yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (11/22/89)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - TUESDAY, NOV. 21, 1989
AFTERNOON STATUS
STS-33 - (OV 103) - PAD 39-B - LAUNCH MINUS ONE DAY
Launch countdown activities are proceeding on schedule for
liftoff on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Launch is planned during a four-
hour period that opens at 6:30 p.m. EST.
After reviewing the status of Discovery today during the
launch minus one-day review, the Mission Management Team
indicated they were happy with the way the work at the pad has
been progressing and that they are optimistic and confident about
launching tomorrow night.
Today, the five-member flight crew will be briefed by the
launch team on the status of the vehicle, payload and weather
conditions. Today, the flight crew will practice in the T-38
trainers. The crew is adjusting their sleep and wake schedules to
the routine that will be followed during the mission.
Closeouts of the solid rocket boosters' aft skirts were
completed early this afternoon. Today, the orbiter's
communications system will be activated, the navigation systems
will be tested and the flight crew seats will be installed in the
flight and mid decks. In addition, the tail services masts will
be closed out and prepared for tanking and launch. During
tanking, cryogenic propellants flow from storage tanks at the pad
through the masts, through the orbiter's plumbing and into the
external tank. Workers will also configure ground systems for
loading the external tank and launch.
Tomorrow morning, Discovery's external tank will be loaded
with a half million gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen
propellants. The loading operation takes about three hours. After
the tank is full and the pad has been reopened, the ice
inspection team will proceed to the launch pad to make their
assessment of the integrity of the thermal protection system on
the tank and take temperatures of the vehicle elements.
Another important event after tanking has been completed is
waking up the flight crew. The crew will go through standard
launch day activities including eating breakfast, receiving a
weather briefing, donning flight suits, departing for the launch
pad and boarding the orbiter for launch.
The weather forecast for Wednesday is favorable during the
launch period with only a 20 percent chance of violating weather
criteria. Two cloud decks are forecast during the period:
scattered at the 3,000 and 28,000 foot levels. Winds are forecast
to be out of the south at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots.
Temperature is expected to be 66 degrees.