Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:40:00 -0500
At NASA Kennedy Space Center's Orbiter Processing Facility-3, technicians have removed one of space shuttle Discovery's three main engines. The remaining two engines will be removed today and all engines will be taken to the engine shop in order to replace a turbopump in engine 1. The turbopump developed an issue earlier this week during a torque check.
Workers are also testing the Power Reactant Distribution System, which serves the electricity-generating fuel cells on Discovery. The payload bay doors were closed yesterday for plug installation today.
At NASA's Johnson Space Center, Mission Specialists Tim Kopra and Alvin Drew are rehearsing spacewalk procedures today in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab.
Discovery is to launch on the STS-133 mission to the International Space Station. The official targeted launch date remains Sept. 16, but a change request has been submitted to move the flight to Oct. 29, with STS-134 moving to February 2011. The request is under consideration and an announcement is expected at the first of July.
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