Preparations are underway to remove from the vehicle the forward reaction control system and send it to the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility to replace a valve. During this time, the vehicle will be outfitted with a 5th set of cryogenic tanks and an external airlock to support missions to the international Space Station. Discovery is scheduled to depart Kennedy Space Center via the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on or about Sept. 26. Discovery s next flight, the second mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, is targeted for launch in early 1997. This week, post-flight servicing will continue in OPF bay 1.
Preparations are underway to remove the forward reaction control system and the main engines.