yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (04/10/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1990 - 11:30 A.M. STS-31 - DISCOVERY (OV-103) - LAUNCH PAD 39-B A functional test of the Hubble Space Telescope and orbiter was completed early this morning. The pad has been cleared of all non-essential personnel for final ordnance operations. After ordnance activities, the orbital maneuvering system and reaction control system propellant storage tanks will be pressurized for flight. The last pad clear operation will start later tonight and involves loading the storage tanks, or dewars, at the pad with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen reactants. These propellants are loaded into the orbiter's storage tanks during the launch countdown and will be used by the shuttle's power producing fuel cells. Charging of the telescope's nickel-hydrogen batteries will resume at the same time the pad dewars are filled and will con- tinue until early Sunday morning. The orbiter's payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed for flight early Sunday morning. Once the pad has been reopened tomorrow morning, technicians will resume closing out the aft engine compartment. Closing out the aft includes making final inspections, removing protective covers for flight, installing last minute items and cleaning the area. The flight doors are scheduled to be on the aft compartment by the start of the launch countdown. Launch of STS-31 is targeted for 8:47 a.m. EDT on April 10. The launch countdown will begin Saturday, April 7, at 3 p.m. EDT at the T-43 hour mark. The STS-31 flight crew is scheduled to ar- rive at the Shuttle Landing Facility at 2 p.m. that day. STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV-102) - OPF BAY 1 Operations scheduled today include closeouts of the elevon cove seal area and thermal protection system operations around the landing gear, chin panel and S-band antenna areas. Ac- tivities scheduled today include filling and bleeding the brakes, a brake anti-skid test and a functional test of the landing gear. Checks of the main engine thrust vector control system have been completed. The galley was removed and sent to the Johnson Space Center for troubleshooting. Today, the galley borrowed from At- lantis will be installed and a functional test is planned later tonight. STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV-104) - OPF BAY 2 Post-flight inspections, systems testing and validations of Atlantis' major systems are underway this week. The wheels were installed on the main landing gears yesterday. Deservicing of the freon coolant loop number 1 is planned today. An investigation into the fuel cell number 3 removal is underway. The fuel cell was probably damaged yesterday morning as a result of exceeding allowable pressure differentials across its internal cells. STS-35 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB HIGH BAY 3 Technicians are routing cables between the external tank and solid rocket boosters. The boosters and tank are stacked on mobile launcher platform 3. STS-38 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB HIGH BAY 1 Stacking operations are underway for STS-38. The left for- ward center segment was transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building yesterday and lifted into the high bay later that day. The segment will be pinned to the booster tomorrow. The STS-38 boosters are being stacked on mobile launcher platform 1.