yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (06/03/90)
Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Status
Thursday, May 31, 1990 4:00 p.m.
STS-35 -- COLUMBIA (OV-102) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Technicians continue inspections of the shuttle Columbia's
17 inch disconnect area in attempts to isolate a leak in the
liquid hydrogen system that caused managers to scrub Wednesday
morning's launch attempt of Space Shuttle Mission STS-35.
Earlier today, technicians located a minute leak in a 1/4 of
an inch diameter flex line connector which is a part of the
liquid hydrogen manifold. However, subsequent testing has not
produced leakage amounts near those experienced during tanking
Tuesday night. Troubleshooting will continue on this particular
line as well as on all of the liquid hydrogen lines in the aft
compartment of the orbiter.
Following the conclusion of these leak checks at the
prescribed 30 psi, operations will begin to drain the orbiter's
on-board PRSD tanks of their cryogenic propellants. This
operation is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. and requires
clearing the pad of personnel. Off loading is expected to be
completed tonight between 10:00 p.m. and midnight.
Following PRSD work, the payload bay doors will be opened,
allowing workers to gain access to the ASTRO-1 payload for
servicing, and additional leak checks will resume on the liquid
hydrogen lines in the orbiter.
Mission managers are scheduled to meet again late tomorrow
morning to discuss options for a scrub turn-around based on
information established overnight through additional testing.