yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (10/25/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - WEDNESDAY, OCT. 24, 1990 10 A.M. STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-A The tanking test has been delayed from 7 a.m. today to 1 p.m. this afternoon. Extra time was needed to evaluate a small ding in the liquid hydrogen feedline for engine 1 and a broken transducer for the engine 3 liquid oxygen feedline. Officials determined late last night that these items would not be a problem for today's test. The aft compartment was closed out for the test at 2 a.m. this morning and the Rotating Service Struc- ture was moved away from the vehicle at 6 a.m. this morning. The vehicle will be in a normal launch countdown configura- tion for the test and the hazardous gas detection system will be active. Chilldown of the system used in loading the propellants is scheduled for 1 p.m. today. During the test, liquid hydrogen will be loaded aboard the external tank. Liquid oxygen will be loaded into the main propulsion system but not into the tank to make sure there are no problems with that system. After the test, the propellants will be drained from the orbiter and tank. Atlantis is scheduled to be launched in early November on Mission STS-38, a classified Department of Defense flight. STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-B Foaming operations on the main propulsion system are about 75-80 percent complete in preparation for the tanking test tar- geted for Oct. 29. Baggies and instrumentation will be installed later this week. Fit checks of the two special aft compartment doors made of plexiglass type material are planned today. These doors were made to allow visibility into the aft during tanking operations. A health maintenance test of the Astro payload was completed yesterday afternoon. Drying of the forward reaction control system thrusters and functional testing of the waste containment system are continu- ing. STS-39 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1 Deconfiguration of the payload bay from the STS-41 mission is continuing. Lube oil will be deserviced from the auxiliary power units today. The forward reaction control systems is scheduled to be removed early Friday morning and transferred to the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility for post-flight inspections. Preparations are underway to offload residual hypergolic propel- lants from the orbiter this weekend.