Re: NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: S05-036

Coming from you, I would not be surprised if you thought of this as a
serious question. I'm sure you and your friends think questions like this
are serious. I can picture you all sitting around a table seriously
wondering what Santa does when there's no chimney.

George Evans

its a serious question......

Go away.

-A.L.

What if the NEW elected officals want to FREE saddam, and put him back
in power?

This one appears promising because of the apparently large turnout among
the Sunnis. But we won't know the results for a while. I wonder what would
happen if the elected government ends up being a religious regime, opposed
to the West? Or if it leads to a real civil war, in which we have to take a side?

There are other options, if the US is really concerned about the future of
Iraq. Not much less humiliating for this government than admitting defeat,
but Bush could admit that the situation is a mess (should it prove to be one)
and appeal to the UN to try to find an internationaly supported solution.

Sorry about the OT post, but this group is awfully quiet lately...

Dale

`things are quiet in Iraq, but few expect that to continue. Bushes poll
numbers are uniformally down across the board. Even friends whoi
support him are unhappy with the endless war,'']]

please note EVERY ELECTION in iraq bush says this is the one, sadly
theres more insurgency action there than earlier.

time will tell perhaps it will work, but f it doesnt pulling out of
another vietnam is all thats left

Bush's approval ratings are coming back up, first off. Second, *every*
second-term president has the exact same phenomenon, where their approval
ratings are at their lowest early in their second term.

first vote he appeared the better candidate, by now his approval rating
says it all

Where did you expect his incompetence to get us when you voted for
him the first time?? ;-)

Dale

I support a effective and well managed nasa with real goals thats doing
things!

I DONT support a dead end jobs program that kills people!

I voted for Bush the FIRST time, but sadly his incompetence has got us
no where. but trouble.

the haldf a trillion iraq war cost is going to come right from our
paychecks.... before we ever see them!

Frankly I think Iraq will just get worse from here on out!

Yea, that almost sounds believable--like you care about the space program.
But your true colors are shining through. You are a Bush hater and that
means everything has to go wrong for the country in order for you to be
happy.

You need to leave.

George Evans

It was just a curosity question.....

Wondereing if they will wind things down by saying today the last long
term storage lubricants were added to the so and so system, power
system support for display was added, so visitors can see the cockpit,
etc etc.

Honestly I just want the shuttle ended permanetely since thats the only
WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY REALLY do SOMETHING IN SPACE!

Its time to bite the bullet and retire the OLD car! since the repairs
cost so much you couldnt afford anything else

Would that be for your morbid pleasure or just curiosity? Careful, I think
your true colors are shining through.

George Evans

Wonder if nasa will release status reports as the orbiters are safetied
and shut down permanetely? Its just a matter of time...

Dec. 15, 2005

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
(202) 358-3749

Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(321) 867-2468

STATUS REPORT: S05-036

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT: S05-036

NASA's space shuttle fleet is housed and processed at Kennedy Space
Center, Fla.

Mission: STS-121 - 18th ISS Flight (ULF1.1) - Multi-Purpose Logistics
Module
Vehicle: Discovery (OV-103)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
Launch Date: No earlier than May 2006
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Lindsey, Kelly, Sellers, Fossum, Nowak, Wilson and Reiter
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Work continues for Discovery's second mission in the Return to Flight
sequence, STS-121. The orbiter boom sensor system, the 50-foot device
used to inspect the shuttle's heat shield, was installed in
Discovery's payload bay on Wednesday. Adjustments of the mechanical
release latches will follow in the next few weeks. Inspections of
windows 9 and 10 are complete, with no anomalies reported. Wire
inspections and chafe protection installation continue on the
vehicle's steering jets used in space. The pull tests on the external
fuel tank door latch were completed Tuesday.

Technicians continue to replace daily approximately 100 gap fillers in
a main-priority area. New installation procedures are being used to
ensure the gap fillers stay in place and do not pose a hazard during
the shuttle's re-entry to the atmosphere.

Mission: STS-115 - 19th ISS Flight (12A) - P3/P4 Solar Arrays
Vehicle: Atlantis (OV-104)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
Launch Date: TBD
Launch Pad: 39B
Crew: Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Atlantis processing continues on schedule for its mission to the
International Space Station. Freon coolant loop no. 1 was drained
from the orbiter to allow a cold plate removal and replacement. The
forward reaction control system, used for on orbit maneuvers, was
installed last week and connections are complete. The mechanical
release latches for the shuttle arm are being installed.

Thermal protection system gap-filler inspections and measurements
continue in the forward and mid-body areas. Four reaction control
system thrusters on the orbiter maneuvering system were replaced.

Endeavour (OV-105)

Technicians continue to process Endeavour in Orbiter Processing
Facility Bay 2. Work on the modification of the elevon lightning
protection is complete. The modification stabilized the flexible
metal casing on the elevon wire harness. Endeavour was powered up on
Monday after being down for about two months for wiring
modifications.

Installation of the reinforced carbon carbon panels on wing leading
edges continues. Technicians installed 15 panels on the left wing and
13 panels on the right wing. Preparation is under way for body flap
installation next week. Testing of the vehicle's Global Positioning
System took place this week, and hydraulic leak checks began.

External Tank

Engineers continue evaluating the causes of foam loss during
Discovery's launch in July. Data has been gathered about the cracks
in the protuberance air load (PAL) ramp of external tank 120.
Engineers are focusing on flying the next shuttle mission without the
PAL ramp. The removal could affect the ice frost ramp. It is another
solid piece of foam like the PAL ramp. It supports the
pre-pressurization lines running down the side of the tank adjacent
to the PAL ramp. To ensure flight integrity, more testing, including
wind-tunnel tests, will be done to identify an engineering solution.
While work continues to target a May launch window, engineers will
have more information on scheduling once the engineering fix is
selected.

For previous space shuttle processing status reports on the Web,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/home

-end-