STS-123 Pre-Launch Updates

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STS-123 is a planned Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) which will be flown by Space Shuttle Endeavour. STS-123 will be the 1J/A assembly mission. The launch target date is February 14, 2008. It will be the twenty-fifth shuttle mission to visit the ISS, and will deliver the first module of the Japanese laboratory, Japanese Experiment Module (Kibō), and the Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, (SPDM) Dextre robotics system to the station. NASA is currently evaluating an ISS request to move the launch date to January. The completion of the mission will leave nine flights remaining in the Space Shuttle program until its end in 2010, excluding two as-yet-unconfirmed Contingency Logistic Flights.

The Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM) is a two armed robot, or telemanipulator, which is part of the Mobile Servicing System and extends the function of this system to replace some activities otherwise requiring spacewalks. It is scheduled to be transported to the station on STS-123, no earlier than 2008.
The SPDM is part of Canada's contribution to the International Space Station. It has been named Dextre, to represent its dexterous nature, and is also known as the Canada hand, by analogy with the Canadarm and Canadarm2.

 

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STS-123/Endeavour status

Endeavour, not long since she arrived back in OPF-2 after STS-118, is being prepared for STS-123 - currently targeted for February 14, 2008. STS-123 will deliver the first module of the Japanese laboratory, Kibo, on behalf of JAXA, along with the Canadian Dextre robotics system to the ISS.

'OPF flow going well; about 85 percent complete on TPS (Thermal Protection System) inspection. Working this week to remove engines and do OMS pod functionals. Over last five days, completed WLE (Wing Leading Edge) thermography, completing all thermography on vehicle. Will do work to replace chin panel.'

SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) removal has begun after it was delayed from the originally scheduled timeline due to problems with the Hyster - a fork lift type machine that is used to remove and install the engines.

'While running pre-operational checks on Hyster Thursday morning, getting ready to remove it from OV-105 (Endeavour), ran into interference problem with mast and a cattle guard (human safety item made of two inch aluminum tubing), causing some damage. Fixed damage, and are trying to completely understand this to make sure it is safe.'

Endeavour's schedule milestones currently point to SRB stacking to begin on November 15, ET-126 mate December 11, Endeavour to rollover for mating around January 7, for rollout to Pad 39A on January 14 - a month prior to launch.

 

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Mission: STS-123 - 25th International Space Station Flight - Kibo,
Dextre
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeted for Feb. 14, 2008
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Gorie, Johnson, Linnehan, Doi, Behnken, Foreman, Reisman
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2, the three main engines have
been installed on Endeavour and integrated testing with the main
propulsion system begins today. Functional testing of the waste
containment system is complete. Payload pre-mate testing has
finished. The orbiter boom sensor system, which was recently removed
from Discovery, arrived this week in the facility's bay No. 2. The
system has undergone post-flight inspections and thermal blanket
installation, and is being temporarily installed today to allow for
fit checks. This week, technicians began working to bond BRI tiles
around the main landing gear door. The rudder speed brake has been
configured for flight and the orbiter drag chute is installed.

 

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Mission: STS-123 - 25th International Space Station Flight - Kibo,
Dextre
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeted for Feb. 14, 2008
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Gorie, Johnson, Linnehan, Doi, Behnken, Foreman, Reisman
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2, integrated testing of the
main engines and the main propulsion system continues. Testing of the
orbiter's three-string GPS system, which provides guidance on
re-entry, is complete.

The star tracker door functional test is complete. Window No. 7 has
been removed and replaced. The payload bay door functional test is
finished. Installation of BRI tile around the perimeter of the right
main landing gear door is finished. Checkout of the Shuttle to
Station Power Transfer System is complete.

In high bay No. 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, stacking of the
left solid rocket booster is under way. Stacking of the right booster
is scheduled to begin next week.

 

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Mission: STS-123 - 25th International Space Station Flight - Kibo,
Dextre
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeted for Feb. 14, 2008
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Gorie, Johnson, Linnehan, Doi, Behnken, Foreman, Reisman
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2, integrated testing of the
main engines and the main propulsion system is complete. All window
installations are finished. Installation of the orbiter main engine
heat shields began this week, and the orbital maneuvering system heat
shields have been installed. Following electrical resistance testing
of the orbiter boom sensor system, which is the 50-foot extension for
the shuttle robotic arm, the boom was installed in the payload bay.
Hardware that will support the STS-123 payload was also installed in
the payload bay.

The STS-123 crew flew to Kennedy Space Center this week for the crew
equipment interface test on Friday and Saturday. During the test, the
crew gets the opportunity to become familiar with the configuration
of equipment in the crew cabin and payload bay.

In high bay No. 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, stacking of the
solid rocket boosters is under way. ET-126, the external fuel tank
for STS-123, arrived at Kennedy today and was transported to the
transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The tank will be
lifted into a checkout cell on Saturday to undergo processing for
launch.

 

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Mission: STS-123 - 25th International Space Station Flight - Kibo, Dextre
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeted for Feb. 14, 2008
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Gorie, Johnson, Linnehan, Doi, Behnken, Foreman, Reisman
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2, orbiter closeouts for Vehicle Assembly Building rollover continue. Main landing gear (MLG) brake installation is scheduled for today. ECL GN2 3-day decay test continues through Saturday. Final Ku-band self test and cable unwrap is complete. MEDS MDU display verification is complete and good. R5R vernier thruster flush, thruster drying and inspection, MLG strut seal remove-and-replace work, potable water servicing microbial testing, and ECL GN2 servicing and topoff were completed this week.

In high bay No. 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, booster integration activities continue. Stacking and joint closeouts are complete. S&A devices are installed and the LSCs will be installed today.

In high bay No. 2E of the Vehicle Assembly Building, LH2/LO2 disc measurements are in work and will continue through the weekend.

Preps for external tank mate will resume on Dec. 17 following Friday's external tank/solid rocket booster mate review. Final payload bay door closure for Orbiter Processing Facility rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building is complete.

 

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With the launch date for STS-122 still anywhere between January 10 and March, Atlantis' younger sister, Endeavour, has seen processing milestones for her mission, STS-123, remain under evaluation.
Following a slight hiccup in her processing flow, with a leaking Main Landing Gear (MLG) strut, which required engineers to changeout the seals inside the gear, Endeavour is to all intents and purposes ready for rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). That, of course, is on hold, pending the reviewed launch date for Atlantis/STS-122.

'Completed aft structure leak checks. Also working troubleshooting on Shuttle Orbiter Repackaged Galley (SORG); there's a potential tank R&R that would occur after holidays. Retracting gear, doing step and gap, and performing landing gear functionals after holidays,' noted processing information.
'Tank and booster activities - Continuing with closeouts on system tunnels. Moved ET/SRB mate date to no earlier than January 2.
'Not much work planned over the holidays. When they get back, they will be able to go into the OTS (Orbiter Transporter System) operations, weight and C.G. (Center of Gravity), etc. Will try to get into a position to roll out on January 8, which is a day earlier than originally planned.
'Want to try to get to a point where they are not in competition with launch (STS-122) on January 10, 2008 (No Earlier Than). If they can get over on January 8 they will be able to secure vehicles by January 10 and not have any interruption of operations. Plan on having about 60 people working through the holidays on the ET, and will take the two days off that have been outlined.'

While STS-122's launch date remains fluid, managers are continuing to plan ahead with the upcoming flights, to ensure they are in a strong posture in the event Atlantis manages to launch in January.

'Started looking at FRR (Flight Readiness Review) for STS-123. It looks like the Level 1 FRR will be on February 8, 2008, per Mr. Gerstenmaier's request,' added the Stand-up. 'Will look at doing the Program FRR the week before, depending on where we get on STS-122.

 

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Mission: STS-123 - 25th International Space Station Flight - Kibo,
Dextre
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Under Review
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Gorie, Johnson, Linnehan, Doi, Behnken, Foreman, Reisman
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Shuttle Program managers have authorized work to begin to remove the
foam on the feed-through connector on Endeavour's tank prior to the
STS-123 mission. Due to a five-week planning template used in
scheduling back-to-back launches off a single pad, STS-123 will not
launch on Feb. 14. The launch date will be updated consistent with
the progress on STS-122.

In Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2, payload bay door strong
backs were installed Jan. 3 while main landing gear and nose gear
were retracted in support of positive pressure structural leak checks
and TPS work. A landing gear functional test is scheduled for today.

In high bay No. 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, booster closeouts
are completed and the boosters are ready to support mate when
directed.

 

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Mission: STS-123 - 25th International Space Station Flight - Kibo,
Dextre
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeting Mid-March
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Gorie, Johnson, Linnehan, Doi, Behnken, Foreman, Reisman
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2
- Shuttle orbiter galley functional checks completed today with no
issues
- Removal and replacement work will take place on the purge, vent and
drain valve, which is part of the non-breathing air conditioning
system, Jan. 14-18
- Nose landing gear strut hydraulic level checks and pressurization
for flight performed Wednesday
- Main landing gear struts' weight on wheels leak check scheduled for
Monday

Vehicle Assembly Building high bay No. 1
- External tank/solid rocket booster mate in progress
- External tank is hard mated
- Closeout operations continue through this weekend
- Preparation for ECO sensor external connector replacement will take
place Saturday and Sunday

 

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[FONT=arial,helvetica][SIZE=+1]STS-123 Shuttle Mission Imagery[/SIZE][/FONT]

high res (1.1 M) low res (70 K)
JSC2007-E-114174 (19 Dec. 2007) --- Astronaut Gregory H. Johnson, STS-123 pilot, dons a training version of his shuttle launch and entry suit in preparation for a training session in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at the Johnson Space Center. United Space Alliance (USA) suit technician Jim Cheatham assisted Johnson.

 

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Mission: STS-123 - 25th International Space Station Flight - Kibo,
Dextre
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
Launch Date: Targeting Mid-March
Launch Pad: 39A
Crew: Gorie, Johnson, Linnehan, Doi, Behnken, Foreman, Reisman
Inclination/Orbit Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

Orbiter Processing Facility Bay No. 2
- Removal and replacement work on the purge, vent and drain valve,
which is part of the non-breathing air conditioning system completed
Thursday
- Landing gear was retracted
- Potable water servicing samples completed Wednesday
- Main landing gear struts' weight on wheels leak check completed

Vehicle Assembly Building High Bay No. 1
- External tank/solid rocket booster closeout operations continue
- Re-foaming of the external tank assembly ring, that goes around the
solid rocket boosters near the aft most SRB field joint, is being
worked Friday
- ECO sensor system feed through work begins again Jan. 23