[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 07/17/90

yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (07/18/90)

                 KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - TUESDAY JULY 17, 1990  11 a.m.

                    STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A

               Troubleshooting plans are being identified to  gain  further
          understanding  into the leakage detected during the second liquid
          hydrogen tanking test conducted last  Friday. A leak was found at
          the external tank flange that mates to  its  17-inch  disconnect.
          Managers  want  to  determine  if any leakage between baggies oc-
          curred during the test and if repairs can be  made  at  the  pad.
          Workers at KSC are preparing for another tanking test as early as
          next weekend.

               Yesterday, photographs of the aft compartment were taken and
          thorough inspections were made. Calibrations of the hazardous gas
          detection  system  are continuing and the flow rates of purges in
          the baggies are being measured.

               Preparations to remove auxiliary power  unit  number  3  are
          continuing today.  Since Atlantis has been at the pad, the vendor
          has identified a time-life issue with this unit.  The  other  two
          APUs are refurbished units.

                       STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 2

               Operations  to  install the 17-inch disconnect into Columbia
          are continuing today.  Calibrations of the  inertial  measurement
          units are planned today.  One of the units was replaced while the
          vehicle was in the vertical position  and  recalibration  is  re-
          quired.

                       STS-41 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1

               A  brake  anti-skid  test is planned today.  Technicians are
          continuing to install heat shields around the three main  engines
          today.  Thermal  protection system operations are underway on all
          areas of the vehicle.  Pre-flight tests  are  continuing  on  the
          other systems.

               Final  operations  are underway  to prepare the left orbital
          maneuvering system pod for transfer to the OPF tomorrow  morning.
          Leak  tests and thruster replacements are continuing on the right
          orbital maneuvering system pod and forward reaction control  sys-
          tem  (FRCS)  at the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility.  The FRCS is
          scheduled to be delivered to the OPF Saturday for installation on
          Monday.   Discovery is  being  prepared  for  the  STS-41/Ulysses
          flight, scheduled for launch in October.

                         STS-41 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB

               Closeout operations of the boosters are underway.