[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 02/04/91

yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (02/05/91)

                  KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - MONDAY, FEB. 4, 1991

                     STS-39/DoD - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
                                 LAUNCH - MARCH 1991

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Evaluation of a heater on the newly replaced thruster, R3A.
          - Thermal protection system operations.
          - Removal  of  platforms  in  the  aft  compartment  as  part  of
          closeouts.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          - Replacement and retest of three thrusters on the left and right
          orbital maneuvering system pods.
          - Successful flushes of the waste water system.
          - Removal of the payload bay door strongbacks.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          -  Structural  leak checks of the orbital maneuvering system pods
          this week.
          - Structural leak checks of the orbiter.
          - Weight and center of gravity checks.
          - Rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building no earlier than
            Feb. 7.


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

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Connections of the forward reaction control system.
          - Water spray boiler leak and functional tests.
          - Troubleshooting the external tank door drive unit.
          - Main engine leak tests.
          - Installation of heat shields around main engines.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          -  Right  orbital  maneuvering  system  pod  was  connected  this
          weekend.
          - Electrical connections of the forward reaction control system.
          - External tank door functional tests.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          - Tests of the right orbital maneuvering system pod Wednesday.
          - Tests of the forward reaction control system tomorrow.
          - Installation of windows 1 and 6 this week.
          - Engine flight readiness test this week.



           STS-40/SPACELAB LIFE SCIENCES 1 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - VAB HB 2
                                    LAUNCH - MAY


          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          -  Modification to beef up the lithium hydroxide canister door in
          the middeck.
          - Thermal protection system operations.
          - Troubleshooting of the S-band antenna.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          - Closeouts to ready the vehicle  for  transfer  to  the  Orbiter
          Processing  Facility  several hours after Discovery's move to the
          VAB.


                  STS-37 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS/EXTERNAL TANK - VAB

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Mating the external tank to the boosters.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          - Closeouts of  the solid rocket booster field joints.