[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 01/02/90

yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (01/04/90)

                  KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - MONDAY, JAN. 2, 1990

                        STS-32 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - PAD 39-A

               The vehicle was powered up this morning and the pad has been
          cleared of all non-essential personnel for final ordnance
          operations today. During this activity, ordnance devices will be
          reinstalled on the vehicle, boosters and external tank and the
          firing circuits will be tested.

               This afternoon, the orbital maneuvering system and reaction
          control system tanks will be pressurized for flight. Tomorrow,
          the dewars at Pad A will be filled with liquid oxygen and liquid
          hydrogen propellants in preparation for loading the orbiter's
          onboard storage tanks during the launch countdown.

               Call-to-stations for the launch countdown is planned for 4
          p.m. EST Thursday, Jan. 4. The STS-32 flight crew is scheduled to
          arrive at KSC on Friday. Launch of STS-32 remains scheduled for
          Jan. 8 at 8:06 a.m. EST.

                       STS-36 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 1

               Leak checks of the crew cabin and of the main propulsion
          system helium system are underway today. Technicians are
          preparing to power up the vehicle for systems testing and to open
          the payload bay doors tomorrow.

               Atlantis is scheduled to be transferred to the VAB in about
          two weeks for mating with the boosters and external tank.

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

               Activities today include powering up the vehicle later this
          afternoon and attaching the strongbacks to open the payload bay
          doors. Orbiter systems testing will resume this week.

                         STS-31 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB

               Stacking operations resumed today. The left aft center
          segment is scheduled to be transferred from the Rotation
          Processing and Surge Facility to the VAB transfer aisle this
          morning.

rob@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Rob McDonald) (01/07/90)

yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes:

>       ...afternoon and attaching the strongbacks to open the payload bay
                                      ^^^^^^^^^^^
What are strongbacks?
.....rob
-- 
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henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) (01/08/90)

In article <25A6C543.5468@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca> rob@maccs.dcss.mcmaster.ca (Rob McDonald) writes:
>>       ...afternoon and attaching the strongbacks to open the payload bay
>                                      ^^^^^^^^^^^
>What are strongbacks?

Reinforcing braces to strengthen the doors enough that they can be opened
without collapsing.  (They can be opened without such aids in free fall,
but not in Earth-surface gravity.)
-- 
1972: Saturn V #15 flight-ready|     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
1990: birds nesting in engines | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu