Second Discovery tanking test

Following the tanking test, technicians will begin preparations for rolling Space Shuttle Discovery back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Once in the VAB, orbiter Discovery most likely will be removed (destacked) from its External Tank (ET) and lowered into the transfer aisle. This will be the eighth time in the program’s history that a destacking will be performed following a rollback.

In parallel, the External Tank (ET-121) and Solid Rocket Boosters scheduled to fly with orbiter Atlantis on mission STS-121, is being prepared to fly with Discovery on mission STS-114. The preparation of ET-121 currently is ongoing in the VAB’s checkout cell. A new heater will be added to the feedline bellows to minimize the potential for ice and frost buildup. This heater modification kit arrived yesterday from the tank manufacturing plant in New Orleans and will be installed over the next 24 days. Once Discovery returns to the pad, another tanking test may be performed to test the new modifications.

This week, the STS-114 crew participated in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. This provides the crew and ground teams of each mission an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency egress training.