khayo@sonia.math.ucla.edu (Eric Behr) (06/16/88)
From NASA SpaceLink BBS (205) 895 0028.
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Monday, June 13, 1988
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
Orbiter closeouts are underway to prepare for moving the
orbiter to the Vehicle Assembly Building currently planned for
midnight Wednesday. Once in the VAB, technicians will attach the
sling to Discovery in preparation for hoisting it into high bay 3
where the external tank and twin boosters are currently bolted to
the launch platform.
Over the weekend, technicians cleaned the payload bay and
closed the doors for rollover. The payload bay doors will not be
reopened again until after the Flight Readiness Firing when
preparations begin for installing the Tracking and Data Relay
Satellite.
Remaining activities prior to rollover to the VAB are
finishing thermal protection system operations, and getting the
orbiter in the rollover configuration. Just prior to rollover the
orbiter's weight and center of gravity will be determined.
STS-27 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - OPF BAY 2
Scheduled communications testing occurred over the weekend
along with the installation of a shelf that holds electronic
boxes. This week technicians are scheduled to conduct a
functional verification test of the crew hatch and stow the
radiators. Orbiter modifications continuing include crew escape,
chin panel, elevon cove seal and adding protection for wiring in
the aft compartment.
Meanwhile workers are processing the orbiter's orbital
maneuvering system (OMS) pods and forward reaction control system
(FRCS) for installation on the shuttle. The FRCS is scheduled to
be installed next week and the OMS pods are currently scheduled
for installation in July.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OMRF
Orbiter modifications scheduled this week are electrical
modifications in the forward and aft compartments and
installation of heat absorbing strips for the RTV heat sink mod.
STS-26 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
A milestone toward the resumption of shuttle flights was
accomplished Friday with the mating of the external tank and
solid rocket boosters for the STS-26 mission. Over the weekend
technicians began routing instrumentation cables and will
continue those operations over the next few days in preparation
for mating the shuttle Discovery later this week.
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Tuesday, June 14, 1988
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
Rollover preparations continue in bay 1 to ready the Shuttle
Discovery for flight. Tile operations are active on all areas of
the shuttle. The external tank doors have been positioned on the
center line in the rollover configuration.
Orbiter closeouts are underway on all areas of the Shuttle
Discovery. The day before rollover the orbiter's weight and
center of gravity will be determined. Rollover is currently
planned for no earlier than Friday evening.
STS-27 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - OPF BAY 2
Installation of black electronic boxes on the special shelf
is continuing this week on Atlantis. Other operations scheduled
this week include communications testing, preparations for
servicing the ammonia system and preparations to install the
closed circuit television camera brackets. Orbiter modifications
are continuing as scheduled.
Meanwhile, processing STS-27 solid rocket motor segments
continues in the RPSF. Yesterday, technicians conducted an
ultrasonic test of the left aft center segment and found no
problem areas.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OMRF
Powered down orbiter modifications scheduled this week are
crew escape and electrical modifications in the forward and aft
compartments. Columbia will be moved to OPF bay 1 about a week
after Discovery moves to the VAB.
STS-26 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB
Technicians are connecting instrumentation cables on the
solid rocket boosters and making preparations for mating the
orbiter Discovery to the stack.
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Eric