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.