yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (03/06/90)
Monday March 5, 1990 (as of 11:00 a.m.)
KSC Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
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STS-36 -- Atlantis (OV 104) - Dryden/Edwards AFB, Ca.
The orbiter Atlantis landed at Edwards Air Force Base, Ca.
Sunday, March 4, at 1:09 p.m. EST, ending its four-day Department
of Defense dedicated mission.
Today, crews at Edwards will assess the orbiter's condition
during normal post flight checks. At first glance, about 60 tiles
were damaged, 14 with hits greater than 1 inch. Also, a hydraulic
drop in pressure was experienced in the orbiter's aft compartment
during descent. Today, workers will evaluate the cause of the
pressure drop and evaluate the moderate amount of hydraulic fluid
found around the number 1 and 2 main engines. Currently, crews
are beginning to prepare the orbiter for return to KSC this
weekend.
STS-31 -- Discovery (OV 103) - VAB Transfer Aisle
The orbiter Discovery was rolled over from the Orbiter
Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building at 10:00
a.m. this morning. Later today in the VAB transfer aisle, workers
will lower and attach the lifting crane and hoist Discovery off
the orbiter transporter. The orbiter is scheduled to be rotated
to the vertical position on second shift tonight. Following this,
preparations will be made to lift the orbiter to high bay 1 on
mobile launcher platform 2 for mating with the external tank and
solid rocket boosters.
Rollout of Discovery to launch pad 39-B is currently
targeted for March 16.
Discovery is scheduled for Space Shuttle mission STS-31.
Launch is targeted for April 12. On this flight, the Hubble Space
Telescope will be deployed.
STS-35 -- Columbia (OV 102) - OPF Bay 1
In the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1, the orbiter
Columbia is scheduled to be powered up at 12:00 noon today.
Flight deck reconfiguration is in process and a payload end-to-
end test is scheduled for this weekend. The nose landing gear has
been retracted and chin panel bonding is underway.
Preparations continue for the installation of Columbia's
next payload, ASTRO 1, in mid-March. ASTRO 1 is the first
horizontal payload since return-to-flight. Columbia is scheduled
for launch May 9 from pad 39-A.
STS-35 -- Solid Rocket Boosters - VAB HB-3
Lifting of the right aft center SRB segment has been
completed. Work will continue today to complete closeout of the
operations on the segment on mobile launcher platform number 3 in
Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 3.