yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (10/05/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - THURSDAY, OCT. 4, 1990 12 noon
STS-41 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD 39-B
All countdown operations are proceeding smoothly and the
launch team has not encountered any problems since the countdown
clock began at 3:30 a.m. EDT yesterday.
The team is currently finishing up with loading Discovery's
power reactant storage and distribution (PRSD) system supply
tanks with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants. Loading
operations began early this morning and are scheduled to be com-
plete later today.
The countdown entered the second built-in hold at the T-19
hour mark at 11:30 a.m. today. One of the major activities during
this hold will be demating the Orbiter Midbody Umbilical Unit
from the orbiter. This unit is used to service the orbiter's fuel
cell storage tanks with reactants. In addition, this hold will
give the launch team time to catch up with countdown operations.
The countdown will resume at 7:30 p.m. tonight and the
orbiter's communications systems will be activated and the
navigation aids will be tested. Overnight, the tail service masts
on the mobile launcher platform will be closed out for flight.
Routine state-of-health checks are being conducted on the
Ulysses spacecraft this afternoon. The payload bay doors were
closed for flight yesterday morning.
The STS-41 five-member flight crew arrived at KSC yesterday
afternoon. This morning, Commander Dick Richards and Pilot Robert
Cabana flew in the Shuttle Training Aircraft. The whole crew has
performed fit checks with equipment they will use during the
flight.
Weather predictions for launch time on Saturday indicate
there is a 70 percent chance of meeting the criteria to launch.
Winds are expected to be out of the east at 10 knots with pos-
sible gusts to 18 knots. The predicted temperature is 80 degrees.
Weather is not expected to be a factor in loading the external
tank for flight.
The launch team will begin loading the external tank with
liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants at 11:15 p.m. EDT
Friday. The process takes about 3 hours and should be complete by
2:15 a.m. Saturday.
Discovery and the Ulysses spacecraft are being prepared for
liftoff at 7:35 a.m. EDT, Saturday, Oct. 6.
STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-A
Technicians are continuing to install special baggies on
various joints and valves in the main propulsion system. Later
this week, the system will be pressurized with gaseous helium.
Any leakage will be monitored.
Columbia is scheduled to be moved to Launch Pad 39-B Monday,
Oct. 8, with first motion at 4 a.m. Details and requirements are
being identified for a tanking test. Fit checks of television
cameras and plexiglass doors for the aft compartment are
scheduled today. These fit checks are in preparation for the
tanking test.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB
A 9-foot-long I-beam was found in Atlantis's aft compartment
this morning. The support beam is part of the horizontal platform
kit used for access in the aft compartment. The beam is not
flight hardware and should have been removed prior to the rol-
lover to the VAB. The incident is under investigation.
While Atlantis was being hoisted to the vertical positon
yesterday several employees involved in the operation heard
several sounds which appeared to be coming from the orbiter. Of-
ficials were concerned and decided to proceed with the mating
operation without detaching the sling upon its conclusion.
Atlantis was hardmated at about 6 a.m. this morning and the
aft was opened about a half hour later for inspections. The rest
of the mating operation is on hold until an assessment of the
situation can be made.