yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (03/11/89)
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT - THURSDAY MARCH 9, 1989
STS-29 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD 39-B
All activities are on schedule to support starting the
launch countdown for Mission STS-29 at 12:01 a.m. Friday, March
10 at the T-43 hour mark.
The pad was reopened yesterday after tests of the signal
paths to ordnance devices were completed. Purges of the external
tank were conducted to condition the ducts, valves and lines for
tank loading and launch.
Closeouts of the orbiter's aft compartment are active today.
Standard aft compartment closeout activities include installation
of last minute items, final quality inspections and removing
access platforms. The flight doors are scheduled to be installed
on the aft compartment after closeouts are complete. Weather
conditions are slowing closeout activities somewhat due to the
winds and rain.
Final inspections of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
and Inertial Upper Stage are underway today. The payload bay
doors are scheduled to be closed for flight tonight.
Discovery and mission STS-29 are scheduled for launch
Monday, March 13, at 8:07 a.m. EST. The flight crew is
expected to arrive at KSC Friday afternoon for final flight
preparations.
STS-30 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - OPF BAY 2
Final operations are underway to prepare Atlantis for
transfer to the Vehicle Assembly Building no earlier than Friday,
March 10 at 8 a.m. Weather conditions will be monitored through
the day to determine if it will be a factor in tomorrow's planned
roll.
Atlantis' payload bay doors were closed last night. Today,
technicians will bond two tiles and change the left outboard main
landing gear tire. The tire is being replaced because the over-
inflation plug was over-torqued.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 1
Checkout of the orbiter's main propulsion system is
continuing today. Technicians are installing the power reactant
storage and distribution system tanks and installing thermal
protective blankets in the payload bay and in the forward
reaction control system bay. Return-to-flight modifications are
underway.
STS-30 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
Preparations to mate the orbiter to the stack are underway.
Buildup of the left aft booster for Mission STS-28 is
underway at the Rotation Processing and Storage Facility. The
nozzle skirt and external tank attach ring have been installed.
The left aft booster is scheduled to be stacked on the mobile
launcher platform next month.