yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (07/16/90)
[Delayed by a TDY last week. -PEY]
This is the Kennedy Space Center Broadcast News Service prepared at
1:00 p.m. Monday, July 9.
Over the weekend at Rockwell's plant in Downey, California a
cold flow of Columbia'a external tank and orbiter quick disconnect
was conducted using liquid nitrogen and liquid hydrogen. A meeting
is scheduled this afternoon for an analysis of the test. Additional
tests are scheduled at Downey this week.
Meanwhile, the requirements for a repeat tanking test of the
Space Shuttle Atlantis on Pad 39-A were completed late Friday, and
over the weekend work began to develop a procedure. This procedure
was completed this morning and distributed to the test team.
At the pad, the test configuration continues to be established.
Sensors are being reconfigured for the test which is expected to
occur on Friday or Saturday. At this time, the aft main engine
compartment closeouts are targeted to begin Tuesday night. The call
to stations is 8:00 a.m. on Thursday. If all work has been
completed, the gantry-like rotating service structure will be
retracted at midnight on Thursday, and the test will commence at 8
a.m. on Friday.
At the conclusion of the test, preparations will begin for a
probable rollback, however, the vehicle configuration will not be
broken until the data has been analyzed and it is determined that no
further testing is required, and that a rollback has been directed.
The Atlantis testing is considered essential to fully
understanding the leakage environment and shortly thereafter it is
hoped that a plan can be developed that will ultimately lead to
launch.
Meanwhile, at launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, preparations continue on schedule for the launch of the
Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite aboard the AC-69
Atlas Centaur rocket. The liftoff is scheduled for next Tuesday,
July 17 at 3:41 p.m. which is the opening of the first 13 minute
launch window.
From the NASA Kennedy Space Center, this is George Diller.
Notes to Editors: A Space Shuttle status briefing is scheduled for
3:00 p.m. today on NASA Select which may be seen on Satcom F2R,
transponder 13. The KSC News Center is open until 4:30 today and may
be reached at 867-2468.
This is the Kennedy Space Center Public Information Office.