yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (06/29/90)
KSC Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
Thursday June 28, 1990 11:00 a.m.
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STS-38 -- Atlantis (OV 104) - Launch Pad 39-A
The liquid hydrogen tanking test scheduled for this
afternoon has been postponed until 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning due
to a 40 percent chance of lightning in the vicinity of pad 39-A
during the time tanking was to begin. Also, a possible kink in
one of the hazardous gas sense lines may require technicians to
re-enter the aft compartment of the orbiter Atlantis prior to
tanking.
Tomorrow's tanking test will entail flowing up to 200,000
gallons of the super-cold liquid hydrogen through the orbiter's
aft compartment into the external tank via the 17-inch umbilical
disconnect lines. This amount represents about 50 percent of the
liquid hydrogen tank's capacity.
Chilldown of the liquid hydrogen propellant lines is
scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. Slow fill of the propellant is
set to start at about 8:10 a.m. and last for about 30 minutes.
This will be followed by up to 30 minutes of fast fill. The
propellant will be held in the external tank for about 3 hours
for engineering evaluation before draining of the tank commences.
With this tanking test, engineers hope to detect any possible
leaks that may be present under cryogenic conditions.
The rotating service structure is now scheduled to be moved
into the park position at 1:30 a.m. tomorrow morning in support
of the tanking operation.
Today and Friday STS-38 mission managers will be meeting at
KSC for the Flight Readiness Review. Following the conclusion of
the meeting tomorrow, a launch date is expected to be announced
for Atlantis' Department of Defense dedicated mission.
STS-35 -- Columbia (OV 102) - OPF Bay 2
The 17-inch liquid hydrogen umbilical valve is scheduled to
be removed from the orbiter today and shipped out to the vendor
for analysis Friday. Meanwhile, the replacement valve from the
orbiter Endeavour, now under construction in Palmdale, Calif.,
was shipped from Palmdale and is scheduled to arrive at KSC
tonight. Work to install the new valve should begin next week.
Radiator tape repair is in work on Columbia and the
auxiliary power unit water valve re-test is complete.
Columbia and the ASTRO-1 payload will remain in the Orbiter
Processing Facility through liftoff of the Shuttle Atlantis.
Columbia is scheduled for launch from Pad 39-A in August.
STS-41 -- Discovery (OV 103) - OPF Bay 1
In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1, body flap internal
structural inspections, flight controls, and hydraulic controls
are in work today. The hydraulic lines fill and bleed operation
and fuel cell servicing is complete. The nose wheels are being
installed today.
Discovery's forward reaction control system thrusters will
be bench tested this week in the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility.
Discovery's next mission is Ulysses, an international
project to study the polar regions of the Sun. Launch of STS-41
is scheduled for October 5, 1990 from pad 39-B.
STS-41 Solid Rocket Boosters -- VAB high bay 1
The right aft center segment stacking operations have been
completed.