[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 03/25/91

yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (03/26/91)

          KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - MONDAY, MAR. 25, 1991 - 10  a.m.

             STS-37/GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-B
                                   LAUNCH - APRIL

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Gamma Ray Observatory end-to-end test.
          - Hydraulic system conditioning.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          - Loading of hypergolic  propellants  into  the  onboard  storage
          tanks.  Hydrazine  was  loaded  into  the orbiter auxiliary power
          units and booster hydraulic power units.
          - Test of the hydrogen dispersal system.
          - Part one of ordnance operations.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          - Main engine Flight Readiness Test tomorrow.  During this  test,
          the engine sensors are calibrated and the valves on the 3 engines 
          are cycled and checked.
          - Part one of ordnance operations Monday.
          - Flight Readiness Review March 26-27.

                     STS-39/DoD - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 2
                           LAUNCH - LATE APRIL, EARLY MAY

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          -  Preparations to transfer to the Vehicle Assembly Building at 6
          p.m. tonight.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          - Functional tests of the external tank doors.
          - Weight and center of gravity checks.
          - Orbiter attached to transporter.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          - Mate Discovery to the external tank.
          - Rollout to Launch Pad 39-A early next week.

           STS-40/SPACELAB LIFE SCIENCES 1 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 1
                                    LAUNCH - MAY

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Electrical  connections  between  the  Spacelab  Life  Sciences
          payload and the orbiter.
          - Thermal protection system operations.
          - Orbital maneuvering system pod functional checks.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          -  Installation  of  the  Spacelab  Life  Sciences  payload  into
          Columbia's payload bay Sunday.



                         STS-40 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB

               The left aft booster was successfully stacked on the  mobile
          launcher  platform  after the hold down posts were aligned.   The
          right aft booster is scheduled to be transferred to  the  VAB  on
          Thursday, after Discovery and external tank mating operations.