khayo@sonia.math.ucla.edu (Eric Behr) (06/23/88)
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Monday, June 20, 1988
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
Technicians had a productive weekend preparing Discovery for
the transfer to the Vehicle Assembly Building. Today workers will
finish the remaining thermal protection system operations prior
to jacking the orbiter down.
Discovery will be jacked down no earlier than midnight
tonight and afterwards its weight and center of gravity will be
determined. Discovery is currently planned to be moved to the VAB
tomorrow morning.
Once in the VAB, workers will attach the crane and hoist the
vehicle up and over to be mated with the external tank and solid
rocket boosters which are bolted to the launch platform. After
Discovery is mated, the Shuttle Interface Test will be conducted
to verify the connections between the vehicle elements.
STS-27 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - OPF BAY 2
Fuel cell number 2 was installed last week and is being
electrically connected today. The liquid hydrogen 17-inch
external tank disconnect valve also was installed last week and a
leak check is scheduled today. A few panels were installed in the
crew module and preparations are underway to install the tanks
for the power reactant storage and distribution system. Orbiter
modifications are continuing.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OMRF
Preparations are underway for moving Columbia to OPF bay 1
about a week after Discovery is moved to the VAB. Preparations
will commence to prepare Columbia for its mission next year.
STS-26 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
Over the weekend workers installed ordnance devices on the
solid rocket boosters and are continuing to check out the
instrumentation.
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Tuesday, June 21, 1988
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
Preparations continued through the night to verify the
orbiter Discovery is ready for rollover to the Vehicle Assembly
Building for mating with the external tank and twin solid rocket
boosters. The orbiter is currently scheduled to move no earlier
than 1 p.m. today. Workers will be examining and retorquing a
loose jam nut on the nose landing gear mechanism. The loose nut
was discovered during last night's final walkdown of the orbiter.
Any issues with the landing gear will be resolved prior to
rolling over and closing the gears out for flight.
Discovery will be towed by a conventional aircraft tug about
400 yards from OPF bay 1 to the VAB transfer aisle. Once in the
VAB, workers will hook up the sling and crane and begin the hoist
and mate operation. About 30 hours are alloted from the time
Discovery is in the transfer aisle until it is "hard mated" to
the tank and boosters.
STS-27 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - OPF BAY 2
Preparations are underway to service the orbiter's ammonia
system - the actual servicing is scheduled for next week. This
week technicians are verifying the air lock system. The nose cap
is scheduled to be installed tomorrow. Orbiter modifications
scheduled today include: chin panel, crew escape and improvements
to the elevon cove seal.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OMRF
Modifications to implement the crew escape hatch are
continuing this week. Columbia will be towed to OPF bay 1 about
one week after Discovery is moved to the VAB.
STS-26 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
Preparations to mate the orbiter Discovery to the external
tank and solid rocket boosters are underway in the VAB. A thermal
coating is being applied to the 17-inch external tank valves in
preparation for mating the orbiter. The sling and crane are
being prepared for connection to Discovery in the transfer aisle.
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Wed., June 22, 1988
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - VAB Transfer aisle
Yesterday, KSC workers took yet another step closer to the
launch of STS-26 when Discovery was towed 400 yards from OPF bay
1 to the Vehicle Assembly Building transfer aisle yesterday.
First motion came at 2 p.m. and Discovery was inside the VAB 30
minutes later. Since then workers have verified that the landing
gears are ready for flight.
Later today the orbiter will be hoisted up to the VAB
ceiling and over the sill to join the external tank and solid
rocket boosters. The orbiter is scheduled to be hard mated to the
tank and boosters about 20 hours after Discovery is lifted
vertically. A five-day Shuttle Interface Test is scheduled to
begin Friday after which preparations will begin to roll the
shuttle vehicle to the launch pad next week.
STS-27 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - OPF BAY 2
Preparations to install the nose cap are continuing today.
After the cap is attached, technicians will closeout that area in
preparation for installing the forward reaction control system in
July. Technicians are scheduled to install helium tanks for the
main propulsion system today. Orbiter modifications are
continuing.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OMRF
Protective covers have been installed on open areas of the
shuttle such as the aft and forward fuselage and the forward
reaction control cavity in preparation for towing Columbia to OPF
bay 1 the first week in July.
STS-27 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - RPSF
The railcar containing the left aft booster was brought into
the Rotation Processing and Surge Facility yesterday. Technicians
will offload the segment later this week. The aft skirt is
scheduled to arrive the first week of July. Meanwhile processing
of the left forward center segment is underway.
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Eric