yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (10/25/88)
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT - MONDAY, OCT. 24, 1988
STS-27 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - VAB HIGH BAY 3
Atlantis was towed from OPF bay 2 to the Vehicle Assembly
Building late Saturday night. Atlantis was spotted in the
transfer aisle by 11:19 p.m. Saturday. Workers on Sunday
connected the sling to the orbiter and lifted Atlantis to the
vertical position. Early this morning, Atlantis was carefully
lowered into position for mating with the external tank and solid
rocket boosters.
Today, the orbiter is scheduled to be softmated followed by
hardmate about four or five hours afterwards. After the orbiter
is mated, a Shuttle Interface Test is scheduled to verify the
critical connections between the vehicle elements and the mobile
launcher platform.
While in the VAB, Rocketdyne engineers will take
measurements of an injector plate on the number 3 main engine for
flatness. This operation should not affect the planned work in
the VAB.
If all goes as planned, Atlantis will be moved to Launch Pad
39-B no earlier than 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 30.
STS-29 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
Today, hypergolic propellants are being offloaded from
Discovery's orbital manuevering system (OMS) pods. This is a
hazardous activity which requires both processing bays be closed
during the offload. Activities planned this week include,
removing the other two main engines and removing the right OMS
pod. The right hand pod will be taken to the Hypergolic
Maintenance Facility where a leaking bellows inside the pod will
be repaired. The bellows are designed to protect the motor valves
from contamination.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OMRF
Power down modifications are underway on Columbia while its
in the Orbiter Modification and Refurbishment Facility.
STS-29 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - RPSF/VAB
The left aft booster was attached to the mobile launcher
platform in the VAB last week. Other segments are being prepared
in the Rotation Processing and Surge Facility for transfer to the
VAB starting next week.