ejbehr@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Eric Behr) (06/05/91)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 1991 - 11 AM
STS-40/SPACELAB LIFE SCIENCES 1 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-B
LAUNCH - JUNE 5
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Countdown operations on schedule for launch on Wednesday.
- Retract the rotating service structure away from the vehicle at
11 a.m.
- Closing out the Spacelab tunnel for flight.
- Loading of 10 rodents and nearly 2,500 jellyfish on board the
Spacelab module and in the orbiter's middeck later today.
- 20-hour, 40-minute built-in hold ends at 5:40 p.m. today, with
count resuming at the T-11 hour mark.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Loading liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen reactants on board
the orbiter to top off the storage tanks for flight.
- Calibration of the newly installed inertial measurement unit.
- Activation of the orbiter's communications system.
- Loading of 19 rodents into the Spacelab module. Because of in-
termittent false leak alarms in the water delivery system of one
cage compartment of the Research Animal Holding Facility, the
water delivery system was shut down. Consequently, only 19 rats
have been loaded in the Spacelab. These 19 plus the 10 rats in
the middeck will give a total of 29 rodents instead of the
original 30. This decision was made so that all animals would be
assured of adequate drinking water. This change will still allow
all of the principal investigators to meet the scientific objec-
tives of their investigations.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Begin chilldown to load the external tank with cryogenic
propellants at 11:40 p.m. tonight.
- Flight crew awakens at 3 a.m. tomorrow.
- Crew departs Operations and Checkout Building at 4:45 a.m.
- Launch at 8 a.m. EDT Wednesday, June 5. Launch window closes at
10 a.m. EDT.
FLIGHT CREW:
This morning, Commander Bryan O'Connor and Pilot Sid Gutier-
rez practiced approaches to the Shuttle Landing Facility in the
T-38 jets. All crew members will be briefed on the status of the
vehicle, the payload and weather conditions expected at launch
time.
WEATHER FORECAST:
- Probability of having acceptable weather at 8 a.m. Wednesday is
50 percent. For the overall window, there is a 60 percent chance
of being within launch weather commit criteria.
STS-43/TDRS - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Thermal protection system operations.
- Main engine and main propulsion system tests.
- Functional tests of the orbital maneuvering system pods.
- Hookups of the low pressure fuel turbo pump on shuttle main en-
gine no. 3.
- Wing positive pressure test.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Installation of heat shields around the three main engines.
- Installation of the getaway special beam in the payload bay.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Functional tests of the galley.
STS-48/UARS - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Tests of the fuel cells.
- Leak and functional tests of the water spray boilers.
- Main propulsion system tests.
- Thermal protection system operations.
- Deconfiguration of the payload bay.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Replacement of the nose landing gear axle.
STS-49 - ENDEAVOUR (OV 105) - VAB HIGH BAY 2
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Main propulsion system leak checks.
- Thermal protection system operations.
- Work in the environmental control life support system.
- Removal of the 2 and 4 inch lines in the liquid hydrogen main
propulsion system.
STS-43 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB HIGH BAY 1
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Connections between the external tank and the solid rocket
boosters.
WORK COMPLETED:
- External tank soft mated to the solid rocket boosters at about
6 a.m. today.
--
Eric Behr, Illinois State University, Mathematics Department
Internet: ejbehr@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu Bitnet: ebehr@ilstu