yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (04/30/91)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1991 - 10 AM
STS-39/DoD - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD 39-A
LAUNCH - APRIL 28
LAUNCH MINUS 2 DAYS
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Launch countdown continuing with no problems.
- Pad is closed to all non-essential personnel for loading liquid
oxygen and liquid hydrogen reactants in the orbiter's fuel cell
storage tanks.
- Countdown will enter second built-in hold at the T-19 hour mark
at 4:45 p.m. tonight for a duration of 4 hours.
- Orbiter communications will be activated tonight.
- Tail service masts on the mobile launcher platform will be
prepared for launch early tomorrow morning.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Serviced payloads.
- Closed payload bay doors for flight at 2:35 a.m. this morning.
- Closed out the aft compartment for flight at 2:50 a.m. this
morning.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Move Rotating Service Structure away from the orbiter at 11:45
a.m. Saturday.
- Start loading liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants
into the external tank at about 10:40 p.m. EDT Saturday.
- Launch at 7:01 a.m. EDT Sunday, April 28.
FLIGHT CREW:
- STS-39 Commander Michael Coats and Mission Specialist Lacy
Veach are scheduled to arrive at KSC today at 1 p.m. Pilot Blaine
Hammond and Mission Specialists Rick Hieb, Greg Harbaugh and Don
McMonagle returned this morning to KSC. Mission Specialist Guy
Bluford practiced approaches to the Shuttle Landing Facility in
the T-38 jet this morning.
WEATHER FORECAST:
- There is a 30 percent chance of violating weather criteria at
launch time on Sunday and a 20 percent chance for violating
criteria for the duration of the window.
STS-40/SPACELAB LIFE SCIENCES 1 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - VAB
LAUNCH - MAY
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Mating the orbiter Columbia to the external tank.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Transfer of the orbiter to the VAB at 12:07 a.m. EDT today.
Move was delayed last night because of inclement weather.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Shuttle Interface Test set to begin midnight Sunday.
- Rollout to Launch Pad 39-B late next week.
STS-43 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Sniff checks of the orbital maneuvering system motor valves.
- Preparations to drain residual hypergolic propellants from the
onboard storage tanks.
- Removal of heat shields from around the main engines.
- Connections of the newly installed no. 3 fuel cell.
- Auxiliary power unit lube oil service.
- Preparations to remove the external tank umbilical housings.
- Draining the waste management system.
- Main engine drying operations.
- Preparations to remove the remote manipulator system.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Heat shields removed from around the three main engines.
- Installation of the no. 3 fuel cell.
- Orbiter electrical system validations.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Removal of the robot arm tomorrow.
- Removal of the three main engines next week.