"Tanking Test" Still Set For Wednesday

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, repairs are nearing completion on the plate that attaches a gaseous hydrogen vent line to space shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank. The new, two-piece seals were installed and tightened Friday, new washers were installed Sunday and the vent line has been reattached to the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate. Monday, the vent line bolts were tightened and the line tested for leaks using helium at ambient temperatures.

The repairs will be verified Wednesday when Endeavour's external tank is filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. The tanking test will start at 0700 EDT and last about three hours, followed by a news conference to discuss the results. Both events will be shown live on NASA TV.

Endeavour's airlock was closed and checked for leaks Friday. Replacement spacesuit batteries will be stored in the orbiter's middeck for flight. The next launch attempt for Endeavour is targeted for July 11 at 1939.

Endeavour's STS-127 astronauts conducted an integrated entry simulation Monday in the motion based simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

FMI: www.nasa.gov