yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (01/31/90)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - TUESDAY, JAN. 30, 1990
STS-36 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Loading of the hypergolic propellants into the orbiter's
storage tanks is continuing today at the pad. Nitrogen tetroxide
has been loaded into the orbiter's onboard storage tanks. Today,
workers will prepare and load monomethylhydrazine into the or-
biter. These propellants are used by the orbital maneuvering sys-
tem and reaction control system in flight. As part of this opera-
tion, hydrazine will be loaded into the orbiter's and boosters'
auxiliary power units for flight. Launch Pad 39-A is closed to
all non essential personnel during these activities because of
the hazardous propellants.
The Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test with the STS-36
flight crew is set for Feb. 2-3. The count is scheduled to begin
at 8 a.m. EST Friday and the T zero is planned for 11 a.m. Satur-
day. The STS-36 flight crew is scheduled to arrive at KSC on
Thursday afternoon to participate in this pre-launch test.
STS-32 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 1
The payload bay doors were opened early this morning and
preparations are underway to remove the Long Duration Exposure
Facility this evening. LDEF will be transferred in a special
canister to the Operations and Checkout Building and then to the
Spacecraft and Encapsulation Facility II in the next few days for
post-flight analysis.
STS-31 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 2
Activities planned this week include leak and functional
checks of the three main engines and servicing the water spray
boilers with hydraulic fluid. Interface verification tests of or-
biter to payload connections are continuing this week. A flight
readiness test of the three main engines is planned this week.
This test exercises the engines' hydraulically driven valves.
STS-31 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB/RPSF
The new STS-31 aft booster, previously designated for STS-
35, is being prepared for stacking in the Rotation Processing and
Surge Facility. This week, the upper and diagonal struts, cables
and the aft integrated electronics assembly are scheduled to be
installed. Meanwhile, closeouts of the left booster are underway
in the VAB.