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| Image above: Atlantis sits inside the Vehicle Assembly
Building, while repair work continues on the external tank. Photo
credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller |
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Shuttle inspection and repairs continue
Space Shuttle Atlantis, surrounded by service platforms in highbay 1
inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, continues to undergo inspection
for hail damage.
Special scaffolding and access platforms have been erected to allow for
the mapping and inspection of the external fuel tank. Repair methods and
criteria are also being developed.
Repairs to the orbiter thermal protection system tiles are nearly complete
and technicians are preparing to conduct non-destructive evaluation of
the vehicle's reinforced carbon carbon panels on the left wing leading
edge using thermography equipment.
Shuttle Program managers plan to meet soon to assess the damage and repair
status to the external tank.
Mission STS-117 to the International Space Station will be scheduled
sometime after a Russian Soyuz spacecraft returns from the station. The
Soyuz is delivering new station crew members and returning others to Earth
in late April. Adequate time is needed between the Soyuz undocking and
the shuttle's arrival to the station.
During the 11-day mission, the six-member crew will install a new truss
segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard
side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide
the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties.
Atlantis Commander Rick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and Mission Specialists
Jim Reilly, Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson and John "Danny"
Olivas will continue training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston
as they await a new target launch date.
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