yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (06/27/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - TUESDAY JUNE 26, 1990 11 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Hypergolic operations are continuing today. Yesterday,
nitrogen tetroxide was loaded into the orbiter's onboard storage
tanks. Today, monomethylhydrazine is being loaded into orbiter
storage tanks. These propellants will be used by the orbital
maneuvering system engines and the reaction control system. This
operation also includes loading hydrazine into the orbiter's
auxiliary power units and in the boosters' hydraulic power units.
The special tanking test call-to-stations is set for 4 p.m.
Wednesday and the test is scheduled to begin Thursday at 4 p.m.
The Rotating Service Structure will be moved away from the
vehicle at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The tank will be filled
about half full, or about 200,000 gallons, of liquid hydrogen
while engineers monitor sensors from the Firing Room to determine
if there are any leaks.
The official launch date for STS-38 will be set at the con-
clusion of the Flight Readiness Review on Friday.
STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 2
Preparations are underway to remove the 17-inch disconnect.
The disconnect is expected to be out by this weekend. It will be
shipped to the Rockwell plant in Downey, Calif. for testing and
analysis. The disconnect from the Shuttle Endeavour has been
removed and is being shipped to KSC today for installation on
Columbia.
While in the OPF, some of Columbia's systems will require
routine servicing. A functional test of the reaction control sys-
tem regulators is planned this week.
The impact of this replacement operation on Columbia's
launch processing is still being assessed. The target date for
Columbia's next flight with the Astro-1 payload remains assessed
for mid-August.
STS-41 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
A functional test of the star tracker is complete. Checkout
of the main propulsion system liquid hydrogen system is scheduled
to start today. Orbiter structural inspections and routine test-
ing of all the orbiter's systems are continuing this week. Ther-
mal protection system operations are underway on all areas of the
vehicle. The nose landing gear tire and wheel assemblies are
scheduled to be installed this week.
Tests are continuing on the two orbital maneuvering system
pods at the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility. Discovery is being
prepared for the STS-41/Ulysses flight, scheduled for launch in
October.
STS-41 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
Stacking operations for the right aft center segment are on
hold due to a crane problem. The right forward center segment is
scheduled to be transferred to the VAB in the next few days.