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Shuttle
Update
Technicians
continue to prepare Discovery for its Return to Flight mission
to the ISS. The left-hand Orbiter Maneuvering System pod was moved
from the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility (HMF) to the Orbiter
Processing Facility (OPF) last week for installation on the vehicle.
Build-up of left-hand Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels and
associated fittings is ongoing, with 16 left-hand spar fittings
installed. Thermography was performed on 43 of the 44 panels,
with nose cap thermography scheduled for this week. Rudder speed
brake actuator no. 4 was installed Wednesday.
Gravity
Probe B Update
The
payload fairing was installed around the GP-B April 12 and 13
at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Loading of the second stage with its
complement of hypergolic propellants is scheduled for Friday.
Flight Slews, which are launch vehicle engine steering checks,
will be performed Saturday. Also, the final Range Safety beacon
checks are scheduled. Retraction of the mobile service tower,
the gantry surrounding the Delta II, is scheduled to occur at
11:30 p.m. Sunday. Loading of RP-1, a highly refined kerosene
fuel, aboard the first stage is scheduled to begin approximately
7:30 a.m. April 19. Loading of the cryogenic liquid oxygen into
the first stage will begin approximately an hour later. Launch
is expected at 1:01 p.m. EDT April 19.
Environmental
& Energy Awareness Week TV promotion
Between April 15 and 22, a 5-minute promotion and slideshow advertising
EEAW will be shown. Watch Channel 7: 8, 8:30,
9 and 9:30 a.m. on April 15, 16, 19, 20, 21 and 22;
Channel 60: 8:40, 9:20 a.m. and 11 on April 15;
10:50 a.m. on April 16-22;
11:20 and 11:52 on April 20;
11:30 a.m. on April 15, 19, 21 & 22;
7:52 a.m., noon and 12:30 p.m. on April 15-22.
Solar
array tubes protect space flight film
Tour
the facility at 11 a.m. April 21 during EEAW. The Film
Storage Building, M6-639, has a special dehumidification system
to maintain the stringent requirements of preserving historical
original space flight film. The solar array dehumidification system
removes moisture from the storage space and then electrically
heats the air. The system uses the sun’s energy instead
of electricity to recharge the dehu-midification system. You will
visit the latest evacuated-tube solar array up close! You will
get a chance to examine all the pumps, gauges and other working
components of the solar system. Total tour time is 45 minutes.
Vans will pick up participants from the Environmental and Energy
Awareness Welcome tent at 11 a.m. April 21 in front of the O&C
Building. Permission from supervisors is needed, and space is
limited. To participate, contact Shannah Trout at 867-8443.
Did
You Know?
Eating
a couple of apples a day may significantly cut heart disease
risk. According to a new study of the health benefits of
fiber consumption, such high-fiber carbohydrates should
be embraced, not avoided. Apples are one of the richest
sources of fruit fiber. One medium, tennis ball-sized apple
contains 5 grams of both soluble and insoluble types of
fiber, and one slice of whole-wheat bread contains 2 grams
of fiber, according to nutrition facts for both products.
Quality of carbohydrates is important. These findings indicate
that consumers should embrace, not avoid, fiber- and phytonutrient-rich
fruits like apples for their better health.
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KSC Countdown is published
Tuesdays & Thursdays.
Deadlines: 10 a.m. Mondays & Wednesdays.
Send
information, comments or questions to:
E-mail -- Anita.Barrett-1@ksc.nasa.gov
Telephone --
321-867-2815
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