[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 02/01/91

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

                  KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - FRIDAY, FEB. 1, 1991

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

          WORK IN PROGRESS:
          - Replacement of a third thruster on the right orbital  maneuver-
          ing  system  pod.  The bay is opened for limited access today and
          will be reopened for normal work tomorrow.
          - Pressurization of the main landing gear struts.
          - Thermal protection system operations.
          - As part of the troubleshooting of the waste water  dump  system
          problem  experienced on STS-35,  technicians removed and replaced
          the filter package on Discovery.  The three polyurethane  filters
          in the package removed from Discovery were found to be in various
          states  of  degradation.  The  degradation  appears to be natural
          deterioration due to age.  The filter package currently installed
          in  Discovery  is new and there are no concerns about its perfor-
          mance.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          - Replacement of two thrusters on the  left  orbital  maneuvering
          system pod.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          -  Structural  leak checks of the orbital maneuvering system pods
          this weekend.
          - Structural leak checks of the orbiter next week.
          - Weight and center of gravity checks.

            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.
          - Auxiliary power unit water servicing.
          - Electrical mates of the engine 2 controller.
          - Preparations to install the right  orbital  maneuvering  system
          pod.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          - External tank door functional test.
          - Potable water servicing.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          -  Right  orbital  maneuvering  system pod to be delivered to OPF
          tonight and installed this weekend.
          - Main engine 2 flight readiness test next week.
          - Installation of windows 1 and 6 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.
          - Cycling of the landing gear doors for tile operations.

          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:
          - Closeouts of all booster field joints and cable routing.
          - Preparations for external tank mate.

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          - Mate of the external tank to the boosters on Monday.

          WORK COMPLETED:
          - Alignment of the boosters.