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.