[sarex] STS-118 Flight Readiness Review to Begin Wednesday

[Arthur Rowe]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468


	
  	*Flight Readiness Review to Begin Wednesday*


Image above: STS-118 crew members get a close look at the payloads 
installed in Space Shuttle Endeavour. Seen in the foreground are Mission 
Specialists Dave Williams (center), who represents the Canadian Space 
Agency, and Tracy Caldwell (right). Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton
+ View Full Size Image 
<http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/170419main_07pd2030.jpg>

*07.23.07 - 10:30 a.m. EDT*
As launch preparations continue for the STS-118 mission, NASA managers 
will gather at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday for the 
flight readiness review. During the two-day meeting, officials will 
evaluate the status of the vehicle, crew and payload and decide whether 
Space Shuttle Endeavour and STS-118 are officially "go" for launch.

Last week, the crew members completed the terminal countdown 
demonstration test. A routine element of prelaunch training, the test 
allowed the astronauts to try on their launch and entry suits, learn 
emergency procedures at the launch pad, and take part in a variety of 
familiarization activities and briefings. The test concluded with a 
countdown dress rehearsal at Launch Pad 39A.

Space Shuttle Endeavour has been in place at the launch pad since July 
11, and the STS-118 payload -- including the S5 truss, SPACEHAB module 
and external stowage platform 3 -- is secured inside the orbiter's 
payload bay. Launch is targeted for the evening of Aug. 7.

*Mission Information*
+ STS-118 Mission Overview 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/index.html>
+ STS-118 Fact Sheet (900 Kb PDF) 
<http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/182903main_STS118%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf>
+ STS-118 Briefing Animations 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/multimedia/sts118_anim_07102007.html>
+ STS-117 Mission Archive 
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/main/index.html>