Discovery Mated to New External Tank

[Guest Glenn]

Source: NASA

 

Space Shuttle Discovery has been attached to its new External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters. Engineers are performing the Shuttle Interface Test verifying the vehicle-to-ground interfaces. The Shuttle is sitting in the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center after rolling back from the launch pad May 26. On June 14, Discovery is scheduled to roll back out to the launch pad in preparation for a launch window that begins July 13 and ends July 31.

 

Shuttle workers decided to swap External Tanks after encountering problems during two previous tanking tests while Discovery was at the launch pad. NASA?s newest External Tank, originally planned for Space Shuttle Atlantis, has now been mated to Discovery. The new tank contains heaters to eliminate ice build-up.

 

The STS-114 crewmembers are getting ready for the upcoming Return to Flight Mission. They have been taking training flights in T-38 jets and participating in simulations with flight controllers. Also, the crewmembers continue to familiarize themselves with flight hardware and International Space Station emergency procedures.