yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (09/21/90)
Wednesday September 19, 1990 11:00 a.m. EDT
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT
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STS-35 -- Columbia (OV 102) - Pad 39-A
The orbiter Columbia's Power Reactant and Storage
Distribution System tanks have been drained of their liquid
hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants. A purge of the system is
complete and the pad is open for extended scrub turn-around
operations.
Work is currently underway to gain access to the aft
compartment. Aft inspections will be halted later this afternoon
for pad clear operations to off load hypergolics from the shuttle
vehicle OMS/RCS system. This will be followed by vehicle ordnance
disconnect operations.
The payload bay doors are scheduled to be opened shortly
after 12:00 noon today. Payload standdown operations will begin
once the pad is reopened for general work tomorrow morning.
Engineers continue to make preparations for a liquid
hydrogen tanking test on Columbia, however, no specific date has
been established for the exercise.
STS-41 -- Discovery (OV 103) - Pad 39-B
Work at pad B is underway for a planned main engine flight
readiness test. Call to stations for the test will occur at 8:00
a.m. Thursday. This operation will allow technicians an
opportunity to test the main propulsion system aerosurfaces and
cycle the main engines in the manner used for flight.
Today at the pad, workers are in the process of removing the
high pressure fuel duct and bleed valve on main engine number 2.
Operations should be complete by end of shift tonight in time for
the flight readiness test tomorrow.
Engineers are currently planning a helium signature test on
the shuttle's liquid fuel feed lines on Saturday.
The Launch Readiness Review is on going this morning at KSC
to discuss the readiness of the STS-41 launch team. The Flight
Readiness Review is scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday.
Following this review, release of a specific launch date is
expected.
STS-38 -- Atlantis (OV-104) - OPF Bay 2
Freon coolant loop number 1 vacuum and moisture checks are
in work today. The orbiter is scheduled to be transported to the
Vehicle Assembly Building at the end of this month.tif@doorstop.austin.ibm.com (Paul Chamberlain) (09/21/90)
In article <1990Sep20.192923.5119@news.arc.nasa.gov> yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes: > Engineers are currently planning a helium signature test on > the shuttle's liquid fuel feed lines on Saturday. >... I hope they intend to do lots of leak tests _before_ they get to the deadline. Paul Chamberlain | I do NOT represent IBM tif@doorstop, sc30661@ausvm6 512/838-7008 | ...!cs.utexas.edu!ibmaus!auschs!doorstop.austin.ibm.com!tif
n8035388@unicorn.wwu.edu (Worth Henry A) (09/22/90)
In article <3614@awdprime.UUCP> tif@doorstop.austin.ibm.com (Paul Chamberlain) writes: >In article <1990Sep20.192923.5119@news.arc.nasa.gov> yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes: >> Engineers are currently planning a helium signature test on >> the shuttle's liquid fuel feed lines on Saturday. >I hope they intend to do lots of leak tests _before_ they get >to the deadline. Unfortunately, the current leaks were detected after the systems had been cold-soaked at cryogenic temps. If the helium is not cold enough, the physical size of the leaks not large enough, the humidity is not just right, the lead engineer's biorythm not in sync, ... these and perhaps other leaks will not show up until they fill her up with H2 (and perhaps even O2 as well), and maybe not even then. And, as someone else has pointed out, if they have to go to that much trouble, it might as well be a launch attempt (they might just get lucky). Of course, a trial run might be worthwhile in the case of missions with tight launch windows. But then again, what new problems will be created by the thermal (and other) stresses of a trial run? This is hardly non- destructive testing. Additionally, the shuttles are not being stored in a stasis field (the unused Saturns are not be the only spacecraft that birds and insects are building nests in ;-) ), the longer this goes on and the more NASA has to tinker, the worse it is going to get. :-(