yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (02/06/91)
Payload/ELV Status Report Kennedy Space Center Friday, May 11, 1990 George Diller 407/867-2468 FTS 823-2468 CRRES/AC-69 The end-to-end compatability test with the Air Force Con- solidated Satellite Test Center in Sunnyvale was completed yes- terday, May 10, as scheduled. The testing began May 9. The "Aliveness Test," an electrical verification of the 24 chemical canisters which were installed into the spacecraft last week, was completed on Monday. Preparations for loading the hydrzaine spacecraft control propellants is underway. Sampling of the hydrazine has revealed no water or iron contaminants. A dry run of the loading activity is scheduled for next week. The actual fueling will occur May 25. Meanwhile, at Launch Complex 36, the AC-69 nose fairing was hoisted atop the Atlas Centaur vehicle late Thursday afternoon, May 10, to begin fit checks, electrical testing, and to verify that the fairing will separate as designed. It will be returned to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility over the weekend to await the encapsulation with CRRES the week of June 10. The Countdown Dress Rehearsal and Simulated Flight Test were rescheduled by one week to allow shipment from San Diego of a re- placement hydrogen vent valve for the Centaur. The flight simulation is now scheduled for May 23 and the countdown exercise will follow on May 30. Launch of AC-69 is now scheduled for Saturday, June 23. Delta/ROSAT The new 10-foot Delta nose fairing is atop the vehicle for fit checks, having been hoisted to the white room of Pad 17A last Monday, May 7. Solid rocket motor alignment is in work, selected ordnance is being installed on the vehicle, and pre-countdown main engine preparations are underway. Spacecraft closeouts have begun in preparation for moving ROSAT to the launch pad next week. Electrical compartments are being closed out and the final thermal insulation is being in- stalled. Today, the spacecraft is being weighed. Next week, on Monday, May 14, the attach fitting which con- nects the satellite with the Delta second stage will be bolted on. Then, on Tuesday, a protective liner will be placed around the spacecraft. Wednesday, ROSAT will be installed in a transportation canister. The move to Complex 17 is scheduled for 4:15 a.m. on Thursday, May 17. Launch remains scheduled for May 31. Gamma Ray Observatory GRO was essentially inactive last week so CRRES could be loaded with its chemical release canisters, an activity limited to only essential personnel. GRO shares the same clean room with CRRES. This week, a GRO Modified Functional Check began on Tuesday, May 8, and will conclude on Monday, May 14 which is testing in- struments and moving parts. Systems which are activated include reaction wheels and gyros, the attitude control system (ACAD), and the spacecraft's primary power systems. The routine orbital attitude thruster (OAT) leak checks were also performed. Ulysses The Ulysses spacecraft is scheduled to arrive from Germany aboard a 747 air cargo plane in the early morning on Thursday, May 17. It will be taken to NASA's Hangar AO Planetary Spacecraft Checkout Facility to begin processing. Launch aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled for Oct. 5.