yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (09/29/88)
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT FOR - Wed. Sept. 28, 1988
AFTERNOON STATUS
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD 39-B
Countdown activities are proceeding on schedule toward
tomorrow's launch. The countdown clock has been holding at the T-
11 hour mark since midnight last night. This planned hold is 19
hours and 39 minutes in duration.
Technicians began moving the Rotating Service Structure
(RSS) at 3:10 p.m. and was in the launch position by 3:49 p.m.
This activity was originally planned for 7:39 p.m. tonight, but
was moved up in the timeline to get this important job completed
in advance. With the RSS in the launch configuration, workers
will have a head start when the countdown comes out of the hold.
Once the countdown resumes at 7:39 p.m. (EDT), time critical
flight crew equipment will be installed in Discovery's crew
module including the new crew escape pole. In addition, two of
the middeck payloads will be installed this evening: the protein
crystal growth experiment and blood samples for the aggregation
of red blood cells experiment. All other middeck payloads are
already aboard the shuttle.
At the T-9 hour mark, or at 9:39 p.m., Discovery's fuel
cells will be activated and the communications at Mission-Control
Houston will be configured for launch. The launch pad and blast
danger area will be cleared for launch starting at the T-8 hour
mark.
The countdown will proceed down to the T-6 hour mark and
hold for one-hour. During that hold, shuttle managers will meet
to assess the weather in preparation for filling the external
tank with its flight load of super cold liquid oxygen and liquid
hydrogen propellants. The loading operation will begin when the
countdown clock resumes at 1:39 a.m. tomorrow. It takes about
three hours to fill the tank with the half a million gallons of
propellant required for launch and ascent.
Another built-in hold is planned for the T-3 hour mark. This
hold will be for two-hours during which the flight crew will be
awakened, and the closeout crew enters the launch pad to prepare
Discovery's cockpit for the flight crew.
The ice inspection team will also go to the pad during this
hold. One of the main things the team is looking for is the build
up of ice in certain areas that could break away at liftoff and
damage the tiles. Another function the team will perform is
taking temperatures at various points on the shuttle vehicle and
pad facilities using one hand-held and two fixed scanners.
The STS-26 flight crew will be awakened about 5:04 a.m.,
have breakfast at about 5:34 a.m. and have a weather briefing at
6:04 a.m. Shortly afterwards, they will begin suiting up in the
partial pressure suits. The crew will depart the Operations and
Checkout Building, located in KSC's industrial area, in the
astrovan at about 6:44 a.m. At about 7:09 a.m., the crew will
arrive at the "white room" at Launch Pad 39-B to prepare entering
the cockpit.
The hatch is scheduled to be closed at about 8:34 a.m. and
the closeout crew will leave the launch pad area.
Two remaining holds of ten minutes each are planned at the
T-20 and the T-9 minute marks. At the T-9 minute mark, all
elements of the launch team, including the Mission Management
team, and the launch director will give their final "go" for
launch.
Launch remains scheduled for 9:59 a.m. (EDT) tomorrow. There
is a two and a half hour window which extends to 12:29 p.m.
(EDT). There are no weather constraints predicted for tomorrow's
launch at this time.