Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
KSC RELEASE FOR FEB. 27
Vol. 1 No. 1

Note: NASA's Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing Status Reports each week, and is the source for information regarding processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. This report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future Space Shuttle missions.

Discovery (OV-103)

NASA's Space Flight Leadership Council meeting Feb. 19 and selected Space Shuttle Discovery as the lead vehicle for Return to Flight and moved the launch planning window to March 6 through April 18, 2005. Processing continues for flight and implementation of Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations and Return to Flight modifications.

During processing, technicians found minor corrosion on the Rudder Speed Brake, as well as gears installed in reverse direction on one of the four actuators. The four actuators were removed from the vehicle, and will be X-rayed and undergo an engineering evaluation to determine further action.

Atlantis (OV-104)

Technicians in the Space Shuttle processing facility at Kennedy Space Center continue to prepare Atlantis for future missions. All of Atlantis' Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels were removed, shipped to the vendor for inspection and thermography, and returned to KSC for installation on the vehicle. All 22 left side wing leading edge panels have been re-installed.

Workers now will begin to installing the C-shaped T-seals that fit between each RCC panel. Build-up of the right-hand RCC panels and associated fittings begins next week.

Endeavour (OV-105)

Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003. Technicians are installing cabling in the forward area of the vehicle in preparation for installation later this year of its new Multifunction Electronic Display System or "glass cockpit." RCC panels continue to be removed from the vehicle and returned to the vendor for inspection. Of the 44 panels on Endeavour, eight left-hand panels and nine right-hand panels were removed.

Soviet Space
For the first time ever available in the West. Rocket & Space Corporation Energia: a complete pictorial history of the Soviet/Russian Space Program from 1946 to the present day all in full color. Available from our store.
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Viking patch
This embroidered mission patch celebrates NASA's Viking Project which reached the Red Planet in 1976.
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Apollo 7 DVD
For 11 days the crew of Apollo 7 fought colds while they put the Apollo spacecraft through a workout, establishing confidence in the machine what would lead directly to the bold decision to send Apollo 8 to the moon just 2 months later.
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Gemini 12
Gemini 12: The NASA Mission Reports covers the voyage of James Lovell and Buzz Aldrin that capped the Gemini program's efforts to prove the technologies and techniques that would be needed for the Apollo Moon landings. Includes CD-ROM.
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Next Shuttle Mission Patch

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The official embroidered patch for shuttle Discovery's STS-131 flight to launch science and supplies for the space station now available in our store!
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Current Shuttle Mission Patch

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The official embroidered patch for shuttle Endeavour's flight to launch the Tranquility module and cupola to the space station now available in our store!
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Ares 1-X Patch
The official embroidered patch for the Ares 1-X rocket test flight, is available for purchase.
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Apollo Collage
This beautiful one piece set features the Apollo program emblem surrounded by the individual mission logos.
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Project Orion
The Orion crew exploration vehicle is NASA's first new human spacecraft developed since the space shuttle a quarter-century earlier. The capsule is one of the key elements of returning astronauts to the Moon.
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Fallen Heroes Patch Collection
The official patches from Apollo 1, the shuttle Challenger and Columbia crews are available in the store.
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