yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (11/27/90)
[By popular request, I'm posting the back issues that I was not able to post when I was on travel. -PEY] KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - MONDAY, NOV. 12, 1990 9:30 A.M. STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-A The launch countdown began on time last night at 10:30 p.m. All countdown events are proceeding without problems. Closeouts of the aft compartment are complete. One of the flight doors was installed early this morning and workers are attaching the other door today. KSC launch team members are involved in routine operations to ready the STS-38 vehicle for launch. Some of those jobs in- clude loading software into the orbiter's onboard computers, checking out the main engine controllers for flight and prepara- tions to load the orbiter's onboard fuel cells with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants. Ordnance devices were installed on the vehicle this weekend and the firing circuits were checked. Atlantis' hypergolic propellant tanks have been pressurized for flight. Weather forecasts during the launch period Thursday indicate there is a 40 percent chance that the overall conditions will be acceptable for launch. Launch day weather concerns are crosswinds at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, chance of ceilings below 8,000 feet and showers in the area. Scattered clouds are forecast between 4,000 and 7,000 feet and between 30,000 and 33,000 feet. Winds are expected to be out of the northeast at 12 knots with peak winds at 25 knots. Launch of Atlantis and Mission STS-38 on a classified Department of Defense flight remains set for Nov. 15. The four- hour launch period begins at 6:30 p.m. EST Thursday, Nov. 15. The crew is scheduled to arrive at KSC at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13. STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-B A flight readiness of the three main engines was completed this past weekend. This test verifies the engines' electrical systems and cycles the valves. A hot fire of auxiliary power unit number 1 is planned this afternoon. The APUs have been serviced with lube oil. 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. 26-27. STS-39 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1 The three main engines were removed this weekend and trans- ferred to the main engine shop in the Vehicle Assembly Building for refurbishment. Operations scheduled this week include tests of the main propulsion system, measurements of the 17-inch disconnect and structural inspections of the nose cap. Radiator panels are scheduled to be removed this week. In- spections of the payload bay doors are planned after this work. Testing is continuing on the right orbital maneuvering sys- tem (OMS) pod at the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility. A new test, called a screen test, to check the propellant tanks' internal screen is scheduled this week. STS-39 booster stacking operations are continuing in the VAB. The second segment, the left aft center segment, has been transferred to the VAB and will be lifted to the stack today.