yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (03/06/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - FRIDAY, MAR. 2 - 12:30 PM
STS-31 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 2
Preparations are underway to roll Discovery over to the
Vehicle Assembly Building on Monday about 9-10 a.m. Today, tech-
nicians are finishing the weight and center of gravity checks and
are scheduled to attach the orbiter to its transporter. This
weekend, workers will finish thermal protection system opera-
tions, complete close outs of the elevons and conduct leak checks
of that area for flight.
While in the VAB, Discovery will be mated to the external
tank and solid rocket boosters and a test of the critical connec-
tions will be conducted. Rollout to Launch Pad 39-B is targeted
for March 16. The Hubble Space Telescope is scheduled to be
transferred to the pad on March 26 and installed in Discovery's
payload bay on the 28th.
STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 2
Orbiter systems testing is continuing to prepare Columbia
for the upcoming STS-35 mission in May. Operations scheduled
today include servicing the orbiter with potable water, leak and
functional testing of the water spray boilers, leak checks of the
elevon cove area, and checks of the main propulsion system.
The Astro payload is scheduled to be installed in Columbia's
payload bay the middle of the month.
STS-36 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
The mobile launcher platform is scheduled to be transferred
to the refurbishment site near the VAB next week.
The solid rocket boosters arrived at Hangar AF on Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station yesterday and will be disassembled in
the next two weeks. The motor cases will be returned to Thiokol
for refurbishment. The aft skirts and frustums will be refur-
bished at the USBI plant here at KSC.