[sarex] SHUTTLE STATUS 24 AUGUST 2006

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468


	
STATUS REPORT: S-082406

NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report

*Note:* NASA's Kennedy Space Center issues Space Shuttle Processing 
Status Reports periodically and is the source for information regarding 
processing activities associated with the vehicles and payloads. This 
report does not necessarily reflect the chronological order of future 
space shuttle missions. If you are a member of the media and would like 
further information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/index.html



*Mission:* STS-115 - 19th International Space Station Flight (12A) - 
P3/P4 Truss Segment and Solar Arrays
*Vehicle:* Atlantis (OV-104)
*Location:* Launch Pad 39B
*Launch Date:* Aug. 27, 2006, 4:30 p.m. EDT
*Crew:* Jett, Ferguson, Tanner, Burbank, MacLean and Stefanyshyn-Piper
*Inclination/Orbit Altitude:* 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles

At Launch Pad 39B, closeout of the orbiter's aft compartments is 
complete and the aft doors have been installed. Technicians have 
finished performing the aft confidence test, which involves powering up 
and testing all of the aft systems, such as the main propulsion system 
circuits. The payload bay doors will be closed today for flight.

The start of the launch countdown was moved from 6 p.m. to noon Eastern 
time today to allow for earlier loading of fuel for the power reactant 
storage and distribution system. The goal is to finish the system loads 
before the predicted afternoon thunderstorms on Friday. Additional hold 
time will be added at the T-19 hour mark, extending the hold from four 
hours to 10 hours. After T-19, the schedule will proceed as normal, 
culminating in a launch on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The STS-115 crew arrived at 11:30 a.m. today at the Shuttle Landing 
Facility from Johnson Space Center in Houston. They will spend the next 
days prior to launch going over their flight plans.

U.S. Air Force weather officers are forecasting a 30-percent chance of 
weather prohibiting a launch attempt on Sunday. The primary weather 
concerns are anvil clouds, showers and thunderstorms within 20 nautical 
miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility.