yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (02/20/91)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - TUESDAY, FEB. 19, 1991 - 9:30 a.m. STS-39/DoD - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - VAB LAUNCH - MARCH 1991 WORK IN PROGRESS: - Evaluation of cracks in hinges for the external tank right and left doors. (See concerns.) - Helium signature leak test of the three main engines and main propulsion system. - Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test Feb. began this morning and will culminate with a simulated engine cutoff at 11 a.m. tomorrow. - Interface verification tests between the payload and the or- biter. - Retest of the load control assembly. WORK COMPLETED: - Installation of the STS-39 payload into Discovery's bay on Saturday. - Replacement of the load control assembly, the electronic box in the aft compartment, which controls the power load for the orbi- tal maneuvering system thruster heaters. - STS-39 flight crew arrived yesterday morning. - Successful tests of the new gaseous nitrogen hydrogen dispersal system on the mobile launcher platform. WORK SCHEDULED: - Flight Readiness Review Feb. 26-27. CONCERNS: - During closeout inspections of Discovery's external tank doors yesterday morning, several cracks were discovered. There are two hinges per door. Cracks have been detected in three of the four hinges. Two of the cracks have been described as being 2 inches long by approximately one-tenth inch wide. Engineers will be evaluating data over the next few days to determine the best course of action. STS-37/GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2 LAUNCH - APRIL 1991 WORK IN PROGRESS: - Install nose landing gear tires. - Thermal protection system operations. - Inspections of the external tank door hinges. - Decay checks of the water spray boilers. - Interface verification tests of the left orbital maneuvering system pod. WORK COMPLETED: - Electrical redundancy checks of the orbital maneuvering system pods. STS-40/SPACELAB LIFE SCIENCES 1 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 1 LAUNCH - MAY WORK IN PROGRESS: - Removing heat shields from around the three main engines. - Inspections of the external tank door hinges. - Repairing the waste dump system. WORK SCHEDULED: - Removal of the three main engines this weekend. WORK COMPLETED: - Installed window no. 1. - Deserviced freon system. VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING WORK SCHEDULED: - STS-37 tank and solid rocket booster stack on mobile launcher platform 1 was transferred from high bay 3 to high bay 1 yester- day. - This week, mobile launcher platform 3 will be moved into VAB high bay 3, which is directly across the transfer aisle from the external tank to be used on STS-40. MLP 3 will be prepared for the STS-40 mission.