Atlantis mating operations discover damage to umbilical plate

By Chris Bergin, 8/26/2008 9:46:51 AM

STS-125 mating operations inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) are continuing to target rollout to Pad 39A on Saturday - although an issue with Atlantis' LH2 umbilical plate is being evaluated.

A small piece of aluminum liberated from the plate, when the connection to the tank was demated - following a problem with the removal of a Ground Support Equipment (GSE) pin.

Atlantis/STS-125 Latest:

Atlantis rolled over from OPF 1 to the VAB on Friday night after the weather cleared. S0004 Orbiter/ET Mate lift from the Orbiter Transporter began Saturday at 0905 with hard mate completed Sunday at 13:55.

The sling which had lifted Atlantis over to ET-127 has now been removed, as mating between the orbiter and the tank - a week long process ahead of rollout - picked up the pace.

More at www.nasaspaceflight.com