yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (11/30/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 1990 10 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-A
Launch of Atlantis and Mission STS-38 on a classified
Department of Defense flight occurred at 6:48:15.0639 p.m. EST
yesterday. Post launch securing operations are underway at Pad
39-A today. The mobile launcher platform will be transferred back
to the VAB on Monday. Launch damage to the pad was reported as
minimal.
At sea, the booster retrieval operations are underway.
Recovery teams station-kept the boosters overnight and began
retrieval activities at sunrise this morning. The parachutes are
on board and work to secure the boosters for tow is underway. The
boosters are expected to be in port tomorrow.
STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-B
A leaking quick disconnect for main engine 1 is being re-
placed today. A flight readiness test on that engine to retest
the disconnect is planned tomorrow. Hydraulic fluid is being con-
ditioned in preparation for the test which cycles engine valves.
The first part of ordnance operations is planned Sunday. The
pad will be cleared during this operation. The two contingency
space suits are scheduled to be installed in the air lock early
next week. Pad B was cleared most of yesterday for the STS-38
launch.
Columbia and the Astro payload are being prepared for launch
on Mission STS-35. A launch date will be set at the Flight Readi-
ness Review scheduled for Nov. 27.
STS-39 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
This week, five new general purpose computers (GPCs) were
installed in the vehicle. STS-39 will be the first use of the
upgraded GPCs. Today, an ammonia boiler and the Ku-Band antenna
drive assembly will be replaced.
A screen test of the fuel tanks on the right orbital
maneuvering system (OMS) pod will be conducted again today. A
retest is necessary because data collected from Wednesday's test
is not fully understood. The pod is located at the Hypergolic
Maintenance Facility.
STS-39 BOOSTERS - VAB
STS-39 booster stacking operations are continuing in the
VAB. Mating of the left forward center segment to the stack is
underway today. The left forward segment, the last motor seg-
ment, is scheduled to be mated next week prior to the Thanksgiv-
ing holidays.