RSF@SU-AI.ARPA (07/04/84)
From: Ross Finlayson <RSF@SU-AI.ARPA>
a046 0338 04 Jul 84
PM-Shuttle Plans,340
NASA Officials Considering Eliminating One Shuttle Mission
By HOWARD BENEDICT
AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - The last-second scrapping of Discovery's
maiden voyage June 26 may force the elimination of one of the planned
space shuttle flights this year, sources reported.
NASA officials are considering combining into a single flight the
best features of last week's aborted mission and the next flight
scheduled in August, the sources, who insisted on anonymity, said
Tuesday.
That plan would eliminate one mission and would help put the shuttle
launch schedule back on track, said the sources, who emphasized that
several other ideas are being considered.
The sources said several top officials of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration don't like the combined-flight approach and
are pressing instead to reset Discovery's launch as soon as possible
and try to catch up with the rest of the schedule later.
The Discovery countdown was stopped four seconds before liftoff when
a computer ordered an engine shutdown after detecting an engine fuel
valve which didn't open.
The earliest possible new launch date is July 17, officials have
said.
A decision may come later this week when NASA management officials
meet to assess the impact of Discovery's delay. If a combined mission
is selected, a decision will have to be made as to which crew will
fly - the six who were aboard when the launch was aborted last week or
the five slated for the next trip.
And payloads might have to be shifted to later flights.
Discovery's second flight is scheduled Aug. 29, but NASA has said
that almost certainly will be moved back because of the abort.
After that, three more flights are scheduled in 1984 - in October,
November and December, with Challenger and Discovery alternating.
With 13 flights scheduled next year, NASA is concerned with bunching
up the schedule, even with three shuttles flying.
If Discovery's second mission is delayed into September officials
said it would have to land at night at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.,
because of the requirement to deploy three communications satellites
at precise times.
But that flight is to be the first in which the shuttle attempts an
automatic landing, and NASA wants to accomplish that in the daytime.
ap-ny-07-04 0638EDT
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