[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 10/17/88

yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (10/17/88)

             KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT - MONDAY, OCT. 17, 1988

                     STS-27  -  ATLANTIS (0V 104)  -  OPF BAY 2

               Preparations are underway to transfer the orbiter Atlantis
          from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly
          Building.

               Technicians are finishing up work on the orbiter's thermal
          protection system. This morning only four cavities were reported.
          Structural leak checks of the vehicle were started over the
          weekend and are scheduled to be completed this week.

               Last night, technicians removed the left outboard elevon
          actuator and tonight are scheduled to install a new unit. The new
          unit will be retested. After evaluating data from the actuator
          following the frequency response test of the aerosurfaces,
          engineers decided to pull this actuator. The data indicated there
          were several spikes in the actuator pressure which were not fully
          understood. The actuator will be shipped to the vendor for
          analysis.

               An assessment of the rollover date of Oct. 21 is underway.
          The installation and retest of the new elevon actuator is being
          factored into Atlantis's OPF schedule.

                       STS-29 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1

               Discovery's payload bay doors were closed over the weekend
          while the frequency response test of the aerosurfaces was
          conducted. Today, the doors will be reopened for preparations to
          remove the OASIS payload.

               Technicians are scheduled to remove the heat shields from
          the orbiter's aft end. Once the shields are off, the three main
          engines can be removed and taken to the engine service shop in
          the VAB where several components will be replaced.

                        STS-28  -  COLUMBIA (OV 102)  -  OMRF

               Technicians are scheduled to install the power drive unit
          for the body flap today. Orbiter power down modifications are
          underway while Columbia is in the Orbiter Modification and
          Refurbishment Facility.

                     STS-26 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS  -  HANGAR AF

               The forward and aft segments have been shipped to Morton
          Thiokol in Utah. Workers are loading the aft center segments on
          flatbed trailers today. The segments will be taken to the rail
          car area and loaded on the cars for shipment to Utah. The right
          center segment is at Hangar AF and the left center segment is at
          the rail car area.