elias@tesla.UUCP (Steve Elias) (03/22/84)
[] Could someone post the status of the june 4 launch??????????????
ks@astrovax.UUCP (Karl Stapelfeldt) (03/25/84)
As can be gleaned from reading the past few issues of Aviation Week & Space Technology, the first launch of the Discovery (41-D) has been put off until June 19. The reason for this is given as damage to the Challenger's left OMS pod thermal insulation during the re-entry of STS-10 (41-B), which required substituting one of the Discovery's in order to launch STS-11 (41-C) this April 6. Some APU cannibalism on the Discovery was also made; a main engine as well. June 19 is described as a "soft" launch date, meaning a launch could be made earlier. However, NASA will not need to speed this launch along because of DOD's cancellation of their (previuously scheduled) July 14 flight. Anyhow, June 4 seems to be out. Stay tuned to Av Week (available at many libraries) for the latest.