yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (05/02/89)
KSC Shuttle Status Report - Tuesday, May 2, 1989
STS-30 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-B
The launch countdown for STS-30 began on time this morning
at 8 a.m. 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 have been 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. Wednesday. The hold will last for 7
hours, 28 minutes or until 11:28 p.m. Wednesday. Retraction of
the Rotating Service Structure is scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday.
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.
Work at Launch Pad 39-B has gone exceptionally well in
readying the Shuttle Atlantis for launch. Closeouts of the
replaced four-inch liquid hydrogen recirculation line and the
liquid hydrogen recirculation pump are underway. The new
components have been successfully retested. The aft compartment
is scheduled to be closed for flight tomorrow morning.
STS-30 crew members are scheduled to arrive at the KSC
Shuttle Landing Facility at 5:30 p.m. EDT today in preparation
for launch. They will practice flying in the Shuttle Training
Aircraft this afternoon and in the T-38s tomorrow.
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 southeast at 10 knots
gusting to 18 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.