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.