[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 02/27/91

yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (02/28/91)

          KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - WEDNESDAY, FEB. 27, 1991 - 9:30 a.m.

                       STS-39/DoD - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD A
                                 LAUNCH - MARCH 1991

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Last part of the retest for the load control assembly.
          - Leak checks of the liquid hydrogen monoball connection.
          - Payload operations.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          - Payload end-to-end test.
          - Part one of ordnance activities.
          - Purge of the cavity between the orbiter and external tank  liq-
          uid hydrogen umbilical.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          - Closeouts of the aft compartment for flight.
          - On Thursday, installation of two extravehicular space suits for
          contingency purposes.
          - Flight Readiness Review no earlier than March 4-5.
          - Purges of the external tank on Friday.

          CONCERNS:
          -  Managers  want more time to continue their analysis of the ex-
          ternal tank umbilical door hinges before  conducting  the  Flight
          Readiness Review.

            STS-37/GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2
                                 LAUNCH - APRIL 1991

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Thermal protection system operations.
          - Evaluation of a leaking thruster on the right orbital maneuver-
          ing system pod.
          - Water spray boiler servicing.
          - Closeouts of the midbody.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          -  Aerosurface  cycling  and a gimbal check of the three main en-
          gines.
          - Payload bay doors were opened.
          - Samples of the potable water were good.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          - Transfer of the vehicle to the Vehicle Assembly Building on
          March 5.


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


          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Tests of the power reactant storage and distribution system.
          - Offloading residual  hypergolic  propellant  from  the  orbital
          maneuvering system and reaction control system.
          - Preparations to deservice freon.
          - Preparations to drain the auxiliary power unit catch bottles.
          - Checks of the main propulsion system.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          - Draining the auxiliary power units of lube oil.
          - Routine latch pull tests of the external tank umbilical doors.