July 3, 2008 At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparation of space shuttle Atlantis for the upcoming launch of the STS-125 Hubble Telescope servicing mission is going smoothly and on schedule. Although Kennedy's processing crews will be off this weekend to celebrate the Independence Day holiday, work has progressed on both Atlantis and Endeavour.
Technicians have completed installation of space shuttle main engine dome heat shields as well as inspections to the reinforced carbon-carbon panels. In bay 2 of Kennedy's Orbiter Processing Facility, shuttle Endeavour is being prepared for flight. Endeavour will stand ready on Launch Pad 39B to be used for a rescue mission in the unlikely event Atlantis has an emergency in space. The orbiter will then move to pad 39A for the STS-126 mission after Atlantis has returned.
This is the 17th time in NASA history that two spacecraft are being readied for launch at the same time. Meanwhile at Launch Pad 39A, workers installed anchors and plates to both the east and west walls which support the bricks above the lintel, prior to brick removal and replacement.
During Discovery's launch on May 31, damage occurred on a 100’ X 20’ section of the east wall of the north flame trench. Broken sections of the flame trench wall were scattered from the trench to the pad perimeter fence. The pad is expected to be repaired by Atlantis' STS-125 targeted launch date on Oct. 8. At NASA's Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston, STS-125 astronauts wrapped up a week of training and will have a holiday weekend off with family and friends.
Nick
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