yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (05/07/91)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - MONDAY, MAY 6, 1991 - 11 AM
STS-39/DoD - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - FLIGHT DAY 9
Discovery is scheduled to land today at approximately 2:48
p.m. EDT at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on concrete runway 22.
Discovery will be towed to the Mate Demate Device at Dryden
Flight Research Facility about three and a half hours after land-
ing. The flight crew will depart Edwards about five to six hours
after landing.
KSC's turnaround team will prepare the vehicle for the ferry
flight back to Florida. These activities typically take about
five days.
STS-40/SPACELAB LIFE SCIENCES 1 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-B
LAUNCH - MAY
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test began on time at 8 a.m.
this morning.
- STS-40 flight crew emergency egress training exercises.
- Launch pad validations.
- Preparations to load hypergolic propellants onboard the or-
biter.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Helium signature leak test of the three main engines and main
propulsion system.
- Main engine flight readiness test.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Mock launch countdown with simulated main engine cutoff at
about 11 a.m. EDT tomorrow.
- Loading hypergolic propellants into the orbiter's orbital
maneuvering system and reaction control system storage tanks.
Auxiliary power units and solid rocket booster hydraulic power
units will be serviced with hydrazine as part of this operation
on Thursday.
- Flight Readiness Review planned May 13-14.
STS-43 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Checks of the main propulsion system helium system.
- Thermal protection system operations.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Residuals drained from auxiliary power unit catch bottles.
- Installation of window no. 1.
- Installation of the gaseous oxygen flow control valves.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Auxiliary power unit leak and functional tests.
- Power reactant storage and distribution systems tests.
- Tests of the Tacan system and S-band antenna.
ENDEAVOUR (OV 105) - FERRY FLIGHT IN PROGRESS
Endeavour departed Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas
at about 10:03 a.m. EDT today and landed at Ellington Field in
Houston, Texas an hour later. A ceremony will be held in Houston
for the new shuttle during its planned four-hour stay. Weather
conditions will be evaluated to determine the next leg of the
ferry flight to Florida.
Last Friday, Endeavour flew from Palmdale, Calif. to Biggs
Army Air Field in El Paso, Texas where the vehicle remained for
two nights. Sunday, Endeavour flew from El Paso to Kelly Air
Force Base, San Antonio, Texas for an overnight stay.
Once here at KSC and demated from the 747, Endeavour will be
towed to the Orbiter Processing Facility where the tail cone,
ferry flight kit items, the two simulated orbital maneuvering
system pods, and mock forward reaction control system will be
removed. The new orbiter's initial stay in the OPF is planned for
about one week. Endeavour will be towed to the Vehicle Assembly
Building for several months of powered down work.