yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (09/15/89)
This is the Kennedy Space Center Broadcast News Service prepared at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, September 14th. The Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test for the Space Shuttle Atlantis with the Galileo spacecraft in the payload bay picked up this morning on schedule at 8:30 a.m. The test will conclude at 11:00 a.m. Friday with a simulated main engine cutoff at the T-5 second mark. Meanwhile, the Atlantis astronauts are being briefed today on the progress of the test and other pre-launch preparations. They are also having fit checks of their pressurized flight suits and other personal equipment. This afternoon further crew emergency egress safety training is underway at the launch pad. They will be briefed on the use of the slidewire escape system, and again will practice driving the M-113 tank-like escape vehicles used to leave the launch pad area. Tomorrow morning the crew will depart for the pad at 7:45 a.m. and will be participating on the flight deck of Atlantis for the last three hours of the test. Yesterday, the astronauts made an inspection of Galileo and the attached Inertial Upper stage in the payload bay. Also yesterday, Galileo underwent testing of the science instruments contained aboard the orbiter portion of the spacecraft. Today, testing of the probe's science instruments is underway. Engineers at the pad have identified a small amount of fuel which appears to have leaked from the quick disconnect of auxiliary power unit #1. A decision could be made to change out the quick disconnect. However, if this occurs it would not impact the launch date of October 12. At Launch Complex 36, the Composite Electrical Readiness Test is underway today to verify the connections between the FltSatCom satellite and the AC-68 Atlas Centaur rocket installed atop the launch vehicle on Tuesday. Launch is tentatively scheduled for September 22. From the NASA Kennedy Space Center, this is George Diller.