yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (04/10/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1990 - 3 P.M. LAUNCH MINUS THREE DAYS STS-31 - DISCOVERY (OV-103) - LAUNCH PAD 39-B The launch countdown began on time today at 3 p.m. EDT at the T-43 hour mark. During the first hours in the count, the launch team will review software stored in the orbiter's twin memory banks and the computer-controlled display systems will be activated and the backup flight system general purpose computer will be loaded. The main propulsion system and main engines will be prepared for cryogenic loading, orbiter navigation aids will be turned on and tested and the inertial measurement units will be activated. Charging of the telescope's nickel-hydrogen batteries con- cluded at approximately 12:47 p.m. today and the electrical cables and battery cold-air purge ducts, used to cool the bat- teries during the charge, are being disconnected from the tele- scope. Payload bay and Hubble Space Telescope closeouts are un- derway. Telescope test equipment is being removed from the Payload Changeout Room. The "shower cap," a protective cover over the telescope's aperture door and the cover over the low-gain an- tenna will be removed late tonight, just hours before door closure. At this time, the doors are scheduled to be closed for flight at 4 a.m. tomorrow morning. The telescope will be powered up at 6 a.m. on the day of launch. Closeouts of the aft engine compartment were completed at 1 p.m. today. The STS-31 flight crew arrived at the Shuttle Landing Facility at 2 p.m. today. This afternoon, the crew will go to Pad 39-B to take a last look at the telescope and orbiter before launch day. They will have free time the rest of the day. Wake up time tomorrow is 5 a.m. At this time, the forecast indicates that there is a 90 percent chance of being within launch criteria for weather for launch time on Tuesday. Surface winds are forecast to be out of the southeast at 10 knots gusting to 14 knots and increasing to 13-17 knots by 10 a.m. The expected temperature is 66 degrees and 7 miles of visibility is forecast. Scatterd low and high level clouds are forecast in the area. Launch of STS-31 is targeted for 8:47 a.m. EDT on April 10. The launch window extends until 2:31 p.m. EDT on Tuesday.