yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (05/03/89)
KSC Shuttle Status Report - Wednesday, May 3, 1989 STS-30 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-B The orbiter's aft compartment was closed for flight at about 5 a.m. today. In addition, the orbiter's communciations systems have been activated. This morning, checks of the three main engines are being conducted. Later today, preparations will begin to move the Rotating Service Structure away from the vehicle and to the launch position. Film is being installed in the cameras at the pad today and the tail service masts will be closed out for launch. Yesterday, flight software loaded into the orbiter's computers was checked and verified and the orbiter's navigation system was tested. The Fluids Experiment Apparatus was removed from the mid deck locker for pressure checks of the five sealed pyrex tubes containing material samples. The experiment has been reinstalled. The launch countdown for STS-30 began at 8 a.m. yesterday at the T minus 43 hour mark. A careful review of the countdown procedure was conducted to assess which operations need to be repeated. Some reconstruction of the countdown was required and several holds were deleted and or reduced. Two eight-hour built-in holds, at T-27 hours and at T-19 hours, have been deleted. The first hold will occur at the T minus 11 hour mark at 4 p.m. today. The hold will last for 7 hours, 28 minutes or until 11:28 p.m. tonight. Retraction of the Rotating Service Structure is scheduled for 8 p.m. tonight. The remaining holds will be standard for countdowns: one hour at the T-6 hour mark, two hours at the T-3 hour mark, and 10 minutes at the T-20 minute and T-9 minute marks. Since there is a 64 minute launch window on Thursday, the additional 30 minutes of hold has been deleted at the T-9 minute mark. STS-30 crew members arrived at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility at 5:30 p.m. EDT yesterday in preparation for launch. They will practice flying in the T-38 jets today and will receive a status briefing on the vehicle and weather. Weather forecasts for Thursday's launch are being monitored. There is a 10 percent chance of thunderstorms or rainshowers in the area at the time of launch. Winds are predicted to be from the east at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots. Temperature expected is 84 degrees with seven miles visibility. There is a 30 percent chance of violating launch or return to launch site weather criteria. Launch of Atlantis' fourth trip into space is set for the opening of the 64 minute launch window or at 1:48 p.m. EDT.