yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (06/07/90)
Lisa Malone June 6, 1990
(407) 867-2468
KSC Release No. 99-90
BOARD APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE IMPROPER RAISING OF DISCOVERY'S
PAYLOAD BAY DOOR
An investigation board has been named by Center Director
Forrest McCartney to examine the circumstances surrounding the
June 4, 1990 mishap which involved improper raising of the or-
biter Discovery's right hand payload bay door. Discovery is lo-
cated in Orbiter Processing Facility high bay 1 undergoing
processing for the STS-41 Ulysses mission, scheduled for launch
in October 1990.
Chairman of the board is Paul Myers, Technical Assistant to
KSC's Director of Engineering Development. Hector Delgado, of the
Systems Assurance Office, Reliability and Quality Assurance
Directorate is the deputy chairman. Other members of the board
are: Charles Stevenson, chief, External Tank Section, Vehicle En-
gineering; and Tim Yang, facilities systems engineer, Mechanical
and Electrical Systems Branch, Facilities and Systems Operations
Division, Center Support Operation Directorate. Two additional
board advisors are: Laurie Walls, engineer, Structures, Handling
and Access Systems Section, Vehicle Engineering, and Larry Ir-
minger, Lockheed Space Operations Company.
Ex-officio board members are Elizabeth Gruhler, safety ad-
visor, Douglas Hendricksen, legal advisor and Lisa Malone, public
affairs advisor. Elliot Kicklighter, primary assistant to the
Deputy Director, National Space Shuttle Operations, has been ap-
pointed as a level II observer.
On June 4, at about 8:30 a.m., Discovery's right hand
payload bay door was configured for closure. Special fixtures
used to handle orbiter doors in the earth's gravity were in place
for the operation. The fixtures are attached to and controlled by
the overhead bridge. An accidental movement of the overhead
bridge caused the payload bay door to flex for a short period of
time.
Board functions include investigating the facts surrounding
the mishap, determination of its probable cause, assessments of
the possibility of a recurrence, and recommendations on correc-
tive actions. A final report is due by mid-July.