yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (09/08/88)
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT FOR - Wed. Sept. 7, 1988 STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD 39-B The Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) began at 6 a.m. this morning. The countdown clock picked up at the T-19 hour mark. This test, a dress rehearsal for the flight crew and the KSC launch team, will simulate events that occur during an acutal launch countdown. A simulated T-0 is planned for 10 a.m. Thursday. The five-member STS-26 flight crew arrived at KSC around 2 p.m. yesterday and practiced approach and landings from the shuttle runway in the Shuttle Training Aircraft. Today, the astronauts will receive the standard briefings on the status of the STS-26 vehicle elements and any developments since the orbiter was moved to the launch pad. They will also receive the bulk of their emergency egress training at Launch Pad 39-B today. For tomorrow's test, the crew will be awakened at approximately 5:40 a.m., eat breakfast and don their new partial pressure suits. At about 7:10 a.m., the crew will depart the Operations and Checkout Building enroute for the pad. They will board the Shuttle Discovery and establish communications with the test conductor in Firing Room 1. After the test, the crew will receive additional emergency egress training wearing their new suits. Later in the day, the crew will board their T-38s and leave for Houston for final mission preparations. At the pad, workers are scheduled to perform a borescope inspection of the orbiter's gaseous oxygen (GOX) system. Results from this examination will be analyzed along with the data the vendor has collected on the GOX flow control valve poppets. Debris found on the poppets over the weekend is being analyzed and tests are being conducted to determine its source. The poppets will be cleaned and reassembled prior to their shipment to KSC. These parts, internal to the system, are currently scheduled to arrive in time to support a shuttle launch the last week of September. The end-to-end test between the orbiter, payload, and ground stations was conducted yesterday along with verification check of sensors on the OASIS payload. STS-27 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - OPF BAY 2 Interface verification testing of the newly installed orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pods is continuing today. The third, and last, main engine is scheduled to be installed this weekend. Checkout of the main propulsion system is continuing and heat shields are being installed around the two engines on the ship. Thermal protection system operations are continuing. Technicians are scheduled to install the flight tires this week. STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 1 Operations to install the radiators are scheduled today. Return-to-flight inspections and modifications are continuing. STS-27 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB The left forward assembly is scheduled to be connected to the left booster today. Later this week, the right forward assembly will be stacked on the right booster. Joint closeouts are active on the field joints. Meanwhile, the left aft center segment for the STS-29 mission arrived at the Rotation Processing and Surge Facility over the weekend and is undergoing the initial receiving inspections.