yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (10/24/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - TUESDAY, OCT. 23, 1990 11:30 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-A
The call-to-stations for the tanking test came on time at 7
a.m. this morning. The Rotating Service Structure will be moved
away from the vehicle at about 10 p.m. tonight.
The vehicle will be in a normal launch countdown configura-
tion for tomorrow's test and the hazardous gas detection system
will be active. Chilldown of the system used in loading the
propellants is scheduled for 7 a.m. tomorrow. 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 sys-
tem. After the test, the propellants will be drained from the
orbiter and tank.
Yesterday, purges of the external tank were completed to
ready it for the tanking test.
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 are continuing on the main propulsion
system in preparation for the tanking test on Oct. 29. Baggies
and instrumentation will be installed later this week. Fit checks
of the two special aft compartment doors made of a plexiglass
type material is scheduled today. These doors were made to allow
visibility into the aft during tanking operations.
A health maintenance test of the Astro payload began yester-
day and is scheduled to be completed by this afternoon.
Drying of the forward reaction control system thrusters and
functional testing of the waste containment system are underway.
STS-39 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
Yesterday, the payload bay doors were opened and operations
to deconfigure the bay from the STS-41 mission are underway. Last
night, the orbiter's body flap was lowered and the tail cone was
removed. The tail cone is being taken apart in the Vehicle As-
sembly Building and packed in special crates for shipment back to
Dryden Flight Research Facility. Ferry flight kit items will be
removed in the next few days.