yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (11/01/88)
Sarah Keegan October 31, 1988
Headquarters, Washington, D. C.
Lisa Malone
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
RELEASE: 88-147
ATLANTIS SCHEDULED FOR ROLLOUT TO LAUNCH PAD ON NOV. 2
The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis is currently scheduled
for rollout to Launch Pad 39-B no earlier than 12:01 a.m. EST
Wednesday, Nov. 2.
Since March of 1987, KSC workers have been modifying and
preparing the shuttle Atlantis for its upcoming launch. Nearly
200 modifications were implemented - primarily the modifications
previously made to Discovery.
Atlantis was transferred from its processing hangar to the
Vehicle Assembly Building Oct. 22 and was bolted to the huge
rust-colored external tank and white solid rocket boosters.
Space center workers completed the Shuttle Interface Test
which verified the connections between the orbiter Atlantis, the
external tank, solid rocket boosters and mobile launcher
platform. This test also verifies the various components of the
SRBs including the new joint heaters, the hydraulic power units
and flight instrumentation.
While Atlantis was being prepared for flight in the Orbiter
Processing Facility, the redesigned solid rocket boosters were
being stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The stacking
operation began July 30 with the left aft booster and was
completed on Sept. 20. The next processing step, mating the
external tank to the boosters, was accomplished on Sept. 20.
Once at the pad, workers will begin validating connections
between the launch pad and the shuttle vehicle elements. A "hot
fire" of the orbiter's auxiliary power units and the solid rocket
boosters hydraulic power units is planned shortly after the
vehicle arrives at the pad.
NASA will not conduct a Flight Readiness Firing (FRF) or a
Wet Countdown Demonstration Test during Atlantis' stay at the
pad. These tests were performed on Shuttle Discovery, and
included a 22-second test firing of Discovery's main engines
confirming the integrity of the overall Shuttle system and launch
pad facilities.
One of the major activities planned at the pad is the
Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT). This is a "dress
rehearsal" of launch day for the STS-27 flight crew and for
members of the KSC launch team. The actual launch countdown will
pick up about three days prior to liftoff.
NASA plans to launch the Space Shuttle Atlantis in late
November on mission STS-27. An official target launch date will
be set at the Flight Readiness Review in mid-November. Launch
will occur during the period from 6:32 a.m. EST to 9:32 a.m. EST.
The STS-27 commander is Richard "Hoot" Gibson, the pilot is Guy
Gardner, and the three mission specialists are Richard "Mike"
Mullane, Jerry Ross and William Shepard. STS-27 is a dedicated
Department of Defense mission.