[sci.space.shuttle] Shuttle Status for 07/30/88

yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (07/31/88)

          KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT FOR - Saturday, July 30, 1988


                     STS-26  -  DISCOVERY (OV 103)  -  PAD 39-B

               Workers gained access to the pad at 2 a.m. this morning and
          have been troubleshooting ground support equipment as 72-hour
          scrub turn around activities continue.

               The suspected seals at the quick disconnect of the 8-inch
          liquid hydrogen feedline were leak checked and there was no
          leakage. The 8-inch feedline is being purged with helium to
          detect the leak.

               The purge shroud covering the 8-inch hydrogen feedline was
          removed so workers could continue troubleshooting. Some leakage
          was detected at a nut connecting a small pressure monitor hose to
          the 8-inch fill line. This steel-braided hose leads to a
          transducer that monitors the pressure in the 8-inch fill line.
          Workers removed the metal elbow between the hose and the 8-inch
          line, and joined the hose directly to the 8-inch line. A
          preliminary leak check has been conducted and there was no more
          leakage at that connection. The data is being analyzed and other
          leak checks are planned after the shroud is replaced. Workers
          will be looking at other components within the purge shroud to
          verify there are no more leaks.

               Meanwhile, workers have replaced motorized switches that
          control the two pumps in the oxygen storage farm. The swithes
          were corroded. The pumps will be turned on later today to
          continue with the troubleshooting plan.

               The Rotating Service Structure will be moved back in place
          around the orbiter later today to give workers access to various
          parts of the orbiter and to provide some weather protection.

               The countdown is scheduled to go into a planned hold at the
          T-11 hour mark at 12 noon tomorrow. At this time the Rotating
          Service Structure is scheduled to be moved to the park position
          away from the vehicle. The hold is scheduled for 3 hours, 55
          minutes. The count will resume at the T-11 hour mark at 3:55 p.m.
          tomorrow and will continue to the next hold at the 1 hour, 10
          minute mark. During this hold of 3 hours, 45 minutes, which
          begins at 1:45 a.m. Monday, several special tanking tests are
          planned.

               The count will resume following the special tanking tests at
          approximately 5:30 a.m. Monday. There are two additional 10-
          minute built-in holds, at the T-20 and T-9 minute marks.

               The T-0 is planned for 7 a.m. Monday. The ground launch
          sequencer will issue a cutoff at the T-10 second mark to prevent
          the main engines from starting. Ten minutes after the T-0, the
          external tank will be drained and scrub/turnaround activities
          will be active leading to the Flight Readiness Firing on
          Thursday.

               The FRF T-0 will come at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, August 4.
          Discovery's three main engines will be fired for approximately 22
          seconds.


                                      # # # # #



                             WCDDT COUNTDOWN MILESTONES


          T-TIME            REAL TIME            EVENT

          T-11 hours        12 noon Sunday       Move RSS away from vehicle
                                                 Enter 3 hour, 55 minute
                                                 Built in hold.

          T-11 hours        3:55 p.m.            Countdown resumes.
                                                 and counting

          T-6 hours         8:55 p.m.            Begin tanking operations.

          T-3 hours        11:55 p.m.            External tank full with
                                                 LOX and Liquid hydrogen.

          T-1 hour,         1:45 a.m. Mon.       Begin 3 hour, 45 minute
          10 minutes                             built-in hold for special
                                                 tanking tests.

          T-1 hour,         5:30 a.m.            Countdown resumes.
          10 minutes

          T-20 minutes      6:20 a.m.            Enter 10 minute BIH.

          T-9 minutes       6:41 a.m.            Enter 10 minute BIH.

          T-10 seconds      7:00 a.m.            Cutoff given.