Tag: T&R
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Vehicle of Record – SLS spares majority of Discovery’s storied MPS
As engineers finalize the removal of Main Propulsion System (MPS) hardware from the retired Space Shuttle fleet – comprising of large elements of the orbiter’s “guts” that are being donated to the Space Launch System (SLS) program – Orbiter Flow manager Stephanie Stilson revealed that “her baby”, Discovery, has held on to most of her…
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Atlantis greets sister as Discovery concludes her T&R processing
Space Shuttle Orbiter Discovery’s almost 30 years of processing at Kennedy Space Center’s (KSC) Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) came to an end on Friday with the retired spaceship’s transfer out of OPF Bay 1. The orbiter traded places with sistership Atlantis, which returned to the OPF from High Bay 4 of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).…
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Enterprise provides template for orbiter fleet retirement
As the retired Shuttle fleet continue their Transition and Retirement (T&R) processing, efforts are being focused on Northern Virginia, as preparations are made on shuttle Enterprise for her final flight to the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. The move to New York will allow Discovery to take Enterprise’s place at the Smithsonian. T&R Status: Enterprise…
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Shuttle orbiter fleet heading into their final months ahead of exhibition
With Kennedy Space Center workers towing Orbiter Atlantis on Thursday “around the corner” of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) the day after they moved Endeavour out of the same place, one might have thought it was Groundhog Day, and by coincidence it just so happened it was. Shuttle Preparing For Final Destinations: While America’s perhaps best-known…
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Endeavour and Atlantis move – Final KSC processing begins for OV-105
It’s the final time Endeavour will enter an OPF (Orbiter Processing Facility). After a storied 19 year, 25 flight career, the Space Shuttle orbiter Endeavour was rolled into OPF-2 at the Kennedy Space Center this morning to undergo final outfitting, Main Propulsion System (MPS) tear down, and configuration activities ahead of her October ferry flight…
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Atlantis begins vacation inside the VAB as she prepares for exhibition
Atlantis departed her Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-2) on Friday, ahead of arriving inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Looking rather sorry for herself – with all her propulsive hardware elements removed – Atlantis can at least look forward to staying on the Space Coast, as her impressive retirement home began ground-breaking this week. Heartbreak And Honor:…
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Atlantis put to sleep after 26 years loyal service – OPF turnovers
Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis was powered down for the final time on Thursday, following a 26 year, 33 mission career. With her retirement, the world-famous space ship will at least remain at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), a spaceport which is continuing to transition its shuttle facilities – as seen with the upping of the…
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Next Gen Shuttle-Capable vehicle interest as secret effort to save orbiters ends
For the past several months, a plan to restart shuttle operations – funded by billions of dollars of secured non-government investment – was under evaluation with NASA and shuttle contractors prior to the secret effort ending last week. However, the group behind the effort have now switched their focus to a “Next Generation, Shuttle Capable” vehicle…
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Discovery receives her replica main engines ahead of final journey
The flagship of the shuttle orbiter fleet has received her three replica main engines, as Discovery prepares for next year’s ferry trip to her final resting place. The three Replica Shuttle Main Engines (RSMEs) are substitutes for the three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) she last flew with, as they prepare to live on with…
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Lawmakers told shuttle restart questions are years too late
During Wednesday’s Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Hearing – which focused on the Russian investigation into their recent Soyuz failure – the question on restarting shuttle was once again dismissed out of hand. However, the shrift response, noting the question would have been “interesting” if asked three or four years ago, failed to elaborate on a…