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[b]Atlantis Fluid Draining in Progress; Ferry Flight May Occur Sunday[/b] Post-mission servicing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and preparations for its ferry flight are progressing well at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, and shuttle managers are hopeful that Atlantis will be ready to ferry late Saturday evening. As of Thursday morning, the ferry flight itself would depart Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California no earlier than about sunrise on Sunday, May 31. (Edwards, a restricted access military base, will not be open to the public for viewing of the shuttle's ferry flight departure. However, there are several [URL=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/home/offbase_locations.html]off-base locations[/URL] where the 747-shuttle combo may be visible after takeoff.) Technicians in self-contained atmospheric protection ensemble or SCAPE suits are on schedule Thursday as they drain various toxic fluids from Atlantis' systems that could prove hazardous to unprotected personnel Thursday. Installation of the tail cone used to improve the shuttle's aerodynamics during the ferry flight is scheduled for no earlier than late Friday. Shuttle processing managers are targeting lift operations to mount Atlantis on the modified 747 carrier aircraft to begin at mid-day Saturday. A Flight Readiness Review is scheduled for mid-day Saturday, at which time managers will decide when the ferry flight will occur. Inspectors noted some damage on both the interior and exterior of Atlantis' right Orbital Maneuvering Engine nozzle that was apparently caused by a micrometeoroid strike while Atlantis was in orbit. Shuttle engineering is reviewing the issue to determine if the nozzle will need to be repaired or replaced.
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