Space Shuttle Status Report: S04-042

Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: S04-042

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Space Shuttle fleet is housed and processed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Fla. The order the Space Shuttles are listed in this report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future missions.

Discovery (OV-103)

Technicians continue to perform orbiter powered-system testing on Discovery for its Return to Flight mission, designated STS-114, to the International Space Station. Final closeouts and seal installations continue on the Rudder Speed Brake.

The new Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy Space Center as early as next week. Once at KSC, it will be taken to the Remote Manipulator System lab in the Vehicle Assembly Building for final checkout and testing prior to moving over to the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) for installation into Discovery. The 50-foot long OBSS will attach to
the Remote Manipulator System, or Shuttle arm, and is one of the new safety measures for Return to Flight, equipping the orbiter with cameras and laser systems to inspect the Shuttle's Thermal Protection System while in space.

Atlantis (OV-104)

In OPF Bay 1, processing is continuing to go well for Atlantis' mission to the International Space Station. The orbiter remains in a power-down period to complete the final wiring for the Return to Flight modifications, including the new OBSS, wing leading edge sensors and the External Tank separation camera. The vehicle is scheduled to be powered up next week.

The body flap is scheduled to be installed on Atlantis in early January. The body flap actuators were removed and inspected prior to being reinstalled on the vehicle. The fuel cells and external airlock are scheduled to be installed following the holidays.


Endeavour (OV-105)

Space Shuttle Endeavour is in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003. Endeavour was rolled over to the Vehicle Assembly Building yesterday for a temporary stay, clearing OPF Bay 2 for a scheduled maintenance period. The orbiter is scheduled to be rolled back into the bay on Jan. 12.

Both the right- and left-hand wing leading edges were painted following the removal of miniscule corrosion on the wing. This prepares the surface of the wing for the reinstallation of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels.

Due to the holidays, this will be the final Space Shuttle Processing Status Report for 2004.

Previous Space Shuttle processing status reports are available on theInternet at: nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations
For information about NASA's Return to Flight efforts on the Internet,visit: nasa.gov/news/highlights/returntoflight
For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet,
visit: nasa.gov/

Landmine Action Smart Book

Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC December 17, 2004

New "Landmine Action Smart Book" Educates Public About Global Landmine Problem

The Mine Action Information Center at James Madison University has released the second edition of “The Landmine Action Smart Book,” a primer and reference tool on the humanitarian threat posed by persistent landmines and unexploded ordnance around the world. Publication of the Smart Book, which is designed for the general public, students and the media, was funded by the U.S. Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.

The well-illustrated 42-page Smart Book describes the global landmine threat, the nature of landmines, and the main pillars of humanitarian mine action: humanitarian demining, mine risk education for populations in mine affected areas, and landmine survivors assistance. It also provides information on the two international landmine treaties – the Amended Mines Protocol to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons to which the United States is a State Party, and the “Ottawa Convention.” In addition, the Smart Book examines research and development to increase the efficiency, speed and safety of humanitarian demining, including such cutting edge technologies as the U.S.-developed “HSTAMiDS” mine detector that combines ground penetrating radar with a metal detector, as well as explosive-detecting bacteria, bees and giant African pouch rats that may eventually augment the deminer’s “toolbox.”

“The Landmine Action Smart Book” will soon be available on-line at maic.jmu.edu/researchtools. A limited number of printed editions are also available from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement. To receive a free copy, send an email request to GrayVC2@state.gov.

The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs currently manages humanitarian mine action programs in 31 countries around the world, encourages public-private partnerships to support mine action, and also oversees efforts to reduce illegal trafficking and increase international safeguarding of small arms, light weapons and shoulder-fired surface-to-air-missiles. To learn more, visit state.gov. [End]