yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (12/19/89)
Mark Hess December 18, 1989 Headquarters, Washington, D.C. 2:45 p.m. EST Lisa Malone Kennedy Space Center, Fla. NASA LAUNCH ADVISORY NASA managers today decided to postpone the STS-32 launch until the second week of January, with the earliest possible date January 8. Two significant factors in the decision were the desire to complete testing and validation of the launch pad system used to load cryogenic fluids into the orbiter which power the electricity-generating fuel cells, and the need to power down the Launch Processing System at the Kennedy Space Center so that scheduled modifications on its cooling system can be performed. Another important factor was the desire to permit NASA employees and contractors to take off during the Christmas holidays. STS- 32 will mark the first launch from Pad A since January 1986, and will be the first use of a newly-refurbished Mobile Launch Platform. Robert L. Crippen, director of the Space Shuttle, said the verification of the launch pad system required to load liquid hydrogen and liquid oxgyen into Columbia's onboard Power Reactant Storage and Distribution system is taking longer than planned. "We didn't want to get into a situation where the work on the PRSD system was preventing us from powering down the LPS so that we could perform the planned maintenance on that system. If we were significantly delayed in being able to perform the LPS work, that could have a significant impact on our processing activities next year." Crippen said the delay will not impact NASA's ability to safely retrieve the Long Duration Exposure Facility, and he added that this delay would not affect NASA's ability to meet its planned manifest of nine Shuttle launches in the next fiscal year. William B. Lenoir, Associate Administrator for Space Flight said, "The team worked very hard to get Columbia off before Christmas, but the added work of going off a refurbished pad and a new mobile platform really slowed us down. The vehicle is in excellent shape, and I think the additional time to complete the pad work will help us get into a smooth countdown when we resume our launch activities. We conducted five missions this year, including three in the past four months, which I regard as an outstanding effort by the Shuttle team. We are all proud of our effort this year, and are looking forward to an equally productive effort next year." While the exact time of launch will be determined after an official date is set, the time of liftoff for a January 8 date is shortly after 8 a.m. EST. The time of liftoff is approximately 30 minutes earlier for each day later in January.
tmack@cbnewsd.ATT.COM (thomas.p.mack) (12/19/89)
In article <38442@ames.arc.nasa.gov>, yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes: > > NASA LAUNCH ADVISORY > > NASA managers today decided to postpone the STS-32 launch > until the second week of January, with the earliest possible date > January 8. How long could a shuttle sit on the pad until it would have to be moved back to the VAB for additional work? Tom Mack AT&T Bell Laboratories att!ihlpa!tmack
mac@idacrd.UUCP (Robert McGwier) (12/20/89)
From article <38442@ames.arc.nasa.gov>, by yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee): > > NASA LAUNCH ADVISORY > > NASA managers today decided to postpone the STS-32 launch > until the second week of January, with the earliest possible date > January 8. Two significant factors in the decision were the > > Crippen said the delay will not impact NASA's ability to > safely retrieve the Long Duration Exposure Facility, and he > Sounds an awful lot like famous last words to me. If the thing is tumbling just a small amount, the arm cannot retrieve it as the thing would torque the arm right out of its mounts. I am gonna be one unhappy space cadet if we lose all that data on the effect of atomic oxygen and other nasties in near earth orbit. Bob -- ____________________________________________________________________________ My opinions are my own no matter | Robert W. McGwier, N4HY who I work for! ;-) | CCR, AMSAT, etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------