[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 07/06/90

yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (07/06/90)

                  KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - FRIDAY JULY 6, 1990  11 a.m.

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


               Yesterday, liquid leak checks of auxiliary power units 1 and
          2 were performed and the test verified  there  were  no  internal
          seal leaks. Engineers are continuing to identify requirements for
          another  tanking  test  at  the  pad  as  troubleshooting  of the
          hydrogen leak continues.  The test will likely be  conducted  the
          end of next week. More instrumentation around the 17-inch discon-
          nect  will be installed for this next test.  The configuration of
          the vehicle will be maintained until further direction  from  the
          team investigating the leak.

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

               Technicians are continuing the foaming operations around the
          newly installed 17-inch disconnect. Leak checks are planned.

               Tests  of  the two 17-inch disconnects and seals used in the
          STS-35 tanking test are scheduled to  begin  today  and  continue
          through the weekend at the Rockwell plant in Downey,  Calif.  Am-
          bient leak checks are planned today and leak tests  using  liquid
          nitrogen and liquid hydrogen are scheduled  to begin  tomorrow.

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

               Final  hookups  of  the newly installed shuttle main engines
          are underway.  Technicians  are  installing  one  of  right  hand
          radiators  and  testing  the  orbiter's  systems  today.  Thermal
          protection system operations are underway on  all  areas  of  the
          vehicle.

               Tests  are  continuing on the two orbital maneuvering system
          pods and forward reaction control system at the Hypergolic  Main-
          tenance  Facility.    Discovery  is  being  prepared for the STS-
          41/Ulysses flight, scheduled for launch in October.

                         STS-41 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB

               The right forward center segment was lifted to the high  bay
          today and will be pinned to the booster stack tomorrow. The right
          forward  segment,  the  last  motor  segment,  is scheduled to be
          transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building tomorrow.   Closeout
          operations of the boosters are scheduled.