yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (06/07/90)
Wednesday June 6, 1990 10:30 a.m.
KSC Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
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STS-35 -- Columbia (OV 102) - Launch Pad 39-A
A critical leak check test of the orbiter Columbia began
this morning at 8:00 a.m. as KSC engineers began flowing the
super-cooled liquid hydrogen into the external tank in hopes of
isolating the hydrogen leak that caused the scrub of last week's
launch of mission STS-35.
The leak is believed to be in the area of the 17 inch
disconnect umbilical, however, engineers will continue to monitor
leak sensors and mass spectrometers to pinpoint the exact source
of the leak and understand its cause.
Following analysis of test results, mission managers will
decide if Columbia can be fixed on the pad or if it must be
rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for destack
operations.
STS-38 -- Atlantis (OV 104) - OPF Bay 2
Atlantis is currently targeted for rollover to the VAB at
12:00 noon Thursday, June 7. Today, workers will be performing
final weight and center of gravity tests on the orbiter.
Operations to place the orbiter on the orbiter transporter for
its move to the VAB will begin tomorrow. Atlantis' next flight is
a DOD dedicated mission scheduled for July 1990.
STS-41 -- Discovery (OV 103) - OPF Bay 1
A mishap investigation team is currently meeting in a fact
finding effort to determine the cause of Monday's payload bay
door incident. Work to assess possible damages to flight hardware
and/or ground service equipment is also underway.
Today, technicians continue their work to ready the orbiter
the for its next mission, Ulysses, an international project to
study the polar regions of the Sun, is scheduled for launch
October 5, 1990.
STS-38 Solid Rocket Boosters -- VAB high bay 1
External tank\solid rocket booster mate closeout operations
continue today. Rollover of Atlantis to the VAB for mating to the
ET\SRB stack is scheduled to take place mid-day Thursday.
STS-40 Solid Rocket Boosters -- VAB high bay 3
The left forward assembly has been stacked on the solid
rocket booster in VAB high bay 3. Joint closeout operations are
currently underway. The right aft SRB segment has been stacked on
the mobile launcher platform.