ejbehr@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Eric Behr) (06/02/91)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1991 - 10 AM
STS-40/SPACELAB LIFE SCIENCES 1 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-B
LAUNCH - JUNE 1
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Countdown operations on schedule for launch on Saturday.
- Preparations to move the rotating service structure to the park
position at 11 a.m. today.
- Preparations to load the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen
propellants into the external tank tonight.
- Preparations to load the remaining 10 rodents and the some
2,500 tiny jellyfish into the middeck later today.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Loading of 20 of the 30 rodents into the Spacelab module early
this morning.
- Disconnection of the orbiter midbody umbilical unit used in
loading the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen reactants into the
orbiter's onboard storage tanks.
- Activation of the orbiter's communications systems.
- Loading of rodent food and activating systems on board the
Spacelab module for flight.
- Countdown entered a 20 hour, 40 minute built-in hold at the
T-11 hour mark at 9 p.m. last night.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Countdown resumes at 5:40 p.m. tonight.
- Begin chilldown to load the external tank with cryogenic
propellants at 11:40 p.m. tonight.
- Flight crew wake up at 3 a.m. tomorrow.
- Crew departs Operations and Checkout Building at 4:45 a.m.
- Launch at 8 a.m. EDT Saturday, June 1. Launch window closes at
10 a.m. EDT.
FLIGHT CREW:
Commander Bryan O'Connor and Pilot Sid Gutierrez flew in the
T-38 jets this morning. Also this morning, all crew members will
be briefed on the status of the vehicle, the payload and weather
conditions expected at launch time.
This afternoon, a catheter will be inserted in a vein in the
arm of Payload Specialist Drew Gaffney and positioned near his
heart as part of research in how the cardiovascular system adapts
to zero-gravity. The catheter will be removed several hours after
launch.
WEATHER FORECAST:
- Probability of having acceptable weather at 8 a.m. Saturday is
60 percent. For the overall window, there is a 70 percent chance
of being within launch weather commit criteria.
STS-43/TDRS - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Leak and functional tests of the water spray boiler.
- Checkout of the forward reaction control system.
- Thermal protection system operations.
- Main engine and main propulsion system tests.
- Functional tests of the orbital maneuvering system pods.
- Replacement of the low pressure oxidizer turbo pump on shuttle
main engine no. 1.
- Functional tests of the galley.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Installation of heat shields around the three main engines.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Functional test of the external tank umbilical doors.
- Removal of the low pressure oxidizer turbo pump on engine
no. 1.
STS-48/UARS - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Inspections of the star tracker.
- Tests of the fuel cells.
- Functional tests of the forward reaction control system.
- Thermal protection system operations.
- Deconfiguration of the payload bay.
- Checks of the main propulsion system.
STS-49 - ENDEAVOUR (OV 105) - VAB HIGH BAY 2
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Purges of the freon coolant loop.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Access to the midbody and aft compartment.
STS-43 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB HIGH BAY 1
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Closeouts of the solid rocket boosters.
- Routing cables for the boosters.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Measurements of the solid rocket boosters' alignment.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- External tank mate to the boosters on June 3.
--
Eric Behr, Illinois State University, Mathematics Department
Internet: ejbehr@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu Bitnet: ebehr@ilstu