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.