yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (08/08/89)
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - SUNDAY, AUG. 6, 1989
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - LAUNCH PAD 39-B
Columbia's aft compartment has been closed out for flight
and the fuel cell storage tanks have been filled with their
flight load of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen cryogenic
propellants.
All events have been proceeding smoothly since the countdown
for Columbia's eighth flight began at 12:01 a.m. eastern time
Saturday. Other activities completed since the countdown began
include, a review of flight software stored in Columbia's
computers, initial stowage of flight crew equipment, removal of
platforms in the mid and flight decks and start of external tank
loading preparations. The orbiter's navigation aids have been
turned on and tested and the Inertial Measurement Units have been
activated.
Today, the orbiter midbody umbilical unit (OMBUU) will be
disconnected from the oribter. During fuel cell storage tank
loading, cryogenic propellants flow from the storage tanks on the
pad through the OMBUU and into the orbiter. A pre-flight
functional check of the three main engines is scheduled today. In
addition the engine helium system will be pressurized and purged.
Technicians will remove handrails on the mobile launcher platform
and workers will begin installing film in cameras mounted on the
launch pad, launch platform and the pad perimeter.
Weather forecasters are predicting a 20-40 percent chance of
violation of weather launch commit criteria on Tuesday. Debris
clouds could be left over from nocturnal thundershowers. The
forecast during the launch period on Tuesday calls for scattered
clouds at the 3,000 and 30,000 foot levels. Winds are expected to
be from the southwest at eight knots. The expected temperature
for the launch period is between 76-89 degrees.
The STS-28 flight crew members arrived at KSC's Shuttle
Landing Facility at about 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon. This
morning Commander Brewster Shaw and pilot Dick Richards flew
approaches and landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft. Later
today, the crew will check equipment they will take aboard the
orbiter, receive a final medical exam and receive pre-launch
briefings.
Shuttle managers will meet today for the standard Launch-
minus-two-day review to establish the readiness to proceed with
activities necessary for the safe and successful conduct of all
operations from prelaunch through post-landing and recovery.
Launch of Columbia on mission STS-28 remains scheduled for
Tuesday, August 8, with a launch period of 7:30 a.m. to 11:30
a.m. eastern time.