yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (09/19/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - TUESDAY, SEPT. 18, 1990 5:30 PM AFTERNOON STATUS STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-A Shuttle officials are continuing to analyze the data col- lected during last night's tanking test. A small investigation team is being formed to determine the source of the leak. The team will be lead by Robert Schwinghamer of Marshall Space Flight Center and will operate from KSC. Several in-house teams are being formed at KSC to analyze the data collected from last night's test and previous tanking tests, and to determine requirements for another tanking test. In addition, the team will review all work performed on Columbia's main propulsion system since Columbia's last flight, STS-32. Launch of Columbia was scrubbed last night at about 6:35 p.m. EDT when concentrations of hydrogen in the aft compartment began climbing. The scrub was called shortly after the tanking operation of liquid hydrogen transitioned from the "slow-fill" to the "fast-fill" mode. The source of the leak has not yet been pinpointed, however data collected suggests the engine 2 liquid hydrogen recircula- tion system is making a contribution to the leakage detected. Officials are discussing the troubleshooting test results and will determine a course of action for further testing. Officials are planning to conduct a liquid hydrogen tanking test on Columbia using additional instrumentation and television cameras. Details and the date of the test are being discussed. At pad 39-A, hydrogen boiloff operations are continuing this evening. A purge of the tank will follow the boiloff. Later tonight, the power reactant storage and distribution system storage tanks will be drained of the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants. Access to the aft compartment is expected late tomorrow afternoon. # # # # PREPARED BY: LISA MALONE APPROVED: BREWSTER SHAW