STS-123 MCC Status
Report #22
(21 March 2008) The crew will take
another look at space shuttle Endeavour's heat shield today using the Orbiter
Boom Sensor System, which will be stowed on the exterior of the International
Space Station during tomorrow's fifth and final planned spacewalk of the
mission.
The crew started its day at 12:28 p.m., with the song
"Enter Sandman" performed by Metallica. The song was played for Mission
Specialist Robert L. Behnken.
Shuttle Commander Dominic Gorie, Pilot
Gregory H. Johnson and Mission Specialist Takao Doi will start the inspection
of the shuttle's heat shield at 3:03 p.m., beginning with the leading edge of
the shuttle's right wing. After taking time out for lunch, they'll continue
just after 6:30 p.m. with the shuttle's nose cap and left wing leading
edge.
The survey's place in the mission's timeline is different than in
past flights. Normally the inspection is done after the shuttle has undocked
from the space station. But Endeavour's crew is planning to leave the Orbiter
Boom Sensor System - or OBSS, an extension attached to the shuttle's robotic
arm that includes cameras and a laser system used to look for damage to the
shuttle's heat shield - behind for the next shuttle visit, and so is doing the
survey earlier than usual.
The OBSS is being left on the station to
leave extra room in the cargo bay of space shuttle Discovery, the next shuttle
to visit the space station. Discovery will be bringing the Japanese Experiment
Module to the station, and there is not enough room in the cargo bay for both
it and the OBSS. Discovery will bring the OBSS back to Earth at the end of its
mission.
The next STS-123 status report will be issued near the end of
the crew's day, about 3 a.m. Saturday, or earlier if events
warrant.
(source: NASA)
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