yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (09/26/88)
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT FOR - Mon. Sept. 26, 1988
MORNING STATUS
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD 39-B
The STS-26 launch countdown began this morning at 8 a.m.
(EDT) at the T-43 hour mark. The countdown is being conducted
from Firing Room 1 in the Launch Control Center. NASA Test
Director Terry Willingham made the announcement that the
countdown clock was ticking toward the launch of Discovery on
Thursday, Sept. 29. Liftoff remains scheduled for 9:59 a.m. (EDT)
on Thursday. The launch window on that day extends for two and a
half hours or until 12:29 p.m.
Launch countdown activities planned this morning include
lowering the service platforms used for the solid rocket boosters
and sampling the potable water onboard the orbiter and adjusting
the quantity if necessary. In addition, the launch team will
verify that the orbiter's data processing system and the backup
flight control system are operating. Flight software in the
orbiter's twin memory banks will be reviewed, computer-controlled
display systems will be activated, and the backup flight system
general purpose computer will be loaded.
Facilities at the pad will be prepared for the launch during
the countdown. This morning, the liquid oxygen and liquid
hydrogen storage farms will be prepared to support loading the
external tank which occurs less than nine hours before launch.
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. A structural leak check of the shuttle
is planned after the payload bay doors are closed and after the
flight doors have been installed on the aft engine compartment.
Most of the activities associated with closing out
Discovery's aft engine compartment have been completed. Today
quality inspectors will examine the compartment and make sure
everything is in the flight configuration.
The first planned hold is scheduled for midnight 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 resolve any
problems that may occur. When the count resumes, preparations
will commence to load liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into
Discovery's onboard fuel cell storage tanks.
Later today, the STS-26 flight crew is scheduled to arrive
at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. The five-member flight crew is
scheduled to leave Houston in their T-38 jets about 2 p.m. EDT,
and the estimated time of arrival at the SLF is 4:30 p.m. EDT.