Technicians have completed checks of Discovery's Ku-band antenna system and plan final stowage later today. Pressurization of the landing gear tires for flight is also complete. Checkout of the robot arm concluded earlier this week and orbiter midbody close-outs continue on schedule.
Preparations are under way for tomorrow night's payload bay door closure.
Today, workers are conducting aft compartment structural leak checks and completing forward compartment close-outs. Saturday, Discovery's weight and center of gravity determination tests are scheduled and Sunday the vehicle will be placed on the orbiter transfer vehicle for Monday's rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building . In the VAB this week, workers completed installation of an accelerometer on the external tank and a camera on the left solid rocket booster 's forward assembly. Data will be collected with these tools during ascent as part of the Shuttle program's study on how external tank foam debris contributes to orbiter tile damage. These marks may be visible when the Shuttle rolls out to Pad 39B on Sept. 21.