constraint sandwiched inbetween. STS-131 Status: Discovery’s slip from her March…
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STS-131: Cold weather delays flow – DDO constraint pushes launch into April
Rollover of Discovery is still pending, due to temperature constraints relating to several systems on the orbiter, resulting in new rollover date of February 22. Meetings are also likely to recommend to delay the launch until early April, to allow the Russian Soyuz TMA-18 to dock at the ISS – pending evaluations on the constraint…
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STS-130: Endeavour tracking no major FRR topics as launch pace heats up
With less than two weeks until STS-130’s launch with Endeavour, managers are already setting up the readiness meetings for STS-131 – which is scheduled to launch the following month with Discovery. With Flight Readiness Reviews (FRRs) overlapping the missions, engineers and managers will be working at full pace for several weeks. STS-130: Managers are over…
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STS-131: ET/SRB mating scheduled for next Monday – MAF plan for IFRs refined
With Endeavour enjoying a smooth flow on Pad 39A, preparations for Discovery’s STS-131 mission in March are picking up the pace – with the milestone of External Tank (ET-135) mating with the twin Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) set to take place next Monday. Meanwhile, the Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) in New Orleans has been handed…
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All three orbiters enjoying busy flows – Atlantis has her nose cap repaired
With Endeavour undergoing pad validation work – as engineers make the hundreds of connections to prepare her for launch in a month’s time – processing of her older sisters, Atlantis and Discovery, is pushing ahead. While STS-131’s boosters are being stacked inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), work has been completed on repairs to Atlantis’…
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STS-131: Discovery flow on track for February rollover
With work complete for the year on Endeavour in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), her older sister is in the final stages of processing, ahead of the Christmas holidays. With the External Tank now enroute to Florida, Discovery’s Forward Reaction Control System (FRCS) has been successfully reinstalled – following a few issues during its original…
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STS-131: Engineers working through issue with FRCS on Discovery
Preparations for Discovery’s STS-131 mission have encountered a slight hiccup during the installation of the reserviced Forward Reaction Control System (FRCS). The large unit of thrusters – which sits in the nose section of the vehicle – has been uninstalled for repairs to its bolts and seals, ahead of a second reinstallation effort on Thursday,…
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Atlantis tracking Tuesday rollover – Two more ETs due at KSC this year
STS-129 is pressing ahead with the next processing milestone, with Atlantis preparing to roll over from her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-1) for the short journey to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the shipping dates have been set for the next two External Tanks (ETs) – both scheduled to arrive at the Kennedy Space…
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Discovery makes perfect landing in California – STS-131 flow preview
With the weather failing to improve on the Florida coastline, Discovery has landed at the Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB) in California – where she will undergo initial deservicing prior to a ferry trip back to the Kennedy Space Center on the back of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA). The deorbit burn took place at…
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STS-131: Discovery’s processing flow mapped out for STS-128 return
With Discovery deep in preparations for her STS-128 mission, shuttle managers are already mapping out the processing flow for her STS-131 flight – allowing for a smooth transition between the conclusion of STS-128 and her flow towards the 2010 mission. As with all flows, numerous modifications will be carried out on the veteran orbiter, as…