yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (12/14/89)
Ed Campion December 13, 1989
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. 1:30 p.m. EST
Karl Kristofferson
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
LAUNCH ADVISORY: NEW LAUNCH DATE SET FOR STS-32 MISSION
NASA announced today that the launch of mission STS-32 has
been rescheduled from December 18 to December 20, 1989. Extra
time is needed to validate systems at Launch Pad 39-A and to
ready shuttle Columbia to support launch. "We are pleased at how
smoothly the work has been going at KSC to prepare for Columbia's
launch, and we feel confident about readiness for a pre-Christmas
liftoff," said William Lenoir, Associate Administrator, Office of
Space Flight.
Between now and launch, KSC launch team members will be
installing ordnance devices on the vehicle and testing firing
circuits, closing out the orbiter's aft compartment and preparing
to begin the launch countdown. In addition, last minute work on
the launch pad itself will be focused on validating systems to be
used in loading liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants
aboard the orbiter's power reactant storage and distribution
system tanks, which is performed during the launch countdown.
Launch on December 20th is success oriented. If steps
involving first use of Launch Pad A capabilities continue to run
slightly behind schedule, a slip to the 21st is likely.
The 58-minute launch window for December 20 opens at 6:26
p.m. and closes at 7:24 p.m. EST.
Routine pre-launch briefings at KSC will be moved
accordingly with the launch date. Countdown status briefings
will begin on launch minus three days, payload briefings and the
pre-launch news conference will be held the day before launch.