yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (02/23/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - THURSDAY, FEB. 22, 1990 10:30/ AM LAUNCH MINUS ONE-DAY STS-36 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A The STS-36 launch countdown is in progress today after being in an unplanned hold since yesterday afternoon. The countdown was held after it was determined that Commander John Creighton needed time to recover from an upper respiratory tract infection and the weather forecast did not look favorable at that time. One of the two S-band transponders was replaced early this morning and the retest is underway today. Overnight, the transponder exhibited data dropouts. The S-band system is used to transmit information to or receive information from the ground. Pending favorable weather conditions and an improved status in the health of Commander Creighton, liftoff of Mission STS-36 is scheduled to occur no earlier than Friday, Feb. 23 during a four-hour period extending from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. EST. Assuming everything is go for launch, later this evening, the crew will be awakened to begin preparations for launch. They will have breakfast, get a briefing on the weather, don their launch and entry suits and ride to Launch Pad 39-A. Once at the pad, the crew will be assisted with flight crew equipment in the white room and in getting situated in their respective seats for ascent. Today, the launch team is busy preparing to load the exter- nal tank with its flight load of a half a million gallons of liq- uid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants. Loading activities will begin this afternoon and continue through early this eve- ning. Time critical items will be stowed in the crew cabin. Weather forecasts indicate there is a 20 percent chance of being able to launch during the period on Friday. The concern is over predicted high winds, clouds, ceilings below 8,000 feet and rain. Winds are forecast to be from the south/southwest direction at 14 knots gusting to 24 knots. Broken clouds are forecast at these levels: 3,000-6,000 feet; 8,000-12,000 feet; and 20,000- 24,000 feet. The expected temperature at launch is between 72-74 degrees F.