GUCP Seal Replacemen​t Today

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:31:33 -0600


At NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A, technicians today will replace the 7-inch quick disconnect seal on space shuttle Discovery’s ground umbilical carrier plate (GUCP).

Last night, while measurements were being taken on the GUCP, a feeler gauge came apart and some components of the gauge fell from the work area. Feeler gauges consist of 13 pieces of metal about the thickness of a piece of paper held together by a retainer screw.

Overnight, technicians performed a walk down of the pad to assess any impact from the fall and collect the gauge components prior to resuming work on the GUCP. Additional walk downs began at daylight. Engineers will identify, evaluate, and address any damage to the space shuttle and its external tank and solid rocket boosters.

At NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the STS-133 crew is will brush up on robotics training today and review contingency abort procedures.

The Space Shuttle Program plans to hold its Flight Readiness Review Thursday as scheduled to assess the readiness of Discovery, the crew, flight and launch control teams, to proceed toward the target launch date of Thursday, Feb. 24. The meeting typically concludes with a recommendation to proceed to the agency Flight Readiness Review scheduled at Kennedy on Friday, Feb. 18.