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.