yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (09/30/88)
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT FOR - Fri. Sept. 30, 1988
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) LAUNCH - PAD 39-B
Discovery was launched at 11:37:00.687 a.m. (EDT) yesterday
from Launch Pad 39-B. The pad sustained minimal damage from the
launch - some of the stadium lights will need replacing.
Mobile launcher platform number 2 is scheduled to be
transferred from the pad to the VAB. This pplatform will be used
for Discovery's second flight - STS-29.
The solid rocket boosters were recovered by the retrieval
ships yesterday at 5:45 p.m. The Freedom Star and the Liberty
Star are scheduled to arrive at the entrance of Port Canaveral at
11 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Later in the day, the ships will proceed
through the Canaveral Locks System and into the Banana River. The
ships will travel north to Hangar AF where the boosters will be
taken apart and inspected.
Discovery is scheduled to land on the dry lakebed runway at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on Monday, Oct. 3. With a total
mission elapsed time of 4 days, 56 minutes, the landing would
occur at 12:33 p.m. (EDT).
After the landing, KSC's processing team will begin
preparing the orbiter for the return trip to Florida. The one-day
ferry flight includes a refueling stop over at Kelly AFB in San
Antonio, Tx. Discovery is scheduled to arrive back at KSC atop
the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on Saturday, Oct. 8. After being
demated from the 747, Discovery would be towed to OPF bay 1 for
post-flight servicing and preparations for its next mission, STS-
29, scheduled for launch in February.
STS-27 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - OPF BAY 2
Leak checks of the main propulsion system are continuing
today. The modified gaseous oxygen flow control valve poppets
have been installed and are undergoing leak checks today.
Thermal protection system operations are underway. Atlantis
is scheduled to be rolled over to the VAB no earlier than Oct. 14
for mating to the external tank and solid rocket boosters.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 1
Return to flight modifications are underway on Columbia.
Yesterday, technicians installed the crew hatch. Activities
scheduled today include orbiter airframe inspections, thermal
protection system operations and installation of the power drive
unit for the body flap. Columbia is scheduled to be transferred
to the Orbiter Modification and Refurbishment Facility (OMRF) a
week from today.