yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (05/25/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1990 - 10:30 AM
STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-A
Closeouts of Columbia's aft compartment were completed with
installation of the flight doors shortly after 6 p.m. last night.
A purge of the power reactant storage and distribution system
also was completed yesterday.
Closeouts of the Astro-1 payload have been completed. The
Broad Band X-ray Telescope will be serviced with argon on Satur-
day night. After the servicing has been completed, Columbia's
payload bay doors will be closed for flight.
Preparations to complete final vehicle ordnance operations,
including tests of the firing circuits are underway today. At the
start of second shift, at about 4 p.m., the pad will be cleared
for the ordnance activities. Launch countdown preparations are
underway.
A May 30 launch date for STS-35 was selected by the Mission
Management Team yesterday. The launch countdown clock is set to
begin at 1 a.m. EDT Sunday, May 27, at the T minus 43 hour mark.
The seven-member flight crew is scheduled to arrive at KSC Sun-
day at 11 a.m. EDT.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2
Payload bay cleaning operations were completed yesterday and
the doors have been closed. Thermal protection system operations
are continuing this week. Connections of the right orbital
maneuvering system pod are being made and a bent pin has been
repaired at a thermal switch. Technicians are busy closing out
the aft engine compartment. Installation of auxiliary power unit
number 1 is planned this weekend.
Rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building is planned for
early June.
STS-41 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
Rocketdyne technicians removed the number 2 main engine
yesterday. All three main engines will be transferred to the VAB
engine shop for post-flight inspections and for the replacement
of several components. The other two engines are scheduled to be
removed this weekend. The right orbital maneuvering system pod
was removed early this morning. Preparations are underway to
remove the left pod next week. The nose cap has been extended to
allow access for tile work. Post-flight tests and inspections of
Discovery's systems are continuing.
STS-38 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
Technicians are continuing with closeouts of the boosters
and external tank.
STS-40 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
Booster stacking operations are continuing for the STS-40
Spacelab Life Sciences mission. The right aft booster was bolted
to the launch platform. The boosters are being stacked together
on mobile launcher platform 2.