[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 12/21/89

yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (12/22/89)

                 KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - THURSDAY, DEC. 21, 1989

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

               Today, leak checks of the connections between the orbiter
          and Orbiter Midbody Umbilical Unit (OMBUU) at Pad 39-A are being
          performed. Yesterday, technicians demonstrated the procedure to
          be used in loading liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellant
          into the orbiter's onboard storage tanks. Also today, Columbia's
          power reactant storage and distribution system will be purged.
          Offloading of the propellant dewars on the pad's structure is
          planned today. Batteries on the Syncom satellite are being
          charged today and tomorrow.

               Closeouts of the aft compartment have been performed and the
          flight doors will be put on tomorrow for the stand down over the
          holidays. Final vehicle power down is planned overnight.  Launch
          of mission STS-32 is planned for Jan. 8 at 8:06 a.m. EST.

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

               Operations planned today include filling and bleeding the
          orbiter's hydraulic system. A flight control frequency response
          test is planned for second shift to test a replaced actuator on
          the right inboard elevon. The payload bay doors will be closed
          for the holidays this afternoon and the orbiter will be powered
          down after the actuator retest.

                      STS-33 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF  BAY 2

               Technicians are readying the vehicle for the upcoming
          holidays. Later today, the payload bay doors will be closed and
          the orbiter will be powered down.

                         STS-36 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB

               Preparations to mate the external tank beginning at midnight
          tonight are underway.  The tank is scheduled to be bolted to the
          boosters by late tomorrow morning.


                         STS-31 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB

               Stacking operations of the left aft booster are underway in
          the VAB high bay 1 on mobile launcher platform 2. The next
          segment, the left aft center, will be stacked after the holidays.

cbs@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Chris Syed) (12/22/89)

In article <38677@ames.arc.nasa.gov> yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes:
>          Offloading of the propellant dewars on the pad's structure is
>          planned today.    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  I've been embarassed to ask for some time, but wot, pray tell, are
  propellant dewars, or any dewars for that matter? I remember an
  Irish netter suggested running the shuttle on Guinness, which would
  surely be more cost-effective than Dewars' scotch!  ;-)
---
cbs@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Chris Syed)
-- 
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cbs@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Chris Syed)

radke@SRC.Honeywell.COM (Kathie Radke) (12/22/89)

I think a dewar is a *really*, *really* cold chamber.  Like a thermos full
of liquid nitrogen.

Kathie

danbe@tekred.CNA.TEK.COM (Dan Beougher) (12/22/89)

In article <51329@srcsip.UUCP>, radke@SRC.Honeywell.COM (Kathie Radke) writes:
> I think a dewar is a *really*, *really* cold chamber.  Like a thermos full
> of liquid nitrogen.
> 

Yup.  A Dewar flask is a metal container with an evacuated space
between the walls.  It's sometimes silvered to prevent heat
transfer.  Uses include storing liquified gases.  Your basic
vacuum bottle.

dB

Prune juice will set you free.