yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (09/27/88)
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT FOR - Mon. Sept. 26, 1988
AFTERNOON STATUS
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD 39-B
The STS-26 flight crew is scheduled to arrive at KSC's
Shuttle Landing Facility this afternoon. The five-member flight
crew departed from Houston at 2:07 p.m. EDT, and stopped at
McDill Air Force Base in Tampa for refueling. The estimated time
of arrival at the SLF is 4:30 p.m. EDT. Commander Rick Hauck,
pilot Dick Covey and mission specialists Dave Hilmers, Mike
Lounge and George "Pinky" Nelson are all shuttle veterans.
The launch countdown for STS-26 began this morning at 8 a.m.
(EDT) at the T-43 hour mark and all activities have been
proceeding toward launch. The countdown is being conducted from
Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control Center. Liftoff remains
scheduled for 9:59 a.m. (EDT) on Thursday, Sept. 29. The launch
window on that day extends for two and a half hours or until
12:29 p.m.
Launch countdown activities completed include sampling the
potable water onboard the orbiter and adjusting the quantity if
necessary. In addition, the launch team verified that the
orbiter's data processing system and the backup flight control
system were operating. Flight software in the orbiter's twin
memory banks was reviewed, computer-controlled display systems
were activated, and the backup flight system general purpose
computer was loaded.
Final payload closeouts are active in the payload bay today
including retraction of access platforms away from the
spacecraft. The payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed for
flight about 4 p.m. today.
Most of the activities associated with closing out
Discovery's aft engine compartment have been completed. Today
quality inspectors are examining the compartment and making sure
everything is in the flight configuration.
The first planned hold is scheduled for midnight tonight, at
the T-27 hour mark. This eight-hour hold is new for the launch
countdown and will give members of the launch team time to catch
up with planned work if any items get behind in the countdown.
The hold also allows time for officials to resolve any problems
that may occur.
When the count resumes at 8 a.m. Tuesday, preparations will
commence to load liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into
Discovery's onboard fuel cell storage tanks. The loading
operation is scheduled to be complete by the T-19 hour mark, or
at 4 p.m. tomorrow.