yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (07/08/88)
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT FOR - Thursday, July 7, 1988
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD 39-B
Final operations are in work for the launch pad validation
activity. Workers are preparing for the hypergol loading
operation planned for this weekend. The orbital maneuvering
system pods and reaction control system will be loaded with
monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide over the weekend.
Workers are also preparing for the Flight Readiness Firing
scheduled for July 25. The FRF is a 20-second test firing of the
main engines designed to validate the entire system.
STS-27 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - OPF BAY 2
One of the three main engines, number 2027, arrived
yesterday and is undergoing initial inpections in the engine shop
located in the VAB. The engine is currently scheduled for
installation early next month.
Preparations for the systems test of the power reactant
storage and distribution system are scheduled today. Helium tanks
for the main propulsion system are scheduled to be installed this
week. Orbiter modifications continuing are crew escape, 17-inch
disconnect valves, improvements to the elevon cove area, chin
panel and other thermal protection system activities.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OMRF
Weather permitting Columbia will be transferred from the
Orbiter Modification and Refurbishment Facility to OPF bay 1 this
afternoon or early tomorrow morning. Once in the OPF, Columbia's
payload bay doors will be opened and return-to-modification work
will begin. Power up and flight processing is scheduled to begin
the first week of August.
STS-27 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - RPSF
The remaining three solid rocket motor segments are
scheduled to arrive here tomorrow and the right aft booster will
be offloaded for the propellant grain inspection in the RPSF.
Last night the left aft booster was mated to the left skirt. The
next step in left booster "build up" activities is to install the
external tank attach ring slated to begin this afternoon.