[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 05/13/91

yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (05/14/91)

          KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - MONDAY, MAY 13, 1991 -- 10 a.m.

          STS-40/SPACELAB LIFE SCIENCES 1 -- COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-B
                              LAUNCH -- 3RD WEEK OF MAY

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Closeouts of aft main engine compartment.
          - Delivery and offloading of liquid oxygen  and  liquid  hydrogen
          into launch pad storage farms.
          - STS-40 Flight Readiness Review underway at KSC.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          - Launch Control Center preparations to pick up the countdown.
          - Extravehicular Mobility Unit checkout.
          - Aft main engine closeouts.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          -  Installation  of ordnance devices on the vehicle and checkouts
          of firing circuits.
          - Loading of hypergolic propellants into  the  shuttle's  orbital
          maneuvering system and reaction control system storage tanks.

                     STS-43/TDRS - ATLANTIS (OV-104) - OPF BAY 2

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Leak and functional checks of the auxiliary power units.
          -  Pre-launch  testing  of the TDRS spacecraft continues in KSC's
          Vertical Processing Facility.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          - Removal of the forward reaction control system.
          - Auxilary Power Unit lube oil service.
          - Functional tests of the orbital maneuvering system pods.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          - Removal and replacement of a suspected leaky  thruster  on  the
          right orbital maneuvering system pod.

                    STS-48/UARS - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Removal of primary STS-39 payloads from orbiter's payload bay.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          - Removal of main engine heat shields.
          - STS-48 payload, Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, is set for
          mid-morning arrival at KSC.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          -  STS-39 brakes and tires were removed and shipped back to their
          respective vendors for analyses.
          - Removal of sleep stations and waste containment system.



                    STS-49 - ENDEAVOUR (OV 105) - VAB HIGH BAY 2

          Endeavour has been jacked off the floor and  leveled.    Prepara-
          tions for removal of the ferry flight tail cone are underway.