yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (02/10/89)
KSC Weekly Payload Status Report February 9, 1989 George Diller TDRS-D/IUS-9 (Discovery/STS-29) Ordnance installation on the Inertial Upper Stage was completed on Jan. 31. These ordnances are used for the separation of the IUS first and second stages and for spacecraft separation. An attempt was made to install IUS/TDRS into Discovery's payload bay on Saturday, Feb. 4. However, the transfer operation was terminated after impending interference was observed between the Space Station heat pipe experiment (SHARE) and the payload ground handling mechanism J-hooks holding the IUS/TDRS spacecraft. The heat pipe is designed to move out of the way for payload installation, but failed to provide sufficient clearance by about two inches. By removal of some bolts that hold stops up against which the heat pipe rotates for clearance, an additional ten degrees of rotation could be achieved, providing the necessary clearance. The payload operation was re-initiated on Monday morning, Feb. 6, and IUS/TDRS was installed in the payload bay without difficulty by 3:00 p.m. Two signficant tests remain to be performed. The Interface Verification Test (IVT) is scheduled for Feb. 15 and the End-to- End test (ETE) is scheduled for Feb. 17. Magellan/IUS-18 (Atlantis/STS-30) Functional testing of Magellan's radar, flight instrumentation, and the liquid propulsion module has been completed. All remaining tests are associated with configuring the spacecraft for launch. The solar panels were re-attached for flight on Friday, Feb. 3 and over the weekend were tested by illumination with electric lights. Mechancial tests of the solar panels were completed on Tuesday, Feb. 7. The Inertial Upper Stage is scheduled to be delivered from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on to the Vertical Processing Facility at KSC on Monday, February 13. The spacecraft is scheduled to be hoisted onto a transport trailer over the weekend. It will be moved to the Vertical Processing Facility on Wednesday, Feb. 15 for mating to the IUS.