yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (08/14/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1990 11 A.M.
STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-A
The Shuttle Interface Test, which began early Saturday morn-
ing, will continue through tomorrow. Launch pad validations are
also scheduled to continue through tomorrow. A leak test, with
gaseous helium, of the external tank flange this weekend revealed
some leakage, however, engineers have determined it is within
specifications.
Servicing of the Broad Band X-ray Telescope with argon was
completed on Saturday. Gaseous oxygen flow control valves were
installed in the vehicle's main propulsion system this weekend.
Routine tests of the main propulsion system are continuing
this week. Preparations are underway to conduct a helium signa-
ture leak check of the three main engines on Thursday.
The Flight Readiness Review, where shuttle managers set the
official launch date, is scheduled for Aug. 20-21 here at Kennedy
Space Center.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB HIGH BAY 3
Operations to demate the shuttle Atlantis from the external
tank began this weekend but were temporarily halted this morning
when a valve in the VAB firex system failed causing water to drip
onto power transformers. The power in VAB high bay 3 has been
cut off to avoid electrical shorts. The water has been cleaned
up. Officials are determining if that part of the firex system is
necessary to continue with demate operations. There was no water
on flight hardware.
Atlantis will be towed to the OPF after demate where work to
ready it for the STS-38 mission will commence including replacing
seals in the 17-inch disconnect assembly and for repairs to
tiles.
STS-41 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
The freon cooling system was serviced this weekend and sam-
pling and adjusting is planned in the next few days. The payload
bay doors were closed for thermal protection system operations.
Closeouts are underway on all areas of the vehicle. Pyrotechnic
devices for the robot arm and the RTG system will be installed
after the RTG system is serviced with water. The date of Aug. 18
for rolling the vehicle over to the VAB is being evaluated. The
routine rollover review meeting will be held Friday.daveb@athena.mit.edu (Dave Balkwill) (08/14/90)
In article <56012@ames.arc.nasa.gov> yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes: > also scheduled to continue through tomorrow. A leak test, with > gaseous helium, of the external tank flange this weekend revealed > some leakage, however, engineers have determined it is within > specifications. OK, I'll bite first. Anybody know what the "specifications" are? How stringent are they? Presumably, they are well within "safe" bounds whatever that may be. -- ------ daveb@space.mit.edu OR wonko@athena.mit.edu --------- | "In Sweden, we play soccer in weather like this, in shorts." | | -- Bjorn Nittmo, kicker for NFL New York Giants | ----- DISCLAIMER: Of course they're only my opinions! --------
simon@vision.UUCP (Simon Taylor) (08/15/90)
In article <56012@ames.arc.nasa.gov> yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes: > Closeouts are underway on all areas of the vehicle. Pyrotechnic > devices for the robot arm and the RTG system will be installed > after the RTG system is serviced with water. I am aware of Pyrotechnic devices being used on other parts of the Shuttle, but what are they used for on the robot arm ? Simon Taylor Support & Training Manager VisionWare Ltd UUCP : simon@vision.uucp 57 Cardigan Lane BANGNET : ...!uunet!mcsun!ukc!vision!simon Leeds PHONE : +44 532 788858 Ext. 228 LS4 2LE FAX : +44 532 304676 England ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- VisionWare: The Home Of DOS-UNIX Integration ----------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pjs@aristotle.JPL.NASA.gov (Peter Scott) (08/16/90)
In article <1160@vision.UUCP>, simon@vision.UUCP (Simon Taylor) writes: > In article <56012@ames.arc.nasa.gov> yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes: > > Closeouts are underway on all areas of the vehicle. Pyrotechnic > > devices for the robot arm and the RTG system will be installed > > after the RTG system is serviced with water. > > I am aware of Pyrotechnic devices being used on other parts of the > Shuttle, but what are they used for on the robot arm ? In the event that the robot arm goes out of control and starts heading for a populated area, the RSO will destroy it to protect innocent civilians. Sorry, couldn't resist :-) -- This is news. This is your | Peter Scott, NASA/JPL/Caltech brain on news. Any questions? | (pjs@aristotle.jpl.nasa.gov)
henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) (08/16/90)
In article <1160@vision.UUCP> simon@vision.UUCP (Simon Taylor) writes: > I am aware of Pyrotechnic devices being used on other parts of the > Shuttle, but what are they used for on the robot arm ? There is an emergency jettison system for the arm, in the event that it locks up while in use and can't be stowed properly for reentry. -- It is not possible to both understand | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology and appreciate Intel CPUs. -D.Wolfskill| henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry