yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (12/20/90)
Wednesday December 19, 1990 10:00 a.m. EST KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT ----------------------------------------------------------------- STS-35 -- Columbia (OV 102) - Kelly AFB, Texas The orbiter Columbia atop its 747 shuttle carrier aircraft departed Dryden Flight Research Facility, Calif., yesterday morning, stopped for fuel at Biggs Army Air Field, El Paso, Tx., and continued on to Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, Tx., for an overnight layover. This morning, managers conducted a weather assessment and determined that the vehicle should continue its journey to the preferred refueling stop at Barksdale Air Force Base, Shreveport, La. Continuation of the ferry flight to Kennedy Space Center this afternoon will be determined upon arrival at Barksdale. A frontal system moving across the Florida panhandle may present a problem. Arrival at Kennedy Space Center will be no earlier than mid- afternoon today and possibly as late as Thursday morning. Once back at KSC, Columbia will be demated from the SCA and prepared for tow to the Vehicle Assembly Building. About 36 to 48 hours of operation time is required for safing the vehicle and removing the protective main engine tail cone before Columbia can be moved to the VAB. About four days of deservicing is required to safe the vehicle before ground crews can take time off for the holidays. STS-39 -- Discovery (OV 103) - OPF Bay 1 The right hand orbital maneuvering system pod was attached to the vehicle last night. Electrical mates are continuing today and are scheduled to be completed by Friday. The forward reaction control system will be positioned and installed tomorrow evening. Nose cap installation is complete. Main engines two and three helium purge check valves will be installed today. Tile waterproofing and lazer step and gap operations are in work. Hydraulic operations to position the aerospace surfaces will be conducted prior to power down operations, now scheduled for Friday midnight. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, the STS-39 external tank was lifted to the twin solid rocket boosters. Mating operations to attach the ET to the SRBs were completed last night. Electrical and mechanical hardmate verification operations will continue today. STS-37 -- Atlantis (OV-104) - OPF Bay 2 Modification work to install carbon brakes on the orbiter's wheels continue today in bay two of the Orbiter Processing Facility. Work should be completed Thursday. Hydraulic operations are underway to rotate the elevons and body flap up for normal borescope inspection. The payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed tomorrow for the holidays.