Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!amdahl!ames!yee From: yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle Subject: Shuttle Status for 09/19/88 (Forwarded) Message-ID: <15140@ames.arc.nasa.gov> Date: 19 Sep 88 18:18:45 GMT Reply-To: yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA Lines: 74 KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT FOR - Mon. Sept. 19, 1988 STS-26 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - PAD 39-B Over the weekend, workers successfully completed the helium signature leak test of the main propulsion system and three main engines. After careful analysis of the data collected concerning the small leak in the liquid hydrogen system, engineers determined that it is within the allowable specifications. Saturday night, during a countdown simulation of Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) - 7, one of five internal gyros in a Redundant Inertial Measurement Unit (RIMU) drifted beyond acceptable limits. The unit is part of the IUS guidance system. Based on analysis, a decision was made to change out the RIMU. The changeout operation is now underway and there will be no impact to the launch date. Today, workers are scheduled to install and check out the extravehicular mobility units (EMUs), or space suits. Although there are no plans for a space walk during the STS-26 mission, EMUs are always stowed onboard in case an unplanned space walk becomes necessary. Other activities planned today include preparing the hydraulics system for the frequency response test of the valves in the main engines and checkout of the orbiter's aerosurfaces. The test is planned for early tomorrow. Orbiter aft closeouts and inspections and thermal protection system operations are active today. The power reactant storage and distribution system will be purged on Wednesday and later this week, ordnance devices on the vehicle will be tested for flight. On Wednesday, technicians will begin preparations for picking up the launch countdown on Mon. Sept. 26 at 12:01 a.m. EDT. The count will pick up at the T-43 hour mark and will proceed down to the planned T-zero, currently targeted for 9:59 a.m. Thurs., Sept. 29. STS-27 - ATLANTIS (0V 104) - OPF BAY 2 The third and last main engine, number 2030, was installed in the number two slot on Friday, and today electrical connections will be tested. Activities planned today include installation of heat shields, leak checks of the main propulsion system, work on the new gaseous oxygen manifold and thermal protection system operations. All the flight tires have been installed on the vehicle. Atlantis is scheduled to be transferred to the VAB next month for mating with the tank and boosters. STS-28 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 1 Technicians are preparing the freon coolant loops and water coolant loops for power up operations. Power up is planned for Friday at 10 a.m. The freon and water loops are needed to keep various systems at required temperatures during power up operations. Orbiter modifications and inspections are continuing. STS-27 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB Closeouts of the solid rocket booster joints are almost completed. The external tank is being loaded on its transporter today in preparation for mating to the boosters tomorrow. STS-29 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - RPSF Technicians are preparing to mate the nozzle to the left aft skirt in the Rotation Processing and Surge Facility.