[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 02/06/90

yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (02/07/90)

                  KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - TUESDAY, FEB. 6, 1990

                    STS-36 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A


               A high pressure fuel turbo pump  from  Columbia's  number  2
          main engine is being taken to the launch pad today to replace the
          existing  pump  on Atlantis' number 3 engine.  The fuel pump swap
          out is scheduled for today.

               KSC managers will  meet  tomorrow  for  the  routine  Launch
          Readiness Review to discuss the center's readiness for the upcom-
          ing STS-36 launch.   NASA and contractor shuttle program managers
          will meet here on Friday and Saturday for  the  Flight  Readiness
          Review  (FRR).  An official launch date and period is expected to
          be announced at the conclusion of the  FRR.  The  current  target
          launch date for STS-36 is February 22.


                        STS-32 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 1

               Post-flight  orbiter  systems tests are underway.  Other ac-
          tivities planned today include removing engine heat  shields  for
          engine  removal.  The robot arm was removed from the orbiter last
          night.


                       STS-31 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 2

               Heat shields have been installed around the main engines.  A
          landing gear functional test is planned tomorrow. Workers are in-
          stalling  instrumentation  on  the carbon brakes and will install
          the brakes and wheels later this week.

               Preliminary modifications are being made to outfit Discovery
          for the STS-41 Ulysses mission.  Cooling lines will be  installed
          along the orbiter's fuselage to help control the payload bay  en-
          vironment  with  the  extra  heat  produced from the radioisotope
          thermoelectric generators.


                       STS-31 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB/RPSF

               Processing activities are running ahead of schedule for  the
          replacement of the right aft booster for Mission STS-31.  The aft
          booster segment was transferred to the Vehicle Assembly  Building
          yesterday  and  stacking  activities  are  underway.   Meanwhile,
          closeouts of the left booster are underway in the VAB.