yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (10/17/89)
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SHUTTLE STATUS - Monday, October 16, 1989
STS-34 - ATLANTIS - (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-B
The countdown for the launch of the shuttle Atlantis and
mission STS-34 resumed on time at 12:01 a.m. this morning. All
events have been proceeding smoothly since that time. The
orbiter's communications system has been activated, navigation
aids have been tested and final main engine preparations have
been completed. The orbiter midbody umbilical unit, used to
service the power reactant storage and distribution system tanks,
has been disconnected.
At 8 a.m. this morning, the countdown entered a planned hold
at the T minus 11 hour mark. This hold will last for 14 hours and
7 minutes. Today the flight crew seats will be installed on the
flight and mid decks and last minute crew items will be stowed
for the mission. In addition, the tail service masts on the
mobile launcher platform will be prepared for launch. It is
through these masts that propellant flows from the ground storage
tanks, through the orbiter's plumbing and into the external tank.
Loading of the tank is scheduled to begin at about 4 a.m.
tomorrow morning.
Later today, around 5 p.m., the Rotating Service Structure
will be moved back to the launch position away from the vehicle.
The Galileo spacecraft is ready for launch and has had
essentially housekeeping chores during the standdown.
The weather forecast for launch time now reflects an 80
percent chance of acceptable weather, with scattered to broken
clouds, a temperature of 83 degrees and southeast winds at 10
knots.
The flight crew will be busy with normal launch minus one-
day events such as status briefings on the vehicle and payload
and practice flights in the T-38 training aircraft.
Tomorrow the flight crew will be awakened at 7:32 a.m., have
breakfast at 8:02 a.m., receive a weather briefing and don their
flight suits at 8:32 a.m. and depart for the launch pad at about
9:12 a.m. They will begin entering Atlantis' cockpit at 9:42 a.m.
The crew hatch is scheduled to be closed for flight at about 11
a.m.
Launch is scheduled to occur at the opening of the launch
window or at 12:57 p.m. (EDT). The window for tomorrow closes at
1:23 p.m. (EDT).