yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (05/27/89)
This is the Kennedy Space Center Broadcast News Service prepared at
9:00 a.m. Friday, May 26th.
Testing of the Orbiter Columbia continues in the orbiter
processing facility. The frequency response test involving the
orbiter's hydraulically activated control surfaces and valve systems
began Thursday morning and was essentially complete by midnight.
Some hydraulic tests continue. The orbiter has been lowered onto
jacks and tests are underway on the brakes. The necessary alignment
of the air data probe was completed overnight. The payload bay doors
are scheduled to be opened today at about noon to resume work in the
payload bay. The helium signature leak checks of the main engines
and main propulsion system have been rescheduled for next week after
completion of the Crew Equipment Interface Test.
Preparations continue for astronaut participation in the Crew
Equipment Interface Test. The STS-28 crew will arrive at KSC on
Saturday afternoon and the test will be conducted on Sunday. The
astronauts will actively familiarize themselves with the panels,
switches, and other items installed on the flight deck and in the
crew cabin for the STS-28 mission. The astronauts are expected to
return to Houston after the test is over on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, other scheduled powered-up testing and routine tile
work continues on the oribter today, as well as maintenance on the
auxiliary power units, and the KuBand TDRS antenna.
In the Vehicle Assembly Building, instrumentation checks of the
solid rockbet boosters are being performed. Preparations are
underway for relocating the stack from VAB high bay 1 to adjacent
high bay 3. The crawler transporter will be positioned under the
stack today. The move is scheduled for early Tuesday morning.
From the NASA Kennedy Space Center, this is George Diller.