[net.columbia] STS-7 Preparations Proceeding -- STS-10 may be Scrubbed

alb@alice.UUCP (06/14/83)

Preparations for STS-7 were proceeding smoothly today, as technicians
began pressurizing Challenger's fuel tanks and inspecting her thermal
tile protection system.

Meanwhile, NASA announced that STS-10, currently scheduled to launch
this November, may be scrubbed due to a lack of payload.  The Air
Force, which had booked the flight to carry a classified satellite
asked NASA to delete their payload from the manifest and schedule
it on a later flight because of the still unresolved problems with
the IUS that malfunctioned during STS-6.  NASA said if it cannot
find a payload to be moved up to STS-10 launch time, it will most
probably scrub the launch.  Twelve missions are planned for next
year.  STS-8 and STS-9, now scheduled for August and September of
this year, are still on schedule.

mabgarstin@watcgl.UUCP (MAB Garstin) (06/18/83)

   A WHOLE payload empty on STS-10!!!!

   Quick G. Lucas, here's you're chance, grab the old 70mm, a couple of model
and special effects guys and a couple of those real neat models and get your
tail in gear and book that mission. Maybe we can get a REAL Death Star
explosion ans destruction in space now.

   Does anyone out there think we need to pass the hat to help out with this?

   If George can't make it (stuck in court with some down to earth divorce
stuff) maybe we can pass the hat and send someone else. Let's see hands of
who would volunteer for such a perilous mission. Why do I only see my hand
up?


                                                    MAB