yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (04/05/91)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - THURSDAY, APR. 4, 1991 - 10 a.m.
STS-37/GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-B
LAUNCH - APRIL 5
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Launch countdown in progress with no issues.
- T-11 hour built-in hold will resume at 6:58 p.m. EST today.
- Preparations to roll the Rotating Service Structure away from
the vehicle at noon today.
- Final debris walkdowns of the launch pad.
- Stowing flight crew equipment in the orbiter's middeck.
- Configuration of switches in the crew cabin for ascent.
- Loading film in cameras.
- Activation of the orbiter's fuel cells.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Demating the orbiter midbody umbilical unit used in servicing
the orbiter's onboard fuel cell storage tanks.
- Loading of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the power
reactant storage and distribution system tanks.
- Flight crew equipment fit checks.
- Commander Steve Nagel and Pilot Ken Cameron flew practice
flights in the T-38 training jets.
- Activation of the orbiter's communications system.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Clearing Launch Pads 39-A and B at 10 p.m. tonight in prepara-
tion for loading propellants into the external tank.
- Tanking begins at 12:58 a.m. tomorrow and will be complete at
3:58 a.m.
- Flight crew will be awakened at 4:23 a.m. tomorrow.
- Crew departure from the Operations and Checkout Building is at
6:03 a.m. tomorrow.
- Crew will begin entering Atlantis' crew cabin at 6:33 a.m.
tomorrow.
- Launch April 5 at 9:18 a.m. EST. Launch windows: Friday 9:18
a.m. - 1:56 p.m.; Saturday 9:17 a.m. - 1:56 p.m.
- Weather outlook: 60 percent chance of being within commit
criteria on Friday at the opening of the window. On Saturday,
there is a 70 percent chance of favorable weather conditions.
STS-39/DoD - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD 39-A
LAUNCH - LATE APRIL
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Installation of the STS-39 payloads.
- Preparations to load hypergolic propellants into the orbiter's
onboard storage tanks.
- Crew compartment hatch functional test today.
WORK COMPLETED:
- High pressure leak checks of the external tank to orbiter
2-inch quick disconnects.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Pad 39-A will be cleared at 10 p.m. tonight until after the
STS-37 launch.
STS-40/SPACELAB LIFE SCIENCES 1 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 1
LAUNCH - MAY
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Installation of the Spacelab Life Sciences tunnel.
- Functional tests of the forward reaction control system.
- Thermal protection system operations.
WORK COMPLETED:
- Checks of the orbital maneuvering system.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Crew Equipment Interface Test with flight crew this weekend.
STS-40 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
WORK IN PROGRESS:
- Mating preparation of the left forward segment to the booster
stack.
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Transfer of the left forward assembly to the VAB after the
launch.