STS-117 Press Kit

STS-117 Press Kit

CONTENTS
Section Page

STS-120 MISSION OVERVIEW................................................................................................ TIMELINE OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................. MISSION PROFILE................................................................................................................... MISSION PRIORITIES ............................................................................................................. MISSION PERSONNEL ............................................................................................................. STS-120 DISCOVERY CREW ................................................................................................... PAYLOAD OVERVIEW ..............................................................................................................
HA RM O NY ( NO D E 2 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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STATION RELOCATION ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................

P OR T 6 S OL AR AR RAY S R EL O CA TI O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. P R E SS U RI Z ED MA TI N G A DA PT ER -2 ( PMA -2 ) R EL O C AT I O N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING ..................................................................................................

U N D O CK I NG , S E PA RA TI O N A N D D EPA RTU R E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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SPACEWALKS ......................................................................................................................... EXPERIMENTS .........................................................................................................................

D E TA IL E D T ES T OBJECT I VE S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . S H OR T- D UR AT I O N R E S EA RC H TO B E C OMP L E T E D D UR I N G S T S -1 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E U R OP EA N EXP E RIMEN T PR O GRA M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

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EXTERNAL TANK ET-120 (ET-120) .......................................................................................... SHUTTLE REFERENCE DATA .................................................................................................... LAUNCH AND LANDING ...........................................................................................................
L A U N CH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A B OR T- T O- OR B IT ( AT O ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . T RA N SA TLA NT I C A B OR T L A N D I NG ( TAL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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CONTENTS

 Section
R E T UR N -T O -L A U N CH - SI T E ( R TL S ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . A B OR T O N C E A RO U N D (A OA ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . L A N D I NG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ......................................................................................... MEDIA ASSISTANCE ............................................................................................................... PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS ..................................................................................................

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STS-120 MISSION OVERVIEW: HARMONY: A GLOBAL GATEWAY PROVIDING A CONNECTION TO RESEARCH FOR THE WORLD

ThisgraphicdepictstheInternationalSpaceStationasitwillappearafterDiscoveryundocks, followingrelocationofthePort6trussanddeliveryoftheHarmonymodule. Expansion of the International Space Station will make great strides during STS120, also known as Assembly Flight 10A. The Node 2 connectingmodule,Harmony,willtraveltothe stationinsidespaceshuttleDiscoveryspayload bayforinstallationonthestation.Thisaddition sets the stage for the arrival of new research laboratories from the European Space Agency andtheJapanAerospaceExplorationAgencyin upcomingshuttlemissions.

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MISSION OVERVIEW

 As part of assembling the giant laboratory, STS120astronauts will relocate thePort 6 (P6) truss element and solar arrays to a permanent position.Theelementispresentlyonorbitand attachedtothetrusssegmentZenith1(Z1).P6 willberemovedfromitscurrentlocation,reat tachedtothePort5(P5)trussandthenthesolar arrays will be redeployed and activated to gathersunlightforpowergeneration. Discoverys seven astronauts include Com manderPamMelroy,PilotGeorgeZamka,mis sion specialists Scott Parazynski, Stephanie Wilson, Doug Wheelock, and Paolo Nespoli,

representing the European Space Agency (ESA). Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel Tani will serve as a mission specialist aboard Discovery before rotating positions with station resident NASAastronautClaytonAndersonafterdock ing.Andersonarrivedatthestationaboardthe spaceshuttleAtlantisduringSTS117inJune. Tani will join Expedition 16 Commander PeggyWhitson and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko,whoarrivedatthestationaboard aRussianSoyuzspacecraftOct.12.

Followingthesuccessfulsimulatedlaunchcountdownandemergencyegresspractice,theSTS120 crewgathersforthetraditionalphotonearthetopofthelaunchpadfixedservicestructure.From leftareMissionSpecialistsScottParazynskiandStephanieWilson,PilotGeorgeZamka, CommanderPamMelroy,andMissionSpecialistsDanielTani,DougWheelockand PaoloNespoli,whorepresentstheEuropeanSpaceAgency.Thecountdownwasthe culminationoftheprelaunchterminalcountdowndemonstrationtest,orTCDT.

MISSION OVERVIEW

OCTOBER 2007

Thespaceshuttleispoisedforlaunchfrompad39AatKennedySpaceCenter, backdroppedbytheVehicleAssemblyBuilding. The space shuttle mission begins with the targeted liftoff of Discovery from NASAs Kennedy Space Center at 11:38 a.m. EDT on Oct. 23. The next day includes the close inspection of Discoverys heat shield using the shuttles robotic arm and Orbiter Boom Sensor System to check for any ascentimposed damagetotheorbiter. DiscoveryarrivesattheInternationalSpaceSta tion on the third day of the mission. Melroy will perform the rendezvous pitch maneuver withDiscoveryabout600feetbelowthestation. This activity allows Anderson and Malenchenko to take detailed photographs of the underside of Discoverys heat shield as it approaches the station. The images will be added to the ascent imagery and flight day 2 data being analyzed by engineers on the groundtoverifytheheatshieldsconditionfol lowingliftoff. Melroy then will move Discovery in for dock ing to the pressurized mating adapter at the endofthestationsDestinylaboratory.

Thegraphicaboveshowstheconfigurationof DiscoveryspayloadbayfortheSTS120 mission.

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 Afterhatchesareopened,TaniandAndersons specializedseatlinerswillbeexchangedinside theemergencyreturnSoyuzspacecraft;signify ing the crew members rotation between the spacestationandshuttle. Parazynski and Wheelock will enter the sta tions Quest airlock for the overnight campout proceduretoprepareforthefirstspacewalkon the next day. This procedure will be followed beforeeachspacewalk. Flightday4featuresthefirstoffivespacewalks duringSTS120.ParazynskiandWheelockwill prepareHarmonyforitsremovalfromDiscov erys payload bay, retrieve an Sband antenna for return to Earth and disconnect umbilicals betweentheP6andZ1trusselements. During the spacewalk Wilson, Tani and Andersonwilloperatethestationsroboticarm for the antenna retrieval, to unberth Harmony fromDiscoveryscargobayandinstallitonthe portsideofNode1,knownasUnity.Harmony will be secured in place on Unity through internal connections. Anderson and Zamka will close out the day with leak checks of the interfacebetweenUnityandHarmony. TheP6trussishandedbetweenthestations roboticarmandtheshuttlesroboticarm duringitsinstallation. Flight day 5 features the first ingress of Harmonyinspace.ThehatchesbetweenUnity and Harmony will be opened by Nespoli and Whitson. Outfitting of the stations newest pressurized module will continue throughout themission.Timealsoisallottedthisdayfora focusedinspectionofDiscoverysheatshield,if required. The missions second spacewalk occurs on flight day 6. Parazynski and Tani will assist with detaching the P6 truss from its current location, complete external outfitting of Harmony and replace a remote power controller,orcircuitbreaker.Wilson,Wheelock andAndersonwilloperatethestationsrobotic arm for the P6 removal and to place it in an overnightparkedposition. Thenextday,Wheelock,WilsonandAnderson will handoff the P6 element to the shuttle robotic arm, operated by Zamka and Melroy. The station robotic arm will then be moved down the stations truss atop the mobile transporter to a closer position for the P6 installation on the outboard, port side of the truss. The P6 will then be handed back to the station robotic arm for installation during the

ThestationsroboticarmplacestheHarmony moduleontotheportsideoftheUnity module.

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 next days spacewalk. Flight day 7 also includesoffdutytimeforthecrewmembersin themorning. On flight day 8, Tani and Wilson will use the stationsroboticarmtomoveP6toapreinstall position.Duringthemissionsthirdspacewalk, Parazynski and Wheelock will assist with attaching P6 to the P5 short spacer truss. The spacewalkers also will transfer the spare main busswitchingunithardwarefromDiscoveryto thespacestation.

protection system repair techniques. The primary purpose of the test is to evaluate STA54 material and a tile repair ablator dispenser for potential use in a microgravity andvacuumenvironment.

P6isguidedtoitsnewlocation bythestationroboticarm. Flightday11includesthefifthandfinalspace walk of the joint mission. The spacewalk will beconductedbystationresidents,Whitsonand Malenchenko, to complete several external sta tionconfigurationtasks. The crew will complete final transfer work, enjoy off duty time and then close the hatches between Discovery and the space station the eveningofflightday12. Discovery will undock early on flight day 13 andcompleteaflyaroundofthenewlyremod eledspacestation.Thecrewalsowillconducta detailed inspection of Discoverys heat shield for any indications of micrometeoroid debris impacts. Flightday14includesstandardpreparationsof Discoveryforentryandlandingonthefollow ingday,flightday15.

ThestationsroboticarmmovestheP6 upwardstoitsnewlocationatthe outboard,portsideofthetruss. The P6 solar array wings will be redeployed following the spacewalk. The ground control team will begin the deployment to one of 31 mast bays. Melroy, Zamka and Whitson will continuethefulldeploymentofthearrays. Flight day 9 includes transferring equipment between the shuttle and space station, as well aspreparationsforthenextspacewalk. The fourth spacewalk will be conducted on flight day 10 by Parazynski and Wheelock. They will perform Detailed Test Objective 848, a demonstration of space shuttle thermal

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MISSION OVERVIEW

TheP6solararraysareshowndeployedagainsttheblacknessofspaceontheendoftheporttruss.

MISSION OVERVIEW

OCTOBER 2007

TIMELINE OVERVIEW

FLIGHT DAY 1
Launch PayloadBayDoorOpening KuBandAntennaDeployment ShuttleRoboticArmActivationand Checkout UmbilicalWellandHandheldExternal TankVideoandStillsDownlink

SoyuzSeatLinerSwapandExpedition CrewExchangebyAndersonandTani StationtoShuttlePowerTransferSystem (SSPTS)Activation OBSSUnberthbyCanadarm2 ExtravehicularActivity(EVA)1Procedure Review EVA1CampoutbyParazynskiand Wheelock

FLIGHT DAY 2
DiscoveryThermalProtectionSystem SurveywithOrbiterBoomSensorSystem (OBSS) ExtravehicularMobilityUnitCheckout CenterlineCameraInstallation OrbiterDockingSystemRingExtension OrbitalManeuveringSystemPodSurvey RendezvousToolsCheckout

FLIGHT DAY 4
EVA1byParazynskiandWheelock (Node2UnberthPreparations,SBand AntennaRetrieval,P6/Z1Umbilical Disconnection) Harmony(Node2)UnberthandInstallation onPortSideofUnity(Node1) Harmony/UnityVestibuleLeakChecks

FLIGHT DAY 5
DiscoveryThermalProtectionSystem FocusedInspectionwithOBSS(ifrequired) HarmonyNode2VestibuleOutfittingand Ingress OBSSHandofftoShuttleRoboticArmand Berthing EVA2ProcedureReview EVA2CampoutbyParazynskiandTani

FLIGHT DAY 3
RendezvouswiththeInternationalSpace Station RendezvousPitchManeuverPhotography bytheExpedition16Crew DockingtotheStationsPressurizedMating Adapter2 HatchOpeningandWelcoming

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TIMELINE OVERVIEW

FLIGHT DAY 6
EVA2byParazynskiandTani (P6DetachmentfromZ1Truss,Harmony (Node2)Outfitting,RemotePower ControllerUnitReplacement,Harmony Node2PowerandDataGrappleFixture Installation) P6TrussGrapplebyCanadarm2and DematefromZ1Truss Harmony(Node2)Outfitting

FLIGHT DAY 9
ShuttleandStationTransfers JointCrewNewsConference EVAProcedureReview EVA4CampoutbyParazynskiand Wheelock

FLIGHT DAY 10
ShuttleandStationTransfers EVA4byParazynskiandWheelock (TileRepairDetailedTestObjective Demonstration) EVAProcedureReview EVA5CampoutbyWhitsonand Malenchenko

FLIGHT DAY 7
P6TrussHandofffromCanadarm2to ShuttleRoboticArm MobileTransporterMovetoFarPortSideof Truss CrewOffDutyPeriods P6TrussHandofffromShuttleRoboticArm toCanadarm2 HarmonyNode2AvionicsRackOutfitting EVAProcedureReview EVA3CampoutbyParazynskiand Wheelock

FLIGHT DAY 11
ShuttleandStationTransfers EVA5byWhitsonandMalenchenko (SSPTSCableStow,Destiny Lab/PressurizedMatingAdapter2Stow, RemovalofHarmonyActiveCommon BerthingMechanismCover,Reconfigure S0Truss/UnityNode1andZarya Module/PressurizedMatingAdapter1 PowerandJumperCables)

FLIGHT DAY 8
EVA3byParazynskiandWheelock (P6/P5Installation,MainBusSwitching UnitTransfer) P6TrussInstallationtoP5Truss P64Band2BSolarArrayRedeployment

FLIGHT DAY 12
CrewOffDutyPeriods FarewellsandHatchClosing

TIMELINE OVERVIEW

OCTOBER 2007

FLIGHT DAY 13
UndockingfromISSPressurizedMating Adapter2andFlyaround FinalSeparationfromtheInternational SpaceStation OBSSUnberthandLateInspectionof DiscoverysThermalProtectionSystem OBSSFinalBerthing

ReactionControlSystemHotFireTest CrewDeorbitBriefing LaunchandEntrySuitCheckout RecumbentSeatSetUpforAnderson KuBandAntennaStow

FLIGHT DAY 15
DeorbitPreparations PayloadBayDoorClosing DeorbitBurn KennedySpaceCenterLanding

FLIGHT DAY 14
CabinStow FlightControlSystemCheckout

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TIMELINE OVERVIEW

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MISSION PROFILE

OCTOBER 2007

MISSION PROFILE

CREW
Commander: Pilot: MissionSpecialist1: MissionSpecialist2: MissionSpecialist3: MissionSpecialist4: MissionSpecialist5: MissionSpecialist5: PamMelroy GeorgeZamka ScottParazynski StephanieWilson DougWheelock PaoloNespoli DanielTani(up) ClaytonAnderson (down)

Space Shuttle Main Engines:

SSME1: SSME2: SSME3: ExternalTank: SRBSet: RSRMSet: 2050 2048 2058 ET120 BI131 98

SHUTTLE ABORTS
Abort Landing Sites
RTLS: KennedySpaceCenterShuttle LandingFacility PrimaryZaragoza,Spain AlternatesMoron,Spainand Istres,France PrimaryKennedySpaceCenter ShuttleLandingFacility; AlternateWhiteSandsSpace Harbor

LAUNCH
Orbiter: LaunchSite: LaunchDate: LaunchTime: Discovery(OV103) KennedySpaceCenter LaunchPad39A Noearlierthan Oct.23,2007 11:38a.m.EDT(Preferred InPlanelaunchtimefor 10/23) 5Minutes 122NauticalMiles(140 Miles)OrbitalInsertion; 185NM(213Miles) Rendezvous 51.6Degrees 13Days,18Hours, 09Minutes

TAL:

AOA:

LaunchWindow: Altitude:

Landing
Noearlierthan Nov.6,2007 LandingTime: 4:47a.m.EST PrimarylandingSite: KennedySpaceCenter ShuttleLandingFacility LandingDate:

Inclination: Duration:

PAYLOADS
Node 2 - Harmony

VEHICLE DATA
ShuttleLiftoffWeight: Orbiter/PayloadLiftoffWeight: 4,524,141 pounds 286,211 pounds

Orbiter/PayloadLandingWeight: 201,895 pounds SoftwareVersion: OI32

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MISSION PROFILE

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MISSION PRIORITIES
1. Node2Installation 2. CrewRotation 3. P6RelocationfromZ1toP5 4. P6Activation (a) DeployP6forwardradiator (b) DeployP6SolarArrays(2Band4B) 5. DeployS1radiatorouterpanels 6. OrbitalReplacementUnit Installation/Return (a) Node2PowerandDataGrapple FixtureInstall,SbandAntenna SupportAssembly(SASA)/Baseband SignalProcessor(BSP)Return,Main BusSwitchingUnitInstall,Remote PowerControllerModuleR&R 7. CargoTransferfrom/tomiddeck 8. PreparationsforPMA2Relocationand Node2FluidUmbilicalTrayRelocationand AvionicsConnections 9. InternalThermalControlSystem Remediation 10. Oxygen/NitrogenTransfer 11. Node2IngressandOutfitting 12. DetailedTestObjectives:TileRepair AblatorDispenser;StationWireless InstrumentationSystem;CarbonDioxide monitoring;MultiProtocolConverterfor liveHDTVdownlink

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MISSION PROFILE

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MISSION PERSONNEL

KEY CONSOLE POSITIONS FOR STS-120

Ascent

Flt.Director
NormKnight

CAPCOM
TerryVirts LeeArchambault (Weather) ChrisFerguson TonyAntonelli ShannonLucid TerryVirts LeeArchambault (Weather) N/A HalGetzelman KevinFord ZackJones N/A

PAO
KylieClem

Orbit1(Lead) Orbit2 Planning Entry

RickLaBrode MikeMoses MikeSarafin BryanLunney

KylieClem(Lead) NicoleLemasters PatRyan KylieClem

ShuttleTeam4 ISSOrbit1 ISSOrbit2(Lead) ISSOrbit3 StationTeam4

PaulDye DanaWeigel DerekHassmann HeatherRarick GingerKerrick

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

JSCPAORepresentativeatKSCforLaunchJohnIraPetty KSCLaunchCommentatorMikeCurie(Fueling) KSCLaunchDirectorMikeLeinbach NASALaunchTestDirectorStevePayne

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OCTOBER 2007

STS-120 DISCOVERY CREW

The STS120 patch reflects the role of the mis sion in the future of the space program. The shuttlepayloadbaycarriestheHarmonymod ule, the doorway to the future international laboratory elements on the International Space Station. Ontheleftthestarrepresentsthespacestation; the red colored points represent the current locationoftheP6solararrays,furledandawait ing relocation when the crew arrives. During the mission, the crew will move P6 to its final home at the end of the port truss. The gold pointsrepresenttheP6solararraysintheirnew location, unfurled and producing power for scienceandlifesupport. On the right, the moon and Mars can be seen representingthefutureofNASA.Theconstel lationOrionrisesinthebackground,symboliz ing NASAs new crew exploration vehicle. Through all, the shuttle rises up and away, leadingthewaytothefuture.

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DiscoveryssevenastronautstakeabreakfromtrainingtoposefortheSTS120crewportrait. PicturedfromtheleftaremissionspecialistsScottParazynski,DougWheelock,StephanieWilson, PilotGeorgeZamka,CommanderPamMelroy,Expedition16FlightEngineerDanielTaniand PaoloNespoli,amissionspecialistfromItalyrepresentingtheEuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA). Thecrewmembersareattiredintrainingversionsoftheirshuttlelaunchandentrysuits. Short biographical sketches of the crew follow withdetailedbackgroundavailableat: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/

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CREW

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STS-120 CREW BIOGRAPHIES

PamMelroy of the mission, orbiter systems operations and A retired Air Force colonel, Pam Melroy will flight operations, including landing. In addi lead the crew of STS120 on the 23rd shuttle tion,Melroywillflytheshuttleinarendezvous mission to the International Space Station. pitch maneuver while Discovery is 600 feet MelroyservedasthepilotofSTS92in2000and below the station to enable the station crew to STS112 in 2002. Making her third spaceflight, photograph the shuttles heat shield. She will she has logged more than 562 hours in space. thendockDiscoverytothestation. She has overall responsibility for the execution

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GeorgeZamka MarineCol.GeorgeZamkahasmorethan4,000 flight hours in more than 30 different aircraft. Hewillmakehisfirstjourneyintospaceasthe pilotofspaceshuttleDiscoveryfortheSTS120 mission.SelectedbyNASAin1998,Zamkahas servedinvarioustechnicalandleadershiproles intheastronautoffice.Hehasbeentheleadfor the shuttle training and procedures division and the supervisor for the astronaut candidate classof2004.Hewillberesponsiblefororbiter systemsoperationsandwillhelpMelroyinthe rendezvous and docking with the station. Zamka will undock Discovery fromthestation attheendofthejointmission.Hewillalsobe operating the shuttle robotic arm for various activities,includingthehandoffoftheP6truss.

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CREW

OCTOBER 2007

ScottParazynski niquesdevelopment.Hewillserveasthelead Amedicaldoctor,mountaineerandformerU.S spacewalker and will conduct four of the five Luge Team athlete, veteran astronaut Scott spacewalks during the mission. The space Parazynski will be making his fifth spaceflight walks are focused on installation of Node 2, on STS120 as mission specialist 1. He has robotically relocating the P6 truss element and loggedmorethan1,019hoursinspace,includ evaluating material and a dispenser for poten ing 20 hours of spacewalking time. Following tial space shuttle tile repair. Parazynski also the Columbia tragedy, Parazynski was the willbeoperatingtheshuttleroboticarmduring astronaut lead for the space shuttle Thermal heatshieldinspections. Protection System inspection and repair tech

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StephanieWilson AstronautStephanieWilsonwillbemakingher second spaceflight for STS120 as mission spe cialist 2. Selected as an astronaut in 1996, she loggedmorethan306hoursinspaceduringthe STS121missionin2006.Wilsonwillbeonthe flight deck during launch and landing, serving as the flight engineer to assist Melroy and Zamka.Shewillbeheavilyinvolvedinoperat ingboththeshuttleandstationroboticarmsfor the shuttle thermal protection system inspec tions, spacewalk activities, Node 2 installation andtheP6trusselementandsolararrayreloca tion.

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CREW

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DougWheelock Army Col. Doug Wheelock will be making his first flight into space aboard Discovery as missionspecialist3.Hehasabachelorsdegree in applied science and engineering from the U.S.MilitaryAcademyandamastersdegreein aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech. Wheelock has logged more than 2,500 flight hours in 43 different rotary and fixedwing aircraft. Selected as an astronaut in 1996, he served as the crew support astronaut for Expedition2in2001andasNASAsDirectorof OperationsinStarCity,Russiain2005.During STS120, he will conduct three spacewalks and operatetheshuttleroboticarm.

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PaoloNespoli EuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA) astronaut Paolo Nespoliwillbemakinghisfirstspaceflight.He received a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering in 1988 and a Master of Science in aeronautics and astronautics in 1989 from the Polytechnic University of New York. He was selected as an astronaut by the Italian space agency(ASI)inJuly1998and,onemonthlater, joined ESAs European astronaut corps. In August 1998, he was relocated to NASAs JohnsonSpaceCenterandassigned to the 27th NASA Astronaut Class. He was assigned to STS120 in June 2006. As mission specialist 4 fortheSTS120mission,hewillserveasoneof the shuttle robotics officers for the survey of Discoverys wings and nose cap using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System. He will handle rendezvoustoolsinpreparationforDiscoverys rendezvousanddockingwiththeInternational SpaceStationonflightday3.Hewillserveas theintravehicularcrewmember,orspacewalk choreographer, for the first four spacewalks to help install Node 2, relocate the P6 truss and test shuttle heat shield repair techniques. He will be seated on the middeck for launch and ontheflightdeckforentry.

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CREW

OCTOBER 2007

DanielTani Veteran space shuttle flyer Daniel Tani will serve as a flight engineer aboard the Interna tional Space Station. He will travel to the sta tion on STS120 and stay with Expedition 16. He is scheduled to return to Earth on Atlantis during STS122. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate, Tani joined NASA in 1996. He served in numerous roles, including theEVABranchandasaCrewSupportAstro nautforExpedition4.TaniflewonSTS108in 2001 and has logged more than 11 days in space, including a spacewalk to wrap thermal blanketsaroundISSSolarArrayGimbals.Dur ing STS120, Tani will perform the second spacewalk and operate the station robotic arm for the P6 relocation, Node 2 installation and variousspacewalkactivities.

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MISSION PERSONNEL

OCTOBER 2007

PAYLOAD OVERVIEW

HarmonyisshownattachedtotheDestinymoduleinthemiddleoftheimageabove.

HARMONY (NODE 2)
Expansion of the International Space Station willcontinuewiththedeliveryoftheHarmony connectingmodule.Harmonywilltraveltothe stationinsidespaceshuttleDiscoveryspayload bay during STS120, also known as Assembly Flight 10A. Harmonys addition sets the stage forthearrivalofnewresearchlaboratories. Also known as Node 2, Harmony will be the first pressurized module added to the station since the Russian Pirs Docking Compartment was installed in September 2001. Harmony joins three other named U.S. modules on the station: the Destiny laboratory, the Quest air

lockandtheUnitynode.Themostrecentaddi tionwastheQuestairlockinJuly2001. Harmony, measuring 23.6 feet long, 14.5 feet wide and weighing 31,500 pounds, is a utility hub, providing air, electrical power, water and other systems essential to support life on the station. It will distribute resources from the stations truss to the Destiny lab and to the European Space Agencys Columbus Research Laboratory and the Japanese Experiment Mod ule(Kibo),whentheyareaddedtothestation. The module will act as an internal connecting port and passageway to additional interna tionalsciencelabsandcargospacecraft.

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ThepictureaboveshowsHarmonysfutureportutilizationasthespacestationexpands. Inadditiontoincreasingthelivingandworking space inside the station by more than 2,500cubicfeet,itsexteriorwillserveasawork platform for the stations robotic arm, Cana darm2. Harmony is similar in shape to the Unity module, known also as Node 1, which waslaunchedin1998.Unitylinks theDestiny labandtheRussianZaryaModule. HarmonywasdesignedandbuiltforNASAby Thales Alenia Space in Torino, Italy, as part of an agreement between NASA and the Euro pean Space Agency. The Boeing Company providedalargenumberofHarmonyssubsys tem components, including lights, fans, power switches and converters, racks, air diffusers, smoke detectors, hatches and Common Berth ing Mechanisms. The nodes subsystems were testedbyThalesAleniatoensuretheyoperated within specifications common to all station elements. Boeing alsobuilt, installedontoHarmony,and tested five Active Common Berthing Mechanisms(ACBMs).Themechanismsenable onorbit mating and airtight seals between ISS pressurized elements. The ACBMs consist of powered,computercontrolledcomponentsthat align capture and are secured to the passive CBMs.TheCBMsystemisusedthroughoutthe stationtomatearrivingpressurizedelementsto the existing onorbit platform. The system is comprisedoftwomatingstructures:theactive half on the ISS and the passive half used on arrivingstructures.

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 Node 2 Specifications Dimensions: Length: 23.6 ft. Diameter: 14.5 ft. Weight: 31,500 lbs.

Pressurized Volume: 2,666 cubic ft. Habitable Volume: Exterior Structure: Equipment Racks: 1,230 cubic ft. Aluminum cylindrical sections, 2 endcones 8

While the active CBM contains all of the pow ered components and associated alignment hardware for berthing, the passive CBM con figurations include the reciprocal mating fit tings and alignment components, inclusive of the atmospheric seal. In a precisely controlled sequence of events, the ISS remote manipula tion system positions the mating module pas sive CBM near the ISS active CBM for the automated berthing, resulting in a structurally sealedassembly.

Node2willlaunchwith4AvionicsRacks, 2ResupplyStowageRacks(RSRs)loaded withcargo,and2ZerogStowageRacks. ShowherearetheRSRs.

Naming the Module

On March 15, 2007, Node 2 received its name after a competition involving more than 2,200 students from 32 states. Six different schools submittedHarmony. A panel of NASA educators, engineers, scien tists and senior agency managers selected the name because it symbolizes the spirit of inter national cooperation embodied by the station, aswellasthemodulesspecificroleinconnect ingtheinternationalpartnermodules. The Node 2 Challenge required students to learn about the space station, build a scale modelandwriteanessayexplainingtheirpro posednameforthemodulethatwillserveasa centralhubforsciencelabs. Harmony is the first U.S. piece of the space stationnamedbypeopleoutsideofNASA.

Boeingemployeesareshown workingonHarmony.

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Installation
Harmonys installation is a twostep process. First, Discovery will dock to pressurized mat ing adapter2 (PMA2), located on the end of Destiny. Then, the crew will attach the new moduletoatemporarypositionontheoutside of Unity. On orbit, PMA2 is outfitted with a PressurizedCommonBerthingMechanism.

After Discoveryleaves,theExpedition 16crew will use Canadarm2 to move PMA2 to the forwardport,ontooneofthefiveactiveCMBs on Harmony. Then, the crew will use the arm to move and install Harmony to its permanent locationattheendofDestiny.

ShownherearethestepstoinstallUnityNode2ontoNode1 usingtheshuttleandstationroboticarms.

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AftViewofHarmony

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Thispageintentionallyleftblank.

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STATION RELOCATION ACTIVITIES

PORT 6 SOLAR ARRAYS RELOCATION

The International Space Station derives its powerfromtheconversionofsolarenergyinto electrical power. The P6 Photovoltaic Power Module (PVM) or Port 6 performs this energy conversion and is one of four such modules on the station. (One more, S6, will be launchedonSTS119.)TheP6hasfourprimary functions: the conversion or generation, storage,regulationanddistributionofelectrical power for the station. P6 has two identical PVMsthatconsistoftwomajorelementscalled the Solar Array Assembly (SAA) containing two Solar Array Wings (SAW) connected to a mast. The wings are presently folded into a

mast canister for relocation and eventual deployment. Most of the electronics are contained in the Integrated Equipment Assembly(IEA),whichisdesignedtocondition and store the electrical power collected by the photovoltaicarraysforuseaboardthestation. The integrated truss segments started with Starboard 0 (S0) as the center assignment and werenumberedinascendingorderoutwardto theportandstarboardsides.Atonetime,anS2 andP2wereplanned,butthosesegmentswere eliminated when the station design was scaled back. From S0, the truss segments are P1, P3, P4,P5andP6,andS1,S3,S4,S5,andS6.

P6isshowninstalledonthefarright,whileHarmonyisshownattachedtoDestiny.

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 P6 Specifications Dimensions: Width: 35 ft. Length: 240 ft. Retracted Dimensions: Width: 16 ft Length: 35 ft Weight: Launched: Cost:

is trained to identify the warning signs and immediately stop the deployment. The indicator is the rising of the array tension bar. This will ensure no structural damage to the array occurs. If needed, astronauts will perform a contingency spacewalk on flight day10,ifthereareproblemsingettingthesolar arraysproperlydeployed. Following successful deployment, the P6 array will be brought back on line again along with P6andP4.TherearetwoSolarArrayWingson the P6 module yielding a total power genera tion capability approaching 66 kilowatts of unregulatedpowerpriortodistribution.

34,994 lbs. STS-97 11/30/2000 $275,968,083

P6ispresentlyinorbitandattachedtothetruss segmentZenith1(Z1).Onflightday6during thesecondspacewalk,P6willbedematedfrom theZ1trussi.e.separatedfromtheRocketdyne Truss Attachment System (RTAS). During flight day 7, P6 will be handed off from the stations robotic arm to the shuttles arm. During this time, the mobile transporter with the stations robotic arm attached will travel along thestationstruss structure rails to work sitenumber8.P6willthenbehandedofftothe stations robotic arm. During flight day 8, the stations robotic arm will move P6 to the pre install position. During the missions third spacewalk on flight day 8, astronauts will attach P6 to the P5 short spacer. Following docking, the P6 solar array wings (2B/4B) will be deployed as well as the radiator. The solar arrays wings will be deployed on flight day 8. Due to the issues with the retraction of these arrays, testing was done to ensure the guide wires would not impact the deploy process. The key difference during deployment is that there is significantly more force available during deploy to pull the guide wire through the grommets so a snag is highly unlikely. In theeventofasnagoranyotherissue,thecrew

Major Elements Photovoltaic Module (PVMs)

Theprimaryfunctionsofthepowermoduleare to collect, convert, store, and distribute electri cal power to loads within the segment and to other station segments. Electrical power is the most critical resource for the station because it allows astronauts to live comfortably, safely operatethestationandperformcomplexscien tific experiments. Since the only readily avail ablesourceofenergyforspacecraftissunlight, technologiesweredevelopedtoefficientlycon vertsolarenergytoelectricalpower. The PVMs use large numbers of solar cells assembled onto solar arrays to produce high power levels. NASA and Lockheed Martin developed a method of mounting the solar arraysonablanketthatcanbefoldedlikean accordion for delivery to space and then deployed to their full size once in orbit. The cells are made from purified crystal ingots of silicon that directly convert light to electricity for immediate use through a process called photovoltaics.

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PhotovoltaicModule Gimbals are used to rotate the arrays so that they face the sun to provide maximum power to the space station. After the conversion process, the PVMs also use the electricity to recharge onboard batteries for continuous sources of electricity while the station is in the Earths shadow. The complete power system, consisting of U.S. and Russian hardware, will generate approximately 80 kilowatts of total power. PVM components were assembled by The BoeingCompanyinTulsa,Okla.,andLockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, Calif., before final assemblyandtestingbyBoeingattheKennedy SpaceCenter,Fla.

Solar Array Wings (SAW)

TherearetwoSAWsdesigned,builtandtested byLockheedMartininSunnyvale,Calif.,onthe P6 module, and deployed in the opposite direction from each other. Each SAW is made upoftwosolarblanketsmountedtoacommon mast.Beforedeployment,eachpanelisfolded accordion style into a Solar Array Blanket Box measuring20incheshighand15feetinlength. Eachblanketisonlyabout20inchesthickwhile in this stored position. The mast consists of interlocking battens that are stowed for launch

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 inside a Mast Canister Assembly (MCA) designed, built and tested by ATKAble. The blanket boxes are deployed prior to SAW deploy. While the P6 SAWs are retracted for relocation,theblanketboxeswillremaininthe deployedposition. Whenfullydeployed,theSAWextends115feet and spans 38 feet and extends to each side of theIntegratedEquipmentAssembly.Sincethe secondSAWisdeployedintheoppositedirec tion,thetotalwingspanismorethan240feet.

EachSAWweighsmorethan2,400poundsand uses 32,800 solar array cells per wing, each measuring8cmsquarewith4,100diodes.The individual cells were made by Boeings SpectrolabandASEC.Thereare400solararray cells to a string and there are 82 strings per wing. Each SAW is capable of generating nearly 32.8 kilowatts of direct current power. TherearetwoSAWsontheP6moduleyielding a total power generation capability approaching66kilowattsofunregulatedpower priortodistribution.

SolarArrayWings

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Beta Gimbal Assembly (BGA)

The solar array wings also are oriented by the Beta Gimbal Assembly, which can change the pitch of the wings by spinning the solar array. Theassemblymeasures3by3by3feet.The assemblys most visual functions are to deploy andretracttheSAWandrotateitaboutitslon gitudinal axis. The assembly consists of three majorcomponents:theBearing,MotorandRoll RingModule(BMRRM), theElectronic Control Unit (ECU) and the Beta Gimbal Transition Structure. The BGA was designed by Boeing Rocketdyne in Canoga Park, Calif., which has sincebeenacquiredbyPrattandWhitney.The Sequential Shunt Unit (SSU) that serves to manage and distribute the power generated fromthearraysalsoismountedoneachassem bly platform. The Sequential Shunt Unit was designedbythecompanySpaceSystems/Loral. Both the Solar Alpha Rotary Joints (SARJ) (locatedbetweentheP3andP4andtheS3and S4 elements) and Beta Gimbal Assemblies are pointing mechanisms and mechanical devices usedtopointthearraystowardthesun.They can follow an angle target and rotate to that targetinthedirectiontowardthesun.Inorbit controllerscontinuouslyupdatethosetargetsso it keeps moving continuously as the station orbits the Earth approximately every 90minutes,maintainingcontactwiththesunat the same orbital rate. The SARJ mechanism, whichrotatestheP4andP6(anditscompanion S4 and eventually S6) arrays like a large waterwheel, will move much more than the Beta Gimbal Assembly, which moves about fourorfivedegreesperday,whereastheSARJ will rotate 360 degrees every orbit or about 4degreesperminute.

Direct Current Switching Unit (DCSU)

Power received from each photovoltaic array assembly (PVAA) is fed directly into the appropriate DCSU, a highpower, multipath remotely controlled unit used for primary and secondary power distribution, protection and faultisolationwithintheIntegratedEquipment Assembly. TheDCSU alsodistributesprimary power to the station. During periods of sunlight, the DCSU routes primary power directly to the station from its PVAA and also routes power to the power storage system for batterycharging.Duringperiodsofeclipse,the DCSU routes power from the power storage system to the station. The DCSU measures 28by40by12inchesandweighs238pounds.

Direct Current to Direct Current Converter Unit (DDCU)

PrimarypowerfromtheDCSUisdistributedto the DDCU, a power processing system that conditions the coarsely regulated power from thePVAAto123+/2voltdirectcurrent.Ithas a maximum power output of 6.25 kilowatts. This power is used for all station operations employing secondary power. By transmitting powerathighervoltagesandsteppingitdown to lower voltages where the power is to be used, much like municipal power systems, the station can use smaller wires to transmit this electrical power and thus reduce launch loads. The converters also isolate the secondary system from the primary system and maintain uniform power quality throughout the station. TheDDCUmeasures27.25by23by12inches andweighs129pounds.

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Battery Charge/Discharge Unit (BCDU)

Primary power from the DCSU also is distrib utedtothethreepowerstoragesystemswithin each channel of the IEA. The power storage system consists of a Battery Charge/Discharge Unit (BCDU) and two battery subassembly OrbitalReplacementUnits.TheBCDUservesa dual function of charging the batteries during solar collection periods and providing condi tioned battery power to the primary power busses (via the DCSU) during eclipse periods. TheBCDUhasa battery charging capability of 8.4 kilowatts and a discharge capability of 6.6kilowatts. The BCDU also includes provi sions for battery status monitoring and protec tionfrompowercircuitfaults.Commandingof the BCDU is from the Photovoltaic Controller Unit (PVCU). The BCDU measures 28 by 40 by12inchesandweighs235pounds.

the solar array to the SSU. Shunting, or controlling, the output of each string regulates the amount of power transferred. The regulated voltage setpoint is controlled by a computer located on the IEA and is normally set to around 160 volts. The SSU has an overvoltage protection feature to maintain the output voltage below 200 V DC maximum for all operating conditions. This power is then passed through the Bearing Motor and Roll RingModule(BMRRM)totheDCSUlocatedin the IEA. The SSU measures 32 by 20 by 12 inchesandweighs185pounds.

Photovoltaic Thermal Control System (PVTCS)

To maintain the electronics at safe operating temperatures in the harsh space environments, they are conditioned by the PVTCS. The PVTCS consist of ammonia coolant, 11 cold plates, two Pump Flow Control Subassemblies (PFCS)andonePhotovoltaicRadiator(PVR). The coldplate subassemblies are an integral part of the IEA structural framework. Heat is transferred from the IEA orbital replacement unit electronic boxes to the coldplates via fine interweavingfinslocatedonboththecoldplate and the electronic boxes. The fins add lateral structuralstiffnesstothecoldplatesinaddition toincreasingtheavailableheattransferarea.

Battery Subassembly Orbital Replacement Units

Each battery subassembly ORU consists of 38lightweight nickel hydrogen cells and asso ciated electrical and mechanical equipment. Two battery subassembly ORUs connected in seriesarecapableofstoring8kilowattsofelec trical power. This power is fed to the station via the BCDU and DCSU respectively. The batterieshaveadesignlifeof6.5yearsandcan exceed 38,000 charge/discharge cycles at 35percent depth of discharge. Each battery measures 41 by 37 by 19 inches and weighs 372pounds.

Pump Flow Control Subassemblies (PFCS)

The PFCS is the heart of the thermal system, consisting of all the pumping capacity, valves andcontrolsrequiredtopumptheheattransfer fluid to the coldplates and radiator, and regulatethetemperatureofthethermalcontrol system ammonia coolant. The PVTCS is designed to dissipate 6,000 watts of heat per orbitonaverageandiscommandedbytheIEA

Sequential Shunt Unit (SSU)

The SSU is designed to coarsely regulate the solar power collected during periods of isolation when the arrays collect power during sunpointing periods. A sequence of 82separate strings, or power lines, leads from

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 computer. Each PFCS consumes 275 watts during normal operations and measures approximately 40 by 29 by 19inches, weighing235pounds.

PFCSs on the IEA. In total, the PVR can reject upto14kilowattsofheatintodeepspace.The PVR weighs 1,633 pounds and when deployed measures44by12by7feet.

Photovoltaic Radiator (PVR)

The PVR the radiator is deployable on orbitandcomprisedoftwoseparateflowpaths through seven panels. Each flow path is inde pendent and is connected to one of the two

P5 Long Spacer
The P5 Long Spacer physically separates the P6solararraysfromtheP4solararrays.

P6uninstallusingSpaceStationsRemoteManipulatorSystem(roboticarm)

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P6handofffromtheSpaceStationRemoteManipulatorSystem(SSRMS) toShuttleRemoteManipulatorSystem(SRMS)andSSRMSungrapple

ShuttleRemoteManipulatorSystem(SRMS)handoffofP6 totheSSRMSatWorksite8

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ThestationcrewmaneuversP6tothepreinstallposition.

ThecrewdrivesthemanualcapturelatchandboltmechanismstoinstallP6ontoP5.

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PRESSURIZED MATING ADAPTER-2 (PMA-2) RELOCATION

The Boeingbuilt Pressurized Mating Adapters (PMA) permit pressurized spacecraft to dock with oneanother despite differences in the diametersofthespacecraftadapters.Theyalso provide passageways for crew, equipment and supplies. TheInternationalSpaceStationusesthreePres surized Mating Adapters (PMAs). PMAs one andtwowerelaunchedwiththeUnitymodule

aboard STS88 on Dec. 4, 1998. The third launched aboard STS92 on Oct. 11, 2000, and installedontheUnityNadirportinpreparation of Destiny laboratory installation. PMA2 was temporarilyrelocatedoffofNode1toZenith1 (Z1) Manual Berthing Mechanism until Des tiny installation was completed on STS98 on Feb. 7, 2001. Following installation of Destiny onto Unity, PMA2 was relocated from Z1 Manual Berthing Mechanism to Destinys for wardendcone,whereithasremaineduntilthe STS120mission.

Harmony (Node 2)

Unity (Node 1)

Destiny (US Lab)

PMA 2
PicturedaboveistheHarmony(Node2)moduleinstalledontheUnity(Node1)portCommon BerthingMechanism.TheBoeingbuiltPressurizedMatingAdapter2isshownatthebottomof theU.S.DestinylaboratorybeforerelocationontoHarmony,scheduledaftertheshuttleundocks.

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 P6 Specifications Dimensions: Weight: Launched: Cost:

Width: 8 ft. Length: 5 ft. 2,504 lbs. STS-88 12/04/1998 $219,254,000

formedbythesedevicesthatpulltogether,lock andsealadifferentmethodthanthebump totrip latch, then seal procedure that most spacecraftusetodock. During STS120, space shuttle Discovery will docktoPMA2.Whenashuttledockswiththe station, its final approachis ata relative veloc ityofonetenthofafootpersecondasitmakes contact with PMA2. As the latches automati cally attach the two spacecraft together and once relative motion between the spacecraft stops, a shuttle astronaut retracts the docking ringontheshuttlesmechanism,closinglatches tofirmlysecuretheshuttletothestation. On Aug. 30, 2007, PMA3 was moved to the nadirhatchofUnity(Node1)tomakeroomfor the temporary berthing of Harmony. During flight day 4 of Flight 10A, the space station roboticarmwillmoveHarmonyfromtheshut tlecargobaytoatemporarylocationattheport hatchofUnity.

PMA1 has computers mounted externally for useincommand andcontrol ofUnity.PMA2 and PMA3 are interchangeable with each other. Because PMAs are pressurized and heated, they also serve as short, tunnellike bridgesthatcrewscanusetogofromonepart ofthestationtoanother,aswellasbetweenthe station and spacecraft that are docked there. PMAs also include mechanical interfaces, spacewalk hardware and thermal control equipment, electrical power subsystem and command and data handling passthroughs. PMA2 also passes high pressure oxygen and nitrogenfromtheorbitertothestation. All three PMAs perform the same basic func tionofconnectingaCommonBerthingMecha nism (CBM) port of a station module to the Androgynous Peripheral Attach System (APAS) docking port of another module or visitingspacecraft.PMAs1,2,&3eachhavea passive CBM port. Of the 3 PMAs, PMA1 is the only one with an active APAS and it was operatedonlyonetimeonSTS88inmatingthe FunctionalCargoBlock(FGB)toPMA1.PMAs 2&3eachhaveapassiveAPASport.TheCBM is on the big end of the PMA and the APAS is onthesmallend.TheCBMisusedtoconnect station hardware elements while the APAS is used for docking spacecraft. Airtight seals are

PMA2isshownattachedtothe U.S.Destinylaboratory

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 At shuttle undock plus 2, the stations robotic armwillunberthPMA2fromtheU.S.Destiny laboratoryandplaceitontheforwardhatchof Harmony. At shuttle undock plus 4, the sta tion arm then will move the integrated stack (PMA2 and Node2) to its final location Destinys forward endcone. The combined operationtorelocatePMA2toitsfinalposition onHarmonyisexpectedtotake10to12hours with the actual robotic operation estimated to takeabouttwohours. Pressurized Mating Adapters are Boeing prod ucts,builtinHuntingtonBeach,Calif.Thetight seal that permits shirtsleeved transit between

station elements and spacecraft is provided in partbyCommonBerthingMechanismtechnol ogy. Onthedayofshuttleundock,Harmonywillbe ingressed for the Centerline Berthing Camera System (CBCS) installation. The CBCS is needed to berth the PMA2 to Harmony. The labPMA2 umbilicals are disconnected during STS120sfifth spacewalk.PMA2 will be relo cated two days after shuttle undocking. The labPMA2 umbilicals will be reconnected dur ing Expedition 16/10A Stage spacewalks planned for Nov. 14 (USOS EVA 10) and Nov.18(USOSEVA11).

RelocationofPMA2

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ShownhereisadrawingofPMA2.TheoutsidediameteroftheACBMandPCBMdiameter isapproximately80inches.TheISSCommonhatchopeningisapprox48inchesx48inches. TheAPASoutsidediameterisapproximately56inches.APAShatchopening isapproximately31.5inches.

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RelocationofHarmony(Node2) ShownherearethestepstorelocatetheHarmony(Node2)moduletoitsfinalposition attheendoftheDestinylab.PMA2isshownhereattheendofHarmony.This relocationwillbedoneapproximatelyfourdaysafterthespaceshuttleundocks.

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RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING

DuringSTS118,theSpaceShuttleEndeavourflewintopositionforaphotosurveyby crewmembersaboardtheInternationalSpaceStation.ARussianspacecraft,docked tothestation,canbeseenintherightforeground. The shuttle launch is timed precisely to place the orbiter on the correct trajectory and course for its twoday chase of the station. Periodic enginefiringswillgraduallybringDiscoveryto about50,000feetbehindthestationthestart ingpointforafinalapproach. About 2.5 hours before docking, Discoverys jets will befired during whatiscalled theTer minalInitiationburntobeginthefinalphaseof the rendezvous. Discovery will close the final milestothestationduringthenextorbit. As Discovery moves closer to the station, the shuttles rendezvous radar system and trajectorycontrolsensorwilltrackthecomplex and provide range and closing rate data to the crew. During the final approach, Discovery willexecuteseveralsmallmidcoursecorrection burnsthatwillplacetheshuttleabout1,000feet directly below the station. STS120 Commander Pam Melroy then will manually control the shuttle for the remainder of the approachanddocking.

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 digital cameras. The imagery is one of several inspectiontechniquestodeterminethehealthof theshuttlesthermalprotectionsystem,includ ingthetilesandreinforcedcarboncarbonwing leadingedgesandnosecap. Thephotoswillbedownlinkedthroughthesta tions Kuband communications system for analysis by systems engineers and mission managers. WhenDiscoverycompletesitsrotation,itspay loadbaywillbefacingthestation. Melroy then willmove Discovery to a position about400feetdirectlyinfrontofthestationin preparationforthefinalapproachtodockingto theDestinydockingport. The shuttles crew members operate laptop computersprocessingthenavigationaldata,the laser range systems and Discoverys docking mechanism. Using a view from a camera mounted in the center of the Orbiter Docking System, Melroy willpreciselymatchupthedockingportsofthe twospacecraft.Ifnecessary,shewilltemporar ily pause 30 feet from the station to ensure properalignmentofthedockingmechanisms.

ISScrewmemberswillphotographDiscovery duringtheRendezvousPitchManeuver. Melroywillstoptheapproach600feetbeneath the station to ensure proper lighting for imagery prior to initiating the standard RendezvousPitchManeuver(RPM),orbackflip. Melroy will maneuver Discovery through a 9minute, 360degree backflip that allows the stationcrewtotakeasmanyas300digitalpic turesoftheshuttlesheatshield. Onverbal cuefrom PilotGeorgeZamka to the station crew, Melroy will command Discovery to begin a noseforward, threequarter of a degreepersecondrotationalbackflip. Both400and800mmdigitalcameralenseswill be used to photograph Discovery by station crew members. The 400 mm lens provides up to 3inch resolution and the 800 mm lens can provide up to 1inch resolution. The imagery includes the upper surfaces of the shuttle as well as Discoverys underside, capturing pic tures of the nose landing gear door seals, the main landing gear door seals and the elevon cove. Thephotoswillbetakenoutofwindowsinthe Zvezda Service Module using Kodak DCS 760

TheISS,asviewedbySpaceShuttle EndeavoursSTS118astronauts.

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Rendezvous Approach Profile

Space Shuttle Rendezvous Maneuvers

OMS-1 (Orbit insertion) Rarely used ascent burn. OMS-2 (Orbit insertion) Typically used to circularize the initial orbit following ascent, completing orbital insertion. For ground-up rendezvous flights, also considered a rendezvous phasing burn. NC (Rendezvous phasing) Performed to hit a range relative to the target at a future time. NH (Rendezvous height adjust) Performed to hit a delta-height relative to the target at a future time. NPC (Rendezvous plane change) Performed to remove planar errors relative to the target at a future time. NCC (Rendezvous corrective combination) First on-board targeted burn in the rendezvous sequence. Using star tracker data, it is performed to remove phasing and height errors relative to the target at Ti. Ti (Rendezvous terminal intercept) Second on-board targeted burn in the rendezvous sequence. Using primarily rendezvous radar data, it places the orbiter on a trajectory to intercept the target in one orbit. MC-1, MC-2, MC-3, MC-4 (Rendezvous midcourse burns) These on-board targeted burns use star tracker and rendezvous radar data to correct the post Ti trajectory in preparation for the final, manual proximity operations phase.

For Discoverys docking, Melroy will maintain the shuttles speed relative to the station at aboutonetenthofafootpersecond(whileboth Discoveryandthestationaretravelingatabout 17,500mph),andkeepthedockingmechanisms aligned to within a tolerance of three inches. When Discovery makes contact with the station, preliminary latches will automatically attach the two spacecraft. Immediately after Discovery docks, the shuttles steering jets will bedeactivatedtoreducetheforcesactingatthe docking interface. Shock absorber springs in the docking mechanism will dampen any relative motion between the shuttle and the station. Once the motion between the spacecraft has beenstopped,thedockingringwillberetracted to close a final set of latches between the two vehicles.

UNDOCKING, SEPARATION AND DEPARTURE

At undocking time, the hooks and latches will be opened, and springs will push the shuttle awayfromthestation.Discoveryssteeringjets willbeshutofftoavoidanyinadvertentfirings duringtheinitialseparation. Once Discovery is about two feetfrom thesta tion and the docking devices are clear of one another,Zamkawill turn thesteering jets back onandwillmanuallycontrolDiscoverywithin atightcorridorastheshuttleseparatesfromthe station. Discovery will move to a distance of about 450feet,whereZamkawillbegintoflyaround the station in its new configuration. This ma neuver will occur only if propellant margins andmissiontimelineactivitiespermit.

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 Once Discovery completes 1.5 revolutions of thecomplex,ZamkawillfireDiscoverysjetsto leave the area. The shuttle will move about 46miles from the station and remain there whilegroundteamsanalyzedatafromthelate

inspection of the shuttles heat shield. The distanceiscloseenoughtoallowtheshuttleto return to the station in the unlikely event that the heat shield is damaged, preventing the shuttlesreentry.

BackdroppedbyEarthshorizonandtheblacknessofspace,the InternationalSpaceStationappearstobeverysmallastheSpace ShuttleEndeavourdepartsfromthestationduringSTS118.

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SPACEWALKS
The primary objectives for STS120s space walks are to temporarily install the Node 2 module, also known as Harmony, and relocate thestationsP6trussandsolararrays.Thefirst three spacewalks, known as extravehicular activitiesorEVAs,willfocusontheseactivities. The fourth spacewalk, recently added to the mission, involves a demonstration of space shuttle thermal protection system repair tech niques.Thefifthandfinalspacewalkprepares fortherelocationofHarmonyandthePressur izedMatingAdapter2,scheduledtooccurjust aftertheshuttlemission. Thespacewalksareplannedonflightdays4,6, 8,10and11.Fivespacewalksisthemostcon ducted during a shuttle mission to the space station. STS120 also is the first mission with fivedifferentspacewalkers.

ScottParazynskiandDougWheelockwillperformthefirst,thirdandfourthspacewalks.

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 Veteran astronaut Scott Parazynski is the lead spacewalker and will conduct the first four excursions. He will be joined by first time spacewalker Doug Wheelock on the first, third and fourth spacewalks. Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Daniel Tani will conduct the second spacewalk with Parazynski. Expedition 16 CommanderPeggyWhitsonandExpedition16 FlightEngineerYuriMalenchenkowillconduct thefifthspacewalk.

Mission Specialist Paolo Nespoli will be the intravehicularleadforthefirstfourspacewalks, assistingthespacewalkerswiththeirtasksfrom inside the spacecraft. Tani will be the intrave hicularleadforthefifthspacewalk. Wilson, Wheelock and Anderson will operate thespacestationsroboticarmfortheHarmony installation, P6 relocation and various spacewalkingtasks.ZamkawilljoinWilsonin robotic arm operations to use the shuttle arm fortasksduringthethirdspacewalk.

ParazynskiandDanielTaniwillconductthesecondspacewalk.

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 The spacewalkers will be identifiable by vari ousmarkingsontheirspacesuits.Parazynskis suit will have solid red stripes. Wheelock will wear an allwhite spacesuit. Tanis suit will have broken red stripes. Whitsons suit will have a red stripe and a candy cane stripe. Malenchenko will wear a suit with candy cane stripes. The spacewalks will start from the stations Questairlock.Asinrecentmissions,theastro nauts will prepare for the EVA by using the campout prebreathe protocol, spending the night before the spacewalk in the airlock. The prebreathe exercise purges nitrogen from the

astronautssystemssotheyavoidthecondition knownasthebends. During the campout, the spacewalking crew membersisolatethemselvesintheairlock.The airlocks air pressure is lowered to 10.2 psi whilethestationiskeptat14.7psi,ornearsea levelpressure.Uponrising,theastronautsdon oxygen masks, and the airlocks pressure is raised again to 14.7 psi for an hour. After breakfast, the pressure is lowered back to 10.2psiforanadditionalhourasthespacewalk suits are donned.An additional 30minutes in thesuitscompletestheprotocol.Asaresult,the crewcangetoutsideearliertoperformthedays tasks.

Expedition16crewmembersPeggyWhitsonandYuriMalenchenko willperformthefifthspacewalk.

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EVA-1
EV1:Parazynski EV2:Wheelock IV:Nespoli Duration:6.5hours EVAOperations: Retrieve the Sband Antenna Structural Assembly(SASA)fromZ1truss Prepare Harmony for removal from Discoveryscargobay Install the Payload and Data Grapple FixtureonHarmony Removecontaminationcoversandcaps Disconnect power Discoveryscargobay cables from

beginmovingittowarditspositiononNode1, alsoknownasUnity. Moving on to prepare P6 for its relocation, Parazynski will disconnect four ammoniafluid umbilicals from P6 and mate them to Z1. Meanwhile,Wheelockwillprepareashroudfor theaftradiatorofP6.Bothcrewmemberswill work together to install that shroud and two more on electrical boxes, called sequential shunt units, on P6. The shrouds will keep the hardwarewarmduringthetrussrelocation.

EVA-2
EV1:Parazynski EV3:Tani IV:Nespoli Duration:6.5hours EVAOperations: DetachtheP6truss Removeandreplacearemotepowercontrol module ExternallyoutfitHarmony

DisconnectP6/Z1fluidumbilicals

Wilson, Tani and Anderson will position the stations robotic arm outside the Quest airlock. Wheelockwillrideontheendofthearmforthe Sband Antenna Structural Assembly removal and to carry it to Discoverys payload bay for return to Earth. Parazynski will free float (not attached to a foot restraint) to complete thistask. Both crew members will work in Discoverys payload bay to prepare Harmony for removal. They will secure a Payload and Data Grapple Fixture onto Harmony that could not be in place during launch, remove contamination coversanddisconnectthepowercableslinking HarmonytoDiscovery. The station robotic arm operators then will remove Harmony from the payload bay and

Beforethespacewalkbegins,Wilson,Wheelock and Anderson will grapple the P6 truss with thestationroboticarm.Atthebeginningofthe spacewalk,ParazynskiandTaniwilldisconnect nine cables from P6 to remove it from Z1. Parazynksi also will disconnect grounding strapsandboltsthatholdP6inplace. TheroboticarmoperatorsthenwillremoveP6 andbeginitsrelocationprocess. Tani will work on the starboard 1 (S1) truss to reconfigure connectors that will allow the radiatoronS1tobedeployedfromtheground later. He then will work inside the S0 truss to

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 reroute electrical lines that will lead to the P6 truss once it is reinstalled outboard on the truss structure. Tani will complete the replacementofaremotepowercontrolmodule thatisassociatedwiththestationsroboticarm anditsuseofagrapplefixtureonHarmonyas anoperatingbase. Parazynski will work on external outfitting of Harmony by installing 11 handrails, two gap spanners,threeworksiteinterfaces,anelectrical connectorandfivetrunionandkeelpincovers. Four pins will be removed from the radial berthing mechanisms, and launch restraints will be released on the zenith berthing petals and 16 caps under micrometeoroid debris cov ers.Taniwillassistwiththeoutfittingoncehis tasksonthetrussarecomplete. Together, the spacewalkers also will affix the power and data grapple fixture that was tem porarilyputinplaceduringthefirstspacewalk.

willclosethemechanicalcaptureclawtosecure it in place. They will install bolts on each cor ner for permanent attachment then release the capture latch. They will mate four umbilicals fromP5toP6toprovidepower. Thespacewalkersthenwillmovetotheedgeof P6 to remove the thermal shrouds from the electronic hardware, or sequential shunt units, whichwereinstalledduringthefirstspacewalk toprotectthem. ParazynskiwillreleasecinchesonaP6radiator to allow its deployment from the ground later. HethenwillmovetotheS1trusstoreconfigure the electrical connectors that allowed the groundtodeploytheS1radiatorsbythispoint in the mission. Parazynski then has time to completevariousgetaheadtasksontheoutside ofthestation. Meanwhile, Wheelock will work from the end of the shuttle robotic arm, operated by Zamka and Wilson, to install the main bus switching unitsparehardware.Wheelockwillgetonthe arm near the Destiny lab, ride it down to Discoverys cargo bay, retrieve the spare hardwareandcarryituptoanexternalstorage platform.Parazynskiwillassistwithboltingit inplaceonExternalStowagePlatform2.

EVA-3
EV1:Parazynski EV2:Wheelock Duration:7hours EVAOperations: InstalltheP6truss Transferthemainbusswitchingunittothe station

EVA-4
EV1:Parazynski EV2:Wheelock IV:Nespoli Duration:4hours EVAOperations: Tile Repair Ablator Dispenser DetailedTestObjective(DTO)848 (TRAD)

ParazynskiandWheelockwillworkattheout board end of the port truss to assist with the roboticarmattachmentofP6initsnewlocation onP5.P6willbepositioned130cmawayand 2cmforwardofthetruss.Thespacewalkcrew will provide verbal cues to the robotic arm operators, Tani, Wilson and Anderson, during theinstallation.OnceP6isinplace,Wheelock

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 Theprimarypurposeofthedetailedtestobjec tive is to evaluate the Shuttle Tile Ablator54 (STA54) material and a tile repair ablator dis penser in amicrogravity and vacuum environ ment for their use as a space shuttle thermal protectionsystemrepairtechnique. Parazynski has been involved in the develop mentofspaceshuttlethermalprotectionsystem repairtechniquesandwillleadthetestingdur ing the spacewalk. Wheelock will assist with managingthetoolsandsamplesduringthetest. Thespacewalkerswillsetupforthe testonthe outsideoftheDestinylab. TheTileRepairAblatorDispenser,orTRAD,is similartoacaulkgun.Parazynskiwillusethe TRADtomixandextrudetheSTA54material into holes in several demonstration tiles. The crew members will watch for swelling of the material and work it in until it is smooth by tampingthematerialwithfoamtippedtools. Therepairedsamplesandtoolswill be stowed in Discoverys cargo bay for return to Earth. The samples will undergo extensive testing on theground.

Remove Harmonys active common berthingmechanismcover Reconfigure S0 truss/Unity and Zarya Module/Pressurized Mating Adapter1 powerandjumpercables

For the primary objective of this spacewalk, Whitson and Malenchenko will work at the forwardendoftheDestinylab.Theywillclear the area of cables and obstructions in prepara tionforthepermanentinstallationofHarmony anditsassociatedumbilicaltrays. They will demate and stow the Station to Shuttle Power Transfer cables and eight cables betweenthePressurizedMatingAdapter2and theDestinylab. Tomakewayforumbilicaltrayinstallationfor Harmony,theywilldemateconnectorsoneach sideofthelab,andWhitsonwillremovealight andplaceitintheairlock. Malenchenko then will reconfigure connectors onP1thatwill allow the outboard radiators to bedeployedfromtheground. Thespacewalkerswillworktogethertoremove the active common berthing mechanism cover on Harmony to clear it for attachment to Destiny. They will remove a strap around the circumferenceofthecover,folditandtakeitto theairlockfordisposal. Malenchenko will work behind the Z1 truss, neartheRussiansegment,toremoveanelectri cal jumper for the power reconfigurations. Whitson will configure a power cable on the starboard side of Z1. She will retrieve hard ware,calledthebasebandsingleprocessor,and bring it inside for later return and upgrade on theground. The spacewalkers also will transfer tools neededforspacewalksaftertheshuttleleaves.

EVA-5
EV4:Whitson EV5:Malenchenko IV:Tani Duration:6.5hours EVAOperations: Prepare for Pressurized Mating Adapter2 relocation Stowthestationtoshuttlepowertrans fer(SSPTS)cable Stow the Destiny Lab/Pressurized Mat ingAdapter2cables

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DETAILED TEST OBJECTIVES

Detailed Test Objectives (DTOs) are aimed at testing, evaluating or documenting space shuttle systems or hardware, or proposed improvements to the space shuttle or space stationhardware,systemsandoperations. ThefollowingDTOsareplannedforSTS120:

The TRAD is comprised of a single, carbon dioxidepressurized vessel separated into two main sections. Its mixing, delivery system consistsofastaticmixer,a3footlengthofhose andanapplicatorgunthatcontrolstheflowof the extruding material. The assembly weighs 55poundsandisaboutthesamesizeasahand heldvacuum.

DTO 848 TPS Repair Techniques (T-RAD/STA-54 Tile Repair Demo)

TheprimarypurposeoftheDTOistoevaluate Shuttle Tile Ablator54 (STA54) material and thetilerepairablatordispenserinamicrograv ityandvacuumenvironmentforuseasaspace shuttle thermal protection system repair tech nique. TheTileRepairAblatorDispenser,orTRAD,is similartoacaulkgunandisdesignedtofacili tate the repair of tiles near the orbiters nose landing gear door, its two main landing gear doorsandtheexternaltankattachmentdoors. During the test, an ExtraVehicular Activity (EVA)crewmemberwilluseTRADtomixand extrude STA54 material into holes in several demonstration tiles. The crew member will thenworkitinuntilitissmoothbytampingthe material. STA54isatwopartsiliconebasedablatorthat consistsofabasematerialandacatalyst.Once mixed, it resembles the consistency of cake frosting. However, the material cures to the textureofapencileraserwithin24to48hours. During reentry, the STA54 dissipates heat by charring,thusprotectingtheshuttletiles.

DTO 853 In-Flight Evaluation for Areas of CO 2 Concentration

The purpose of the DTO is to evaluate carbon dioxide(CO2)levelsatspecifictimesduringthe mission and in shuttle areas that have the potentialtocontainelevatedlevels.TheDTOis being carried out over four missions: STS118, STS120, STS122 and STS123. During the missions, the data will be collected over a periodoffivedays,duringsimilartimeperiods andinsimilarlocations. TheCO2 levelswill be recordedusing theCar bon Dioxide Monitor (CDM) a portable handheld device designed to monitor and quantifyCO2concentrations. The test was prompted by the STS121 and STS115missioncrewswhoreportedexperienc ing stuffiness and headaches while sleeping in themiddeck area.Thesymptomsare believed to most likely result from exposure to high levelsofCO2. For the reported times during STS121 and STS115, the CO2 levels within the crew mod ule,asindicatedbythevehicleinstrumentation, were within the acceptable range. Addition ally,forthecourseofthedockedphase,theCO2 levelsintheshuttletrackedwellwiththelevels

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 in the station. The station crew did not report anysymptoms. Data sampling locations for the test are dependentupon crew sleep locations and high activitylocationsbecausethepostsleepactivity period and high activity periods are the times whenCO2symptomswerereportedbythetwo crews. During the upcoming four missions, the crews willplacetheCDMinthemiddeckbeforethey gotosleepsothatgroundcontrollerscanmoni tor CO2 levels continuously. The information willbeusedtoidentifyCO2hotspotswithin theshuttle. As a result, engineering evaluations will be made to finetune air exchange analyses, to determine if any configuration changes are necessarytooptimizeairflowandtodetermine if operational improvements are needed or if crew exposure time in identified areas should belimited. CDM technology was successfully used to determine the existence of CO2 pockets on the space station. The kit that will be used on the shuttlewillincludetheCDM,filtersandseveral battery packs. The CDM is capable of monitoring CO2 in a localized area for either long or short durations of time, depending on theoperatingmode.

Scanning Beam Landing System support, which is a set of dual transmitters located beside the runway providing precision navigation vertically, horizontally and lon gitudinally with respect to the runway. This precision navigation subsystem helps provideahigherprobabilityofamorepre cise landing with a crosswind of 10 to 15knotsaslateintheflightaspossible. 2. Entry:Thistestrequiresthatthecrewper form a manually controlled landing in the presence of a 90degree crosswind compo nentof10to15knotssteadystate. Duringacrosswindlanding,thedragchutewill be deployed after nose gear touchdown when the vehicle is stable and tracking the runway centerline.

SDTO 17010-J/A, Multi-Protocol Converter, for live HDTV downlink with MPC and incorporation into HDTV system
The purpose of this Station Development Test Objective (SDTO) is to demonstrate the capabilityofthemultiprotocolconverter(MPC) before the installation and activation of the Japanese Experiment Module. The purpose of theJAXAsuppliedhardwareistoprovidehigh definition television (HDTV) downlink to the space station, while simplifying the processing of the data system. The objectives include demonstrating the MPC systems ability to capture, process, and downlink a live digital HDTVsignalfromthestationtothegroundvia the Kuband system and to evaluate the long term radiation tolerance of HD digital video cameras and of the highspeed, highdensity electronic components and circuitry required to processdigitalHDvideoimageryfordownlink. If time permits, the crew will also use the

DTO 805 Crosswind Landing Performance (If opportunity)

ThepurposeofthisDTOistodemonstratethe capability to perform a manually controlled landing in the presence of a crosswind. The testingisdoneintwosteps. 1. Prelaunch: Ensure planning will allow selection of a runway with Microwave

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 JAXAprovided HD camcorder in conjunction with the Space Video Gateway system to evaluatedownlinkcompressionmethods.

SDTO 13005-U ISS Structural Life and Life Validation and Extension
The purpose of this Station Development Test Objective (SDTO) is to guarantee safety of the station structure and crew by validating the onorbitmathmodelsthatwerecreatedforthe spacestation.Thetestwillbeusedtovalidate critical interface load and to help improve fatiguelifepredictiononthestation. During this mission, if crew time is available, three tests will be performed: one during the shuttlestation mated reboost, one during undockingandoneduringS5trussinstallation. The tests will provide dynamic loads information for engineers to use in creating precise models that can be used for analysis. Onorbit data may aid in detecting structural anomalies, and the stations response to actual loadingeventsaidsinpostflightreconstruction ofloadsthathelpdeterminestructurallifeusage. The test requires actual or educated estimates of input (forcing function) and actual output (onorbit sensor measurements) of the station response.Measurementoftheforceinput(i.e., thruster firing sequences, video of crew activ ity, etc.) and station response will aid recon struction of station loads and structural life usageoverthelifeofthestation,thusallowing lifeextensionofthestructure. All of the onorbit dynamic tests were also performedontheISSOrbitermatedconfigura tionmodels.

station microgravity environment. Operation of equipment on the station creates vibrations which can disturb vibrate science experiments. To minimize the vibration some experiments experience, station hardware is built with isolation systems, somewhat similar to automotive shocks and springs. Such systems reduce the vibration transmitted from stationhardwaretotheexperimentlocations. Thebiggestsourceofvibrationonthestationis created by the crew members during routine exercise.Ascrewmemberscycle,run,walk,or perform resistive exercise, large vibrations are created that can affect the experiments. This SDTOwillmeasuretheaccelerationscausedby the shuttles ergometer, or stationary exercise bicycle, to determine the amount of load it placesonthestationandshuttle.

SHORT-DURATION RESEARCH TO BE COMPLETED DURING STS-120

The space shuttle and International Space Sta tion have an integrated research program that optimizes use of shuttle crew members and longduration space station crew members to addressresearchquestionsinavarietyofdisci plines. ValidationofProceduresforMonitoringCrew Member Immune Function (Integrated Immune) will assess the clinical risks resulting from the adverse effects of spaceflight on the human immune system and will validate a flightcompatible immune monitoring strategy. Researchers will collect and analyze blood, urine and saliva samples from crew members before, during and after spaceflight to monitor changesintheirimmunesystems. Maui Analysis of Upper Atmospheric Injec tions (MAUI) will observe the space shuttle engine exhaust plumes from the Maui Space

SDTO 15003-U ISS Microgravity

The purpose of this Station Development Test Objective (SDTO) is to measure the space

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 Surveillance Site in Hawaii. The observations will occur when the shuttle fires its engines at nightortwilight.Atelescopeandallskyimag erswilltakeimagesanddatawhiletheshuttle flies over the Maui site. The images will be analyzed to better understand the interaction between the spacecraft plume and the upper atmosphere. Test of Midodrine as a Countermeasure Against PostFlight Orthostatic Hypotension (Midodrine) is a test of the ability of the drug midodrinetoreducetheincidenceorseverityof orthostatichypotension.Ifsuccessful,thedrug will be employed as a countermeasure to the dizziness caused by the bloodpressure decreasethatmanyastronautsexperienceupon returningtotheEarthsgravity. Perceptual Motor Deficits in Space (PMDIS) will investigate why astronauts experience difficulty with handeye coordination while in space. These measurements will be used to distinguish between three possible explana tions: the brain not adapting to the near weightlessness of space; the difficulty of per forming fine movements when floating in space; and stress due to factors such as space sickness and sleep deprivation. This experi ment is a cooperative effort with the Canadian SpaceAgency. Bioavailablity and Performance Effects of Promethazine during Spaceflight (PMZ) will examinetheperformanceimpactingsideeffects of promethazine and its bioavailability the degree to which a drug can be absorbed and used by the parts of the body on which it is intended to have an effect. Promethazine is a medication taken by astronauts to prevent motionsickness.

Ram Burn Observations (RAMBO) is an experiment in which the Department of Defenseusesasatellitetoobservespaceshuttle orbitalmaneuveringsystemengineburns.The studys purpose is to improve plume models thatpredictthedirectionoftheplume,orrising columnofexhaust,astheshuttlemaneuverson orbit. Understandingthisflowdirectioncould be significant to the safe arrival and departure ofspacecrafton current and future exploration missions. SleepWake Actigraphy and Light Exposure during Spaceflight Short (SleepShort) will examine the effects of spaceflight on the sleep wake cycles of the astronauts during shuttle missions. Advancing stateoftheart technol ogy for monitoring, diagnosing and assessing treatment of sleep patterns is vital to treating insomniaonEarthandinspace.

International Partner Experiments

Fischer Rat Thyroid Low Serum 5 percent (FRTL5) will be used as a biological system to measureradiationandmicrogravityeffectsThe FRTL5 rat thyroid cell strain was chosen because of its relevance to human physiology andmedicine.Thyroidtissueisanidealtarget for space radiation research because it is resistant to radiations acute effects. This experimentshouldhelpimproveknowledgeof the effect of the space environment on the human body, especially with longerterm missionsplannedinthefuture. Study of Space Environment Effects on PY17 Bacterial Spores onboard International Space Station(SPORE)isthestudyofPY17bacterial spores response to the effects of microgravity and radiation. The experiment was conceived byhighschoolstudents.

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Samples and Hardware Returning on STS-120

Analysis of a Novel Sensory Mechanism in Root Phototropism (Tropi) sprouted Arabi dopsis thaliana (thale cress) plants from seeds under different frequencies of light and levels ofartificialgravity.Theplantswillbeanalyzed atthemolecularleveltodeterminewhatgenes are responsible for successful plant growth in microgravity. Capillary Flow Experiment (CFE) is a suite of fluid physics experiments that investigate capillaryflowsandflowsoffluidsincontainers withcomplexgeometries.Resultswillimprove current computer models that are used by designersoflowgravityfluidsystemsandmay improve fluid transfer systems on future spacecraft. Coarsening in Solid Liquid Mixtures2 (CSLM2) examines the kinetics of competitive particlegrowthwithinaliquidmatrix.During this process, small particles shrink by losing atoms to larger particles, causing the larger particles to grow (coarsen) within a liquid lead/tin matrix. This study defined the mechanisms and rates of coarsening that governturbineblades,dentalamalgamfillings, ironcopper,etc. CommercialGenericBioprocessingApparatus Science Insert 02 (CSI02) is an educational payload designed to interest middle school students in science, technology, engineering and math by participating in near realtime research conducted aboard the station. Stu dents will observe four experiments through data and imagery downlinked and distributed directlyintotheclassroomviatheInternet.The first is a seed germination experiment through which students will learn how gravity affects plant development. Small seedswill be devel

oped on orbit in a garden habitat. The second experimentwillexamineyeastcellsadaptation to the space environment; the third will exam ine plant cell cultures. A fourth experiment willexaminecrystalformationusingsilicates compoundscontainingsilicon,oxygenandone ormoremetals.Forthecrystalgrowthexperi ment,studentswillgrowcrystalsintheirclass rooms and analyze growth of those compared tothecrystalsgrowninspace. Education Payload Operations Kit C (EPOKit C) is an onorbit plant growth investigation using basil seeds. The still and videoimagerycapturedwillbeusedaspartofa national engineering design challenge for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Ontheground,studentswillgrowbasilseeds controland flownseeds ingrowthchambers to conduct their own plant growth science experiments. Nutritional Status Assessment (Nutrition) is NASAs most comprehensive inflight study to dateofhumanphysiologicchangesduringlong duration spaceflight; this includes measures of bone metabolism, oxidative damage, nutritional assessmentsandhormonalchanges.Thisstudy will impact both the definition of nutritional requirements and development of food systems for future space exploration missions to the moonandMars.Theexperimentalsowillhelp tounderstandtheimpactofcountermeasures exercise and pharmaceuticals on nutritional statusandnutrientrequirementsforastronauts. Test of Reaction and Adaptation Capabilities (TRAC)willtestthetheoryofbrainadaptation during spaceflight by testing handeye coordination before, during and after the mission. This experiment is a collaborative effort between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency.

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 SmokeandAerosolMeasurementExperiment (SAME) will measure the smoke properties, or particle size distribution, from typical space craft fire smokes to identify ways to improve smokedetectorsonfuturespacecraft.

EUROPEAN EXPERIMENT PROGRAM

In addition to his tasks as an STS120 mission specialist,EuropeanSpaceAgency(ESA)astro naut Paolo Nespoli will undertake the Euro pean Esperia mission, during which he will carryoutanumberofexperimentsonbehalfof theEuropeansciencecommunity.Twoofthese experiments(Chromosome2andNeocytolysis) aresponsoredbyESA.Theotherthreeexperi ments (HPA, FRTL5 and SPORE) are spon sored by the Italian Space Agency, or ASI. Chromosome2, Neocytolysis and HPA are experiments in the field of human physiology. FRTL5 and SPORE are biology experiments. Nespoli also will be conducting Educational Activities(seeARISS)coordinatedbybothESA andASI.

Returning International Partner Experiments

Color consists of an astronaut building a col ored scene utilizing nonrepresentational and superimposable painted transparent films to identifythemostfavorableimpression. Neuroendocrine and Immune Responses in Humans During and After Longterm Stay at ISS (Immuno) will provide an understanding forthedevelopmentofpharmacologicaltoolsto countermeasure unwanted immunological side effectsduringlongdurationmissions. Motion Perception: Vestibular Adaptation to GTransitions (MOP) is to gain insight in the process of vestibular adaptation to a gravity transition. LBPMuscle: Study of Lower Back Pain in Astronauts during Spaceflight will study the developmentoflowerbackpainincrewmem bers during spaceflight and determine if there isarelationshiptomuscleatrophy.

Chromosome-2
Duringspaceflights,crewmembersareexposed to different types of ionizing radiation. To assess the genetic impact of these radiations, this experiment will study chromosome changesandsensitivitytoradiationinlympho cytes (white blood cells) of ISS crew members. The Chromosome2 experiment is planned to be carried out using eight subjects: four from shortdurationflightsandfourexpeditioncrew members.

Experiments Delivered to the International Space Station on STS-120

Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions (InSPACE)2 will study the fundamental behaviorofmagneticcolloidalfluidsunderthe influence of various magnetic fields. This technology has promise to improve the ability to design structures, such as bridges and buildings, and to better withstand earthquake damage.

Multifluorescentchromosomemapofacell exposedtocosmicradiation.(Image:M.Durante)

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 ScienceTeam: C.Johannes,M.Horstmann UniversittDuisburgEssen Essen,Germany

Hand Posture Analyzer (HPA)

Thisexperimenthastwogoals:understanding the ability of the human brain to mentally represent the presence or absence of gravity effects on object motion, and studying the effects of weightlessness on movement. The Hand Posture Analyzer, was launched to the ISS on Progress flight 12P in August 2003, and used during Expeditions 7 and 8. The preliminary version of the same hardware was used on board the station during the Marco Polo mission with ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori in 2002. During his second mission in April 2005, astronaut Roberto Vittori again performedtheHPAexperiment.

Neocytolysis
This experiment covers the effects of weight lessness on the hemopoietic system, which is the system of the body responsible for the for mation of blood cells. The experiment will study a process called neocytolysis, the selec tive destruction of young red blood cells. The experimentwill analyze the physical and func tional characteristics of young red blood cells takenfromastronautbloodsamplesbeforeand after spaceflight. It will be carried out with threesubjectsfromshorttermmissions.

AstronautRobertoVittoriusestheCHIRO deviceduringtheMarcoPolomission (April2002)(Image:V.Zolesi) TheHPAhardwareconsistsoftwodynamome ters for measuring pinch and grip force and a gloved instrumentation device worn by the astronaut, which is attached to an electronics box. The astronaut will carry out three differ ent experiment protocols: IMAGINE, during which the astronaut simulates throwing an imaginaryballupagainsttheceilingandcatch ingitonthewaydownusingtheinstrumented gloveandelectronicsbox;MAIS,duringwhich thesubjectusesthesamehardwareandcarries

Constituentsofblood.Eisanerythrocyteor redbloodcell,Lisalymphocyteorwhite bloodcellandPisabloodplatelet.(Image:NASA) ScienceTeam: A.Risso,G.Antonutto, UniversityofUdine,Udine,Italy M.Cosulich,G.Minetti. UniversityofPavia,Pavia,Italy

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 out a protocol of reaching out, gripping and releasingdifferentsizedcylindricalobjects;and CHIRO, which measures the maximum force exertedonthehandandpinchgripdynamome tersbytheastronaut. ScienceTeam: F.Lacquaniti, UniversitTorVergata,Rome,Italy M.Zago,W.Miller,S.Gravano, IRCCSSantaLuciaFoundation,Italy P.Pastacaldi, AziendaOspedalieraPisana,Pisa,Italy. F.Posteraro, OspedaledellaVersilia,LidodiCamaiore(LU), Italy V.Zolesi, KayserItalia,Livorno,Italy

The FRTL5 cells will be used in a proliferative state,whichisaffectedmuchmorebythespace environment.Thecellswillbesealedinsterile culture flasks and kept under controlled conditions. One of the reasons for choosing thesespecificthyroidcellsistherelevancethey have to human physiology and medicine. Thyroid tissue is an ideal target for space radiationresearch. ThecellswillbetestedafterreturningtoEarth for DNA modifications because of radiation and magnetic fields, and the effect of weight lessnessoncellbehavior.Thiskindofresearch helpstoimproveourknowledgeoftheeffectof the space environment on the human body, especially with longerterm missions planned inthefuture(e.g.,Mars). ScienceTeam: F.Curcio,UniversityofUdine,Italy S.Ambesi,UniversityofUdine,Italy

Fischer Rat Thyroid Low serum 5% (FRTL5)

Thisexperimentisaimedatassessingtheeffects of the space environment (weightlessness and radiation) on normal in vitro cultures of socalled FRTL5 rat thyroid cells. This experimentwillusecellsalreadyexposedtothe space environment during the FRTL5 experiment on the 10day Eneide mission with ESAastronautRobertoVittoriinApril2005.

SPORE
The SPORE educational experiments purpose is the study of PY17 bacterial spores response to exposure to weightlessness and ionizing radiations, which are characteristic of the ISS environment. The experiment was conceived byhighschoolstudents. PY17isthenamegiventoacultureofthewild type stock spores of Bacillus subtilis. Ninetysixsealedcuvettescontainingthespores willbeequallysplitintothreeexperimentcon tainers. The experiment will last the duration of the mission. The bacterial spores are harm lesstohumans.

FTRL5equipment(Image:S.Ambesi)

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 During the mission, Paolo Nespoli will be involved in two live amateur radio contacts from the ISS. He will answer questions from school children and university students at the IIS DeambrosisNatta school in Sestri Levante, Genoa, Italy and the University of LAquila respectively. A webchat with Nespoli before or after the flightisalsoforeseen,aswellasthedistribution of education material about the mission to youngstersinItaly.Theeducationbasedactivi tiesarebeingcoordinatedbyESAandASI.

CuvetteusedinSPOREexperiment Onceretrieved,thesporeswillbecomparedto control samples that have followed the same experiment protocol on the ground. The com parisonwillhelpdeterminetheeffectsofresid ual gravity variation and exposure to ionizing radiations on the spores survival and devel opment. ScienceTeam: M.Mezzacappa, LiceoScientificoMajoranadiIsernia,Italy A.Iscra, IstitutodiIstruzioneSuperioreVittorio EmanueleIIRuffinidiGenova,Italy L.iNaclerio, UniversitdelMolise,Italy

ARISS (and additional education

activities)
ARISSstandsforAmateurRadioontheISS.It is an international association of national ama teur radio societies from the countries partici pating in the ISS program. The association forms a valuable part of ESAs education pro gram,helping tostimulatechildren and young peoples interest in science, technicalbased subjects and space in general. The goal is to stimulate interest for future careers in these areas.

CompetitionwinneratESAsESRINfacility inFrascati,ItalyasksaquestionofESA astronautRobertoVittoriontheISS. 21April2005.(Image:ESA) ProjectTeam G.Bertels,Brussels,Belgium ESAHMEEducationOffice, ESTEC,Noordwijk,TheNetherlands

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EXTERNAL TANK ET-120 (ET-120)

ET120 was first shipped from the Michoud AssemblyFacilityDec.31,2004.Itwasthefirst tankslatedtoflyonthespaceshuttlesreturnto flight, which was Discoverys STS114 mission inJuly2005.ET120alsowasthefirsttanktobe modified with the safety improvements man dated by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. Improvements included the forward bipod, liquid hydrogen tank/intertank flange andliquidoxygenfeedlinebellows.

LockheedMartintechnicianDennisSilbernageltorquesboltfastenersontheredesignedYbipod fittingonET120atNASAsMichoudAssemblyFacilityinNewOrleansinNovember2004.The bipodredesignwasoneoftheReturntoFlightchangestotheexternaltanktominimizepotential debrisbyeliminatingthelargeinsulatingfoamcoveringthebipodareainfavorofelectricheaters.

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 ET120 was fueled twice at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., in preparation for launch of STS114. The resulting Thermal Protection System (foam) conditions were reported and documented. ET120 eventually was replaced byanothertankbeforethelaunchofSTS114. ET120 returned to the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans on Oct. 18, 2005, for TPSmodificationsandwasusedasadissection testarticleduringanSTS114foamlossinvesti gation. Foam loss events on the Protuberance Air Load (PAL) and Ice/Frost ramps during STS114 required dissections to be performed

on ET120 to further understand foam loss mechanisms. Dissections also revealed TPS cracking at the liquid hydrogen PAL ramp and liquid hydro genIce/Frostramplocations.OtherTPSappli cationsconsideredatrisktotheoverallSpace ShuttleProgramforthermalcrackingalsowere removedfromET120andevaluated.Allother dissected TPS applications were returned to flightready configuration. In addition to the TPS attention ET120 received, other systems, including the structure, electrical, propul sion/mechanical subsystems, went through a verificationreassessmentprocess.

LanceMercier,LockheedMartintechnician,measuresfoampriortoremovingitfromET120sliquid hydrogentankprotuberanceairloads(PAL)rampinNovember2005.FollowingSTS114,studies andtestingdeterminedthatboththeliquidoxygenandtheliquidhydrogenPALrampscouldbe removedfromtheexternaltanktominimizepotentialfoamloss.ThetwoPALramps,madeentirely offoam,weighedalmost37pounds.ET119wasthefirsttanktoflywithoutPALramps.

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 Arecoveryplanwaspresentedandacceptedby the program, and the External Tank Project initiated a recovery/repair plan effort to return thetanktoflightstatus.Thegoalforthetanks TPSrepairswastokeepdebrisriskatthesame level or better than the existing configuration. ET120 repair work began in October 2006 to support the August 2007 launch on need mis sion for shuttle Endeavours STS118 mission. ET120 is the primary tank for Discoverys STS120mission. ET120 was shipped by barge from the MichoudAssemblyFacilityonJuly24,2007and arrived at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on July29.

.12poundsof TPS mass for each bracket. Less foamonthebracketsisacceptablefortheshut tles ascent. It is now known that SLA is not requiredonthebrackets. LO2 and LH2 (Liquid Hydrogen) PAL Ramps wereremoved. Bipod Harness Modifications Wire harness sealing/bonding, flown as a returntoflight modification on ET119 during the STS121 mission was performed to preclude a debris event similar to the one observed on STS114. Voids within cabling and underneath the harnesses have the potential to cause cryoingestion and cryopumping failure. A processwasdevelopedtosealcablesandbond harnesseswithminimaldefects.

ET-120 BEFORE AND AFTER: HOW THE ET-120 TANK FOR STS-120 IS DIFFERENT FROM ET-120 FOR STS-114
LH2 Ice/Frost Ramp modifications have been made at 14 locations (stations11511980). LO2(LiquidOxygen)Ice/FrostRampsmodifica tionshavebeenmadeatfourlocations(stations XT,718,760,794and828).Acompleteredesign is planned and will fly next year on ET128 duringtheSTS124mission. LO2FeedlineBracketsFourfeedlinebrackets (stations 1129, 1623, 1377, and 1871) on ET120 weremodifiedwithadifferentfoamconfigura tion as an interim measure before a new tita nium bracket design flies on ET128/STS124. BXfoamandSuperLightweightAblator(SLA) were removed from the upper portion of the four brackets,whichwereresprayedonly with BXfoamandrestoredtoneartheoriginalmold line. Bracket BX foam is about oneinch thick and the underlying SLA is about onehalfinch thick,buttheSLAisdenser,orheavierthanthe BX foam. Approximately five inches of TPS is being removed, which eliminates about

AUnitedSpaceAllianceexternaltank technicianmapsoutthecuttingareaofthe LO2feedlinebracketwhereBX265foam insulationandsuperlightweightablator, orSLA,corkinsulationistoberemoved. TheBX265foaminsulationwaslater reappliedwithouttheSLA.

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 Intertank Acreage Machining/Venting The area of vented intertank TPS foam was increased to reduce the potential for foam loss becauseofpopcorning,whichresultsfromair bubblesbecomingtrappedinfoam,thenflaking off and falling away from heating and expansionduringlaunch. Two ET Camera Antennas Replaced Corrosion on antennas observed during visual inspection were believed to have been caused bythetanksextendedstayatthelaunchpador exposuretomoistureattheMichoudAssembly Facility. Two LO2 Feedline Camera System antennaswereremovedandreplacedwithnew nickelplated antennas. TPS closeout material was reapplied using the existing verified and validatedprocedure. TheSpaceShuttleProgramremainscommitted tounderstandingexternaltankfoaminorderto moreaccuratelyassesspotentialrisksandmake improvements to the tank. A number of improvementsweremadepriortoSTS114and more were made before STS121. While externaltankfoamlossnevercanbecompletely eliminated, the program continues to make tank improvements to minimize foam and ice loss by looking at areas where debris may be shed, prioritizing them and methodically eliminatingthemoneatatime.

Thesuperlightweightablator,orSLA, corkinsulationhasbeenremovedfrom theexternaltankandaUnitedSpace Allianceexternaltanktechniciansands offtheresiduefromtheLO2feedline bracket.TheBX265foaminsulation waslaterreappliedwithouttheSLA.

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SHUTTLE REFERENCE DATA

SHUTTLE ABORT MODES

RSLS Aborts
These occur when the onboard shuttle com putersdetectaproblemandcommandahaltin thelaunchsequence after takingover from the ground launch sequencer and before solid rocketboosterignition.

launch site, Kennedy Space Center, approxi mately25minutesafterliftoff. The RTLS profile is designed to accommodate the loss of thrust from one space shuttle main engine between liftoff and approximately fourminutes 20 seconds, at which time not enough main propulsion system propellant remains to return to the launch site. An RTLS canbeconsideredtoconsistofthreestagesa powered stage, during which the space shuttle main engines are still thrusting; an external tank separation phase; and the glide phase, during which the orbiter glides to a landing at theKennedySpaceCenter.ThepoweredRTLS phase begins with the crew selection of the RTLS abort, after solid rocket booster separation.Thecrewselectstheabortmodeby positioningtheabortrotaryswitchtoRTLSand depressing the abort push button. The time at which the RTLS is selected depends on the reason for the abort. For example, a threeengine RTLS is selected at the last moment, about 3 minutes, 34 seconds into the mission; whereas an RTLS chosen due to an engine out at liftoff is selected at the earliest time, about 2 minutes, 20seconds into the mission(aftersolidrocketboosterseparation). After RTLS is selected, the vehicle continues downrangetodissipateexcessmainpropulsion system propellant. The goal is to leave only enough main propulsion system propellant to be able to turn the vehicle around, fly back towardtheKennedySpace Centerand achieve thepropermainenginecutoffconditionssothe vehicle can glide to the Kennedy Space Center after external tank separation. During the downrange phase, a pitcharound maneuver is

Ascent Aborts
Selectionofanascentabortmodemay become necessaryifthereisafailurethataffectsvehicle performance, such as the failure of a space shuttle main engine or an orbital maneuvering system engine. Other failures requiring early termination of a flight, such as a cabin leak, might also require the selection of an abort mode.Therearetwobasictypesofascentabort modesforspaceshuttlemissions:intactaborts and contingency aborts. Intact aborts are designedtoprovideasafereturnoftheorbiter to a planned landing site. Contingency aborts are designed to permit flight crew survival following more severe failures when an intact abort is not possible. A contingency abort wouldgenerallyresultinaditchoperation.

Intact Aborts
There are four types of intact aborts: abort to orbit (ATO), abort once around (AOA), trans oceanic abort landing (TAL) and return to launchsite(RTLS).

Return to Launch Site

The RTLS abort mode is designed to allow the return of the orbiter, crew and payload to the

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 initiated (the time depends in part on the time ofaspaceshuttlemainenginefailure)toorient the orbiter/external tank configuration to a headsup attitude, pointing toward the launch site. At this time, the vehicle is still moving awayfromthelaunchsite,butthespaceshuttle main engines are now thrusting to null the downrangevelocity.Inaddition,excessorbital maneuvering system and reaction control sys tem propellants are dumped by continuous orbital maneuvering system and reaction con trol system engine thrustings to improve the orbiter weight and center of gravity for the glidephaseandlanding. Thevehicle will reach the desired main engine cutoff point with less than 2 percent excess propellant remaining in the external tank. At main engine cutoff minus 20 seconds, a pitch down maneuver (called powered pitchdown) takesthematedvehicletotherequiredexternal tank separation attitude and pitch rate. After main engine cutoff has been commanded, the external tank separation sequence begins, including a reaction control system maneuver that ensures that the orbiter does not recontact the external tank and that the orbiter has achieved the necessary pitch attitude to begin theglidephaseoftheRTLS. Afterthereactioncontrolsystemmaneuverhas been completed, the glide phase of the RTLS begins. From then on, the RTLS is handled similarlytoanormalentry.

system failure, for example, a large cabin pressure leak or cooling system failure, occurs after the last RTLS opportunity, making it imperativetolandasquicklyaspossible. In a TAL abort, the vehicle continues on a ballistic trajectory across the Atlantic Ocean to land at a predetermined runway. Landing occurs about 45 minutes after launch. The landing site is selected near the normal ascent ground track of the orbiter to make the most efficient use of space shuttle main engine propellant.Thelandingsitealsomusthavethe necessary runway length, weather conditions andU.S.StateDepartmentapproval.Thethree landing sites that have been identified for a launchareZaragoza,Spain;Moron,Spain;and Istres,France. To select the TAL abort mode, the crew must place the abort rotary switch in the TAL/AOA position and depress the abort push button before main engine cutoff (Depressing it after main engine cutoff selects the AOA abort mode). The TAL abort mode begins sending commandstosteerthevehicletowardtheplane of the landing site. It also rolls the vehicle heads up before main engine cutoff and sends commands to begin an orbital maneuvering system propellant dump (by burning the propellants through the orbital maneuvering systemenginesandthereactioncontrolsystem engines). This dump is necessary to increase vehicle performance (by decreasing weight) to place the center of gravity in the proper place forvehiclecontrolandtodecreasethevehicles landing weight. TAL is handled like a normal entry.

Transoceanic Abort Landing

The TAL abort mode was developed to improve the options available when a space shuttle main engine fails after the last RTLS opportunity but before the first time that an AOAcanbeaccomplishedwithonlytwospace shuttle main engines or when a major orbiter

Abort to Orbit
An ATO is an abort mode used to boost the orbitertoasafeorbitalaltitudewhenperform

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 ancehasbeenlostanditisimpossibletoreach the planned orbital altitude. If a space shuttle main engine fails in a region that results in a main engine cutoff under speed, the Mission Control Center will determine that an abort mode is necessary and will inform the crew. Theorbitalmaneuveringsystemengineswould beusedtoplacetheorbiterinacircularorbit.

maintain orbiter integrity for inflight crew escape if a landing cannot be achieved at a suitablelandingfield. Contingencyabortsduetosystemfailuresother than those involving the main engines would normallyresultinanintactrecoveryofvehicle and crew.Loss of more than one main engine may, depending on engine failure times, result in a safe runway landing. However, in most threeengineout cases during ascent, the orbiter would have to be ditched. The inflight crew escape system would be used before ditchingtheorbiter.

Abort Once Around

TheAOAabortmodeisusedincasesinwhich vehicle performance has been lost to such an extent that either it is impossible to achieve a viableorbitornotenoughorbitalmaneuvering systempropellantisavailabletoaccomplishthe orbital maneuvering system thrusting maneu vertoplacetheorbiteronorbitandthedeorbit thrusting maneuver. In addition, an AOA is usedincasesinwhichamajorsystemsproblem (cabin leak, loss of cooling) makes it necessary to land quickly. In the AOA abort mode, one orbitalmaneuveringsystemthrustingsequence is made to adjust the postmain engine cutoff orbit so a second orbital maneuvering system thrusting sequence will result in the vehicle deorbitingandlandingattheAOAlandingsite (White Sands, N.M.; Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.;ortheKennedySpaceCenter,Fla).Thus, anAOAresultsintheorbitercirclingtheEarth onceandlandingabout90minutesafterliftoff. After the deorbit thrusting sequence has been executed,theflightcrewfliestoalandingatthe planned site much as it would for a nominal entry.

Abort Decisions
There is a definite order of preference for the variousabortmodes.Thetypeoffailureandthe timeofthefailuredeterminewhichtypeofabort is selected. In cases where performance loss is the only factor, the preferred modes are ATO, AOA, TAL and RTLS, in that order.The mode chosenisthehighestonethatcanbecompleted withtheremainingvehicleperformance. In the case of some support system failures, suchascabinleaksorvehiclecoolingproblems, the preferred mode might be the one that will end the mission most quickly. In these cases, TAL or RTLS might be preferable to AOA or ATO. A contingency abort is never chosen if anotherabortoptionexists. Mission Control Houston is prime for calling these aborts because it has a more precise knowledge of the orbiters position than the crewcanobtainfromonboardsystems.Before main engine cutoff, Mission Control makes periodic calls to the crew to tell them which abort mode is (or is not) available. If ground communications are lost, the flight crew has onboardmethods,suchascuecards,dedicated displaysanddisplayinformation,todetermine

Contingency Aborts
Contingency aborts are caused by loss of more than one main engine or failures in other sys tems.Lossofonemainenginewhileanotheris stuck at a low thrust setting also may necessi tateacontingencyabort.Suchanabortwould

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 theabortregion.Whichabortmodeisselected dependsonthecauseandtimingofthefailure causing the abort and which mode is safest or improves mission success. If the problem is a space shuttle main engine failure, the flight crewandMissionControlCenterselectthebest optionavailableatthetimeamainenginefails. If the problem is a system failure that jeopard izes the vehicle, the fastest abort mode that resultsintheearliestvehiclelandingischosen. RTLS and TAL are the quickest options (35minutes), whereas an AOA requires about 90minutes.Whichoftheseisselecteddepends onthetimeofthefailurewiththreegoodspace shuttlemainengines. Theflightcrewselectstheabortmodebyposi tioning an abort mode switch and depressing anabortpushbutton.

followingaproblemwithpurgepressureread ings in the oxidizer preburner on main engine No. 2. Columbias three main engines were replaced on thelaunchpad,and theflight was rescheduled behind Discoverys launch on STS56. Columbia finally launched on April26,1993.

(STS-51) Aug. 12, 1993

The countdown for Discoverys third launch attempt ended at the T3 second mark when onboardcomputersdetectedthefailureofoneof foursensorsinmainengineNo.2whichmonitor the flow of hydrogen fuel to the engine. All of Discoverysmainengineswereorderedreplaced onthelaunchpad,delayingtheshuttlesfourth launchattemptuntilSept.12,1993.

(STS-68) Aug. 18, 1994

The countdown for Endeavours first launch attempt ended 1.9 seconds before liftoff when onboard computers detected higher than acceptable readings in one channel of a sensor monitoring the discharge temperature of the high pressure oxidizer turbopump in main engineNo.3.Atestfiringoftheengineatthe Stennis Space Center in Mississippi on September2ndconfirmedthataslightdriftina fuel flow meter in the engine caused a slight increase in the turbopumps temperature. The testfiringalsoconfirmedaslightlyslowerstart for main engine No. 3 during the pad abort, which could have contributed to the higher temperatures. After Endeavour was brought back to the Vehicle Assembly Building to be outfitted with three replacement engines, NASA managers set Oct. 2 as the date for Endeavourssecondlaunchattempt.

SHUTTLE ABORT HISTORY

RSLS Abort History (STS-41 D) June 26, 1984
The countdown for the second launch attempt forDiscoverysmaidenflightendedatT4sec onds when the orbiters computers detected a sluggishvalveinmainengineNo.3.Themain enginewasreplacedandDiscoverywasfinally launchedonAug.30,1984.

(STS-51 F) July 12, 1985

The countdown for Challengers launch was halted at T3 seconds when onboard com putersdetectedaproblemwithacoolantvalve onmainengineNo.2.Thevalvewasreplaced andChallengerwaslaunchedonJuly29,1985.

(STS-55) March 22, 1993

The countdown for Columbias launch was halted by onboard computers at T3 seconds

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Abort to Orbit History (STS-51 F) July 29, 1985

After an RSLS abort on July 12, 1985, Chal lenger was launched on July 29, 1985. Five minutes and 45 seconds after launch, a sensor problem resulted in the shutdown of center engineNo.1,resultinginasafeaborttoorbit andsuccessfulcompletionofthemission.

17,000 mph (28,000 kilometers per hour), reachesorbit. The main engine operates at greater tempera ture extremes than any mechanical system in common use today. The fuel, liquefied hydro gen at 423 degrees Fahrenheit (253 degrees Celsius), is the second coldest liquid on Earth. When it and the liquid oxygen are combusted, thetemperatureinthemaincombustioncham ber is 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit (3,316 degrees Celsius),hotterthantheboilingpointofiron. The main engines use a staged combustion cyclesothatallpropellantsenteringtheengines are used to produce thrust or power more efficiently thanany previous rocketengine.In astagedcombustioncycle,propellantsarefirst burnedpartiallyathighpressureandrelatively low temperature then burned completely at high temperature and pressure in the main combustion chamber. The rapid mixing of the propellants under these conditions is so com pletethat99percentofthefuelisburned. At normal operating level, each engine gener ates 490,847 pounds of thrust (measured in a vacuum). Full power is 512,900 pounds of thrust; minimum power is 316,100 pounds of thrust. The engine can be throttled by varying the output of the preburners, thus varying the speed of the highpressure turbopumps and, therefore,theflowofthepropellant. At about 26 seconds into launch, the main engines are throttled down to 316,000 pounds of thrust to keep the dynamic pressure on the vehicle below a specified level about 580poundspersquarefootormaxq.Then,the engines are throttled back up to normal operating level at about 60 seconds. This reducesstressonthevehicle.Themainengines

SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINES

Developed in the 1970s by NASAs Marshall SpaceFlightCenterinHuntsville,Ala.,thespace shuttlemainengineisthemostadvancedliquid fueled rocket engine ever built. Every space shuttle mainengine istestedandproven flight worthyatNASAsStennisSpaceCenterinsouth Mississippi,beforeinstallationonanorbiter.Its main features include variable thrust, high per formance reusability, high redundancy and a fullyintegratedenginecontroller. The shuttles three main engines are mounted on the orbiter aft fuselage in a triangular pat tern. Spaced so that they are movable during launch, the engines are used in conjunction with the solid rocket boosters to steer the shuttlevehicle. Each of these powerful main engines is 14 feet (4.2 meters) long, weighs about 7,000 pounds (3,150kilograms)andis7.5feet(2.25meters)in diameterattheendofitsnozzle. The engines operate for about 81/2 minutes during liftoff and ascent burning more than 500,000gallons(1.9millionliters)ofsupercold liquidhydrogenandliquidoxygenpropellants storedinthehugeexternaltankattachedtothe underside of the shuttle. The engines shut downjustbeforetheshuttle,travelingatabout

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 are throttled down again at about seven minutes, 40 seconds into the mission to maintain threegs three times the Earths gravitational pull again reducing stress on the crew and the vehicle. This acceleration level is about onethird the acceleration experiencedonpreviouscrewedspacevehicles. About10secondsbeforemainenginecutoffor MECO,thecutoffsequencebegins;aboutthree secondslaterthemainenginesarecommanded tobeginthrottling at10 percentthrust persec ondto65percentthrust.Thisisheldforabout 6.7seconds,andtheenginesareshutdown. The engine performance has the highest thrust for its weight of any engine yet developed. In fact, one space shuttle main engine generates sufficient thrust to maintain the flight of 21/2 747airplanes. The space shuttle main engine is also the first rocketenginetouseabuiltinelectronicdigital controller, or computer. The controller will accept commands from the orbiter for engine start, change in throttle, shutdown, and moni tor engine operation. In the event of a failure, the controller automatically corrects the prob lemorsafelyshutsdowntheengine. NASA continues to increase the reliability and safety of shuttle flights through a series of enhancements to the space shuttle main engines. The engines were modified in 1988, 1995, 1998, and 2001. Modifications include new highpressure fuel and oxidizer turbopumps that reduce maintenance and operating costs of the engine, a twoduct powerhead that reduces pressure and turbulenceinthe engine, andasinglecoilheat exchangerthatlowersthenumberofpostflight inspections required. Another modification incorporates a largethroat main combustion

chamber that improves the engines reliability by reducing pressure and temperature in the chamber. Aftertheorbiterlands,theenginesareremoved and returned to a processing facility at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., where they are recheckedandreadiedforthenextflight.Some components are returned to the main engines primecontractor,Pratt&WhitneyRocketDyne, WestPalmBeach,Fla.,forregularmaintenance. The main engines are designed to operate for 7.5accumulatedhours.

SPACE SHUTTLE SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS

ThetwoSRBsprovidethemainthrusttoliftthe space shuttle off the pad and up to an altitude of about 150,000 feet, or 24 nautical miles (28statute miles). In addition, the two SRBs carrytheentireweightoftheexternaltankand orbiter and transmit the weight load through theirstructuretothemobilelauncherplatform. Each booster has a thrust (sea level) of about 3,300,000 pounds at launch. They are ignited after the three space shuttle main engines thrust level is verified. The two SRBs provide 71.4 percent of the thrust at liftoff and during firststage ascent. Seventyfive seconds after SRB separation, SRB apogee occurs at an alti tude of about 220,000 feet, or 35 nautical miles (40 statute miles). SRB impact occurs in the ocean about 122 nautical miles (140 statute miles)downrange. The SRBs are the largest solidpropellant motors ever flown and the first designed for reuse.Eachis149.16feetlongand12.17feetin diameter. Each SRB weighs about 1,300,000 poundsatlaunch.Thepropellantforeachsolid rocket motor weighs about 1,100,000 pounds.

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 The inert weight of each SRB is about 192,000pounds. Primaryelementsofeachboosterarethemotor (includingcase,propellant,igniterandnozzle), structure,separationsystems,operationalflight instrumentation, recovery avionics, pyrotech nics, deceleration system, thrust vector control systemandrangesafetydestructsystem. Eachboosterisattachedtotheexternaltankat the SRBs aft frame by two lateral sway braces andadiagonalattachment.Theforwardendof eachSRBisattachedtotheexternaltankatthe forwardendoftheSRBsforwardskirt.Onthe launchpad,eachboosteralsoisattachedtothe mobilelauncherplatformattheaftskirtbyfour boltsandnutsthatareseveredbysmallexplo sivesatliftoff. DuringthedowntimefollowingtheChallenger accident, detailed structural analyses were performedoncriticalstructuralelementsofthe SRB.Analyseswereprimarilyfocusedinareas where anomalies had been noted during post flightinspectionofrecoveredhardware. Oneoftheareaswastheattachringwherethe SRBsareconnectedtotheexternaltank.Areas of distress were noted in some of the fasteners where the ring attachesto the SRB motor case. This situation was attributed to the high loads encountered during water impact. To correct thesituationandensurehigherstrengthmargins duringascent,theattachringwasredesignedto encirclethemotorcasecompletely(360degrees). Previously, the attach ring formed a C and encircledthemotorcase270degrees. Additionally,specialstructuraltestsweredone on the aft skirt. During this test program, an anomalyoccurredinacriticalweldbetweenthe holddownpostandskinoftheskirt.Aredes

ign was implemented to add reinforcement bracketsandfittingsintheaftringoftheskirt. These two modifications added 450poundstotheweightofeachSRB. about

The propellant mixture in each SRB motor consistsofanammoniumperchlorate(oxidizer, 69.6 percent by weight), aluminum (fuel, 16percent),ironoxide(acatalyst,0.4percent),a polymer (a binder that holds the mixture together, 12.04 percent), and an epoxy curing agent (1.96 percent). The propellant is an 11pointstarshapedperforationintheforward motor segment and a doubletruncatedcone perforation in each of the aft segments and aft closure. This configuration provides high thrustatignitionandthenreducesthethrustby aboutathird50secondsafterliftofftoprevent overstressing the vehicle during maximum dynamicpressure. TheSRBsareusedasmatchedpairsandeachis made up of four solid rocket motor segments. The pairs are matched by loading each of the four motor segments in pairs from the same batches of propellant ingredients to minimize any thrust imbalance. The segmentedcasing design assures maximum flexibility in fabrica tion and ease of transportation and handling. Eachsegmentisshippedtothelaunchsiteona heavydutyrailcarwithaspeciallybuiltcover. The nozzle expansion ratio of each booster beginning with the STS8 mission is 7to79. Thenozzleisgimbaledforthrustvector(direc tion)control.EachSRBhasitsownredundant auxiliary power units and hydraulic pumps. The allaxis gimbaling capability is 8degrees. Eachnozzlehasacarbonclothlinerthaterodes and chars during firing. The nozzle is a con vergentdivergent,movabledesigninwhichan

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 aft pivotpoint flexible bearing is the gimbal mechanism. The coneshaped aft skirt reacts the aft loads between the SRB and the mobile launcher platform. The four aft separation motors are mounted on the skirt. The aft section contains avionics, a thrust vector control system that consists of two auxiliary power units and hydraulic pumps, hydraulic systems and a nozzleextensionjettisonsystem. The forward section of each booster contains avionics, a sequencer, forward separation motors, a nose cone separation system, drogue and main parachutes, a recovery beacon, a recovery light, a parachute camera on selected flightsandarangesafetysystem. Each SRB has two integrated electronic assemblies, one forward and one aft. After burnout, the forward assembly initiates the releaseofthenosecapandfrustum,atransition piece between the nose cone and solid rocket motor,andturnsontherecoveryaids.Theaft assembly, mounted in the external tank/SRB attachring,connectswiththeforwardassembly and the orbiter avionics systems for SRB ignition commands and nozzle thrust vector control. Each integrated electronic assembly has a multiplexer/demultiplexer, which sends or receives more than one message, signal or unit of information on a single communication channel. Eight booster separation motors (four in the nose frustum and four in the aft skirt) of each SRB thrust for 1.02 seconds at SRB separation fromtheexternaltank.Eachsolidrocketsepa rationmotoris31.1incheslongand12.8inches indiameter. Location aids are provided for each SRB, frus tum/drogue chutes and main parachutes.

These include a transmitter, antenna, strobe/converter, battery and saltwater switch electronics.Thelocationaidsaredesignedfora minimum operating life of 72 hours and when refurbished are considered usable up to 20times.Theflashinglightisanexception.It hasanoperatinglifeof280hours.Thebattery isusedonlyonce. The SRB nose caps and nozzle extensions are notrecovered. The recovery crew retrieves the SRBs, frus tum/drogue chutes, and main parachutes. The nozzlesareplugged,thesolidrocketmotorsare dewatered,andtheSRBsaretowedbacktothe launch site. Each booster is removed from the water, and its components are disassembled andwashedwithfreshanddeionizedwaterto limitsaltwatercorrosion.Themotorsegments, igniter and nozzle are shipped back to ATK Thiokolforrefurbishment. Each SRB incorporates a range safety system that includes a battery power source, receiver/decoder,antennasandordnance.

Hold-Down Posts
Each solid rocket booster has four holddown posts that fit into corresponding support posts on the mobile launcher platform. Holddown boltsholdtheSRBandlauncherplatformposts together. Each bolt has a nut at each end, but onlythetopnutisfrangible.Thetopnutcon tains two NASA standard detonators (NSDs), whichareignitedatsolidrocketmotorignition commands. When the two NSDs are ignited at each hold down, the holddown bolt travels downward because of the release of tension in the bolt (pretensionedbeforelaunch),NSDgaspressure and gravity. The bolt is stopped by the stud

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 deceleration stand, which contains sand. The SRB bolt is 28 inches long and 3.5 inches in diameter. The frangible nut is captured in a blastcontainer. The solid rocket motor ignition commands are issued by the orbiters computers through the master events controllers to the holddown pyrotechnic initiator controllers on the mobile launcherplatform.Theyprovidetheignitionto the holddown NSDs. The launch processing system monitors the SRB holddown PICs for low voltage during the last 16 seconds before launch. PIC low voltage will initiate a launch hold.

capacitor to 40 volts dc (minimum of 20 volts dc). The fire 2 commands cause the redundant NSDstofirethroughathinbarriersealdowna flame tunnel. This ignites a pyro booster charge, which is retained in the safe and arm device behind a perforated plate. The booster charge ignites the propellant in the igniter ini tiator;andcombustionproductsofthispropel lant ignite the solid rocket motor initiator, whichfiresdownthelengthofthesolidrocket motor igniting the solid rocket motor propel lant. The GPC launch sequence also controls certain critical main propulsion system valves and monitorstheenginereadyindicationsfromthe SSMEs.TheMPSstartcommandsareissuedby theonboardcomputersatTminus6.6seconds (staggered start engine three, engine two, engineoneallaboutwithin0.25ofasecond), and the sequence monitors the thrust buildup ofeachengine.AllthreeSSMEsmustreachthe required90percentthrustwithinthreeseconds; otherwise,anorderlyshutdowniscommanded andsafingfunctionsareinitiated. Normal thrust buildup to the required 90 per centthrustlevelwillresultintheSSMEsbeing commanded to the liftoff position at Tminus three seconds as well as the fire 1 command beingissuedtoarmtheSRBs.AtTminusthree seconds, the vehicle base bending load modes are allowed to initialize (movement of 25.5inches measured at the tip of the external tank, with movement towards the external tank). At T minus zero, the two SRBs are ignited under command of the four onboard computers; separation of the four explosive bolts on each SRB is initiated (each bolt is

SRB Ignition
SRB ignition can occur only when a manual lockpinfromeachSRBsafeandarmdevicehas been removed. The ground crew removes the pin during prelaunch activities. At T minus five minutes, the SRB safe and arm device is rotated to the arm position. The solid rocket motor ignition commands are issued when the three SSMEs are at or above 90 percent rated thrust, no SSME fail and/or SRB ignition PIC lowvoltageisindicatedandtherearenoholds fromtheLPS. The solid rocket motor ignition commands are sent by the orbiter computers through the MECstothesafeandarmdeviceNSDsineach SRB.APICsinglechannelcapacitordischarge device controls the firing of each pyrotechnic device. Three signals must be present simultaneouslyforthePICtogeneratethepyro firing output. These signals arm, fire 1 and fire2originateintheorbitergeneralpurpose computers and are transmitted to the MECs. The MECs reformat them to 28volt dc signals for the PICs. The arm signal charges the PIC

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 28inches long and 3.5 inches in diameter); the two T0 umbilicals (one on each side of the spacecraft) are retracted; the onboard master timing unit, event timer and mission event timers are started; the three SSMEs are at 100percent;andthegroundlaunchsequenceis terminated. Thesolidrocketmotorthrustprofileistailored toreducethrustduringthemaximumdynamic pressureregion.

theaftskirtbetweentherockandtiltactuators. The two systems operate from T minus 28seconds until SRB separation from the orbiterandexternaltank.Thetwoindependent hydraulicsystemsareconnectedtotherockand tiltservoactuators. The APU controller electronics are located in the SRB aft integrated electronic assemblies on theaftexternaltankattachrings. The APUs and their fuel systems are isolated from each other. Each fuel supply module (tank) contains 22 pounds of hydrazine. The fuel tank is pressurized with gaseous nitrogen at 400 psi, which provides the force to expel (positive expulsion) the fuel from the tank to thefueldistributionline,maintainingapositive fuel supply to the APU throughout its opera tion. The fuel isolation valve is opened at APU startup to allow fuel to flow to the APU fuel pump and control valves and then to the gas generator. The gas generators catalytic action decomposes the fuel and creates a hot gas. It feeds the hot gas exhaust product to the APU twostage gas turbine. Fuel flows primarily through the startup bypass line until the APU speedissuchthatthefuelpumpoutletpressure is greater than the bypass lines. Then all the fuelissuppliedtothefuelpump. The APU turbine assembly provides mechani cal power to the APU gearbox. The gearbox drives the APU fuel pump, hydraulic pump and lube oil pump. The APU lube oil pump lubricates the gearbox. The turbine exhaust of each APU flows over the exterior of the gas generator,coolingit,andisthendirectedover boardthroughanexhaustduct. When the APU speed reaches 100 percent, the APUprimarycontrolvalvecloses,andtheAPU

Electrical Power Distribution

Electrical power distribution in each SRB consistsoforbitersuppliedmaindcbuspower toeachSRBviaSRBbusesA,BandC.Orbiter maindcbuses A, Band Csupplymain dc bus powertocorrespondingSRBbusesA,BandC. In addition, orbiter main dc bus C supplies backup power to SRB buses A and B, and orbiter bus B supplies backup power to SRB busC. This electrical power distribution arrangement allows all SRB buses to remain poweredintheeventoneorbitermainbusfails. The nominal dc voltage is 28 volts dc, with an upper limit of 32 volts dc and a lower limit of 24voltsdc.

Hydraulic Power Units

There are two selfcontained, independent HPUs on each SRB. Each HPU consists of an auxiliary power unit, fuel supply module, hydraulic pump, hydraulic reservoir and hydraulic fluid manifold assembly. The APUs are fueled by hydrazine and generate mechanical shaft power to a hydraulic pump that produces hydraulic pressure for the SRB hydraulicsystem.ThetwoseparateHPUsand two hydraulic systems are located on the aft end of each SRB between the SRB nozzle and aftskirt.TheHPUcomponentsaremountedon

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 speed is controlled by the APU controller electronics. If the primary control valve logic fails to the open state, the secondary control valve assumes control of the APU at 112percent speed. Each HPU on an SRB is connected to both servoactuators on that SRB. One HPU serves as the primary hydraulic sourcefortheservoactuator,andtheotherHPU serves as the secondary hydraulics for the servoactuator. Each servoactuator has a switching valve that allows the secondary hydraulicstopowertheactuatoriftheprimary hydraulic pressure drops below 2,050 psi. A switchcontactontheswitchingvalvewillclose when the valve is in the secondary position. Whenthevalveisclosed,asignalissenttothe APU controller that inhibits the 100 percent APU speed control logic and enables the 112percent APU speed control logic. The 100percent APU speed enables one APU/HPU to supply sufficient operating hydraulic pressuretobothservoactuatorsofthatSRB. The APU 100 percent speed corresponds to 72,000 rpm, 110 percent to 79,200 rpm, and 112percentto80,640rpm. The hydraulic pump speed is 3,600 rpm and supplies hydraulic pressure of 3,050, plus or minus 50, psi. A highpressure relief valve provides overpressure protection to the hydraulicsystemandrelievesat3,750psi. The APUs/HPUs and hydraulic systems are reusablefor20missions.

The space shuttle ascent thrust vector control portion of the flight control system directs the thrustofthethreeshuttlemainenginesandthe twoSRBnozzlestocontrolshuttleattitudeand trajectoryduringliftoffandascent.Commands fromtheguidancesystemaretransmittedtothe ATVC drivers, which transmit signals propor tionaltothecommandstoeachservoactuatorof themainenginesandSRBs.Fourindependent flight control system channels and four ATVC channels control sixmainengineandfour SRB ATVCdrivers,witheachdrivercontrollingone hydraulic port on each main and SRB servoac tuator. Each SRB servoactuator consists of four inde pendent, twostage servovalves that receive signalsfromthedrivers.Eachservovalvecon trols one power spool in each actuator, which positions an actuator ram and the nozzle to controlthedirectionofthrust. Thefourservovalvesineachactuatorprovidea forcesummed majority voting arrangement to position the power spool. With four identical commands to the four servovalves, the actuator forcesum action prevents a single erroneous command from affectingpower rammotion.If theerroneouscommandpersistsformorethana predetermined time, differential pressure sensing activates a selector valve to isolate and remove the defective servovalve hydraulic pressure,permittingtheremainingchannelsand servovalvestocontroltheactuatorramspool. Failure monitors are provided for each channel to indicate which channel has been bypassed. Anisolationvalveoneachchannelprovidesthe capabilityofresettingafailedorbypassedchan nel. Eachactuatorramisequippedwithtransducers for position feedback to the thrust vector con trolsystem.Withineachservoactuatorramisa

Thrust Vector Control

EachSRBhastwohydraulicgimbalservoactua tors:oneforrockandonefortilt.Theservoac tuatorsprovidetheforceandcontroltogimbal thenozzleforthrustvectorcontrol.

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 splashdownloadreliefassemblytocushionthe nozzle at water splashdown and prevent dam agetothenozzleflexiblebearing.

The SRBs separate from the external tank within 30 milliseconds of the ordnance firing command. Theforwardattachmentpointconsistsofaball (SRB)andsocket(ET)heldtogetherbyonebolt. TheboltcontainsoneNSDpressurecartridgeat each end. The forward attachment point also carriestherangesafetysystemcrossstrapwir ing connecting each SRB RSS and the ET RSS witheachother. Theaftattachmentpointsconsistofthreesepa rate struts: upper, diagonal and lower. Each strut contains one bolt with an NSD pressure cartridge at each end. The upper strut also carries the umbilical interface between its SRB andtheexternaltankandontotheorbiter. There are four booster separation motors on each end of each SRB. The BSMs separate the SRBs from the external tank. The solid rocket motors in each cluster of four are ignited by firing redundant NSD pressure cartridges into redundantconfineddetonatingfusemanifolds. The separation commands issued from the orbiter by the SRB separation sequence initiate the redundant NSD pressure cartridge in each boltandignitetheBSMstoeffectacleansepa ration.

SRB Rate Gyro Assemblies

Each SRB contains two RGAs, with each RGA containing one pitch and one yaw gyro. These provideanoutputproportionaltoangularrates aboutthepitchandyawaxestotheorbitercom puters and guidance, navigation and control system during firststage ascent flight in con junctionwiththeorbiterrollrategyrosuntilSRB separation. At SRB separation, a switchover is madefromtheSRBRGAstotheorbiterRGAs. The SRB RGA rates pass through the orbiter flight aft multiplexers/demultiplexers to the orbiter GPCs. The RGA rates are then midvalueselectedinredundancymanagement toprovideSRBpitchandyawratestotheuser software. The RGAs are designed for 20missions.

SRB Separation
SRBseparationisinitiatedwhenthethreesolid rocketmotorchamberpressuretransducersare processed in the redundancy management middle value select and the headend chamber pressure of both SRBs is less than or equal to 50psi. A backup cue is the time elapsed from boosterignition. Theseparationsequenceisinitiated,command ing the thrust vector control actuators to the null position and putting the main propulsion system into a secondstage configuration (0.8secondfromsequenceinitialization),which ensures the thrust of each SRB is less than 100,000 pounds. Orbiter yaw attitude is held for four seconds, and SRB thrust drops to less than60,000pounds.

SPACE SHUTTLE SUPER LIGHT WEIGHT TANK (SLWT)

The super lightweight external tank (SLWT) made its first shuttle flight June 2, 1998, on mission STS91. The SLWT is 7,500 pounds lighter than the standard external tank. The lighterweighttankallowstheshuttletodeliver International Space Station elements (such as theservicemodule)intotheproperorbit.

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 The SLWT is the same size as the previous design. But the liquid hydrogen tank and the liquid oxygen tank are made of aluminum lithium, a lighter, stronger material than the metal alloy used for the shuttles current tank. The tanks structural design has also been improved, making it 30 percent stronger and 5percentlessdense. The SLWT, like the standard tank, is manufac turedatMichoudAssembly,nearNewOrleans, byLockheedMartin.

The 154footlong external tank is the largest singlecomponentofthespaceshuttle.Itstands taller than a 15story building and has a diameter of about 27 feet. The external tank holds over 530,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in two separate tanks. The hydrogen (fuel) and liquid oxygen (oxidizer) are used as propellants for the shuttles three mainengines.

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LAUNCH AND LANDING

LAUNCH
As with all previous space shuttle launches, Discoveryhasseveraloptionstoabortitsascent if needed due to engine failures or other sys tems problems. Shuttle launch abort philoso phyisintendedtofacilitatesaferecoveryofthe flight crew and intact recovery of the orbiter anditspayload. Abortmodesinclude:

RETURN-TO-LAUNCH-SITE (RTLS)
If one or more engines shuts down early and theres not enough energy to reach Zaragoza, the shuttle would pitch around toward Kennedy until within gliding distance of the ShuttleLandingFacility.Forlaunchtoproceed, weather conditions must be forecast to be acceptable for a possible RTLS landing at KSC about20minutesafterliftoff.

ABORT-TO-ORBIT (ATO)
This mode is used if theres a partial loss of mainenginethrustlateenoughtopermitreach ingaminimal105by85nauticalmileorbitwith the orbital maneuvering system engines. The engines boost the shuttle to a safe orbital alti tudewhenitisimpossibletoreachtheplanned orbitalaltitude.

ABORT ONCE AROUND (AOA)

An AOA is selected if the vehicle cannot achieve a viable orbit or will not have enough propellant to perform a deorbit burn, but has enoughenergytocircletheEarthonceandland about90minutesafterliftoff.

LANDING
The primary landing site for Discovery on STS120 is the Kennedy Space Centers Shuttle Landing Facility. Alternate landing sites that could be used if needed because of weather conditions or systems failures are at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and White Sands Space Harbor,N.M.

TRANSATLANTIC ABORT LANDING (TAL)

The loss of one or more main engines midway through powered flight would force a landing at either Zaragoza, Spain; Moron, Spain; or Istres, France. For launch to proceed, weather conditions must be acceptable at one of these TALsites.

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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

AA AAA ABC AC ACBM ACO ACS ACSM ACU ADO ADSEP ADVASC ADVASCGC AEA AFD AJIS AKA APAS APCU APDS APFR APM APPCM APS AR ARCU ARIS ARS ASCR ATA ATCS ATU AUAI AVU AVV BA BBC BC AntennaAssembly AvionicsAirAssembly AudioBusCoupler AssemblyComplete ActiveCommonBerthingMechanism AssemblyandCheckoutOfficer AtmosphereControlandSupply AttitudeControlSystemModing ArmComputerUnit AdaptationDataOverlay AdvancedSeparation AdvancedAstroculture AdvancedAstrocultureGrowthChamber AntennaElectronicsAssembly AftFlightDeck AlphaJointInterfaceStructure ActiveKeelAssembly AndrogynousPeripheralAttachmentSystem AssemblyPowerConverterUnit AndrogynousPeripheralDockingSystem ArticulatingPortableFootRestraint AttachedPressurizedModule ArmPitchPlaneChangeMode AutomatedPayloadSwitch AtmosphereRevitalization AmericantoRussianConverterUnit ActiveRackIsolationSystem AirRevitalizationSystem AssuredSafeCrewReturn AmmoniaTankAssembly ActiveThermalControlSystem AudioTerminalUnit AssembleContingencySystem/UHFAudioInterface ArtificialVisionUnit AccumulatorVentValve BearingAssembly BusBoltController BusController

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 BCDU BCU BDU BG BGA BGDTS BGHS BIT BITE BMRRM BONEMAC BPSMU BRS BSP BTS C&C C&DH C&M C&T C&W C/Acode C/L CA CAS CBM CBOSS CCAA CCASE CCD CCMS CCS CCTV CDDT CDRA CDS CETA CEU CFA CGBA CHeCS CHX BatteryCharge/DischargeUnit BackupControllerUnit BackupDriveUnit BetaGimbal BetaGimbalAssembly BetaGimbalDeploymentTransitionStructure BetaGimbalHousingSubassembly BuiltInTest BuiltInTestEquipment BearingMotorandRollRingModule BoneMarrowMacrophagesinSpace BatteryPoweredSpeakerMicrophoneUnit BottomRightSide BasebandSignalProcessor BoltTightSwitch CommandandControl CommandandDataHandling ControlandMonitor CommunicationandTracking CautionandWarning Coarse/Acquisitioncode CrewLock ControlAttitude CommonAttachSystem CommonBerthingMechanism CellularBiotechnologyOperatingScienceSystem CommonCabinAirAssembly CommercialCassetteExperiment CursorControlDevice ConcentricCableManagementSystem CommunicationandControlSystem ClosedCircuitTelevision CommonDisplayDevelopmentTeam CarbonDioxideRemovalAssembly CommandandDataSoftware CrewandEquipmentTranslationAid ControlElectronicsUnit CircularFanAssembly CommercialGenericBioprocessingApparatus CrewHealthCareSystem CondensingHeatExchanger

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 CID CIOB CLA CLPA CMG CMGTA CO2 COAS COR COTS CP CPCGH CR CRES CRIM CRIMM CRPCM CSA CSACP CSCI CSM CSS CTB CVIU CVT CVV CWC DAA DAG1 DAIU DAP dc DC DCP DCSU DDCU DDCUCP DDCUE DDCUHP DDCUI DFL CircuitInterruptDevice CargoIntegrationandOperationsBranch CameraandLightAssembly CameraLightandPan/TiltAssembly ControlMomentGyroscope ControlMomentGyroscopeThrusterAssist CarbonDioxide CrewOpticalAlignmentSight CommunicationOutageRecorder CommercialOffTheShelf ColdPlate CommercialProteinCrystalGrowthHigh ChangeRequest CorrosionResistantSteel CommercialRefrigeratorIncubatorModule CommercialRefrigeratorIncubatorModuleModified CanadianRemotePowerControllerModule ComputerSystemsArchitecture CompoundSpecificAnalyzerCombustionProducts ComputerSoftwareConfigurationItem CargoSystemsManual CrewSupportStation CargoTransferBag CommonVideoInterfaceUnit CurrentValueTable CarbonDioxideVentValve ContingencyWaterCollection DockedAirtoAir DockedA/G1 DockedAudioInterfaceUnit DigitalAutopilot directcurrent DockingCompartment DisplayandControlPanel DirectCurrentSwitchingUnit DCtoDCConverterUnit DCtoDCConverterUnitColdPlate ExternalDDCU DCtoDCConverterUnitHeatPipe InternalDDCU DataFormatLoad

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89

 DLA DMCU DMSR dp/dt DPA DPS DTO DTV E/L EStop EACP EAIU EAS EATCS ECLSS ECU ED EDDA EE EEATCS EET EETCS EFGF EGIL EIA EMPEV EMU EOA EPCE EPG EPS ER ESA ESP ESSMDM ESU ETCS ETI ETRS ETSD ETVCG DriveLockingAssembly DockingMechanismControlUnit DataManagementSystemRussian deltapressure/deltatime DigitalPreassembly DataProcessingSystem DevelopmentTestObjective DigitalTelevision EquipmentLock EmergencyStop EMUAudioControlPanel EMUAudioInterfaceUnit EarlyAmmoniaServicer ExternalActiveThermalControlSubsystem EnvironmentalControlandLifeSupportSystem ElectronicsControlUnit EngagementDrive ExternalManeuveringUnitDon/DoffAssembly EndEffector EarlyExternalActiveThermalControlSystem ExperimentElapsedTime EarlyExternalThermalControlSystem ElectricalFlightreleasableGrappleFixture ElectricalGenerationandIntegratedLightingSystemsEngineer ElectricalInterfaceAssembly EmergencyManualPressureEqualizationValue ExtravehicularMobilityUnit EVAOhmmeterAssembly ElectricalPowerConsumingEquipment ElectricalPowerGenerator ElectricalPowerSystem EdgeRouter ExternalSamplingAdapter ExternalStowagePlatform EnhancedSpaceStationMultiplexer/Demultiplexer EndStopUnit ExternalThermalControlSystem ElapsedTimeIndicator EVATemporaryRailStop EVAToolStorageDevice ExternalTelevisionCamerasGroup

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 EUE EV EVCPDS EVA EVR EVSU EXPRESS EXT EWIS FAWG FC FCC FCT FCV FD FDA FDIR FDS FET FGB FHRC FI FPU FQDC FRD FRGF FSE FSS FWCI GAS GC GCA GFE GFI GJOP GLONASS GN&C GNC GPC GPRV ExperimentUniqueEquipment Extravehicular ExtravehicularChargedParticleDirectionalSpectrometer ExtravehicularActivity ExtravehicularRobotics ExternalVideoSwitchingUnit EXpeditethePRocessingofExperimentstotheSpaceStation ExperimentalTerminal ExternalWirelessInstrumentationSystem FlightAssignmentWorkingGroup FirmwareController FlatControllerCircuit FlightControlTeam FlowControlValve FlightDay FaultDetectionAnnunciation Failure,Detection,IsolationandRecovery FireDetectionandSuppression FieldEffectTransistor FunctionalCargoBlock FlexHoseRotaryCoupler FaultIsolator FluidPumpingUnit FluidQuickDisconnectCoupling FlightRequirementsDocument FlightReleasableGrappleFixture FlightSupportEquipment FluidSystemServicer FirmwareConfigurationItem GetAwaySpecial GrowthCell GrowthCellAssembly GovernmentFurnishedEquipment GroundFaultInterrupter GenericJointOperationsPanel GLObalNavigationalSatelliteSystem Guidance,NavigationandControl GuidanceNavigationComputer GeneralPurposeComputer GasPressureregulatingValve

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91

 GPS GUI H2 HAB HC HCA HCOR HDR HDRL HEPA HGA HHL HP HPGT HRF HRFPUFDK HRFRes HRFM HRM HRS I/F I/O IAC IAS IATCS ICC ICOM IDA IDRD IEA IFHX IFI IFM IMCA IMCS IMU IMV INCO INSTM INT INTSYS GlobalPositioningSystem GraphicalUserInterface Hydrogen HabitatModule HandController HollowCathodeAssembly HighRateCommunicationOutageRecorder HighDataRate HighDateRateLink HighEfficiencyParticulateAir HighGainAntenna HandheldLidar HeatPipe HighPressureGasTank HumanResearchFacility HumanResearchFacilityPuffDataKit HumanResearchFacilityResupply HighRateFrameMultiplexer HighRateModem HandReactionSwitch Interface Input/Output InternalAudioController InternalAudioSubsystem InternalActiveThermalControlSystem IntegratedCargoCarrier Intercom IntegratedDiodeAssembly IncrementDefinitionRequirementsDocument IntegratedEquipmentAssembly InterfaceHeatExchanger ItemforInvestigation InflightMaintenance IntegratedMotorControlAssembly IntegratedMissionControlSystem ImpedanceMatchingUnit IntermoduleVentilation InstrumentationandCommunicationOfficer Instrumentation Internal InternalSystems

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 IOC IOCU IP IRU ISA ISIS ISL ISO ISPR ISS ISSPO ISSSH IT ITCS ITS IUA IV IVA IVSU IWIS JAXA JEM JEU KSC kW LA Lab LAN LB LBRWS LCA LCC LCD LDI LDR LDU LED LEE LEU LFDP Input/OutputController Input/OutputControllerUnit InternationalPartner InFlightRefillUnit InternalSamplingAdapter InternationalSpaceStationInterfaceStandard IntegratedStationLAN InventoryandStowageOfficer InternationalStandardPayloadRack InternationalSpaceStation InternationalSpaceStationProgramOffice InternationalSpaceStationSystemsHandbook IntegratedTruss InternalThermalControlSystem IntegratedTrussSegment InterfaceUmbilicalAssembly Intravehicular IntravehicularActivity InternalVideoSwitchUnit InternalWirelessInstrumentationSystem JapanAerospaceExplorationAgency JapaneseExperimentModule JointElectronicUnit KennedySpaceCenter Kilowatt LaunchAft Laboratory LocalAreaNetwork LocalBus RWSLocalBus LabCradleAssembly LaunchCommitCriteria LiquidCrystalDisplay LocalDataInterface LowDataRate LinearDriveUnit LightEmittingDiode LatchingEndEffector LEEElectronicUnit LoadFaultDetectionProtection

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93

 LGA LH2 LLA LMC LO2 LON LT LTA LTL LTU LVLH MA MAM MBA MBE MBM MBS MBSU MC MCA MCAS MCC MCCH MCCM MCDS MCS MCU MDA MDL MDM MEDOPS MEPS MEPSI MER MET METOX MFCV MHS MILSTD MILA MIP LowGainAntenna LiquidHydrogen LowLevelAnalog LightweightMultipurposeCarrier LiquidOxygen LaunchOnNeed LowTemperature LaunchtoActivation LowTemperatureLoop LoadTransferUnit LocalVerticalLocalHorizontal MechanicalAssembly ManualAugmentedRole MotorizedBoltAssembly MetalBellowsExpander ManualBerthingMechanism MobileRemoteServiceBaseSystem MainBusSwitchingUnit MidcourseCorrection MajorConstituentAnalyzer MBSCommonAttachSystem MissionControlCenter MissionControlCenterHouston MissionControlCenterMoscow MultifunctionCRTDisplaySystem MotionControlSystem MBSComputerUnit MotorDriveAssembly MiddeckLocker Multiplexer/Demultiplexer MedicalOperations MicroencapsulationElectrostaticProcessingSystem MicroElectromechanicalSystembasedPicoSatelliteInspector MissionEvaluationRoom MissionElapsedTime MetalOxide ManualFlowControlValve MCUHostSoftware MilitaryStandard ModeIndicatingLightAssembly MissionIntegrationPlan

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 MISSE MLI MM/OD MMT MOD MPEV MPLM MPM MRL MRS MRSBS MSD MSFC MSG MSS MT MTCL MTL MTS MTSAS MTWsN N2 N.mi. NASA NCC NCG NCS NCU NET NIA NiH2 NIV NSI NSTS NTA O2 OCA OCAD OCJM OCPM MaterialsInternationalSpaceStationExperiment MultiLayerInsulation Micrometeoroid/OrbitalDebris MissionManagementTeam MissionOperationsDirectorate ManualPressureEqualizationValve MultipurposeLogisticsModule ManipulatorPositioningMechanism ManipulatorRetentionLatch MobileRemoteServicer MobileRemoteServicerBaseSystem MassStorageDevice MarshallSpaceFlightCenter MicrogravityScienceGlovebox MobileServicingSystem MobileTransporter MobileTransporterCaptureLatch ModerateTemperatureLoop ModuletoTrussSegment ModuletoTrussSegmentAttachmentSystem MovetoWorksiteNumber ModuletoTrussSegmentAttachmentSystem Nitrogen Nauticalmile NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration NominalCorrectiveCombinationburn NonCondensableGas NodeControlSoftware NetworkControlUnit NoEarlierThan NitrogenInterfaceAssembly NickelHydrogen NitrogenIntroductionValve NASAStandardInitiator NationalSpaceTransportationSystem NitrogenTankAssembly Oxygen OrbitalCommunicationsAdapter OperationalControlAgreementDocument OperatorCommandedJointPositionMode OperatorCommandedPORMode

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95

 OCS ODIN ODS OI OIU OIV OMI OMS OPCGA OPP Ops OPSLAN ORBT ORCA ORU OSE OSO OSVS OTD OV P&S PCode P/L P/TV P3/P4 PAS PBA PC PCA PCAM PCBM PCC PCGSTES PCMCIA PCP PCR PCS PCT PCU PCVP PDGF OperationsandControlSoftware OrbitalDesignIntegrationSystem OrbiterDockingSystem OperationalIncrement OrbiterInterfaceUnit OxygenIsolationValve OnOrbitMaintainableItem OrbitalManeuveringSystem ObservableProteinCrystalGrowthApparatus OSVSPatchPanel Operations OperationsLocalAreaNetwork OptimizedRBarTargetingTechnique OxygenRechargeCompressorAssembly OrbitalReplacementUnit OrbiterSupportEquipment OperationsSupportOfficer OrbiterSpaceVisionSystem ORUTransferDevice OrbiterVehicle PointingandSupport PrecisionCode Payload Photo/Television Port3/Port4 PayloadAttachSystem PortableBreathingApparatus PersonalComputer PressureControlAssembly ProteinCrystallizationApparatusforMicrogravity PassiveCommonBerthingMechanism PowerConverterController ProteinCrystalGrowthSingleThermalEnclosureSystem PersonalComputerMemoryCardInternationalAdapter PressureControlPanel PortableComputerReceptacle PortableComputerSystem PostContactThrusting PlasmaConnectorUnit PumpandControlValvePackage PowerandDataGrappleFixture

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ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS

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 PDI PDIP PDRS PDTA PDU PEHG PF PFCS PFE PFMC PFR PGBAS PGSC PGT PHALCON PJPAM PLB PM PMA PMCU PMDIS PMP POA POC POR POST PP PPA PPAM ppO2 PPRV PPT PRD PRLA ProxOps PSN PSP PTB PTCS PTR PTU PV PayloadDataInterface PayloadDataInterfacePanel PayloadDeploymentandRetrievalSystem PowerDataTransferAssembly PowerDriveUnit PayloadEthernetHubGateway PayloadForward PumpFlowControlSubassembly PortableFireExtinguisher Pump/FanMotorController PortableFootRestraint PlantGenericBioprocessingApparatusStowage PortableGeneralSupportComputer PistolGripTool Power,Heating,Articulation,Lighting,andControlOfficer PrestoredJointPositionAutosequenceMode PayloadBay PumpModule PressurizedMatingAdapter PowerManagementControlUnit PerceptualMotorDeficitsInSpace PayloadMountingPanel Payload/ORUAccommodation PortableOnboardComputer PointofReference PowerONSelfTest PlanningPeriod PumpPackageAssembly PrestoredPORAutosequenceMode partialpressureofoxygen PositivePressureReliefValve Precipitate PayloadRetentionDevice PayloadRetentionLatchAssembly ProximityOperations PowerSourceNode PayloadSignalProcessor PayloadTrainingBuffer PassiveThermalControlSystem PortThermalRadiator Pan/TiltUnit Photovoltaic

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 PVCA PVCE PVCU PVM PVR PVRGF PVTCS PWP PWR PYR QD R/F R&R RACU RAIU RAM RAMV RB RBB RBI RBVM RCC RCS RDA RF RFCA RFG RGA RHC RHX RIC RJMC RMS ROBO ROS RP RPC RPCM RPDA RPM RPOP PhotovoltaicControllerApplication PhotovoltaicControllerElement PhotovoltaicControllerUnit PhotovoltaicModule PhotovoltaicRadiator PhotovoltaicRadiatorGrappleFixture PhotovoltaicThermalControlSystem PortableWorkPlatform PortableWaterReservoir PitchYawRoll QuickDisconnect Refrigerator/Freezer RemovalandReplacement RussiantoAmericanConverterUnit RussianAudioInterfaceUnit RandomAccessMemory RheostatAirMixValve RadiatorBeam RightBlanketBox RemoteBusIsolator RadiatorBeamValve ReinforcedCarbonCarbon ReactionControlSystem RetainerDoorAssembly RadioFrequency RackFlowControlAssembly RadioFrequencyGroup RateGyroAssemblies RotationalHandController RegenerativeHeatExchanger RackInterfaceController RotaryJointMotorController RemoteManipulatorSystem RoboticsOperationsSupportOfficer RussianOrbitalSegment Receiver/Processor RemotePowerController RemotePowerControllerModule RemotePowerDistributionAssembly RbarPitchManeuver RendezvousandProximityOperationsProgram

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 RS RSC RSP RSR RSTS RSU RT RTBox RTAS RTD RTL RWS S S&M S3/S4 SA SABB SAGE SARJ SARJ_C SARJ_M SASA SAW SCA SCI SCU SD SDO SDS SEM SEPS SFCA SFU SGANT SHOSS SHOT SIGI SJRM SLDP SLP SM RussianSegment RMSSideviewCamera ResupplyStowagePlatform ResupplyStowageRack RackStandaloneTemperatureSensor RollerSuspensionUnit RemoteTerminal ReactionTimeBox RocketdyneTrussAttachmentSystem ResistiveThermalDevice ReadytoLatch RoboticWorkstation Starboard StructuresandMechanisms Starboard3/Starboard4 SolarArray SolarArrayBlanketBox SpaceArabidoposisGenomicsExperiment SolarAlphaRotaryJoint SARJController SARJManager SbandAntennaSupportAssembly SolarArrayWing SwitchgearControllerAssembly SignalConditioningInterface ServiceandCoolingUmbilical SmokeDetector SolenoidDriverOutput SampleDeliverySystem ShuntElectronicsModule SecondaryElectricalPowerSubsystem SystemFlowControlAssembly SquibFiringUnit SpacetoGroundAntenna SpacehabOceaneeringSpaceSystem SpaceHardwareOptimizationTechnology SpaceIntegratedGlobalPositioningSystem/InertialNavigationSystem SingleJointRateMode SpacelabDataProcessing SpacelabLogisticsPallet ServiceModule

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99

 SMCC SMDP SOC SOV SPCE SPD SPDA SPDM SPG SRMS SSAS SSBA SSC SSMDM SSOR SSP SSPTS SSRMS SSSH SSSR SSU STCR STES STR SVS TA TAA TAH TBA TC TCCS TCCV TCS TD TDRS TDRSS TEA TFR THC THOR TI ShuttleMissionControlCenter ServiceModuleDebrisPanel StateofCharge ShutoffValve ServicingPerformanceandCheckoutEquipment SpoolPositioningDevice SecondaryPowerDistributionAssembly SpecialPurposeDexterousManipulator SinglePointGround ShuttleRemoteManipulatorSystem SegmenttoSegmentAttachSystem SpaceStationBufferAmplifier StationSupportComputer SpaceStationMultiplexer/Demultiplexer SpacetoSpaceOrbiterRatio StandardSwitchPanel StationtoShuttlePowerTransferSystem SpaceStationRemoteManipulatorSystem SpaceShuttleSystemsHandbook SpacetoSpaceStationRadio SequentialShuntUnit StarboardThermalControlRadiator SingleThermalEnclosureSystem StarboardThermalRadiator SpaceVisionSystem ThrusterAssist TriaxialAccelerometerAssembly TrayActuationHandle TrundleBearingAssembly TerminalComputer TraceContaminantControlSubassembly TemperatureControlandCheckValve TrajectoryControlSensor TranslationDrive TrackingandDataRelaySatellite TrackingandDataRelaySatelliteSystem TorqueEquilibriumAttitude TranslationFootRestraint TemperatureandHumidityControl ThermalOperationsandResourcesOfficer TerminalPhaseInitiation

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ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS

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 TORF TORU TORVA TPL TRAC TRC TRRJ TSP TTCR TUS TVIS TWMV UB UCCAS UDG UF UHF UIA ULCAS UIP ULF UMA UOP USA USL USOS UTA VAJ VBSP VCP VCSA VDS VDU VES VGS VRCV VRIV VRS VRV VSC TwiceOrbitalRateFlyaround TeleoperatorControlMode TwiceOrbitalRate+Rbarto+VbarApproach TransferPriorityList TestofReactionandAdaptionCapabilities TransmitterReceiverController ThermalRadiatorRotaryJoint TwistedShieldedPair TrailingThermalControlRadiator TrailingUmbilicalSystem TreadmillVibrationIsolationSystem ThreeWayMixingValve UserBus UnpressurizedCargoCarrierAttachSystem UserDataGeneration UtilizationFlight UltrahighFrequency UmbilicalInterfaceAssembly UnpressurizedLogisticsCarrierAttachSystem UtilityInterfacePanel UtilizationLogisticsFlight UmbilicalMechanismAssembly UtilityOutletPanel UnitedSpaceAlliance U.S.Laboratory UnitedStatesOnOrbitSegment UtilityTransferAssembly VacuumAccessJumper VideoBasebandSignalProcessor VideoCameraPort VideoCameraSupportAssembly VideoDistributionSystem VideoDistributionUnit VacuumExhaustSystem VideoGraphicsSoftware Vent/ReliefControlValve Vent/ReliefIsolationValve VESResourceSystem Vent/ReliefValve VideoSignalConverter

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 VSSA W/S WETA WHS WIF WRM WS WVA XPOP ZCGSS ZSR VideoStanchionSupportAssembly Worksite WVSExternalTransceiverAssembly WorkstationHostSoftware WorksiteInterface WaterRecoveryManagement WaterSeparator WaterVentAssembly XaxisPointingOutofPlane ZeoliteCrystalGrowthSampleStowage ZerogStowageRack

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OCTOBER 2007

MEDIA ASSISTANCE

NASA TELEVISION TRANSMISSION

NASA Television is carried on an MPEG2 digital signal accessed via satellite AMC6, at 72degrees west longitude, transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical polarization. For those in Alaska or Hawaii, NASA Television will be seenonAMC7,at137degreeswestlongitude, transponder 18C, at 4060 MHz, horizontal polarization. In both instances, a Digital Video Broadcast(DVB)compliantIntegratedReceiver Decoder(IRD)(withmodulationofQPSK/DBV, data rate of 36.86 and FEC 3/4) will be needed for reception. The NASA Television schedule andlinkstostreamingvideoareavailableat: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv NASA TVs digital conversion will require members of the broadcast media to upgrade with an addressable Integrated Receiver Decoder, or IRD, to participate in live news events and interviews, media briefings and receive NASAs Video File news feeds on a dedicated Media Services channel. NASA mis sioncoveragewillaironadigitalNASAPublic Services(FreetoAir)channel,forwhichonly abasicIRDwillbeneeded.

Status Reports
Status reports on launch countdown and mis sion progress, onorbit activities and landing operationswillbepostedat: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle Thissitealsocontainsinformationon thecrew andwillbeupdatedregularlywithphotosand videoclipsthroughouttheflight.

Briefings
Amissionpressbriefingschedulewillbeissued before launch. The updated NASA television schedule will indicate when mission briefings areplanned.

More Internet Information

Information on the International Space Station isavailableat: http://www.nasa.gov/station Information on safety enhancements made sincetheColumbiaaccidentisavailableat: http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight/ system/index.html InformationonothercurrentNASAactivitiesis availableat: http://www.nasa.gov Resources for educators can be found at the followingaddress: http://education.nasa.gov

Television Schedule
A schedule of key onorbit events and media briefingsduringthemissionwillbedetailedin a NASATVschedule posted at the linkabove. Theschedulewillbeupdatedasnecessaryand willalsobeavailableat:

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS

HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON, DC
MichaelBraukus PublicAffairsOfficer InternationalPartners 2023581979 michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov KatherineTrinidad PublicAffairsOfficer SpaceOperations 2023583749 katherine.trinidad@nasa.gov JohnYembrick PublicAffairsOfficer SpaceOperations 2023580602 john.yembrick-1@nasa.gov

KylieClem PublicAffairsSpecialist MissionOperationsDirectorateandShuttleCrew 2814835111 kylie.s.clem@nasa.gov NicoleCloutierLemasters PublicAffairsSpecialist SpaceStationCrew 2814835111 nicole.cloutier-1@nasa.gov

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA

AllardBeutel NewsChief 3218614769 allard.beutel@nasa.gov GeorgeDiller PublicAffairsSpecialist SpaceShuttle 3218672468 george.h.diller@nasa.gov TracyYoung PublicAffairsSpecialist InternationalSpaceStation 3218672468 tracy.g.young@nasa.gov

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER HOUSTON, TEXAS

JamesHartsfield NewsChief 2814835111 james.a.hartsfield@nasa.gov KyleHerring PublicAffairsSpecialist SpaceShuttleProgramOffice 2814835111 kyle.j.herring@nasa.gov RobNavias ProgramandMissionOperationsLead 2814835111 rob.navias-1@nasa.gov

MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA

DomAmatore PublicAffairsManager 2565440034 dominic.a.amatore@nasa.gov

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 JuneMalone PublicAffairsSpecialist NewsChief/MediaManager 2565440034 june.e.malone@nasa.gov SteveRoy PublicAffairsSpecialist SpaceShuttlePropulsion 2565440034 steven.e.roy@nasa.gov

DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER CALIFORNIA

AlanBrown NewsChief 6612762665 alan.brown@nasa.gov LeslieWilliams PublicAffairsSpecialist 6612763893 leslie.a.williams@nasa.gov

STENNIS SPACE CENTER MISSISSIPPI

LindaTheobald PublicAffairsSpecialist 2286883249 linda.l.theobald@nasa.gov PaulFoerman NewsChief 2286881880 paul.foerman-1@nasa.gov RebeccaStrecker PublicAffairsSpecialist 2286883346 rebecca.a.strecker@nasa.gov

GLENN RESEARCH CENTER CLEVELAND, OHIO

LoriRachul NewsChief 2164338806 lori.j.rachul@nasa.gov KatherineMartin PublicAffairsSpecialist 2164332406 katherine.martin@nasa.gov

LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER HAMPTON, VIRGINIA

MarnySkora Head,NewsMediaOffice 7578643315 marny.skora@nasa.gov ChrisRink PublicAffairsOfficer 7578646786 christopher.p.rink@nasa.gov KathyBarnstorff PublicAffairsOfficer 7578649886 katherine.a.barnstorff@nasa.gov

AMES RESEARCH CENTER MOFFETT FIELD, CALIFORNIA

MikeMewhinney NewsChief 6506043937 michael.mewhinney@nasa.gov JonasDino PublicAffairsSpecialist 6506045612 jonas.dino@nasa.gov

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OCTOBER 2007

UNITED SPACE ALLIANCE

MikeCurie SpaceProgramOperationsContract HoustonOperations 2814839251 3218613805 michael.j.curie@usa-spaceops.com TracyYates FloridaOperations 3218613956 tracy.e.yates@usa-spaceops.com

BOEING
EdMemi MediaRelations BoeingNASASystems 2812264029 edmund.g.memi@boeing.com

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