yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (01/19/91)
Friday January 18, 1991 9:30 a.m. EST
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT
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STS-39 -- Discovery (OV 103) - OPF Bay 1
Operations continue in the Orbiter Processing Facility today
to prepare the orbiter Discovery for the next Space Shuttle
mission. Crossfeed leak checks between the twin orbital
maneuvering system pods and the forward reaction control system
will be checked today. Final hydraulic checkouts are scheduled to
be completed early today with flight controls and main engines
undergoing final cycling operations. Following this, the main
engine locks will be placed on the three engines to allow workers
an opportunity to further check the high pressure oxidizer
turbopump on engine number 3 for possible hydraulic fluid
contamination. Results of this inspection are expected tonight.
Rollout of the vehicle to the Vehicle Assembly Building is
currently assessed to be near the end of the month.
STS-37 -- Atlantis (OV-104) - OPF Bay 2
Hydraulic operations continue today. The payload bay doors
will be cycled closed then reopened today for K-U band testing.
Preparations for main engine installation are underway. SSME
installation is scheduled to begin Sunday.
In the hypergolic maintenance facility, fifth flight checks
continue on the left hand orbital maneuvering system pod. The
forward reaction control system (FRCS)is undergoing functional
tests this week. Installation of the FRCS into the orbiter is
targeted for late next week.
In the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 3, buildup of the
right solid rocket booster segments continue on the mobile
launcher platform. The right aft center segment will be lifted
and mated to the stack tonight.
STS-40 -- Columbia (OV 102) - VAB High Bay 2
Work in the payload bay continues today for the removal of
the provisions stowage assembly (PSA) from the bay. Preparations
also continue to access the waste water dump line nozzle for
failure analysis. Tile work will continue throughout this
weekend.
Columbia is scheduled to be moved to the Orbiter Processing
Facility following the rollover of Discovery to the VAB.