khayo@sonia.math.ucla.edu (Eric Behr) (05/11/88)
NEWS RELEASES
Transient Pressure Test Article Status Report May 9, 1988
Today's scheduled solid rocket motor TPTA test at the Marshall
Space Flight Center has been delayed until no earlier than
Wednesday, May 11. NASA and Morton Thiokol officials announced
the delay to allow time to use and certify a new tool to more
accurately measure vent port plug holes in SRM field and
case-to-nozzle joints. The vent port plugs are customized to
precisely fit leak check ports upstream of primary o-rings in the
joints. MTI personnel are expected to arrive at Marshall tomorrow
with the tool and will proceed to measure the vent port holes in
the TPTA test article. The proper custom plugs will then be
installed.
[Sounds like the ones from Builder's Emporium didn't fit]
[According to NPR, May 11, this doesn't affect launch schedule;
but in a related segment they reported increasing worries
about availability of the solid fuel oxidizer following the
Nevada explosion - apparently the Kerr-McGhee plant can supply
only 50% of demand for NASA, military & commercial solid rockets,
and the time needed to rebuild the damaged plant is "uncertain"
at best]
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KSC SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS FOR - Monday, May 9, 1988
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
Leak checks of the main propulsion system are ongoing in
preparation for the helium signature test of the three main
engines. The cameras on the forward bulkhead are scheduled to be
installed for flight today. The aft bulkhead cameras will be
installed at the launch pad. Over the weekend, workers
installed the master timing unit (MTU) - which is the clock for
the orbiter's systems during the mission - and today the MTU is
scheduled to be warmed up prior to testing.
The payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed late today
as technicians prepare for structural leak check later this week.
After the test, the doors will be reopened for additional
closeouts in the midbody.
An end-to-end confidence check of the orbiter's flight
controls is planned tomorrow. Thermal barrier operations on the
nose landing gear doors are continuing as scheduled.
STS-27 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2
Technicians are scheduled to install two of three fuel cells
this week and take measurements of the chin and nose cap area.
In connection with the measurements, the nose landing gear doors
will be cycled and the gear will be raised and lowered. Orbiter
modifications are continuing this week.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OMRF
Orbiter power down modifications continuing include crew
escape and improvements to the exterior thermal protection system.
Inspections of the air revitalization system have begun.
STS-26 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB/RPSF
Last week the left forward segment was mated to the left stack
and the right aft booster was stacked on the mobile launcher platform.
Inspections of the right aft booster's clevis are underway
today in preparation for mating with the right aft center segment. In
the transfer aisle, the right aft center segment's tang is being
inspected and prepared for mating later this week. In parallel
with the stacking activity, technicians are closing out joints on
the left hand solid rocket booster stack.
In the RPSF, stacking preparations of the right forward
center and right forward segments are underway.
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Tuesday, May 10, 1988
STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1
The brake anti-skid control boxes have been installed after
passing inspections of its internal transducers at the Rockwell
Service Center in Cape Canaveral. The inspections were requested
by the vendor after recent tests of the boxes at the plant. Retest
of the control boxes is planned for later this week. Leak checks
of the main propulsion system are continuing.
A confidence check of the orbiter's flight controls is
planned today. For this test an astronaut will be seated in
the cockpit and will use the hand controls to move the orbiter's
flight controls such as the rudder speed brake and the elevons.
Preparations are continuing for the positive pressure
structural leak check of the shuttle later this week. The payload
bay doors were shut yesterday for about one week in preparation
for this test and for thermal protection system operations.
STS-27 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2
Measurements of the temporarily installed chin panel and
nose cap look very good. It is currently estimated that the
panel will be installed for flight in June. Operations to
install the power reactant storage and distribution system and
the fuel cells are underway this week. Modifications are
continuing.
STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OMRF
Power down modifications scheduled this week include crew
escape, inspection of the air revitalization ducts and removal of
cold plates for orbiter inspections. Today bonding the first RTV
heat absorbing strips is planned.
STS-26 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB/RPSF
In the VAB transfer aisle, technicians took measurements of
the tang j-seal on the right aft center segment yesterday, and an
airload test is planned today to check for unbonded areas. On the
mobile launcher platform, measurements of the j-seal are underway
on the right aft booster's clevis. All activity on the two lower
right segments is in preparation for mating planned for this
week. The segment is scheduled to be hoisted over into the high
bay tomorrow afternoon in preparation for mate.
In the RPSF, technicians are processing the right hand SRM
segments for transfer to the VAB. The right forward segment was
removed from the rail car yesterday and is now on a pallet for
initial inspections.
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Eric