| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 633.1 | Shuttle Status for 06/11/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Tue Jun 12 1990 14:02 | 16 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 11 Jun 90 18:57:53 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - MONDAY JUNE 11, 1990 11:30 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB
Atlantis was transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building
Friday and hard mated to the external tank by about 10 p.m.
Saturday. There were no problems reported with the connection
process. Atlantis is scheduled to be powered up after carrier
panels are mated to the tail service masts. Rollout to Launch Pad
39-A is scheduled for 12:01 a.m. Saturday, June 16.
|
| 633.2 | Status reports - 6/13, 6/14 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Fri Jun 15 1990 10:57 | 42 |
|
Wednesday June 13, 1990 10:00 a.m.
KSC Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
STS-38 -- Atlantis (OV 104) - VAB High Bay 1
Mating and closeout operations are continuing on the Shuttle
Atlantis today in VAB high bay 1. The liquid hydrogen and liquid
oxygen carrier plates have been mated and electrical mates are
complete. The orbiter was powered up at 9:00 a.m. this morning
followed directly by electrical interface and verification tests.
Testing is currently in work. Rollout to pad A is tentatively
scheduled for early Saturday morning. However, rollout is
currently being assessed and may be set for early Monday morning.
Word is expected later today on any changes. Atlantis' next
flight is a DOD dedicated mission slated for mid-July 1990.
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - THURSDAY JUNE 14, 1990 9:30 A.M
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB
Atlantis was powered up yesterday for the Shuttle Interface
Test of the critical connections between the vehicle elements.
The test is scheduled to be completed by tomorrow and rollout
preparations will begin. Rollout to Launch Pad 39-A is now
scheduled for 12:01 a.m. Monday, June 18.
The Countdown Demonstration Test with the STS-38 flight crew
is planned for June 20-21.
From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 14 Jun 90 20:28:38 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
|
| 633.3 | Atlantis hauled to launch pad | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Tue Jun 19 1990 12:53 | 58 |
| From: [email protected] (WILLIAM HARWOOD, UPI Science Writer)
Newsgroups: clari.tw.space,clari.news.aviation
Date: 18 Jun 90 15:59:16 GMT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (UPI) - The shuttle Atlantis was slowly hauled
to the launch pad Monday for blastoff around July 13 on a secret
military mission, replacing the crippled shuttle Columbia in NASA's
revised flight schedule.
Atlantis, mounted atop a squat mobile launch platform and carried
by a powerful crawler-transporter, began the 3.5-mile trip from the
Vehicle Assembly Building to launch pad 39A at 11:16 p.m. EDT Sunday,
about 45 minutes ahead of schedule.
``It's been a smooth activity. It's run ahead of schedule all
night,'' said NASA spokesman George Diller. ``First motion was 11:16
p.m. and we were atop pad A at 5:30 a.m., a good hour and a half earlier
than (had been expected).''
He said engineers planned to test fire the shuttle's hydraulic
power units late Monday after hooking up fuel lines and completing a
variety of electrical and mechanical connections between the spaceship
and the launch pad.
Air Force Col. Richard Covey, Atlantis's commander, Navy Cmdr.
Frank Culbertson, the co-pilot, Marine Col. Robert Springer, Air Force
Lt. Col. Carl Meade and Army Capt. Charles Gemar planned to fly to the
Kennedy Space Center Monday night to participate in a practice countdown
Wednesday and Thursday.
Details about the flight are classified, but sources have said
launch is planned for around 8 a.m. July 13 and that the mission is
scheduled to last about four days. The shuttle's typical altitude will
be 190 miles in an orbit tipped 28.5 degrees to the equator.
The launch schedule flip flop between Atlantis and Columbia was
ordered by NASA managers to minimize the impact of the fuel leak that
grounded Columbia the night before its planned takeoff May 30 on a
10-day astronomy mission.
NASA managers decided Monday to order a special test in which
supercold liquid hydrogen will be pumped aboard Atlantis's external tank
to make sure the ship does not have a similar problem to the one that
grounded Columbia. The test likely will be scheduled early next week,
officials said.
Engineers traced Columbia's leak to a 17-inch-wide fuel line
fitting where the ship's main liquid hydrogen line enters the belly of
the orbiter. But technicians were unable to isolate the problem area and
NASA managers had little choice but to order Columbia back to its hangar
for a detailed inspection.
The part of the ``17-inch disconnect'' fitting on the external tank
side of the big umbilical will be shipped back to the manufacturer
Tuesday.
If tests fail to find a leak, the corresponding valves and plumbing
on the shuttle side of the fitting will be removed and replaced with
hardware currently installed in NASA's newest shuttle, the Endeavour.
In either case, NASA officials say Columbia will be ready for
another launch attempt around Aug. 12.
As for Atlantis, Covey and company planned to participate in the
practice countdown this week and to review emergency launch pad escape
procedures, a traditional milestone before any shuttle flight.
If all goes well, the astronauts, dressed in bulky spacesuits, will
strap in aboard Atlantis Thursday for the final hours of the mock
countdown, scheduled to end with the simulated ignition and shutdown of
the shuttle's three main engines.
|
| 633.4 | Shuttle status 6/18/90, 6/19/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed Jun 20 1990 11:09 | 62 |
|
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - MONDAY JUNE 18, 1990 11:30 A.M
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Atlantis was rolled out to Launch Pad 39-A this morning.
First motion occurred last night at 11:16 p.m. and the vehicle
was harddown on the pad's pedestals at about 5:23 a.m. Tech-
nicians are making connections between the pad and vehicle are
underway. Preparations are in work to perform a "hot fire" of
auxiliary power units 1 and 2 early tomorrow morning. The units
will be run for 7 minutes each.
The Countdown Demonstration Test with the STS-38 flight crew
is planned for June 20-21. The flight crew is scheduled to arrive
at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility tonight at 8:30 p.m. to par-
ticipate in the launch countdown dress rehearsal.
Space Shuttle Director Robert Crippen has directed the KSC
launch team to begin preparations for a mini tanking test on Pad
A. The test which will be similar to the one performed on Space
Shuttle Columbia earlier this month, will involve a small amount
of hydrogen being pumped into the external tank and Atlantis'
main propulsion system. The test is currently planned for mid-
next week.
Shuttle managers are conducting this test to confirm their
belief that the leak problem experienced with STS-35 and Columbia
is unique to that mission. The test will also give engineers ad-
ditional information to compare as they study the data from the
STS-35 tanking test.
The addition of a tanking test in the processing of Shuttle
mission STS-38 is expected to have little impact to the launch
schedule. The official launch date for STS-38 will be set at the
Flight Readiness Review.
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - TUESDAY JUNE 19, 1990 10 A.M
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Auxiliary power units 1 and 2 were successfully "hot fired"
early this morning. The units were run for 7 minutes each at nor-
mal speed and for 10 seconds at high speed.
The Countdown Demonstration Test with the STS-38 flight crew
is planned for June 20-21. A simulated engine firing and cutoff
is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday. The flight crew arrived at
KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility last night at 8:10 p.m. to par-
ticipate in the launch countdown dress rehearsal.
The official launch date for STS-38 will be set at the
Flight Readiness Review next week.
From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 19 Jun 90 18:37:51 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
|
| 633.5 | Shuttle Status for 06/21/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Thu Jun 21 1990 22:34 | 30 |
|
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - THURSDAY JUNE 21, 1990 12 NOON
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
The Countdown Demonstration Test ended today at 11 a.m. at
the T-5 second mark. A simulated engine firing and cutoff oc-
curred at the conclusion of the countdown as planned. The STS-38
flight crew will be returning to their home base in Houston later
today.
A helium signature leak test of the main propulsion system
and three main engines is scheduled to begin early tomorrow morn-
ing and will continue through Friday. Preparations are underway
for loading hypergolic propellants on board the orbiter this
weekend.
A special tanking test is scheduled for Wednesday morning to
determine if there are any leaks in the hydrogen system similar
to the one detected on the shuttle Columbia last month.
The official launch date for STS-38 will be set at the
Flight Readiness Review next Thursday and Friday. The KSC Launch
Readiness Review is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.
From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 21 Jun 90 21:21:23 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
|
| 633.6 | Shuttle Status for 06/25/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Mon Jun 25 1990 18:35 | 36 |
| KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - MONDAY JUNE 25, 1990 11:30 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Saturday, workers successfully conducted a helium signature
leak test of the main propulsion system and three main engines.
The test did not identify any leaks in the system.
Hypergolic operations were held up about one shift yesterday
because a transformer shorted out which brought down the system
that supplies cooled air to the Launch Control Center. The cooled
air keeps the computers at the proper temperature for normal
operations. Atlantis was powered down while technicians recon-
figured the system supplying cooled air to the LCC.
Nitrogen tetroxide is being loaded into the orbiter's on-
board storage tanks today. Loading of monomethylhydrazine is
scheduled to start tomorrow morning. This operation also includes
loading hydrazine into the orbiter's auxiliary power units and in
the boosters' hydraulic power units.
The special tanking test remains scheduled for Thursday
morning. The Rotating Service Structure will be moved away from
the vehicle at midnight Wednesday. Liquid hydrogen will be loaded
into the external tank while engineers monitor sensors to deter-
mine if there are any leaks.
The official launch date for STS-38 will be set at the con-
clusion of the Flight Readiness Review on Friday.
From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 25 Jun 90 17:35:01 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
|
| 633.7 | Shuttle Status for 06/26/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed Jun 27 1990 11:14 | 31 |
|
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - TUESDAY JUNE 26, 1990 11 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Hypergolic operations are continuing today. Yesterday,
nitrogen tetroxide was loaded into the orbiter's onboard storage
tanks. Today, monomethylhydrazine is being loaded into orbiter
storage tanks. These propellants will be used by the orbital
maneuvering system engines and the reaction control system. This
operation also includes loading hydrazine into the orbiter's
auxiliary power units and in the boosters' hydraulic power units.
The special tanking test call-to-stations is set for 4 p.m.
Wednesday and the test is scheduled to begin Thursday at 4 p.m.
The Rotating Service Structure will be moved away from the
vehicle at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The tank will be filled
about half full, or about 200,000 gallons, of liquid hydrogen
while engineers monitor sensors from the Firing Room to determine
if there are any leaks.
The official launch date for STS-38 will be set at the con-
clusion of the Flight Readiness Review on Friday.
From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 26 Jun 90 17:59:43 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
|
| 633.8 | a bad week for the space program | STAR::HUGHES | You knew the job was dangerous when you took it Fred. | Fri Jun 29 1990 15:41 | 6 |
| I heard a news item that the fast fill part of the tanking test failed
in the same manner as the Columbia, suggesting a design flaw.
Anyone hear more details?
gary
|
| 633.9 | Shuttle Fleet Grounded! | 15372::LEPAGE | Serving the servants of man | Fri Jun 29 1990 15:45 | 9 |
| Yes, I heard that the Atlantis is suffering from a fuel leak in the
engine compartment. As with the Columbia, the exact location of the
leak is not known but engineers strongly suspect that the two are
indeed related. As a result THE SHUTTLE FLEET HAS BEEN GROUNDED until
further notice. The Atlantis will be rolled back to the VAB and the
problem will be studied.
Drew
|
| 633.10 | A bit more | 19458::FISHER | Prune Juice: A Warrior's Drink! | Fri Jun 29 1990 18:21 | 11 |
| I got this today from a mailing list. No attribution, but it sounds like a
news article.
NASA announced today that it found another fuel leak, this one on the
space shuttle Atlantis. They said that leaks of this nature, on both
Atlantis and Columbia, could have resulted in a Challenger-like accident.
The result is that, pending investigation, all of the shuttles are grounded,
and all missions are scrapped until an investigation is completed. NASA says
it has to assume this is a design flaw, since it occured on two different
orbiters.
|
| 633.11 | Shuttle Status for 06/29/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Fri Jun 29 1990 21:25 | 28 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 29 Jun 90 22:00:20 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - FRIDAY JUNE 29, 1990 4 p.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
A special tanking test today verified a leak in the
orbiter-to-external tank 17-inch umbilical area. Leak detectors
exterior to the umbilical indicated high concentrations of
hydrogen during the loading activity. Several tests were per-
formed this morning to try and isolate the leak. Data from the
tests are being reviewed.
The external tank has been drained of the liquid hydrogen
used in the test. Boil off of the residual hydrogen is estimated
to be completed by tomorrow morning. The Rotating Service Struc-
ture will be moved back in place around the vehicle tomorrow so
that access to the aft compartment can be obtained. Thorough in-
spections will be performed in the orbiter's aft compartment. No
tests will be performed this weekend and no new data is expected.
The STS-38 Flight Readiness Review was cancelled today after
the leak occurred this morning. Officials will continue to assess
the data obtained from today's tests and determine any further
troubleshooting.
|
| 633.12 | | 7672::COOK | To the sea! Too cold! To the bar!! | Mon Jul 02 1990 10:52 | 5 |
|
This is getting really pathetic. NASA needs a good kick in the head to
get their act straight. There's no excuse for such shoddy workmanship.
/prc
|
| 633.13 | judge not.... | 2319::SAUTER | John Sauter | Mon Jul 02 1990 13:52 | 6 |
| re: .12
You should not be so quick to criticize. Let's wait until we know more
about the nature of the problem. Remember that this problem didn't
show up on any earlier flight.
John Sauter
|
| 633.14 | Who's workmanship?
| 2169::KOZIKOWSKI | Hubble: The Window on the Universe | Mon Jul 02 1990 13:57 | 2 |
| In addition, Who's workmanship should come into question? NASA contracts
out for almost everything...
|
| 633.15 | Intermittent Design Flaw? | 58278::LEE | Wook... Like 'Book' with a 'W' | Mon Jul 02 1990 15:53 | 8 |
| If it is a design flaw, then the same problem should show up in the disconnect
assembly swapped out of Endeavour. If it isn't a design flaw, what could cause
the exact same leak (if it is really the same) in Columbia and Atlantis at the
same time? It seems like a mishandling problem could be the cause. Someone did
something that caused the leak. (You mean I wasn't supposed to pry it out with
a screwdriver?) How do they check for those kinds of errors?
Wook
|
| 633.16 | Why "all of a sudden" ? | 6056::GAUDET | Nothing unreal exists | Mon Jul 02 1990 16:29 | 9 |
| Yes Wook, I was thinking the same thing. Since the "leak" developed, they have
installed a myriad of new sensors, cameras, etc. to check for the presence of
hydrogen in the engine compartment during tanking. Is it possible that the new
monitoring system is too sensitive? I'm all for safety, and they certainly
shouldn't fly if there's a danger to the crew or the vehicle, but are they
looking too close? What about the tanking procedure? Could it be something at
39A?
...Roger...
|
| 633.17 | no H2 monitoring changes | 5393::PAULHUS | Chris @ MLO6B-2/T13 dtn 223-6871 | Tue Jul 03 1990 13:49 | 5 |
| During yesterday's news conference, Craig Couvault (sp?) of AW&ST
specificly asked about increased sensitivity and amount of monitoring.
Dr. Linior (sp?) answered Craig's overall question and did not indicate
any recent changes/increases in sensitivity.
- Chris, who just got cable TV and wishes he could get NASA Select
|
| 633.18 | Shuttle Status - 7/2/90, 7/3/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Thu Jul 05 1990 12:22 | 49 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 2 Jul 90 18:07:48 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - MONDAY JULY 2, 1990 10 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Today, a pressurization test of the external tank is planned
to gather additional data about leakage at the 17-inch disconnect
area. The tank will be pressurized to flight level, or 30 pounds
per square inch, with helium while leakage at the 17-inch discon-
nect is monitored. In addition, the tank pressure will be
decreased by increments of 5 psi to collect baseline leakage con-
ditions at ambient temperatures.
A special tanking test last Friday verified a leak in the
orbiter-to-external tank 17-inch umbilical area. Leak detectors
exterior to the umbilical indicated high concentrations of
hydrogen during the loading activity. Data from the tests are
being reviewed.
This weekend, workers moved the Rotating Service Structure
in place around the vehicle and established access to various
parts of the orbiter. Thorough inspections of the aft compart-
ment have been performed and the special instrumentation devices
were calibrated. Nothing unusual was noted from those inspec-
tions. No leakage was detected in the aft compartment during last
Friday's test. The configuration of the vehicle will be main-
tained until further direction from the team investigating the
leak.
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - TUESDAY JULY 3, 1990 10 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Yesterday, a pressurization test of the external tank
revealed no leaks at the 17-inch disconnect area. The tank was
pressurized to flight level with helium while engineers monitored
for leakage at the 17-inch disconnect. As part of the test, the
tank pressure was decreased incrementally to collect baseline
leakage conditions at ambient temperatures.
Today, engineers will review data and get signatures from
the two leak detectors and sensors located on various parts of
Atlantis. The configuration of the vehicle will be maintained un-
til further direction from the team investigating the leak.
|
| 633.19 | Let them get back to work | 2853::BUEHLER | Seat of the pants programming | Thu Jul 05 1990 14:05 | 14 |
| It really is kinda strange for anyone to assume a design flaw. Sounds like
media nonsense to me. It could just as easily be a process failure. If the
manufacturing process is flawed, then it will show up in much the same way that
a design flaw would appear. Only a real examination of the problem will point
out which is correct (design or manufacturing process).
RE: Criticisms of NASA
They're pretty much pointless unless they have some constructive purpose.
Consider the fact that they did, in fact, pick up on this problem, and that this
is one of the few (if not the only) groundings of the shuttle fleet apart from
the SRB problems so devastatingly encountered by Challenger.
John
|
| 633.20 | Shuttle Status for 07/05/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Thu Jul 05 1990 19:19 | 20 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - THURSDAY JULY 5, 1990 11 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Today, a liquid leak check of auxiliary power units 1 and 2
are planned to verify there are no internal seal leaks. Engineers
are putting requirements together for another tanking test at the
pad as troubleshooting of the hydrogen leak continues. The test
will likely occur mid-next week. Meanwhile, tests are planned to
obtain additional signatures from the two leak detectors mounted
exterior of the orbiter-to-external tank disconnect. The con-
figuration of the vehicle will be maintained until further direc-
tion from the team investigating the leak.
|
| 633.21 | Shuttle Status for 07/06/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Fri Jul 06 1990 19:10 | 19 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 6 Jul 90 16:26:16 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - FRIDAY JULY 6, 1990 11 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Yesterday, liquid leak checks of auxiliary power units 1 and
2 were performed and the test verified there were no internal
seal leaks. Engineers are continuing to identify requirements for
another tanking test at the pad as troubleshooting of the
hydrogen leak continues. The test will likely be conducted the
end of next week. More instrumentation around the 17-inch discon-
nect will be installed for this next test. The configuration of
the vehicle will be maintained until further direction from the
team investigating the leak.
|
| 633.22 | Shuttle Status Reports (7/9 -> 7/12) | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Mon Jul 16 1990 19:01 | 39 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - TUESDAY JULY 10, 1990 10 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Technicians are continuing to set up special instrumentation
for the liquid hydrogen tanking test now planned on Friday. This
test will be another attempt to isolate the source of the leak.
Today, special baggies are being installed around the 17 and 4
inch disconnects in an effort to contain leaks during the test.
The call-to-stations for the test is scheduled at 7 a.m.
Thursday and the Rotating Service Structure will be moved away
from the vehicle at 11 p.m. that night. Chilldown of the liquid
hydrogen lines is set for 7 a.m. Friday with slow fill occurring
shortly afterwards.
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - THURSDAY JULY 12, 1990 11 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
The call-to-stations for the liquid hydrogen tanking test
occurred this morning at 7 a.m. Today, work will be centered
around preparing the vehicle and pad systems to support loading
liquid hydrogen into Atlantis' external tank tomorrow. Chill down
of the plumbing system is scheduled for 7 a.m. tomorrow with slow
fill of liquid hydrogen following 10 minutes later.
Technicians are continuing to set up special instrumentation
for the test. The aft compartment was closed out for the test at
about 3 a.m. this morning.
At about 11 p.m. tonight, the Rotating Service Structure
will be moved away from the vehicle and weather protection panels
will be retracted.
|
| 633.23 | Shuttle Status Reports (7/16, 7/17) | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed Jul 18 1990 15:18 | 45 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - MONDAY JULY 16, 1990 11:30 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
A second liquid hydrogen tanking test was conducted last
Friday. A leak was found at the external tank flange that mates
to its 17-inch disconnect. Today, photographs of the aft compart-
ment will be taken and thorough inspections of the aft will be
made. The hazardous gas detection system is being calibrated and
the flow rates of purges in the baggies are being measured.
Preparations to remove auxiliary power unit number 3 will
begin today. Since Atlantis has been at the pad, the vendor has
identified a time-life issue of this unit. The other two APUs are
refurbished units.
The Rotating Service Structure was moved back in place
around the vehicle on Saturday.
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - TUESDAY JULY 17, 1990 11 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Troubleshooting plans are being identified to gain further
understanding into the leakage detected during the second liquid
hydrogen tanking test conducted last Friday. A leak was found at
the external tank flange that mates to its 17-inch disconnect.
Managers want to determine if any leakage between baggies oc-
curred during the test and if repairs can be made at the pad.
Workers at KSC are preparing for another tanking test as early as
next weekend.
Yesterday, photographs of the aft compartment were taken and
thorough inspections were made. Calibrations of the hazardous gas
detection system are continuing and the flow rates of purges in
the baggies are being measured.
Preparations to remove auxiliary power unit number 3 are
continuing today. Since Atlantis has been at the pad, the vendor
has identified a time-life issue with this unit. The other two
APUs are refurbished units.
|
| 633.24 | Shuttle Status for 07/18/90, 7/19/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Fri Jul 20 1990 13:48 | 46 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - WEDNESDAY JULY 18, 1990 11 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Today, helium will be injected into the baggies around the
flange and 17-inch disconnect area in an effort to gain a better
understanding about the leakage that occurred during the tanking
test last Friday. Later today, the baggies and sense lines will
be removed and dye will be injected into the foam around the
flange. The foam will be cut to determine if the dye reveals any
leak paths through the foam. Managers want to determine if any
leakage between baggies occurred during the test.
The bags will be reinstalled and the tank will be pres-
surized early tomorrow morning to check for leaks in the baggies.
Workers at KSC are preparing for another tanking test next Wed-
nesday, July 25.
Preparations to remove auxiliary power unit number 3 are
continuing today. The unit is scheduled to be removed Thursday
and Friday.
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - THURSDAY JULY 19, 1990 11:30 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
The external tank is being pressurized this morning to check
for leakage at the flange and around each bolt. This evening,
each of the 48 bolts around the flange will be over torqued by 10
percent. Tomorrow, the integrity of the flange welds will be in-
spected with a dye penetrant test to reveal any imperfections in
the welds. Workers at KSC are preparing for another tanking test
next Wednesday, July 25.
Two leak paths in the foam were detected around the flange
yesterday by a dye injection test. These paths are being
evaluated to determine if any leakage could have migrated into
the larger baggie.
Preparations to remove auxiliary power unit number 3 are
continuing today. Replacement of the unit is scheduled tomorrow.
|
| 633.25 | Shuttle Status for 07/20/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Sun Jul 22 1990 19:20 | 38 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 21 Jul 90 01:24:14 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - FRIDAY JULY 20, 1990 10 a.m.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A
Today, the 48 bolts around the external tank liquid hydrogen
flange will be over torqued by 10 percent in an effort to stop
the leak discovered during last week's tanking test. The bolt
torquing activities were not worked last night as planned because
of measurements taken yesterday. Measurements taken of the bolt
flatness and gap distance did not give the expected results and
mold impressions were made of each bolt. It has been determined
that all bolts are within specifications.
Yesterday, no leakage was detected while the external tank
was pressurized to check for leaks at the flange and around each
bolt.
Later today, the primer around the flange welds will be
removed and a check of the integrity of the flange welds is
planned using a dye penetrant test that will reveal imperfections
in the welds. Workers at KSC are preparing for another tanking
test next Wednesday, July 25.
In parallel with the tank operation, the number 3 auxiliary
power unit was disconnected this morning. Replacement of the unit
is underway today. Tomorrow, the pad will be cleared for about 2
shifts of all non-essential personnel while the new APU is con-
nected. On Sunday, work will center on preparing the vehicle for
Wednesday's test, including installation of baggies and sense
lines and foaming various areas.
|
| 633.26 | Shuttle Status for 07/25/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed Jul 25 1990 20:23 | 26 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Date: 25 Jul 90 19:56:28 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Wednesday July 25, 1990 12:30 p.m.
KSC Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
-----------------------------------------------------------------
STS-38 -- Atlantis (OV 104) - Launch Pad 39-A
A liquid hydrogen special tanking test was conducted this
morning on Atlantis at pad 39-A. Chill down of the liquid
hydrogen lines began at 7:30 followed by slow and fast fills.
During the fast fill portion of the test, a liquid hydrogen leak
was detected in the area of the flange joint on the external tank
side of the 17-inch umbilical lines. This leak then reappeared
during subsequent slow fill operations. The leak appears to be
similar to the one previously detected during earlier tests.
Engineers will be digesting the data gathered during today's test
and presenting the information to program management.
Following the test this morning, engineers prepared to
perform an Auxiliary Power Unit hot fire test on APU number 3.
|
| 633.27 | Shuttle Status for 07/26/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Mon Jul 30 1990 14:04 | 38 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Thursday July 26, 1990 10:00 p.m.
KSC Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
-----------------------------------------------------------------
STS-38 -- Atlantis (OV 104) - Launch Pad 39-A
Following yesterday's liquid hydrogen tanking test on the
shuttle Atlantis, shuttle project managers have decided to remove
Atlantis from the pad and roll it back to the VAB for repairs.
Results of yesterday's test confirmed the existence of a leak in
the 17-inch umbilical flange joint on the external tank. Managers
have said the space shuttle Columbia will fly next on mission
STS-35.
Two rollback scenarios are currently being discussed for
Atlantis. The preferred involves not moving Atlantis until the
day before Columbia is ready to roll out to pad A, probably near
the end of the first week in August. The second scenario involves
the possible effects of tropical storm Arthur, currently working
its way northwest from the Caribbean. If Arthur is predicted to
affect weather conditions at KSC, Atlantis may be moved as early
as the first of next week.
Boil off of the liquid hydrogen remnants in the external
tank from yesterday's test was completed at 5:00 a.m. this
morning. Post tanking test operations are in work and the
rotating service structure is scheduled to be moved back around
the orbiter by 11:00 a.m. Access to the orbiter's aft compartment
is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. tonight.
Engineers decided yesterday not to perform the APU hot fire
as scheduled. Preparations are underway today to remove APU
number three on Saturday.
|
| 633.28 | Shuttle Status for 08/03/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Mon Aug 06 1990 19:46 | 24 |
| [It looks like vistors to the KSC may get a bit of a treat: a space shuttle
traffic jam... dg]
From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Friday August 3, 1990 9:30 a.m.
KSC Space Shuttle Processing Status Report
-----------------------------------------------------------------
STS-38 -- Atlantis (OV 104) - Launch Pad 39-A
APU number three was removed from Atlantis last night and it
has been transported to the OPF for installation into Discovery.
Yesterday, the payload bay torque tube was installed. Helium
mapping has been completed to date and helium injection tests are
scheduled for Saturday. Atlantis is scheduled to be rolled back
to the VAB at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, August 8. It will wait
outside the VAB until Columbia is moved out to pad A the
following day. Atlantis will then be moved into the VAB,
destacked, and returned to the OPF.
|
| 633.29 | Shuttle Status for 08/09/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Fri Aug 10 1990 10:42 | 23 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Thursday August 9, 1990 10:00 a.m. EDT
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT
-----------------------------------------------------------------
STS-38 -- Atlantis (OV 104) - Outside VAB high bay 3
Atlantis was rolled off pad A last night with first motion
occurring at 10:14 p.m. It arrived at the VAB this morning
shortly after 4:00 a.m. and will remain outside high bay 1 until
Columbia is hard down on the pad. This afternoon between 2:00 and
3:00, Atlantis will be moved into high bay 3 of the VAB for
destack operations. Demate of the orbiter from the ET/SRB stack
will occur this weekend and transfer to the OPF is targeted for
Monday morning. The external tank flange joint is scheduled to be
removed and shipped to the vendor for analysis on Friday.
|
| 633.30 | Shuttle Status for 08/13/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Mon Aug 13 1990 20:05 | 22 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Shuttle Status for 08/13/90 (Forwarded)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1990 11 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB HIGH BAY 3
Operations to demate the shuttle Atlantis from the external
tank began this weekend but were temporarily halted this morning
when a valve in the VAB firex system failed causing water to drip
onto power transformers. The power in VAB high bay 3 has been
cut off to avoid electrical shorts. The water has been cleaned
up. Officials are determining if that part of the firex system is
necessary to continue with demate operations. There was no water
on flight hardware.
Atlantis will be towed to the OPF after demate where work to
ready it for the STS-38 mission will commence including replacing
seals in the 17-inch disconnect assembly and for repairs to
tiles.
|
| 633.31 | Shuttle Status for 08/15/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Thu Aug 16 1990 14:29 | 13 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15 1990 11 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB HIGH BAY 3
Atlantis was demated from the external tank last night and
rolled into the OPF at about 3:10 a.m. Access to the vehicle is
being established. Work to ready it for the STS-38 mission will
commence including replacing seals in the 17-inch disconnect as-
sembly and for repairs to tiles.
|
| 633.32 | Shuttle Status for 09/26/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed Sep 26 1990 18:56 | 18 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26, 1990 11:30 AM
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2
The auxiliary power unit was installed yesterday. Tech-
nicians are adjusting the amount of freon in cooling loop 2. In-
spections of the radiator are continuing. Seals for the 17 inch
disconnect assembly are scheduled to be installed Friday.
Closeouts are underway on all areas of the vehicle. Atlantis is
being prepared for rollover to the VAB at midnight Tuesday, Oct.
2.
Closeouts of the external tank are continuing in the VAB in
preparation for orbiter mating operations scheduled next week.
|
| 633.33 | Shuttle Status for 09/28/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Tue Oct 02 1990 09:58 | 20 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - FRIDAY, SEPT. 28, 1990 11:30 AM
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - OPF BAY 2
Checks of the auxiliary power unit controller are planned
today. Seals for the 17 inch disconnect assembly are scheduled to
be installed today. Closeouts are underway on all areas of the
vehicle. Cleaning operations of the payload bay are scheduled to
begin tonight. The payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed
tomorrow night. Atlantis is being prepared for rollover to the
VAB at midnight Tuesday, Oct. 2. Closeouts of the external tank
are continuing in the VAB in preparation for orbiter mating
operations scheduled next week.
|
| 633.34 | Shuttle Status for 10/03/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Thu Oct 04 1990 11:15 | 22 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3, 1990 11 AM
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB
Atlantis was towed to the Vehicle Assembly Building shortly
before midnight last night. The orbiter is being lifted over the
transom this morning and will be carefully lowered into position
next to the external tank. The vehicle is expected to be hard
mated by tomorrow morning. While in the VAB, the vehicle elements
will be mechanically and electrically connected. Those connec-
tions will then be tested.
Rollout to Launch Pad 39-A is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 9,
with first motion at 4 a.m. EDT.
|
| 633.35 | Equipment Accident may have damaged Atlantis | 8713::J_BUTLER | USAR...and ready... | Thu Oct 04 1990 16:27 | 9 |
| I heard a report on ABC news that a 70-pound retaining bar was
left unsecured in Atlantis. When Atlantis was moved to the vertical
position, 3 thumps were heard in the aft section. An investigation
is underway to determine the extent of damage and the effect any
damage might have on the launch schedule.
This has not been the best of years for NASA...
John B.
|
| 633.36 | Shuttle Status for 10/04/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Thu Oct 04 1990 19:11 | 28 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - THURSDAY, OCT. 4, 1990 12 noon
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB
A 9-foot-long I-beam was found in Atlantis's aft compartment
this morning. The support beam is part of the horizontal platform
kit used for access in the aft compartment. The beam is not
flight hardware and should have been removed prior to the rol-
lover to the VAB. The incident is under investigation.
While Atlantis was being hoisted to the vertical positon
yesterday several employees involved in the operation heard
several sounds which appeared to be coming from the orbiter. Of-
ficials were concerned and decided to proceed with the mating
operation without detaching the sling upon its conclusion.
Atlantis was hardmated at about 6 a.m. this morning and the
aft was opened about a half hour later for inspections. The rest
of the mating operation is on hold until an assessment of the
situation can be made.
|
| 633.37 | Shuttle Status for 10/05/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Tue Oct 09 1990 14:05 | 27 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - FRIDAY, OCT. 5, 1990 10 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB
An investigation is continuing to assess damage cause by a 9
ft. long support beam that was left in the aft compartment.
Preliminary inspections indicate that the damage is minor. A
broken purge duct and a small portion of a manifold relief line
in the main propulsion system will be replaced. Minor abrasions
to the surface coating of a strut and scuff marks on freon lines
were noted. Technicians are installing access platforms for fur-
ther inspections.
While the inspections are underway, mate operations are con-
tinuing. Overnight, the tail service masts were connected to At-
lantis. Today, electrical connections between the vehicle ele-
ments are planned.
Atlantis is scheduled to be powered up Sunday for testing of
connections and rolled to Launch Pad 39-A on Tuesday.
|
| 633.38 | Shuttle Status for 10/10/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Thu Oct 11 1990 10:15 | 26 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - WEDNESDAY, OCT. 10, 1990 10:30 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB
The Shuttle Interface test has been completed. Today,
workers will power down the vehicle and begin closing out all
areas for the move to the launch pad. Tomorrow, platforms will be
retracted away from the vehicle and the crawler transporter will
be positioned under the launch platform.
Weather permitting, the STS-38 vehicle is currently
scheduled to be rolled to Launch Pad 39-A sometime tomorrow eve-
ning. First motion could come as early as 8 p.m. tomorrow.
While at the launch pad, a liquid hydrogen tanking test is
planned to verify there are no leaks. Atlantis is scheduled to be
launched in early November on Mission STS-38, a Department of
Defense flight.
|
| 633.39 | Shuttle Status for 10/11/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Sat Oct 13 1990 12:17 | 25 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - THURSDAY, OCT. 11, 1990 10:30 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB
Atlantis was powered down early this morning and closeouts
of the vehicle are continuing in preparation for roll out to the
launch pad. Platforms will be retracted away from the vehicle and
the crawler transporter will be positioned under the launch plat-
form later today.
Weather permitting, the STS-38 vehicle is currently
scheduled to be rolled to Launch Pad 39-A at 12:01 a.m. EDT
tomorrow.
While at the launch pad, a tanking test is planned to verify
there are no leaks in the main propulsion system. Atlantis is
scheduled to be launched in early November on Mission STS-38, a
Department of Defense flight.
|
| 633.40 | Shuttle Status for 10/12/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Sat Oct 13 1990 12:18 | 26 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - FRIDAY, OCT. 12, 1990 11:30 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - VAB
Rollout of Atlantis was postponed early this morning because
of inclement weather. The vehicle was closed out and all plat-
forms were retracted away from the vehicle by about 3 a.m.
However, at that time, rainshowers with a potential of lightning
moved into the area.
Weather permitting, the STS-38 vehicle is currently
scheduled to be rolled to Launch Pad 39-A at 9 p.m. EDT this eve-
ning.
While at the launch pad, a tanking test is planned to verify
there are no leaks in the main propulsion system. Atlantis is
scheduled to be launched in early November on Mission STS-38, a
Department of Defense flight.
|
| 633.41 | Shuttle Status for 10/23/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Thu Oct 25 1990 10:00 | 31 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - TUESDAY, OCT. 23, 1990 11:30 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-A
The call-to-stations for the tanking test came on time at 7
a.m. this morning. The Rotating Service Structure will be moved
away from the vehicle at about 10 p.m. tonight.
The vehicle will be in a normal launch countdown configura-
tion for tomorrow's test and the hazardous gas detection system
will be active. Chilldown of the system used in loading the
propellants is scheduled for 7 a.m. tomorrow. During the test,
liquid hydrogen will be loaded aboard the external tank. Liquid
oxygen will be loaded into the main propulsion system but not
into the tank to make sure there are no problems with that sys-
tem. After the test, the propellants will be drained from the
orbiter and tank.
Yesterday, purges of the external tank were completed to
ready it for the tanking test.
Atlantis is scheduled to be launched in early November on
Mission STS-38, a classified Department of Defense flight.
|
| 633.42 | Leak is fixed! | 19458::FISHER | I like my species the way it is" "A narrow view... | Thu Oct 25 1990 14:21 | 4 |
| News this morning said that the tanking test was successful, i.e. no more than
normal leakage.
Burns
|
| 633.43 | Shuttle Status for 10/24/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Mon Oct 29 1990 10:16 | 31 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - WEDNESDAY, OCT. 24, 1990 10 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-A
The tanking test has been delayed from 7 a.m. today to 1
p.m. this afternoon. Extra time was needed to evaluate a small
ding in the liquid hydrogen feedline for engine 1 and a broken
transducer for the engine 3 liquid oxygen feedline. Officials
determined late last night that these items would not be a
problem for today's test. The aft compartment was closed out for
the test at 2 a.m. this morning and the Rotating Service Struc-
ture was moved away from the vehicle at 6 a.m. this morning.
The vehicle will be in a normal launch countdown configura-
tion for the test and the hazardous gas detection system will be
active. Chilldown of the system used in loading the propellants
is scheduled for 1 p.m. today. During the test, liquid hydrogen
will be loaded aboard the external tank. Liquid oxygen will be
loaded into the main propulsion system but not into the tank to
make sure there are no problems with that system. After the
test, the propellants will be drained from the orbiter and tank.
Atlantis is scheduled to be launched in early November on
Mission STS-38, a classified Department of Defense flight.
|
| 633.44 | Shuttle Status for 10/26/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Mon Oct 29 1990 10:18 | 38 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Friday October 26, 1990 11:00 a.m. EDT
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT
-----------------------------------------------------------------
STS-38 -- Atlantis (OV-104) - Pad 39-A
Operations were briefly halted at the pad this morning as
SCAPE operations were instituted to repair minor leaks at the
hypergolic oxidizer and fuel farms. The pad was re-opened for
operations at 10:30 a.m. The leaks were thought to be as a result
of cooler weather experienced overnight. No impact in the
schedule is expected.
Purge operations of the external tank have been completed
following the successful tanking test Wednesday. Access was
gained to the aft compartment and work continues to ready the
vehicle for flight. At the pad today, fuel cell voltage
adjustments will be made.
This weekend, the mass memory unit on the orbiter will be
changed out and the Shuttle main engine flight readiness test
will be conducted. Monday, liquid oxygen tankers will arrive at
the pad to replenish the on-site storage tanks.
The Flight Readiness Review is scheduled for next Monday and
Tuesday, following which an announcement is expected setting the
launch date and launch period for Atlantis' Department of Defense
mission.
|
| 633.45 | STS-38 launch set, STS-35 tanking briefing scheduled | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed Oct 31 1990 10:29 | 44 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Date: 30 Oct 90 23:36:45 GMT
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. October 30, 1990
(Phone: 202/453-8536)
Dick Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 407/867-2468)
N90-86: STS-38 LAUNCH SET, STS-35 TANKING BRIEFING SCHEDULED
NASA and DoD managers today established Nov. 9th as the
target date for the launch of STS-38 Space Shuttle Atlantis. The
4-hour launch period for this classified DoD flight begins at
6:30 p.m. EST.
Additionally, a press briefing will be held today following
completion of the STS-35 Columbia tanking test at Kennedy Space
Center, Fla. The briefing, time to be determined, will be
carried live on NASA Select television with 2-way question and
answer capability.
The decision to launch Atlantis on the 9th was made
following the STS-38 Flight Readiness Review at NASA's Kennedy
Space Center. On October 24, Atlantis successfully passed a
special tanking test designed to assure the absence of
significant liquid propellant leaks, both hydrogen and oxygen.
No major obstacles have surfaced since that time which would
preclude launch on the targeted date.
The five-man crew for this 37th Space Shuttle mission is
commanded by 41-year-old Richard O. Covey, an Air Force
Colonel. Sitting in the right seat will be Pilot Frank L.
Culbertson, Jr., 41, a Navy Commander. Three STS-38 Mission
Specialists will be flying aboard Atlantis: Air Force Lt.
Colonel Carl J. Meade, 39; Marine Corps Colonel Robert C.
Springer,48; and 35-year-old Army Captain Charles D. (Sam)
Gemar. Both Covey (twice) and Springer (once) have flown in
space before aboard the Shuttle.
|
| 633.46 | | 25474::MAIEWSKI | | Wed Oct 31 1990 18:36 | 9 |
| They keep saying that this mission is to launch a spy satillite that
will be used to watch the Persian Gulf but as I understand it, this
payload was originaly suppose to be launched in June and I believe that
the invasion of Kuwait was in July.
What do you bet it's the long awaited KH-12 which spys on everything
including, but not limited to, the Persian Gulf.
George
|
| 633.47 | Another (non-NASA) delay | 30086::REITH | Jim Reith DTN 226-6102 - LTN2-1/F02 | Thu Nov 01 1990 08:02 | 4 |
| I heard last night that there were unspecified problems in the "cargo
checkout" and that the mission would be delayed. At least it's a
"cargo" problem this time. Could they move Columbia in front of it now
that it passed the tanking test also?
|
| 633.48 | a 28 deg KH-12??? | CSS::BIRO | | Thu Nov 01 1990 08:46 | 12 |
| re:46
A KH-12 in a 28 deg orbit, what a waste, so I don't think so.
I have not heard an updates on the DoD launch, but with
a 28 deg launch maybe it is a Rhyolite, and most likely
the Shuttle Radar image of the gulf.
The only other possibility is a geo orbit.
john
|
| 633.49 | No KH-12, but there's lots more | 58205::ALLEGREZZA | George Allegrezza @VRO | Thu Nov 01 1990 09:29 | 11 |
| Well, there is no KH-12. It was canceled a couple of years ago.
There is the Indigo Lacrosse radar imaging sat, the new class of
infrared satellite, and the new generation visible wavelength imaging
sat, which is smaller and less capable than KH-12 (call it KH-13 if you
like). There are also at last two classes of high-orbit (not
necessarily geosync) satellites which may have both singals
intelligence and imaging capabilities.
Sources: Av. Week, "Deep Black" by William Burrows, follow-on article
by Burrows in Popular Science.
|
| 633.50 | Probably 57 degrees | 15372::LEPAGE | Life sucks then the bill comes in | Thu Nov 01 1990 10:01 | 12 |
| Re:.48
John,
Where did .46 say anything about the DoD payload going into a 28
degree orbit? If the payload is indeed a KH-12 or similar satellite, it
is likely that it will be launched into a highest inclination orbit
possible with a launch from Cape Canaveral (i.e. about 57 degrees).
That would give coverage of about 85% of the planet's surface including
the Middle East.
Drew
|
| 633.51 | from a good source | CSS::BIRO | | Thu Nov 01 1990 10:34 | 3 |
| the launch will be 28 deg...
jb
|
| 633.52 | Maybe it isn't a photo recon satellite? | 15372::LEPAGE | Life sucks then the bill comes in | Thu Nov 01 1990 11:45 | 13 |
| Re:.51
If it is launched into an orbit that has an inclination of only 28
degrees than I would have to question whether it is a photo recon
satellite. At that inclination it would be just able to see Kuwait and
would be far to south to be able to see most of Iraq including Baghdad
except at extreme look angles (if even then). It would be in a fairly
good position to serve as an elnit dedicated to observing that region.
Or it may be destined to be some sort of satellite destined for
geosynchronous orbit.
Drew
|
| 633.53 | | PAXVAX::MAIEWSKI | | Thu Nov 01 1990 16:22 | 6 |
| Still, the question is, why are they describing it as a satillite who's job
is to spy on the Persian Gulf? Did the mission or payload change after the July
invasion or did they know the invasion was comming a year or more ago when the
payload was 1st scheduled for launch?
George
|
| 633.54 | Seems wrong but time will tell | 30086::REITH | Jim Reith DTN 226-6102 - LTN2-1/F02 | Thu Nov 01 1990 16:40 | 7 |
| Could be a flexible enough IntelSat that they can now use to figure out
the situation in the Gulf closer. The 28 degree inclination seems wrong
from that but we'll know more as it gets launched. I thought the quick
response/ short notice support sats used expendables to avoid these long
lead times anyway. Maybe its all propoganda to give Saddam some short
term pressure and doesn't involve the situation there in any significant
way?
|
| 633.55 | Atlantis mission on hold | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Fri Nov 02 1990 09:12 | 74 |
| From: [email protected] (WILLIAM HARWOOD, UPI Science Writer)
Date: 1 Nov 90 22:18:49 GMT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (UPI) -- Problems with a military satellite
aboard the shuttle Atlantis do not appear as serious as first believed
and the ship may be ready for launch by Nov. 15, only six days or so
behind schedule, sources said Thursday.
Atlantis and its five-man all-military crew were formally cleared
Tuesday for blastoff Nov. 9 to carry a top-secret Pentagon spy satellite
into orbit. But the Air Force announced an indefinite delay Wednesday,
citing problems with the classified payload.
Sources initially said the flight faced a delay of at least a week to
10 days and possibly more than two weeks. Officials who asked not to be
named said Thursday, however, the problem did not appear to be as
serious as they first believed and that Atlantis may be ready for flight
as early as Nov. 15.
In the meantime, engineers are pressing on with preparations to
launch both Atlantis and the recently repaired shuttle Columbia as soon
as possible. Shuttle program director Robert Crippen said in a statement
Thursday that Atlantis -- mission STS-38 -- still has priority over
Columbia.
``At this time, we are continuing to proceed with the schedule to fly
STS-38 before (Columbia),'' he said. ``I am optimistic about flying
(Columbia) sometime in December.''
Before Atlantis was delayed, Columbia was on track for takeoff around
Dec. 1 to kick off a 10-day astronomy mission that has been grounded
since May by a series of elusive hydrogen fuel leaks. The repaired
shuttle finally passed a fueling test Tuesday without any problems,
clearing the way for launch.
Sources who requested anonymity said NASA managers are discussing the
possibility of waiving a rule requiring three weeks between shuttle
missions so data from one flight can be analyzed before launching the
next.
Waiving the rule would raise the possibility of two shuttle launches
in less than three weeks, but Crippen said Columbia would not be
launched on mission STS-35 until data from Atlantis's flight can be
studied.
``A specific target launch date for (Columbia) will not be determined
until after the flight readiness review has been conducted and
performance data from the STS-38 mission has been analyzed,'' he said.
NASA managers currently are in the final stages of developing a 1991
launch schedule and while the flight sequence appears to be solid, the
dates may yet change. Here is a preliminary schedule of major 1991
events:
--March 7: Shuttle Discovery; Payload: Four unclassified Air Force
experiments.
--April 11: Shuttle Atlantis; Payload: Gamma Ray Observatory.
--May 7: The new shuttle Endeavour is delivered to the Kennedy Space
Center.
--May 16: Shuttle Columbia; Payload: Spacelab science module.
--July 11: Shuttle Discovery; Payload: A NASA Tracking and Data Relay
comunications satellite.
--Aug. 4: Columbia is ferried to a Rockwell International facility in
Palmdale, Calif., for five months of major modifications.
--Aug. 15: Shuttle Atlantis; Payload: An Air Force Defense Support
Program early warning satellite.
--Nov. 14: Shuttle Discovery; Payload: An atmospheric research
satellite.
--Dec. 12: Shuttle Atlantis; Payload: A materials processing Spacelab
mission.
A final manifest is expected to be announced after new launch dates
are set for the upcoming flights of Atlantis and Columbia.
In a two-sentence statement released Wednesday, the Air Force said
Atlantis's flight would be delayed ``to resolve anomalies discovered
during cargo testing. Details are classified and it's too early to
predict a new launch date.''
Because the payload and all other details about the 37th shuttle
mission are classified, it was not immediately possible to determine the
nature of the problem or whether it involved the satellite or on-board
support equipment.
Atlantis originally was scheduled for launch in mid July, but the
flight was grounded after a hydrogen leak showed up during a June 29
fueling test. The problem was fixed and NASA managers Tuesday formally
cleared the ship for takeoff Nov. 9.
|
| 633.56 | It's all propaganda | 15372::LEPAGE | Life sucks then the bill comes in | Fri Nov 02 1990 11:21 | 12 |
| Re:.53
The reason the DoD is now connecting the launch of this satellite
with the current Gulf crisis can be summed up in one word: Propaganda.
They want to show the American public, our allies, and Saddam that we
are using all of our military assests to watch Iraq's every move. To a
lesser extent the DoD could also be showing the taxpayers that the
highly secretive, multi-billion dollar recon satellite program has
value even in the post Cold War era.
Drew
|
| 633.57 | | 19548::YANKES | | Fri Nov 02 1990 16:25 | 10 |
|
What is the latitude of KSC? If it is around 28 degrees north, then
NASA is trying to launch the shuttle along the path that is the most equitorial
for the shuttle. (ie. launching it "due east" puts the northern-most position
of the orbit over KSC's latitude.) In that case, I'd bet the satellite is
going to be put into an equitorial -- and possibly geosynchronous -- orbit.
My guess would be it isn't a signal-gathering or photo-recon satellite, but
rather a missile launch detection satellite.
-craig
|
| 633.58 | KCS Location on Earth | 2631::DAHL | Tom Dahl, CDMS | Fri Nov 02 1990 16:43 | 7 |
| RE: <<< Note 633.57 by 19548::YANKES >>>
> What is the latitude of KSC?
I can't resist. The location of Launch Complex 39A (the southern-most of the
two LC39 pads) is 28� 36' 29.66" North, 80� 36' 10.81" West.
-- Tom
|
| 633.59 | | 19548::YANKES | | Fri Nov 02 1990 19:53 | 6 |
|
Re: .58
Too bad I'm not always this good at guessing at numbers... :-)
-craig
|
| 633.60 | Shuttle Status for 11/05/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Tue Nov 06 1990 18:28 | 27 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - MONDAY, NOV. 5, 1990 11 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-A
Work to ready the vehicle for the STS-38 launch is proceed-
ing. Closeouts of the aft compartment are in work. Dye penetrant
tests of the main engine high pressure fuel ducts were success-
ful. A functional check of the crew hatch was successfully com-
pleted this weekend.
The two space suits are scheduled to be installed in the air
lock tomorrow. Two suits are routinely flown on board the orbiter
in case of an unplanned space walk during the mission. Purges of
the external tank are planned tomorrow.
Atlantis is scheduled to be launched on Mission STS-38, a
classified Department of Defense flight. Last week, Air Force of-
ficials identified a problem with the payload which delayed the
launch. A new launch date has not yet been set.
|
| 633.61 | Shuttle Status for 11/06/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Tue Nov 06 1990 18:30 | 25 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - TUESDAY, NOV. 6, 1990 10 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-A
Work to ready the vehicle for the STS-38 launch is proceed-
ing. Closeouts of the aft compartment are in work. Yesterday,
the flash evaporator system was topped off.
The two space suits are scheduled to be installed in the air
lock tomorrow. Two suits are routinely flown on board the orbiter
in case of an unplanned space walk during the mission. Purges of
the external tank also are planned tomorrow.
Atlantis is scheduled to be launched on Mission STS-38, a
classified Department of Defense flight. Last week, Air Force of-
ficials identified a problem with the payload which delayed the
launch. A new launch date has not yet been set.
|
| 633.62 | Shuttle Status for 11/09/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Sat Nov 10 1990 12:54 | 29 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - FRIDAY, NOV. 9, 1990 10 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-A
Work to ready the vehicle for the STS-38 launch is proceed-
ing. Closeouts of the aft compartment are continuing and are
scheduled to be complete Sunday evening.
Purges of the fuel cells were completed yesterday. Ordnance
activities are scheduled to begin early tomorrow morning. The pad
will be closed tomorrow to all non-essential personnel. Tomorrow
evening, Atlantis' hypergolic propellant tanks will be pres-
surized for flight.
Launch of Atlantis and Mission STS-38 on a classified
Department of Defense flight remains set for Nov. 15. The launch
countdown is set to begin at 10:30 p.m. EST Sunday, Nov. 11. The
four-hour launch period begins at 6:30 p.m. EST Thursday, Nov.
15. The crew is scheduled to arrive at KSC at 5 p.m. Tuesday,
Nov. 13.
|
| 633.63 | Shuttle Atlantis, crew, ready for launch | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed Nov 14 1990 17:48 | 59 |
| From: [email protected] (WILLIAM HARWOOD, UPI Science Writer)
Date: 14 Nov 90 14:40:25 GMT
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (UPI) -- The shuttle Atlantis's countdown to
launch Thursday night on a secret military flight ticked into its final
stages Wednesday with a revised forecast calling for a 60 percent chance
of acceptable weather.
Engineers planned to move a giant rotating gantry away from the $2
billion shuttle at 1 p.m. Wednesday, exposing the ship to view and
setting the stage for fuel loading Thursday morning.
With work at the launch pad on or ahead of schedule, Atlantis's five-
man all-military crew flew to the Kennedy Space Center from Houston
Tuesday to prepare for blastoff.
The only question mark was the weather. Air Force meteorologists
Tuesday predicted a 70 percent chance of high crosswinds and offshore
rain that would prevent an on-time liftoff. But the outlook improved
dramatically overnight and the revised forecast called for a 60 percent
chance of acceptable weather Thursday, 70 percent for Friday and
Saturday.
While Atlantis's launch time will not be revealed until nine minutes
before liftoff, sources who requested anonymity said the shuttle and its
five-man all-military crew are scheduled for takeoff at 6:46 p.m.
Thursday to kick off a four-day mission, the last fully classified
shuttle flight on NASA's books.
At the controls will be commander Richard Covey, 44, an Air Force
colonel, and Navy Cmdr. Frank Culbertson, 41, the co-pilot. Their
crewmates are Army Maj. Charles Gemar, 35, Air Force Lt. Col. Carl
Meade, 39, and Marine Corps Col. Robert Springer, 48.
The goal of the mission is classified, but Aviation Week & Space
Technology magazine reported last month that Atlantis's payload is
photo-reconnaissance satellite that may be used to monitor conditions in
the Persian Gulf in support of the Desert Shield operation.
The duration of the 37th shuttle mission also is classified, but
sources who requested anonymity said the flight is scheduled to last
three days, 23 hours and 55 minutes, resulting in a touchdown at Edwards
Air Force Base, Calif., at 3:41 p.m. PST next Monday.
Launch originally was scheduled for mid July, but Atlantis was
grounded by an elusive hydrogen fuel leak. At least two such leaks
grounded the shuttle Columbia in May and September, but both spaceplanes
have since been repaired and cleared for flight.
Atlantis's flight is the last fully classified Air Force shuttle
mission left on NASA's launch manifest, a move that reflects a Pentagon
shift away from the shuttle in favor of unmanned rockets like the Titan
4 that was successfully launched Monday night from the Cape Canaveral
Air Force Station.
The move also will save some $80 million a year that was being spent
on shuttle security operations.
While two more military shuttle flights are scheduled in 1991, the
payloads of both have been declassified.
The shuttle Discovery will carry four payload bay experiment packages
into space in February to learn more about infrared sensor technology
that may prove useful for detecting enemy missile launches or aircraft
in flight.
An Air Force spokesman said the payload of a military shuttle flight
planned for next summer is an early warning Defense Support Program
satellite equipped with a large infrared telescope capable of detecting
enemy missile launches.
The Titan 4 launched Monday night was widely reported to have carried
a ``DSP'' satellite into orbit.
|
| 633.64 | | 58457::SKLEIN | Nulli Secundus | Thu Nov 15 1990 17:11 | 6 |
|
I heard that they did complete the fueling, however, the weather has gotten
slightly worse. So don't know if they are going to launch, I hope so, my mom
is down there right now and I want her to see it.
Susan
|
| 633.65 | in orbit | 2319::SAUTER | John Sauter | Fri Nov 16 1990 07:52 | 4 |
| They launched shortly before 7 PM Eastern Time last night. I missed
the live feed, but got to watch the playbacks. The last I heard before
mission control "signed off" they had achieved orbit.
John Sauter
|
| 633.66 | | 58453::SKLEIN | Nulli Secundus | Fri Nov 16 1990 10:44 | 12 |
|
Re: -1
Launch was at 6:48 pm EST. The launch was in the dark and lit up the night sky
and could be seen for hundreds of miles. Those night launches are really
impressive. I was watching the evening news with Dan Rather, don't remember his
station, and they should it live. I flipped to the other two networks, but
didn't see anything. They did not show much of the launch for t-10 seconds to
shortly after the roll program. Then they picked it up again with the SRB
separation.
Susan
|
| 633.67 | first ovsrevations | CSS::BIRO | | Fri Nov 16 1990 10:52 | 12 |
| eye witness of the roll indicated that the inc
was higher the 28 deg maybe 33 deg or so, that
makes a lot more sense.
also lift off was 18:48:16est
thus for those doing their own element sets
that would give a epoc of 90320.042546
and a RAAN of about 243.4
Mean Motion of about 16.1
john
|
| 633.68 | | 19548::YANKES | | Fri Nov 16 1990 11:44 | 17 |
|
Re: .66
ABC World News Tonight showed it as a re-run a few minutes before 7pm.
They gave it about 5 or 6 seconds of airtime... I was really suprised that
they did it this way (I was expecting the live feed at 6:48), but then I
remembered that World News Tonight is taped for later rebroadcast. (For
example, I was watching the 6:30 showing (live, I presume) on our channel 9
and channel 5 has the exact same show at 7:00.) They probably didn't want to
run into the potential confusion of having to have two separate WNT's -- one
with the shuttle live and the other as a rerun-but-modified-for-the-shuttle.
This "two-WNT" idea probably isn't even possible to easily arraign -- I bet the
"7:00 stations" pull it off the satellite feed at 6:30.
But it sure was pretty! I love nighttime launches.
-craig
|
| 633.69 | | PAXVAX::MAIEWSKI | | Fri Nov 16 1990 13:05 | 4 |
| Can someone translate the orbital stats into layman's terms? How far
north/south of the equator should it go? How high up, etc.
George
|
| 633.70 | | 32238::FRIEDRICHS | winded in at ASH | Fri Nov 16 1990 14:30 | 13 |
| rathole alert...
re .68 rebroadcast...
Actually, as I understand it from watching some show, the "7:00"
rebroadcast originates from the news center, not the local stations.
I believe it was Brokaw that was saying that if he didn't like how a
piece goes, then he actually does it over live during the rebroadcast,
and that feed replaces the tape for the broadcast..
FWIW,
jeff
|
| 633.71 | Shuttle Status Report 11/16/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Sat Nov 17 1990 09:54 | 24 |
| From: NASA Spacelink
Date: 17-Nov-1990
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - FRIDAY, NOV. 16, 1990 10 A.M.
STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-A
Launch of Atlantis and Mission STS-38 on a classified
Department of Defense flight occurred at 6:48:15.0639 p.m. EST
yesterday. Post launch securing operations are underway at Pad
39-A today. The mobile launcher platform will be transferred back
to the VAB on Monday. Launch damage to the pad was reported as
minimal.
At sea, the booster retrieval operations are underway.
Recovery teams station-kept the boosters overnight and began
retrieval activities at sunrise this morning. The parachutes are
on board and work to secure the boosters for tow is underway. The
boosters are expected to be in port tomorrow.
|
| 633.72 | Atlantis is still up there | 19458::FISHER | I like my species the way it is" "A narrow view... | Tue Nov 20 1990 10:53 | 6 |
| Atlantis did not land yesteday at EAFB as schedule because of high winds. The
landing has been rescheduled for today, although the forcast looks bad.
Contingency plans are to land at Kennedy. I don't know how long they can wait
in space for the weather to clear rather than chance a KSC landing.
Burns
|
| 633.73 | | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Tue Nov 20 1990 12:06 | 3 |
| I believe it has to come down tomorrow (wed.) - somewhere.
- dave
|
| 633.74 | First landing at KSC in many years! | 19458::FISHER | I like my species the way it is" "A narrow view... | Tue Nov 20 1990 17:49 | 5 |
| They landed this afternoon at KSC! CNN just had pix. No info about
brakes or anything, though. It was just claimed to be "flawless".
Burns
|
| 633.75 | Rumors... | 58519::PIERCE | awk!! I've been greped! | Wed Nov 21 1990 10:56 | 15 |
| Headline news this morning had coverage of the landing.
They said that observations of amateur astronomers (they saw 1 object,
then 2 objects, then 1 object) have lead to speculation that
1) The bird was a sync. comm spy satellite (and went higher).
2) It was defective and brought back.
Also got a kick out of how the press was making a big deal out of it
being a mission to "spy on Iraq".....
"Hey guys, lets whip together a satellite to help us in the Iraq thing,
and give the shuttle guys a call, they deliver... on call!".
|
| 633.76 | | STAR::HUGHES | You knew the job was dangerous when you took it Fred. | Wed Nov 21 1990 11:03 | 7 |
| Or that the initial suggestion by AvLeak was correct and that it was
boosted into an intermediate orbit of about 400 miles.
And yeah, 'satellites built while you wait'. They seem to have
forgotten that this was out on the pad once before :-)
gary
|
| 633.77 | McNews watchers... | 58519::PIERCE | awk!! I've been greped! | Wed Nov 21 1990 12:32 | 5 |
| Somehow I don't think that the average Headline News/CNN watcher reads
Aviation Leak
;-)
|
| 633.78 | | STAR::HUGHES | You knew the job was dangerous when you took it Fred. | Wed Nov 21 1990 13:43 | 5 |
| Ah, but on one version of the story that CNN ran this morning, they
mentioned it. They will often have three or four different edits of a
story, each one slightly different.
gary
|
| 633.79 | Shuttle Status Report - 11/21/90 | 4347::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Sun Nov 25 1990 01:58 | 45 |
| From: NASA
Organization: NASA
KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS REPORT
Wednesday November 21, 1990 11:00 a.m. EST
-----------------------------------------------------------------
STS-38 -- Atlantis (OV-104) - OPF Bay 2
The orbiter Atlantis landed without incident on Kennedy
Space Center's runway 33 yesterday at 4:43 p.m. concluding a 4
day, 21 hour, 54 minute, 28 second Department of Defense
dedicated mission. Atlantis' main gear touched down at 4:42:43
p.m. Rollout distance was 8900 feet.
Initial indications reveal minimal tile damage and the tires
and brakes were reported to look good. All systems functioned
properly during descent.
The vehicle was safed at the runway and towing operations
began at about 8:45 p.m. The vehicle was in the Orbiter
Processing Facility bay by 10:27 last night. Purge operations of
the on-board propellant tanks is underway today with the
anticipation that all safing operations will be completed by mid-
day Thursday.
Atlantis had been scheduled to land at Edwards Air Force
Base, Ca. However, due to adverse winds and standing water on the
dry lake bed, and a forecast for no improvement of weather
conditions on the following day, the decision was made at
approximately 1:30 p.m. to land at KSC. This was the sixth
shuttle landing at the space center -- the first for Atlantis.
This was also the first landing at the launch site in five and a
half years.
Approximately four hours following the landing, the five-
member crew departed for Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. Crew
members for STS-38 include Commander Richard Covey, Pilot Frank
Culbertson, and Mission Specialists Sam Gemar, Robert Springer,
and Carl Meade.
|
| 633.80 | Do we save any money by landing in Florida? | 6056::GAUDET | Nothing unreal exists | Mon Nov 26 1990 13:24 | 29 |
| I realize that safety is the primary reason the shuttle lands at Edwards, but
what sort of savings (if any) are realized when the shuttle lands at KSC? I'd
be interested in some informed opinions and/or hard statistics around some of
the things that seem like "obvious" savings to me. The estimates I've included
are "gut feel" and are quite probably out in space. :-) I realize also that
some of these savings may be absorbed by additional costs at the KSC end. If
that's so I'd like to know that too. I'll even take a "See note XXX" response
if there's a better place for this.
1) Time (at least a week?)
a) No need for prep at Edwards (engine cones, mate w/747, etc.)
for its trip back to KSC atop the 747 (3-5 days?)
b) No need for the trip to KSC (2 days)
c) No need for orbiter demate from the 747 at KSC (a few hours?)
2) Fuel (who knows how many thousands of gallons?)
a) No need to fuel the 747 for the trip to KSC (as well as to Edwards
if KSC is where it starts from)
3) Personnel (100 people?)
a) No need for prep crew at Edwards (this time at least)
b) No need for flight crew on 747
c) No need for 747-demate operations at KSC
Even if it's a small amount, what are we talking here? Seems like it could
easily be in the tens of thousands of dollars or more. No fair giving figures
as a percentage of launch cost! :-)
...Roger...
|
| 633.81 | | 19458::FISHER | I like my species the way it is" "A narrow view... | Mon Nov 26 1990 16:32 | 7 |
| They mentioned either in AvWeek or CNN the figure. It amounted to several
million dollars. I'm not quite sure how they figure that, unless it includes
dollars saved because of the 1 week shorter turnaround. But that one sounds
like a lot of paper shuffling. They still have to pay the people that were out
at EAFB waiting for it.
Burns
|
| 633.82 | Follow that shuttle! | 19458::FISHER | I like my species the way it is" "A narrow view... | Mon Nov 26 1990 16:33 | 6 |
| It will be interesting to follow the flow of Atlantis. For example, I would
expect that if the satellite had been loaded back in and the DOD wanted it
back soon, that we would see the orbiter to into the payload building quite
quickly.
Burns
|
| 633.83 | Astronaut Springer retires | ADVAX::KLAES | All the Universe, or nothing! | Wed Dec 12 1990 17:46 | 47 |
| From: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Astronaut Springer retires from NASA, Marine Corps (Forwarded)
Date: 12 Dec 90 21:12:32 GMT
Sender: [email protected] (USENET Administration)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Mark Hess/Ed Campion
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. December 12, 1990
(Phone: 202/453-8536)
Barbara Schwartz
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone: 713/483-5111)
RELEASE: 90-159
ASTRONAUT SPRINGER RETIRES FROM NASA, MARINE CORPS
Col. Robert C. Springer, selected as an astronaut in 1980
and a mission specialist on two Space Shuttle flights, has
retired from NASA and the U.S. Marine Corps.
During his first space flight, STS-29 in March 1989,
Springer and his crewmates deployed a NASA Tracking and Data
Relay Satellite and performed numerous secondary experiments,
including a Space Station "heat pipe" radiator experiment, two
student experiments, a protein crystal growth experiment and a
chromosome and plant cell division experiment. Additionally, the
crew took more than 4,000 photographs of the Earth using several
types of cameras, including the IMAX 70-mm movie camera.
Springer also flew on STS-38, a Department of Defense
flight, which was launched on Nov. 15, 1990.
Springer's technical assignments have included serving as a
member of the support crew for STS-3, concept development studies
for the Space Operations Center and the coordination of various
aspects of the final development of the Remote Manipulator System
for operational use. He also worked in the Mission Control
Center, Johnson Space Center, as spacecraft communicator for
seven flights in 1984 and 1985.
Springer announced he will work for Boeing Aerospace and
Electronics Division in Huntsville, Ala., as the manager of the
Space Station Freedom's element integration.
|