Endeavour and the STS-400 Launch On Need (LON) shuttle arrived at Pad 39B Friday, joining older sister Atlantis – as both vehicles were revealed on adjacent pads on Saturday morning.Pad 39B is already undergoing major changes – most noticeable via early progress on the three 600 foot high lightning protection towers – as preparations continue towards the pad officially being handed over to the Constellation for the test flight of Ares I-X in 2009.
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**L2 STS-126 in build-up – includes several mission baseline presentations. One Stop SARJ Shop (memo, presentations). Extensive daily processing reports etc.**
**Shuttle to 2015 Assessment Build-up. Already includes Memos, Notes, Presentations and the opening 2015 Flight Manifest (additional 13 Flights) Option Presentation**
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**STS-119 Processing Latest**Â — **STS-119 News Articles**
**LIVE updates: Endeavour Dual LON and STS-126 Processing** – **STS-126 News Articles**
**LIVE updates on Atlantis STS-125 Processing Flow** — **STS-125 News Articles**
Endeavour STS-126/400 Processing Latest:
Endeavour waited on two weather briefings to give the go ahead for rollout, with first motion registered at 11:15pm local time. Travelling on top of the Crawler Transporter (CT2) and Mobile Launch Platform (MLP), Endeavour arrived at 39B at 6am local
Pad integration and validation work will start in earnest, as the STS-400 stack is processed to a near state of readiness, should the rescue mission be required during Atlantis’ STS-125 mission. Such a scenario is highly unlikely.
Saturday morning was be highlighted by opening of Pad 39A’s Rotating Service Structure (RSS), meaning both Atlantis and Endeavour are visible on the adjacent pads.
The last time two shuttles were visible together was back in August 1994, when STS-64 and STS-68 sat on Pads 39B and 39A respectively.
The hot fire of Auxiliary Power Unit 3 (APU 3) – a required process following its changeout during her post STS-123 processing flow – was also moved up from Saturday to later today.
‘S0009 Launch Pad Validation with APU hot fire:
‘S0024 Hyper Propellant Load: Preps are in work. Servicing is scheduled to begin next Friday. Weekend work: S0009, SSME FRT, Hydraulic Closeouts, S0024 preps.’
Alternatively **CLICK HERE** For the free trailer for the 1,900mb L2 video of an exclusive tour of the VAB, OPF and Pad.
Atlantis is now waiting for her Hubble Servicing payload, following a delay due to a contamination issue. The payload is now set to arrive at the pad on Saturday evening, ahead of installation into Atlantis’ cargo bay next Tuesday.
‘S0600 Payload Operations: The contamination issues have been resolved and the payload is being prepared for delivery,’ added processing information on Friday.Â
‘Canister transport to Pad A is now scheduled for 1800L tomorrow evening and lift in to the PCR will follow.
‘Payload installation in to the orbiter is planned for Tuesday. RSS retract is scheduled for early tomorrow morning in support of the payload delivery.’
L2 Members: Refer to TAG keywords ‘STS-125’ and ‘STS-400’ for an extensive selection of related presentations and live processing information from the orbiter’s engineers, as L2’s 125/400 Special Section builds up into the FRR element of the flow.
Once the Constellation Program takes over official control of Pad 39B -Â shortly after STS-400 is stood down and rolled to Pad 39A for STS-126 –
Required pad work ahead of Ares I-X’s launch will be the modification to the lightning mast that is currently at the height to protect a shuttle.
Given Ares I-X will stand over a 100 feet taller, a temporary structure – fabricated by local contractor SDB in Mimms, Florida – will be added on top of the Fixed Service Structure (FSS).
This will extend the height of the existing lightning mast to ensure protection for Ares I-X, while it sat on 39B.
Once Ares I-X has launched, the mast extension will be dismantled – although this will depend on how well Ares I-X performs. Should the vehicle fail, another Ares I-X test flight will take place around a year later.
While ongoing construction of the three 600 feet tall Lightning Protection System towers continues throughout 2009 – designed to protect Ares I-Y and Ares I vehicles – the next major modification to the pad will focus on the huge engineering project of building the Rollercoaster EES (Emergency Egress System).
The Rollercoaster itself will dominate the skyline, following design changes from the original plan -Â with a permanent, fixed structure out at Complex 39B.
L2 Members: Refer to TAG keywords ‘Constellation’, ‘Ares I-X’ and ‘EES’ for an extensive selection of related presentations (Large Sections on Ares I-X and the Rollercoaster – plus a pictorial diary of the lightning towers construction).
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L2 Members: Refer to TAG keywords ‘Constellation’, ‘Ares I-X’ and ‘EES’ for an extensive selection of related presentations (Large Sections on Ares I-X and the Rollercoaster – plus a pictorial diary of the lightning towers construction).
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