Conference 7.286::space

               SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                    Friday, November 6, 1992

 
                    STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55/Spacelab-D2         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: February, wk 4    Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- post flight orbiter inspections
- main engine inspections
- window inspections and polishing
- clean and inspect star tracker
- removal of USMP payload from payload bay
- Ku Band antenna testing
- Spacelab D-2 Mission Sequence Test in the O&C building
- auxiliary power unit lube oil deservicing



STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- hypergolic deservicing
- forward reaction control system removal
- remove main engine heat shields
- remove waste containment system
- remove wheels and tires



STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- orbiter initial post flight safing
- orbiter jack and level
- establish orbiter access
- attach payload bay door strongback
- open payload bay doors

	The crew for STS 55 was set some time ago and is as follows:



	STS 55	- Columbia (14) February 1993 
		- SPACELAB D-2 (Germany)
		- Commander: Steve Nagel 
		- Pilot: Terrance Henricks 
		- PC/MS1: Jerry Ross 
		- FE/MS2: Charles Precourt
		- MS3: Bernard Harris
		- PS1: Hans Schlegel (German Space Agency)
		- PS2: Ulrich Walter (German Space Agency)

              SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                    Friday, November 13, 1992

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                             STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55/Spacelab-D2         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: February, wk 4    Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- powered up orbiter systems electrical testing
- forward reaction control system deservicing and removal preps
- main engine removal
- main propulsion system leak checks (hydrogen side)
- wheel and tire re-installation
- star tracker door cycle testing
- left hand payload bay door radiator #1 inspections
- tile repair and replacement


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- remove window #1
- remove forward reaction control system
- remove and replace freon pump package
- crew hatch functional test
- payload bay deconfiguration
- S-Band air-to-ground antenna testing
- drag chute system deservicing
- orbiter structural inspections


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- USMP payload removal
- remote manipulator arm (RMS) removal
- main engine heat shields removal
- waste containment system removal
- wheels and tires removal
- hypergolic system and APU deservicing
- post flight system inspections
- main engine inspections
- Ku Band antenna testing
- Spacelab D-2 Mission Sequence Test

              SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                    Friday, November 20, 1992

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                       STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55/Spacelab-D2         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: February, wk 4    Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- powered-up orbiter systems electrical testing
- freon closed-loop coolant system modifications
- X-ray reaction control system bellows
- OMS/RCS pressure decay test
- tile repairs
- installation of payload bay liners
- stacking left-hand solid rocket booster in VAB High Bay 3


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- configuration of payload bay for Spacelab-D2
- tile post flight inspections
- tile repair
- chin panel rework
- auxiliary power unit leak and functional checks


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- removal of three main engines
- remove and replace window #1
- remove forward reaction control system
- payload bay deconfiguration
- orbiter structural inspections

                  SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Monday, December 7, 1992

Mitch Varnes
Kennedy Space Center

 
                         STS-55

Areas of concern:
STS-55/ SL-D2

* Pre-launch preparations of the orbiter Columbia are continuing on schedule
toward supporting a late February launch.  However, managers have decided to
delay completion of solid rocket booster stacking while the lefthand forward
center segment undergoes troubleshooting.  The segment has failed two
low-pressure leak checks since it was stacked last week.  It is believed that
the failures are attributable to faulty ground support equipment, but managers
have decided to destack the left forward center segment to confirm this theory.
This single segment will be destacked following assembly of the righthand
booster.  This unplanned operation is expected to have no impact on the launch
of STS-55.

                       KSC SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                          Tuesday, December 8, 1992

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center
 
                           STS-55

Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
Mission: STS-55/SL-D2
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours     Crew Size: 7
Target Launch Date: Last Week in February, 1993
Estimated Launch Time: 10:30 am EST


     Work continues to go well with the Shuttle Columbia in OPF bay 2.
Upcoming operations include: Orbital Maneuvering System functional tests; freon
coolant loop servicing and tests; hydraulic system operations; landing gear
functional tests; and aerosurface functional checks.  Columbia is targeted for
roll to the Vehicle Assembly Building in early February.
 

                KSC SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Friday, December 11, 1992

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center
 
                      STS-55

Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
Mission: STS-55/SL-D2
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours     Crew Size: 7
Target Launch Date: Last Week in February, 1993
Estimated Launch Time: 10:30 am EST


     Work continues to go well with the Shuttle Columbia in OPF bay 2.
Upcoming operations include: Orbital Maneuvering System functional tests; freon
coolant loop servicing and tests; hydraulic system operations; landing gear
functional tests; and aerosurface functional checks.  Columbia is targeted for
roll to the Vehicle Assembly Building in early February.

     Work on the Solid Rocket Boosters continues in Vehicle Assembly Building
with the right forward segment being mated today.  Next week work will commence
to demate the left forward center segment.  The segment failed two low-pressure
leak checks last week.  The leaks are believed to be due to faulty ground
support equipment.  However, managers have decided to destack the left forward
center segment to confirm this theory.  This unplanned operation is expected to
have no impact on the launch of STS-55, however, it will slip the external tank
mate into early next year.

                     SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Kennedy Space Center, Florida

                         December 15, 1992
George H. Diller
 
                      STS-55

SPECIAL TOPICS:

STS-55 Solid Rocket Booster stacking activity: In the Vehicle Assembly
Building, the left forward center segment was destacked yesterday and a new set
of seals are being installed today.  Restacking is scheduled for Thursday.
While the mating of the external tank to the solid rocket booster stack has
been rescheduled to after the Christmas holidays, there continues to be no
STS-55 rollout or launch date impact.

                  SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                 Kennedy Space Center, Florida

                      December 16, 1992

George H. Diller
 
                           STS-55

SPECIAL TOPICS:

STS-55 Solid Rocket Booster stacking activity: In the Vehicle Assembly
Building, the left forward center segment is being restacked today.  The right
forward center segment showed a slightly higher than acceptable leak rate
during high pressure testing yesterday.  Troubleshooting is in work and also to
determine if there are any similarities to that of the left forward center
segment leak check problem.

SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY                           Friday, December 18, 1992

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                              STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55acelab-D2         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launchtimeframe: February, wk 4    Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7

STS-55 IN WORK:

- forward reaction control system electrical connections
- freon closed-loop coolant system checkout
- main engine mechanical and electrical connections
- main landing gear hydraulic system troubleshooting
- tile repair


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- install Spacelab-D2 tunnel adapter next week
- configure payload bay for Spacelab and Spacelab tunnel


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- freon coolant loop rework
- orbiter structural inspections

SPECIAL TOPICS:

STS-55 VAB solid rocket booster stacking: Tests appear to show that the leak
problem with the right booster is likely associated with ground support
equipment.

 

              SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
             Kennedy Space Center, Florida

              Monday, December 21, 1992


George H. Diller
 
                            STS-55

SPECIAL TOPICS:

     In the Vehicle Assembly Building, STS-55 solid rocket booster stacking and
leak checks of the left and right boosters was successfully completed on
Saturday. Joint closeouts are in work.  Mating the external tank is scheduled
to occur when work resumes after the Christmas holidays.
 

               SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Thursday, January 7, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                            STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55/Spacelab-D2         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: February, wk 4    Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7

STS-55 IN WORK:

- troubleshooting payload bay door latching
- installation of main engine heat shields
- functional testing of  waste containment system
- testing of OMS/RCS redundant electrical system


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- payload bay door cycle and latch tests on Sunday
- install Spacelab D-2 laboratory module on Monday
- mating external tank to solid rocket boosters on Jan. 13


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- fuel cell checkout
- freon coolant loop checkout
- main engine installation
- Spacelab tunnel installation


ISSUES AND CONCERNS:

Engineers are troubleshooting difficulty latching the payload bay
doors.  As a result Spacelab D-2 installation has been
rescheduled from today until Monday.  The initial troubleshooting
will focus on the strongbacks attached to the doors.  It is not
clear at this time whether there might be direct schedule impact.
In the VAB, the left forward booster segment which was destacked
immediately before the Christmas holidays has been restacked and
leak checks have been successful.


 

                  SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS SUMMARY
                    Friday, January 8, 1993

Lisa Malone
Kennedy Space Center
 
                     STS-55/SL-D2 - COLUMBIA
                      (OV 102) - OPF BAY  2

IN WORK TODAY:
-  preparations to install the Spacelab D-2 payload
-  tests of the payload bay doors
- functional test of the orbiter's potty
- electrical redundancy test of the orbital maneuvering and reaction control
systems

WORK COMPLETED:
- installed main engine heat shields
- stacked the left forward assembly on the left booster yesterday

WORK SCHEDULED:
- installation of the Spacelab D-2 payload into the orbiter's payload bay
on Monday
- roll over to the Vehicle Assembly Building targeted for early next month

 

                  SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                   Thursday, January 14, 1993


George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                             STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55/Spacelab D-2           Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: February, wk 4       Nominal Landindg Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours      Crew Size: 7

IN WORK TODAY:

- Spacelab D-2 Interface Verification Test (IVT)
- ammonia spray boiler sampling
- external tank door latch cycling


WORK COMPLETED:

- ammonia boiler servicing
- water spray boiler leak checks
- Spacelab potable water sampling
- installation of external tank door latches
- solid rocket booster stacking and leak checks in the VAB
- external tank mating to solid rocket boosters on Thursday 1/13


WORK SCHEDULED:

- Spacelab D-2 IVT through Saturday
- remove and replace helium regulator valve in aft compartment
- install Spacelab tunnel adapter
- preparations for aft main engine compartment closeouts

                SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Friday, January 15, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                         STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55/Spacelab-D2         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: February, wk 4    Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- Spacelab D-2 Interface Verification Test (IVT)
- ammonia boiler servicing
- cabin depressurization valve checks


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- Spacelab D-2 IVT through Saturday
- remove and replace helium regulator valve in aft compartment
- install Spacelab tunnel adapter
- avionics bay closeout
- stow Ku-band antenna
- preparations for aft closeouts


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- ammonia boiler GSE servicing and sampling
- external tank latch pull test
- water spray boiler leak checks
- installation of external tank door latches
- solid rocket booster stacking and leak checks in the VAB
- external tank mating to solid rocket boosters on Wed. 1/13

 

                  SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                   Wednesday, January 20, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                         STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55/Spacelab D-2           Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: February, wk 4       Nominal Landindg Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours      Crew Size: 7


IN WORK TODAY:

- installation of Spacelab tunnel
- hydraulic test of flight controls
- position flight control elements for rollover
- orbiter/external tank door functional test
- orbiter aft compartment closeouts
- orbiter mid-body closeouts


WORK COMPLETED:

- Spacelab D-2 Interface Verification Test (IVT)
- payload bay cleaning
- ammonia boiler servicing


WORK SCHEDULED:

- payload bay door radiator inspections Saturday
- Crew Equipment Interface Test on Sunday

 

              SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Friday, January 22, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                            STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55/Spacelab-D2         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: February, wk 4    Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- external tank door test cycles
- orbiter aft main engine compartment closeouts
- reaction control system trickle purge
- routine thermal protection system tile work


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- avionics bay closeout on Saturday
- astronaut Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT) on Sunday
- main propulsion system closeouts
- aft structural leak check
- orbiter composite pressurization test
- tile closeouts
- Ku-band antenna testing
- stow Ku-band antenna for flight
- rollover to the VAB first week of February
- external tank/solid rocket booster closeouts in the VAB



STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- ammonia boiler servicing
- water spray boiler servicing
- installation of Spacelab tunnel
- Spacelab Interface Verification Test (IVT)


 

                       SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                         Monday, January 25, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                              STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia      Location: OPF Bay 2
Primary payload: Spacelab D-2         Crew Size: 7
Launch timeframe: NET Feb. 25  10:30 a.m.
Mission duration: 8 Days 22 Hours     Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Inclination: 28.45 degrees     Initial orbital altitude: 184 sm

STS-55 IN WORK:

- Spacelab final power-up
- payload bay door test cycles
- orbiter aft main engine compartment closeouts
- main propulsion system closeouts
- Ku-band antenna stowage
- thermal protection system tile closeouts

STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT)
- Spacelab laboratory module closeouts
- Spacelab tunnel Interface Verification Test (IVT)
- Spacelab tunnel leak checks
- avionics bay closeouts
- payload bay door radiator stowage

STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- aft structural leak check
- orbiter composite pressurization test
- weight and center of gravity determination
- install Columbia on orbiter transporter
- roll to the VAB the first week in February

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61

Article: 55515
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: HSCHNEID%[email protected] (Hermann Schneider)
Subject: ESA Press release
Sender: [email protected]
Organization: [via International Space University]
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 14:35:22 GMT
 
      Press Release Nr.04-93
      Paris, 25 January 1993
 
      ESA's Spacelab once again in space for Europe
 
      Europe and ESA will soon be once more in the forefront of manned
      space flight. The launch of the second German Spacelab mission
      (D-2) is scheduled for 25 February 1993. For nine days, Space
      Shuttle Columbia will carry in its cargo bay the ESA developed
      Spacelab on a mission to conduct fundamental research in the
      fields of material sciences (fluid physics and material processes),
      life sciences (biology, human physiology and radiation biology),
      astronomy, Earth observation and robotics.
 
      A crew of 7 astronauts, 5 from NASA and 2 payload specialists
      from DLR -the German Aerospace Research Establishment - will
      have the task of executing some 90 experiments, 32 of which have
      been funded and developed under ESA responsibility for scientists
      from university and research institutes spread all over Europe.
 
      Spacelab as a manned orbiting laboratory, has already flown 6
      times. Spacelab technology (unmanned, pallet-only versions of the
      laboratory) has also been used several other times. The year 1993
      marks both the 20th anniversary of the programme and the 10th
      anniversary of the first flight which occurred in November 1983
      (STS-9/ Spacelab 1).
 
      This will be the second time that the responsibility for the
      complete scientific programme of a manned space mission is fully
      in German hands. As was the case for the Spacelab D-1 mission in
      1985, DLR has been entrusted by the German Federal Ministry for
      Research and Technology (BMFT) with the project management,
      the training of the scientific astronauts and the operation of
      the payload. DLR's dedicated space operations control centre
      for D-2 is located in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich in Germany.
 
      ESA's contribution to this mission is remarkable: five of the 32
      ESA experiments flown are contained in the Advanced Fluid
      Physics Module (AFPM) for investigation in fluid physics and 19
      are placed in the so called Anthrorack for human physiology
      research in microgravity. Furthermore, six experiments in the
      field of material synthesis and two experiments for the future
      Columbus Attached Laboratory -the European contribution to the
      International Space Station Freedom- will also be flown on D-2.
 
      The D-2 press centre will be set-up at DLR's Operations Control
      Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen for the duration of the whole mission.
 
      From 09h00 till 18h00 media will be able to cover the mission in all
      its aspects through video and audio links and follow mission
      control specialists and scientists from close by. Status briefings
      will be held in German  daily and press releases will also be issued
      in German and English. Interviews with  key ESA personnel can be
      arranged through the ESA Public Relations desk in the press centre.
 
      News media intending to cover the mission from the D-2 press centre 
      will have to seek accreditation in writing or by Fax directly at:
 
      DLR Public Affairs Office, Linder Hohe - D-5000 Koln Porz
      (Germany)
      Fax: + 49 2203 601 3249
      with copy to :
      ESA Public Relations Office
      8-10 Rue Mario Nikis - F-75015 Paris (Fax: + 33 1 42 73 7690)
 
Regards Hermann Schneider
        Network Coordinator
        ESOC (European Space Agency's Operations Centre)

                    SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                     Tuesday, January 26, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                               STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia      Location: OPF Bay 2
Primary payload: Spacelab D-2         Crew Size: 7
Launch timeframe: NET Feb. 25  10:30 a.m.
Mission duration: 8 Days 22 Hours     Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Inclination: 28.45 degrees            Orbital altitude: 184 sm

STS-55 IN WORK:

- crew compartment closeouts/close crew access hatch
- orbiter aft main engine compartment closeouts
- main propulsion system closeouts
- orbiter mid-body closeouts
- thermal protection system tile closeouts

STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- payload bay door test cycles
- tire leak check
- Ku-band antenna stowage
- Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT)
- Spacelab laboratory module closeouts
- avionics bay closeouts
- payload bay door radiator stowage

STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- aft structural leak check/orbiter composite pressurization test
- weight and center of gravity determination
- install Columbia on orbiter transporter
- close payload bay doors on Saturday
- roll to the VAB on February 2 or 3

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61

                    SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Wednesday, January 27, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                           STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia      Location: OPF Bay 2
Primary payload: Spacelab D-2         Crew Size: 7
Launch timeframe: NET Feb. 25  10:30 a.m.
Mission duration: 8 Days 22 Hours     Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Inclination: 28.45 degrees            Orbital altitude: 184 sm

STS-55 IN WORK:

- Spacelab module positive pressure check
- crew compartment closeouts/close crew access hatch
- orbiter aft main engine compartment closeouts
- main propulsion system closeouts
- orbiter mid-body closeouts
- thermal protection system tile closeouts


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- external tank door functional test
- payload bay door functional test
- avionics bay closeouts


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- remove BREMSAT GAS canister
- close payload bay doors on Saturday evening
- aft structural leak check/orbiter composite pressurization test
- weight and center of gravity determination
- install Columbia on orbiter transporter
- roll to the VAB evening of February 2
- mate to external tank/solid rocket boosters February 3

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61

                   SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Thursday, January 28, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                         STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia      Current location: OPF Bay 2
Primary payload: Spacelab D-2         Crew Size: 7
Orbital altitude: 184 sm              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours
Launch timeframe: NET Feb. 25 - 9:38 a.m.
Landing site/timeframe: KSC/March 6 - 07:43 a.m.


STS-55 IN WORK:

- remove BREMSAT GAS canister
- Spacelab module positive pressure leak check
- crew compartment closeouts/close crew access hatch
- main landing gear strut hydraulic fluid level checks
- orbiter aft main engine compartment closeouts
- main propulsion system closeouts
- orbiter mid-body closeouts
- thermal protection system tile closeouts

STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- Spacelab D-2 closeouts

STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- install aft flight doors on Friday
- waste containment system electrical verification checks
- aft structural leak check/orbiter composite pressurization test
- close payload bay doors for flight on Sunday
- weight and center of gravity determination
- install Columbia on orbiter transporter
- roll to the VAB February 2

              SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Friday, January 29, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                        STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55/Spacelab-D2         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: NET February 25   Nominal Landing Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- Spacelab module positive pressure leak check
- aft main engine compartment positive pressure leak check
- orbiter crew hatch functional check
- close orbiter crew access hatch for rollover tonight
- waste containment system electrical verification checks
- landing gear strut hydraulic fluid level checks
- landing gear struct leak checks
- Ku-band antenna stowage
- thermal protection system closeouts

STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- final payload bay cleaning Saturday
- close payload bay doors Saturday
- orbiter composite pressurization test Saturday & Sunday
- weight and center of gravity determination Sunday
- install Columbia on orbiter transporter Monday
- roll to VAB Tuesday, Feb. 2  1st shift

STS-55 COLUMBIA WORK COMPLETED:

- BREMSAT removal
- aft main engine compartment closeouts
- aft flight door installation
- crew compartment closeouts


 

                    SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                     Tuesday, February 2, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                           STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia      Current location: OPF Bay 2
Primary payload: Spacelab D-2         Crew Size: 7
Orbital altitude: 184 sm              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours
Launch timeframe: NET Feb. 25
Landing site/timeframe: KSC/March 6


STS-55 IN WORK:

- left main landing gear door limit switch troubleshooting
- preparations for rollover expected between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- orbiter weight and center of gravity determination
- install Columbia on orbiter transporter


WORK SCHEDULED:

- soft mate to external tank/solid rocket booster stack tonight
- hard mate on Wednesday
- Shuttle Interface Test (SIT) starting Thursday
- rollout to Pad 39-A on Sunday at 8 a.m.


ISSUES AND CONCERNS: Engineers have determined that the titanium weld in
question on Columbia's #3 main engine fuel turbopump has acceptable strength
for flight.  A changeout of the pump in the VAB will not be necessary.

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61

                   SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Wednesday, February 3, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                        STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia      Current location: VAB Bay 3
Primary payload: Spacelab D-2         Crew Size: 7
Orbital altitude: 184 sm              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours
Launch timeframe: NET Feb. 25
Landing site/timeframe: KSC/March 6

STS-55 IN WORK:

- hard mate Columbia to external tank/solid rocket booster stack
- establish connections with mobile launch platform
  tail service masts
- external tank/solid rocket booster battery installation


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- replacement of orbiter left main landing gear door limit switch
- orbiter rollover first motion from OPF Bay 2 at 2:11 p.m.
- orbiter arrival in VAB transfer isle at 2:38 p.m.
- hoisting of Columbia from VAB transfer isle starting at 2 a.m.
- soft mate to external tank/booster stack complete at 11 a.m.


WORK SCHEDULED:

- establish electrical with connections stack Thursday
- replace main engine #1 hydraulic accumulator Thursday
- Shuttle Interface Test (SIT) Thursday thru Saturday
- rollout to Pad 39-A on Sunday at 8 a.m.
- Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test Feb. 11-12
- Launch Readiness Review Feb. 8
- Flight Readiness Review Feb. 11

                  SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                     Thursday, February 4, 1993

 George H. Diller
 Kennedy Space Center
 
                        STS-55

 Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia      Current location: VAB Bay 3
 Primary payload: Spacelab D-2         Crew Size: 7
 Orbital altitude: 184 sm              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
 Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours
 Launch timeframe: NET Feb. 25
 Landing site/timeframe: KSC/March 6


 STS-55 IN WORK:

- establishing electrical connections with Space Shuttle stack
- validation checks of mechanical connections
- changeout of main engine #1 hydraulic accumulator


 STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- hard mate Columbia to external tank/solid rocket booster stack
- external tank solid rocket booster battery installation
- establish connections with tail service masts


 WORK SCHEDULED:

- Shuttle Interface Test Friday/Saturday
- rollout to Pad 39-A on Sunday at 8 a.m.
- Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) Feb. 11-12
- KSC Launch Readiness Review Feb. 8
- STS-55 Flight Readiness Review Feb. 11


 ISSUES AND CONCERNS: None

              SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Friday, February 5, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                             STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia      Current location: VAB Bay 3
Primary payload: Spacelab D-2         Crew Size: 7
Orbital altitude: 184 sm              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Mission Duration: 9 days 22 hours
Launch timeframe: NET Feb. 25
Landing site/timeframe: KSC/March 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- Shuttle Interface Test
- changeout of #1 main engine hydraulic accumulator
- final Pad A validations for Space Shuttle arrival


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- mate Columbia to external tank/solid rocket booster stack
- validation of mechanical connections


WORK SCHEDULED:

- rollout to Pad 39-A on Sunday no earlier than 12 Noon
- KSC Launch Readiness Review Tuesday, Feb. 9
- STS-55 astronaut arrival at KSC on Tuesday at 9 p.m.
- STS-55 Flight Readiness Review Feb. 11
- Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test Feb. 11-12


SPECIAL TOPICS: The rollout of Columbia has been rescheduled from 8 a.m. to no
earlier than 12 Noon on Sunday based on the preliminary weather forecast.

 

The STS-55 Press Kit is available at:

  pragma::public:[nasa]sts-55.ps


This is the "earlybird" edition: no graphics, rough edits.   It's currently
at 24 pages.    This is a LONG flight with a LOT of experiments -- so the
editing is a bit more demanding.


- dave

According to a report on the net, the flight has been delayed for 10 days or so
due to an incorrect type of seal that was installed in the high-pressure oxygen
turbopumps.

(Too bad, my kids are going to be with their grandparents in the KSC area the
week that it was originally scheduled.  Of course, they probably don't care
nearly as much about seeing it as I would!)

Burns

I'll be interested in new dates. I'll be in Florida 3/14 for a week and 
was depressed that it looked like it was between these two flights. I 
don't wish them delays but maybe I'll get to finally see a launch/landing. 
My wife has mid-terms the week before so I won't be able to push it 
forward but a landing is ALMOST as good.

                    SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Tuesday, February 9, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                          STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia       Current location: Pad 39-A
Primary payload: Spacelab D-2          Crew Size: 7
Orbital altitude: 184 sm               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours      Landing Site: KSC
Launch timeframe: NET Feb. 25


STS-55 IN WORK:

- Flight Readiness Test of main engines and aerosurfaces
- KSC Launch Readiness Review
- astronaut arrival 9 p.m.


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- established electrical connections between Pad A and vehicle
- powered up Space Shuttle vehicle
- connected orbiter mid-body umbilical unit (OMBUU)
- tested #1 main engine hydraulic accumulator


WORK SCHEDULED:

- Inertial measurement unit (IMU) alignment Thursday
- STS-55 Flight Readiness Review Thursday
- Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) Thur./Fri.
- hypergolic propellant loading this weekend


 

              SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
             Wednesday, February 10, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                        STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia       Current location: Pad 39-A
Primary payload: Spacelab D-2          Crew Size: 7
Orbital altitude: 184 sm               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours      Landing Site: KSC



STS-55 ISSUES AND CONCERNS:

     A question has arisen about the configuration of the turbine blade tip
seal retainers in the high pressure oxidizer turbopumps on Columbia's main
engines.  There are two versions of this component - an old version and a newer
one.

     Each has different inspection requirements.  On engines using the older
version of the tip seal retainers, there is a requirement to remove the pumps
and inspect the position of the retainers before each flight.  This requirement
does not exist for the newer version of the retainers.

     Although all indications are that the pumps on Columbia's main engines
have the new seal retainers, in reviewing the paperwork associated with the
engines, it could not be conclusively determined which version of the retainers
had been installed in the engines.

     Therefore, as a precautionary measure, a decision has been made to remove
and replace the pumps on all three main engines.  The purpose of the tip seals
is to minimize the flow of gas around the tips of the turbine blades to enhance
pump performance.  The retainers hold these seals in place.

     Columbia was moved to Complex 39's Pad A on Sunday, Feb. 7, and changeout
of the high pressure oxidizer turbopumps will be accomplished at the pad.
Spare pumps are available.

     A final work schedule has yet to be developed but removal, replacement and
checkout of the pumps is expected to begin immediately and will require
approximately 20 days.  In addition, approximately 12 days of work will be
required to complete the flow.  At this time, launch of Columbia on the STS-55
mission is not expected prior to early March.



     A review of the pumps on Orbiters Discovery and Endeavour is in work and
those on Discovery will be changed out after rollover from the Orbiter
Processing Facility. This work will be accomplished while the vehicle is in the
vertical position in the Vehicle Assembly Building or at the launch pad.
Discovery's next launch - on the STS-56 mission - is tentatively scheduled for
late March.


STS-55 IN WORK:

- preparations to remove high pressure oxidizer turbopumps
- preparations in Firing Room 1 for TCDT countdown
- potable water microbial sampling
- astronaut fit check of launch and entry suits
- astronaut M113 orientation and driver training
- astronaut emergency egress classroom training


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- Flight Readiness Test of main engines and aerosurfaces
- KSC Launch Readiness Review
- astronaut arrival for TCDT


WORK SCHEDULED:

- STS-55 Flight Readiness Review Thursday
- Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test begins 8:30 a.m. Thursday
- removal of high pressure oxidizer turbo pumps starting Saturday


     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61

              SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
              Thursday, February 11, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                          STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia       Current location: Pad 39-A
Primary payload: Spacelab D-2          Crew Size: 7
Orbital altitude: 184 sm               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours      Landing Site: KSC
Launch timeframe: NET Mar. wk 2


STS-55 IN WORK:

- preparations to remove high pressure oxidizer turbopumps
- TCDT countdown dress rehearsal
- astronaut commander/pilot Shuttle Training Aircraft flights
- astronaut safety walkdown of Pad A
- astronaut briefings on Columbia/Spacelab status
- STS-55 Flight Readiness Review


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- solid rocket booster fuel isolation valve leak checks
- astronaut fit check of launch and entry suits
- astronaut M113 orientation and driver training
- astronaut emergency egress classroom training
- Flight Readiness Test of main engines and aerosurfaces


WORK SCHEDULED:

- TCDT T-0 at 11 a.m. on Friday
- Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) alignment on Friday
- removal of first liquid oxygen turbopump from orbiter on Sunday

              SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Friday, February 12, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                           STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab-D2/SAREX         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: March wk 2        Nominal Landing: KSC/March 7
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test
- Inertial Measurement Unit alignment
- preparations for changeout of oxidizer turbopumps
- hatch seal decay check
- crew compartment cleaning


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- changeout of oxidizer turbo pumps from orbiter starting Sunday


STS-55 COLUMBIA WORK COMPLETED:

- astronaut pre-launch safety training

 

Ed Campion
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                  February 11, 1993


George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.


NOTE TO EDITORS:  N93-7

        NASA managers today completed their review of the flight readiness of
Shuttle Mission STS-55, a mission dedicated primarily to the German Space
Agency for research in life and microgravity sciences.

        Because of a decision reached yesterday to remove and replace
Columbia's high pressure oxidizer pumps, a launch date for the mission was not
set.  Managers are still assessing the time it will take to perform the work
and resume launch preparations.  Tom Utsman, Director of the Space Shuttle
Program, said a launch date for STS-55 would be set the last week in February.

        The pumps being replaced feed super cold oxygen to the Shuttle's three
main engines.  They are being removed because a search of processing paperwork
could not conclusively determine that the pumps are equipped with a newer
version of turbine tip seal retainers.  The tip seals minimize the flow of gas
around the tips of the turbine blades to enhance pump performance and the
retainers hold the seals in place.

        The major payload for Space Shuttle Columbia and her 7 member crew is
the pressurized Spacelab module - designated Spacelab-D2 - which will allow the
astronauts to conduct a wide range of experiments in the microgravity
environment of space.  Some 90 experiments are planned during the mission.

        This will be the 14th flight of the orbiter Columbia and the 54th Space
Shuttle mission.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61

                  SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS SUMMARY
                   Tuesday, February 16, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                          STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab-D2/SAREX         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: March wk 2        Nominal Landing: KSC/March
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7

STS-55 IN WORK:

- removal of main engine #2 high pressure liquid oxygen
  turbopump
- troubleshooting main engine #2 hydraulic yaw actuator
- crew compartment cleaning


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- hoist engine #2 turbopump to main engine compartment tonight
- changeout of main engine #3 liquid oxygen turbopump
  on Wednesday
- changeout of orbiter refrigerator/freezer on Friday


STS-55 COLUMBIA WORK COMPLETED:

- removal of main engine #1 liquid oxygen turbopump
- hoisted engine #1 replacement liquid oxygen turbopump to
  aft main engine compartment


SPECIAL TOPICS:

     Changeout of Columbia's main engine liquid oxygen turbopumps is proceeding
as planned by the schedule.

     The Interface Verification Test (IVT) for ATLAS/SPARTAN was successfully
completed with Orbiter Discovery over the weekend.  The Crew Equipment
Interface Test (CEIT) with the STS-56 astronauts is scheduled for Wednesday.

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61

              SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Wednesday, February 17, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                            STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab D-2/SAREX        Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: March wk 2        Nominal Landing: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- hoisting engine #2 turbopump to aft main engine compartment
- turbopump inspections in VAB main engine maintenance facility
- troubleshooting main engine #2 hydraulic yaw actuator
- inspection of main engine heat shields
- crew compartment cleaning


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- lower main engine #3 liquid oxygen turbopump tonight
- hoist main engine #3 liquid oxygen turbopump Thursday
- install new orbiter refrigerator/freezer units next Tuesday


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- removal of main engine #2 high pressure liquid oxygen turbopump
- installation of main engine #1 high pressure liquid oxygen turbopump


NOTES:
     Changeout of Columbia's main engine liquid oxygen turbopumps is running
somewhat ahead of schedule today.  The two pumps which were removed from the
main engines have been examined and, as was expected, the correct seal
retainers are installed.

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61

             SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Thursday, February 18, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                          STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab D-2/SAREX        Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: March wk 2        Nominal Landing: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- establishing aft compartment access for turbopump securing
- inspection of main engine heat shields
- crew compartment cleaning


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- secure main engine liquid oxygen high pressure turbopumps starting on Friday
- install new orbiter refrigerator/freezer units next Tuesday
- install main engine heat shields starting later next week


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- installation of new main engine liquid oxygen high pressure
  turbopumps in aft main engine compartment
- turbopump inspections in VAB main engine maintenance facility
- troubleshooting main engine #2 hydraulic yaw actuator


NOTES:

     Changeout work for Columbia's main engine liquid oxygen turbopumps is
running on schedule today.  All three pumps removed from Columbia have now been
examined and, as was expected, the correct seal retainers had been installed.
The next phase of work, which is securing the new pumps to the engine power
heads, is scheduled to take six days.

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61

               SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Friday, February 19, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
407/867-2468
 
                        STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab-D2/SAREX         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: March wk 2        Nominal Landing: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- mounting turbopumps to power heads

STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- main engine heat exchanger leak checks Saturday
- begin turbopump securing Saturday
- turbopump electrical hookups next week
- crew compartment cleaning continues next week
- open payload bay doors on Monday
- remove GAS can experiments for battery changeout on Monday
- experiment film magazine removal servicing on Monday
- installation of orbiter refrigerator/freezers on Tuesday
- potable water sampling on Tuesday
- begin heat shield installation on Thursday


STS-55 COLUMBIA WORK COMPLETED:

- installation of new turbopumps in aft main engine compartment
- heat shield inspections


NOTES:  The STS-55 launch team will be off on Sunday and no work
        is scheduled on Columbia.

 

               SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Friday, February 26, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                          STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab-D2/SAREX         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: March wk 2        Nominal Landing: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7

STS-55 IN WORK:

- turbopump pressurized leak checks
- turbopump electrical checks
- GAS can experiment removal
- testing of secondary orbiter refrigerator/freezer unit


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- actuator connections Saturday
- reinstall GAUS film magazine Saturday
- primary orbiter refrigerator/freezer
  interface verification test (IVT) Saturday
- main engine heat shield installation Saturday/Sunday
- load orbiter mass memory units Monday
- Flight Readiness Test (FRT) Tuesday
- install contingency EVA spacesuits into airlock Tuesday
- begin stowage of flight crew equipment into crew cabin Wed.
- Helium Signature leak check Wednesday
- hypergolic propellant loading Thursday/Friday


STS-55 COLUMBIA WORK COMPLETED:

- main engine turbopump installation, connections and securing

 

Ed Campion
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                Feb. 26, 1993

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

KSC Release No. 16 - 93


     NASA managers today set March 14, 1993 as the launch date
for Shuttle Mission STS-55 which will see Space Shuttle Columbia
and her seven-member crew fly a mission dedicated to the German
Space Agency.

     The major payload for STS-55, the pressurized spacelab
module - designated as Spacelab-D2 for this flight - will allow
the astronauts to conduct a wide range of experiments in the
microgravity environment of space.  Some 90 experiments are
planned during the mission.

     The launch announcement follows the removal, inspection and
replacement of the high pressure oxidizer turbopumps on
Columbia's three main engines.  The pump changeout came after a
search of processing paperwork could not conclusively determine
that the pumps were equipped with a newer version of turbine tip
seal retainers.  The seals minimize the flow of gas around the
tips of the turbine blades to enhance pump performance and the
retainers hold the seals in place.

     The launch window on March 14 extends from 10 a.m. until
12:30 p.m. EST.  Following launch, Columbia's crew will be
divided into two teams, each working a 12-hour shift, so that
science operations can be carried out around the clock.  The
Spacelab-D2 mission duration is planned for 9 days and will con-
clude with a landing at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing
Facility.  This date was chosen primarily because it was the
first open date on the Eastern Range during this time frame.

               SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS
                 Monday, March 1, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                          STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: March 14  10 a.m. Landing: KSC 3/23  8:05 a.m.
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- alignment of orbiter Inertial Measurement Units (IMU)
- main engine eyelid installation
- GAS can experiment battery charging at Hangar S


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- begin contingency EVA spacesuit installation overnight tonight
- Flight Readiness Test (FRT) on Tuesday
- Helium Signature leak check on Wednesday
- begin stowage of flight crew equipment into crew cabin Wed.
- hypergolic propellant loading Thursday and Friday
- begin aft compartment closeouts Saturday
- reinstall GAS can experiments Saturday
- primary orbiter refrigerator/freezer
  interface verification test (IVT) pending


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- leak checks of liquid oxygen high pressure turbopumps
- main engine heat shield installation
- reinstall GAUS experiment film magazine
- removal of GAS cans for experiment battery charging

I'll be in Florida next week and was looking forward to seeing my first 
launch. (I've been jinxed several times) Looks like it's happening again. 
My parents in Florida said that it looks like the launch date is changing 
again due to further problems (it was either electrical or plumbing). Has 
anyone heard anything on the net about it? It was on the Florida news 
thursday but I never saw/heard anything over the weekend.

               SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS
                 Monday, March 1, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                         STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: March 14  10 a.m. Landing: KSC 3/23  8:05 a.m.
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- alignment of orbiter Inertial Measurement Units (IMU)
- main engine eyelid installation
- GAS can experiment battery charging at Hangar S


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- begin contingency EVA spacesuit installation overnight tonight
- Flight Readiness Test (FRT) on Tuesday
- Helium Signature leak check on Wednesday
- begin stowage of flight crew equipment into crew cabin Wed.
- hypergolic propellant loading Thursday and Friday
- begin aft compartment closeouts Saturday
- reinstall GAS can experiments Saturday
- primary orbiter refrigerator/freezer
  interface verification test (IVT) pending


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- leak checks of liquid oxygen high pressure turbopumps
- main engine heat shield installation
- reinstall GAUS experiment film magazine
- removal of GAS cans for experiment battery charging

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61

                 SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS
                   Tuesday, March 2, 1993


George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                           STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: March 14  10 a.m.      Landing: KSC  3/23  8:05 a.m.
Mission duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7



STS-55 IN WORK:

- Flight Readiness Test (FRT) of main engines/flight controls
- contingency EVA spacesuit checkout



STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- Helium Signature leak check on Wednesday
- begin stowage of flight crew mission items into crew cabin Wed.
- hypergolic propellant loading Friday and Saturday
- begin aft compartment closeouts Saturday night
- reinstall GAS can experiments Saturday night



STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- primary orbiter refrigerator/freezer IVT successfully complete
- alignment of guidance system Inertial Measurement Units (IMU)
- installation of contingency EVA spacesuits into orbiter airlock

 

                  SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS
                   Wednesday, March 3, 1993

                      (UPDATED 4:30 p.m.)

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                         STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: NET March 16           Landing: KSC  March 25
Mission duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

-  hydraulic fluid cleanup in aft main engine compartment
-  examination of main engines and main propulsion system
   including electrical connectors and harnesses, solenoid
   valves and thermal insulation within the aft compartment
-  inspection of #2 main engine heat shields
-  failure analysis of hydraulic hose


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- reinstallation of GAS can experiments Thursday


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- replacement of ruptured hydraulic line


ISSUES AND CONCERNS:

     At approximately 6:30 p.m. last night, near the conclusion of the main
engine portion of the Flight Readiness Test, a 3/8-inch hydraulic flex hose
broke which caused hydraulic fluid to spray inside the aft compartment around
the main propulsion system and in the vicinity of main engine number 2.  This
line provides hydraulic actuator pressure to retract the LH2 umbilical plate
before external tank door closure.  A preliminary assessment of the remedial
action to be taken shows that launch could occur no earlier than March 16.  A
more definate date may be available at the end of the week after a full
assessment of the work to be done has been completed.

 

                  SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS
                   Thursday, March 4, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                            STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: NET March 16           Landing: KSC  March 25
Mission duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

-  reinstallation of GAS can experiments
-  GAS can interface verification testing (IVT)
-  hydraulic fluid cleanup in aft main engine compartment
-  examination of main engines and main propulsion system
   including electrical connectors and harnesses, solenoid
   valves and thermal insulation within the aft compartment
-  removal/inspection/cleaning of #2 main engine heat shields
-  failure analysis of hydraulic hose



STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- GAS can (GAUS) experiment mirror changeout Friday
- RKGM experiment film magazine reinstallation Friday
- close payload bay doors Friday night
- Flight Readiness Test Friday/Saturday
- Helium Signature leak checks Sunday
- hypergolic propellant loading Monday/Tuesday
- reinstall enhanced orbiter refrigerator/freezer (EORF) Wed.




STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- replacement of ruptured hydraulic line

              SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS REPORT
                      Friday, March 5, 1993

Mitch Varnes
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
 
                            STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/ Orbiter Columbia             Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A
Payload: Spacelab D-2
Launch Date: TBD
Mission Duration: 8 days, 22 hours

STS-55 IN WORK:

- Removal of hydraulic flex hoses from orbiter's aft compartment.
- Failure analysis of hydraulic hose.
- Installation of heatshield carrier panels on engines 1 & 3.
- Preparation for helium signature leak test.
- Preparations to close payload bay doors this evening.

STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- Tests of hydraulic flex hoses.
- Reinstall enhanced orbiter refrigerator/ freezer late today
- Helium signature leak check on Saturday.
- Loading of hypergolic propellants on Sunday and Monday.
- Reinstallation of hydraulic flex hoses on Monday.
- Flight readiness test of main engines on Tuesday.

STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- X-rays of hydraulic flex hoses.
- Reinstallation of GAS can into payload bay.
- Evaluation of hydraulic fluid contamination.

STS-55 LAUNCH SCHEDULE NOTE:

Space Shuttle engineers and managers are continuing to assess the launch
schedule impact attributable to inspections of the hydraulic flex hoses and
clean-up and inspection of the aft en- gine compartment and number two main
engine.  Based on progress over the weekend, an assessment of a new schedule
will be made early next week.


 

I'll be leaving for Florida this afternoon (just in time). Any final updates
on the mission? Has the 16th been updated/confirmed?

                  SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS
                  Wednesday, March 10, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                         STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: TBD                    Landing: KSC
Mission duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

-  Flight Readiness Test (FRT) of main engines/flight controls


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- conclusion of Flight Readiness Test (FRT) on Thursday
- enhanced orbiter refrigerator/freezer (EORF)
  interface verification test (IVT) Thursday night
- orbiter aft confidence test Thursday night
- begin aft compartment closeouts Friday
- begin avionics bay closeouts Friday
- external tank purges Friday



STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- reinstalled hydraulic hoses

                 SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS
                  Thursday, March 11, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center

 
                         STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: TBD                    Landing: KSC
Mission duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

-  Flight Readiness Test (FRT) of main engines/flight controls
-  orbiter aft confidence test tonight


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- begin aft compartment closeouts Friday
- begin avionics bay closeouts Friday
- external tank purges Friday
- enhanced orbiter refrigerator/freezer (EORF)
  interface verification test (IVT) pending


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- reinstalled hydraulic hoses


 

              SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Friday, March 12, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                         STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab-D2/SAREX         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: TBD               Nominal Landing: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7

STS-55 IN WORK:

- main engine compartment closeouts
- avionics bay closeouts
- external tank purges
- washdown of mobile launcher platform
- testing of enhanced orbiter refrigerator/freezer (EORF)


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- ordnance installation/connections Monday
- hypergolic tank pressurization Monday
- washdown pad surface and flame trench Monday


STS-55 COLUMBIA WORK COMPLETED:

- Flight Readiness Test of main engines/flight controls
- orbiter aft confidence test


SPECIAL TOPICS: Work will be suspended at the launch pad for the period
covering third shift tonight through first shift on Saturday. An approaching
cold front will produce squalls and thunderstorms with the possibility for hail
between midnight tonight and noon on Saturday with the highest potential for
severe weather occurring at about 6 a.m.  Work at the pad is scheduled to
resume at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

 

Ed Campion                                     March 12, 1993
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

Release No. 22-93

NOTE TO EDITORS:  NEW LAUNCH DATE FOR STS-55 MISSION

     NASA Managers today set March 21, 1993 as the launch date for Shuttle
Mission STS-55 which will see Space Shuttle Columbia and her 7 member crew fly
a mission dedicated to the German Space Agency. The major payload for STS-55,
the pressurized spacelab module - designated as Spacelab-D2 for this flight -
will allow the astronauts to conduct a wide range of experiments in the
microgravity environment of space.

     The launch window on March 21 opens at 9:52 a.m.  EST. Following launch,
Columbia's crew will be divided into two teams each working a 12-hour shift, so
that science operations can be carried out around the clock.  The Spacelab-D2
mission duration is planned for 9 days and will conclude with a landing at
Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility.

     Columbia's launch date will have an influence on the next mission to be
flown.  Space shuttle Discovery, flying the ATLAS 2 payload on Shuttle Mission
STS-56, now targeted for launch sometime around April 7th.  The actual launch
date for STS-56 will be set at a Flight Readiness Review meeting which will be
held approximately two weeks before launch.

     "The Shuttle team has done a great job in addressing and closing issues
such as the hydraulic flex hose problem and putting together a new plan for
processing activities" said Shuttle Director Tom Utsman. "Also the cooperation
we've received from the United States Navy, the United States Air Force and
Hughes Space and Communication Company made the March 21st launch of Columbia
possible."
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=

                          SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS
                            Monday, March 15, 1993
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center

 
                            STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: March 21  9:52 a.m.    Landing: KSC 3/30  7:57 a.m.
Mission duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- ordnance installation and connections
- hypergolic tank pressurization


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- resumption of aft main engine compartment closeouts tonight
- resumption of avionics bay closeouts tonight
- washdown of mobile launcher platform tonight
- washdown of pad and flame trench on Tuesday
- install flight doors on aft compartment Wednesday
- final aft confidence test Wednesday
- aft positive pressure check Wednesday
- astronaut arrival Wednesday night at 8:45 p.m.
- begin countdown at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- completed external tank purges
- successfully completed enhanced orbiter refrigerator/freezer
  (EORF) interface verification test (IVT)


SPECIAL TOPICS:

(STS-55)

     The highest wind at the Shuttle Landing Facility on Saturday
was 63 mph and at Pad 39-A the peak gust was 71 mph.  While the
high wind precluded any work by the launch team from the pad
structures on Saturday, there was no damage to the vehicle and
only minor damage in the area surrounding the launch pad.  During
the day Saturday the Complex 39 freeze protection plan was
implemented and Columbia's heaters were turned on.  The lowest
temperature over the weekend was 32 degrees on Sunday.


 

                 SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS
                  Tuesday, March 16, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center

 
                             STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: March 21  9:52 a.m.    Landing: KSC 3/30  7:57 a.m.
Mission duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- aft main engine compartment closeouts
- aft compartment inspections and photo documentation
- aft compartment cleaning
- avionics bay closeouts
- washdown of mobile launcher platform
- testing of data link between orbiter mid-deck
  refrigerator/freezers and Spacelab D-2 module
- final crew compartment cleaning

STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- washdown of launch pad and flame trench Wednesday
- install flight doors on aft compartment and perform
  final aft confidence test Wednesday 4 p.m.
- aft positive pressure check Wednesday 8 p.m.
- astronaut arrival Wednesday night at 8:45 p.m.
- begin countdown at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday

STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- completed ordnance installation and connections
- completed hypergolic tank pressurization


SPECIAL TOPICS:

(STS-55)

The preliminary weather outlook at 9:52 a.m. on Sunday calls for:

Clouds: 3,000 scattered cumulus
        10,000 scattered to broken altocumulus
        25,000 broken cirrostratus

Visibility: 7+ miles
Temperature: 73 degrees
Humidity: 57%
Wind: SW/10-18 knots

Chance of meeting launch weather criteria: 60%
Chance of acceptable weather with 24 hour delay: 70%


 

	The launched had been delayed until March 22 at 9:51 am. I was just 
	watching the countdown and it was smooth, until T-3 seconds. At that
	time the engines had already started up and a shutdown occurred.
	In looking closely at the film footage, it appears that the starboard
	engines did not start up at all. The other two did, and one got up 
	to full thrust, before shutdown. They are safing the orbiter now.
	
	Susan

                SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS
                  Friday, March 19, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                           STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: March 22  9:51 a.m.    Landing: KSC 3/31
Mission duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- installation of aft compartment flight doors
- aft compartment confidence test
- aft compartment positive pressure leak check
- checkout of flight controls


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- pyrotechnic initiatior checks 8 a.m. Saturday
- load cryogenics reactants starting Saturday at 12 Noon


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- aft compartment closeouts complete
- checkout of navigational aids complete


SPECIAL TOPICS: (STS-55)

     The launch of Columbia was postponed 24 hours after a planned launch of an
Air Force Delta II rocket at Complex 17 was scrubbed due to high winds.  The
countdown clock at Complex 39 is currently in a 24-hour hold at T-35 hours and
will resume counting at midnight tonight.  The launch window on Monday opens at
9:51 a.m.  EST. A second launch opportunity is available on Tuesday if
necessary.



Predicted weather conditions at 9:51 a.m. on Monday:

Clouds:  3,000 scattered cumulus/stratocumuls  50% sky coverage
        10,000 scattered altocumulus  50% sky coverage
        25,000 broken cirrostratus  65% sky coverage

Temperature:  73 degrees
Relative Humidity: 68%
Winds: SE/12-20 knots
Visibility: 7+ miles

Probablity of violating tanking constraints: 0%
Chance of meeting launch weather criteria:  70%

pragma::public:[nasa]sts-55.nasa_select


This is Rev A -- which will now need revising (if the bird ever gets off the
ground).

- dave

An article (which I did not save) on clarinet says that at least one of the
engines did not reach full power, and they are looking at a check valve as
the possible cause.

If this is the big flapper valve on the main intake lines coming from the
ET, they are damn lucky.  A failure of this valve, as I recall, was one of
NASA's collective nightmares.  Hopefully it was something else.  Clari-net
also indicated that there were three other aborts after the engines lit, and
I think 2 of them were caused by defective fuel valves (not check valves).

Burns

>If this is the big flapper valve on the main intake lines coming from the
>ET, they are damn lucky.  A failure of this valve, as I recall, was one of

I'm moderately certain that this valve (valves) supplies all 3 engines - the
fuel supply is split in the engine room.   If it was the flapper valve the
other 3 engines wouldn't have run more than an instant either.


I hope that the fuel supply problems were on the LOX side.  The engines have
a better chance of structurally surviving if they were LOX starved.


[The problems in Russia are dominating the news, so it's kind of hard to get
 information on this via the media.  Sigh!]


- dave

From: [email protected]
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 22 Mar 93 12:39:45 EST
Organization: NASA, Kennedy Space Center

Greetings and Salutations:

STS-55 was aborted and the countdown clock stopped at T-3 seconds because of an
anomaly in E-3 (Right engine looking forward).

How to explain.  There is a checkvalve that in between the helium purge system
and the Oxidizer preburner.  There is a transducer upstream of this checkvalve.
It showed a reading of greater than 50 PSI (actually reading above 700 PSI)
which INDICATES that when the oxidizer preburner started (the turbine section
section of the high pressure liquid oxygen turbopump) the checkvalve was failed
open and the pressure flowed backwards towards the transducer.

THe Main Engine Controller noted this as an anomaly, and correctly shut the
engine down.  All the above is preliminary suspicions from the data.  The
transducer seems to be working properly, so it seems to be the checkvalve. 
Further investigations will most likely show the actual cause.

-- 
-----------------------------------------------
Ken Hollis  INTERNET: [email protected]
            SPAN/HEPnet: KSCP00::HOLLIS

    re:62
      Thanks for the details.  IF this is the case, then the engine will
    have to be swapped.  It's unusual for the engine to have started at
    all with this valve in a failed open state.  I thought that the flight
    software polled for status of all valves prior to the ignition
    sequence.

STS-55 LAUNCH DELAY

3/22/93

     While igniting Columbia's three main engines which began at
T-6.6 seconds, the onboard computers initiated a main engine abort
sequence.  Shutdown was completed at approximately T-3 seconds at
9:51 a.m. EST.

     The reason for the abort appears to be that  main engine #3
did not fully ignite due to a liquid oxygen preburner check valve
which apparently experienced an internal leak, causing the purge
system to be pressurized above the maximum 50 pounds per square
inch allowed.  Ambient pressure would have allowed full engine
ignition to occur. The onboard computers sensed the higher than
allowed pressure in the line and terminated the main engine
ignition sequence.

     While no definite schedule has been developed as yet, the
amount of time estimated to pick up the STS-55 countdown once
again is about three weeks.  Schedule options are under
consideration this week.

Re: .63

>    It's unusual for the engine to have started at
>    all with this valve in a failed open state.  I thought that the flight
>    software polled for status of all valves prior to the ignition
>    sequence.


I very much doubt that an engine start sequence has a static set of valve
settings.   SSME's have two stages of fuel combustion and I'll wager that
valves are opening and closing as the fuel runs through the turbopumps and
finally into the injector.    The purge system would tend to be active until
the last possible moment to keep the appropriate pressures in the pumps
and manifolds.

It's rather hard to see if the engine even ignited at all.  (Anybody with
NASA Select replays care to comment?)

- dave

               SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS REPORT
                     Monday, March 22, 1993
                             3 p.m.
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                            STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Columbia               Mission Number: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A             Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab D-2/SAREX           Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: TBD                       Nominal landing: KSC
Mission duration: 9 + 1 days           Crew Size: 7


IN WORK:

-  external tank liquid hydrogen boiloff

-  power down orbiter refrigerator/freezer units


WORK SCHEDULED:

- close rotating service structure around vehicle Tuesday morning

- remove orbiter refrigertor/freezer experiment samples
  Tuesday morning

- remove mid-deck experiment lockers Tuesday morning

- mate orbiter mid-body umbilical unit Tuesday afternoon

- offload cryogenic reactants Tuesday night

- remove main engine check valves Wednesday

- ordnance disconnects Thursday

- Spacelab laboratory module experiment servicing


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- safing Space Shuttle vehicle

- offloading liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen from external tank

- STS-55 astronauts returned to Houston at 2:30 p.m.



ISSUES AND CONCERNS:

     While igniting Columbia's three main engines which began at
T-6.6 seconds the onboard computers initiated a main engine abort
sequence.  Shutdown was completed at approximately T-3 seconds at
9:51 a.m. EST.

     The reason for the abort appears to be that  main engine #3
did not fully ignite due to a liquid oxygen preburner check valve
which apparently experienced an internal leak, causing the purge
system to be pressurized above the maximum 50 pounds per square
inch allowed.  Ambient pressure would have allowed full engine
ignition to occur. The onboard computers sensed the higher than
allowed pressure in the line and terminated the main engine
ignition sequence.

     While no definite schedule has been developed as yet, the
amount of time estimated to pick up the STS-55 countdown once
again is about three weeks.  Schedule options are under
consideration this week.

From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: STS-55 Launch Abort
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 23 Mar 93 04:09:17 GMT
Organization: NASA, Kennedy Space Center
Lines: 49

Here is the senario of todays launch abort:

At T-6.6 seconds Engine 3 was started followed by Engine 2 120 milliseconds
later and Engine 1 120 milliseconds after Engine 2 (YES all three engines did
start. At start plus 1.4 seconds Engine 3 reported a "Limit Exceeded" condition
due to the Oxidizer Preburner Purge Pressure Sensor reading greater than 50
PSIA (Actually the highest pressure it got to was about 111 PSIA before the
Main Engine Controller Automatically shut the Engine down. The 750 PSIA that
Ken Hollis mentioned in a previous post was the normal Shutdown Purge. During
Shutdown the two preburners are Purged with Helium).

What failed:

The Purging of the two Preburners and the Main Combustion Chamber during
shutdown with Helium (and Prelaunch with GN2) is done through a Pneumatic
Control Assembly which basically plumbs the Helium or GN2 through
Electrically and Pneumatically controlled valves. Down stream of the
Pneumatic Control Assembly are Pressure sensors that are feed into the
Main Engine Controller (A computer mounted on the engine) so it can see
that the purges are active when they should be and not active when
the purges are turned off. Down stream of the Pressure sensors are a
number of check valves which let the purge flow one way (from the Pneumatic
Control Assembly to the Preburners and Main Combustion Chamber). 

During Engine 3 start this morning as pressure came up in the two preburners
and main combustion chamber a check valve "Leaked" allowing the hot gas
in the combustion area to flow past the check valve and be read on the
pressure sensor. The controller on engine 3 spotted this and shut engine 3
down. When this happened Engines 1 then 2 where commanded to be shut down
by the onboard General Purpose Computers (Running the Redundant Set Launch
Sequence, RSLS, program).

Due to how these check valves are plumed together it could be one of four
possible check valves (one on the Fuel Preburner side, two on the Oxidizer
side, and one in the Main Combustion Chamber). Top priority after getting
back into the Aft Compartment of the orbiter will be to remove these four
check valves for analysis. The data is not complete but the most likely
suspects are the check valve on the Fuel Preburner side followed by the one
in the main combustion chamber.

The overall schedual plan has not yet been worked out but most likely all
three main engines will be replaced at the PAD (probably with the engines
which were ready to be installed in Endeavour next week - This of course
is just a best guess and we will have to see what the scedulers lay out.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Waterman / NASA Space Shuttle Main Engine Avionics
[email protected]
---------------------------------------------------------------------

                SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS REPORT
                     Tuesday, March 23, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                            STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Columbia               Mission Number: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A             Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab D-2/SAREX           Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: TBD                       Nominal landing: KSC
Mission duration: 9 + 1 days           Crew Size: 7


IN WORK:

- close rotating service structure around vehicle (12 Noon)
- tail service mast securing
- removal of orbiter refrigerator/freezer experiment samples
- removal of mid-deck experiment lockers
- mating orbiter mid-body umbilical unit
- extension of external tank access arm
- external tank purge
- removal of aft compartment flight doors
- tile inspections


WORK SCHEDULED:

- offload cryogenic reactants tonight
- #3 main engine check valve removal/failure analysis Wednesday
- ordnance disconnects Thursday
- remove heat shields Friday and Saturday


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

-  external tank liquid hydrogen boiloff
-  power down orbiter refrigerator/freezer units


ISSUES AND CONCERNS:

     While the aft compartment flight doors are being removed today, work in
the aft and the planned #3 main engine check valve removal will not begin until
Wednesday since offloading fuel cell cryogenic reactants will not be complete
until late tonight.

     No manifest option will chosen until a check valve failure analysis has
been completed.  A decison is likely to be made on Thursday.


 

                SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS REPORT
                    Wednesday, March 24, 1993

Mitch Varnes
NASA Kennedy Space Center
 
                             STS-55

VEHICLE: OV-102/Columbia                 MISSION: STS-55
CURRENT LOCATION: Launch Pad 39-A        ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 184 sm
PAYLOADS: Spacelab D-2/SAREX             INCLINATION: 28.45 deg.
LAUNCH DATE: TBD                         LANDING SITE: KSC
MISSION DURATION: 8 days, 22 hours       CREW SIZE: 7


IN WORK:

- Scrub turnaround work is continuing.
- Testing and troubleshooting of Shuttle Main Engines (SSME).
- Trickle purge of Orbital Maneuvering System.

WORK SCHEDULED:

- Disconnection of ordnance is scheduled for Thursday.
- SSME testing and troubleshooting will continue for at least the
  next couple of days.
- Removal of 4 check valves from SSME #3 is planned for Friday.
- Removal of engine heat shields to begin on Friday.

WORK COMPLETED:

- Middeck payload experiment samples were removed yesterday.
- Drying of main engines was completed this morning.
- Cryogenic reactants were offloaded this morning.

 

                 SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS REPORT
                     Thursday, March 25, 1993
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                           STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Columbia               Mission Number: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A             Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab D-2/SAREX           Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: TBD                       Nominal landing: KSC
Mission duration: 9 + 1 days           Crew Size: 7

IN WORK:

- removal of orbiter refrigerator/freezers for servicing
- valve troubleshooting on main engine #3
- ordnance disconnects

WORK SCHEDULED:

- main engine heat shield removal Friday/Saturday
- preparations for removal of main engines Friday/Saturday

STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

-  established full access in main engine compartment

SPECIAL TOPICS:

STS-55: Leak checks and associated valve testing on the #3 main engine will
continue through Friday. At this time engineers have not been able to replicate
the condition which caused Monday's launch scrub.  While preparations are in
work to remove the three main engines, a definate engine removal decision will
not be made until tomorrow or Monday after manifest issues are decided.

                SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                    Friday, March 26, 1993
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                           STS-55

Vehicle: OV-102/Columbia               Mission Number: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A             Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab D-2/SAREX           Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: TBD                       Nominal landing: KSC
Mission duration: 9 + 1 days           Crew Size: 7


IN WORK:

- removal of orbiter refrigerator/freezers for servicing
- removing main engine foam insulation
- main engine heat shield removal
- positioning main engines and flight controls for engine removal
- inspections of reaction control system thrusters
- offloading hydrogen from rail car into pad storage sphere for top off

WORK SCHEDULED:

- removal of main engines starting Sunday

WORK COMPLETED:

- troubleshooting #3 main engine check valves
- ordnance disconnects

STS-55 ISSUES AND CONCERNS: Yesterday engineers successfully recreated the
anomaly which led to Columbia's main engine ignition abort on Monday. Overnight
the suspect check valve was removed and is being flown today to Rockwell's
Canoga Park, California facility for disassembly and analysis.  Based on test
data generated during troubleshooting, a decision has been made not to remove
the remaining check valves unless the pending failure analysis deems it
necessary.  A decision has also been made to remove Columbia's three main
engines and replace them with those which had been planned for installation on
Endeavour.

 

[Excerpts from some recent postings....]

From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re : STS-55 abort...
Date: 26 Mar 93 16:21:55 EST
Organization: NASA, Kennedy Space Center

Booster Systems Briefs - Document JSC - 19041, Basic, Rev C - Page 1.10-4
FPB and OPB Purge Pressures - The chamber pressures of the fuel and oxidizer
preburners is controlled by the fuel preburner oxidizer valve (FPOV) and the
oxidizer preburner oxidizer valve (OPOV), respectively. (Refer to Booster
Systems Brief 1.2)  The FPB and the OPB are purged with gaseous helium during
the start phase.  Helium is routed from the pneumatic control assembly (PCA)
through a check valve for each preburner.  The check valve and the purge are
present to prevent oxidizer from entering the PCA which would rupture the burst
diaphragm and vent into the oxidizer drain line resulting in contained engine
damage.  Also, if leakage is adequate to depress the augmented spark ignitor
(ASI) mixture ratio, it is possible that the HPFT shaft speed redline will be
violated.

Start confirm redlines:
Parameter                           Activation time (sec)     limit min. max.
Fuel Preburner Purge Pressure     Start to Start +2.28 seconds.    0      50
Oxidizer Preburner Purge Pressure Start to Start +2.28 seconds.    0      50

If you guys from SSC have anything to add, please free to do so...

-- 
-----------------------------------------------
Ken Hollis  INTERNET: [email protected]
            SPAN/HEPnet: KSCP00::HOLLIS

=================================================================================
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Aborts, Limit Control Switch, etc.
Date: 26 Mar 93 22:36:23 EST
Organization: NASA, Kennedy Space Center

In Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Ken Hollis writes:

>There is a Engine inhibit switch that is basically used to tell the engines
>not to shut down.  Bob Waterman can expound on that.

The Main Engine Controller continuously looks at a number of parameters
to determine if the Engine is operating within a preset range. It does
this by looking at a number of Pressure, Temperature and Speed sensors.
These sensors are first checked to be reading a "resonable value" this
Qualification check is done to prevent shutting down an Engine due to a 
failed sensor. All sensors of a particular parameter (ex. High Pressure
Oxidizer Pump Turbine Discharge Temperature has 2 sensors for redundancy)
that pass the Qualification check are used for determining if the Engine
should be Shutdown. If all Qualified sensors for a parameter are outside
the limit which has been coded into the software for safe Engine Operation
then the Main Engine Controller will report the failure AND if a software
flag called Shutdown Limit Enable is TRUE the Main Engine Controller will
Shutdown the Engine.

The normal Default value for Shutdown Limit Enable is TRUE. This is the value
that the software configures to at Load Time (T-19 Hours). This setting can
be changed by a command to the Main Engine Controller called Limit Shutdown
Inhibit. And can be changed back by a Limit Shutdown Enable Command.

There is a Switch on Panel C3 in the Flight deck which has three positions:
AUTO, ENABLE, INHIBIT. The switch is set pre launch to the Auto position.
This position is kind of like a null position it tells the General Purpose
Computers will be as other software programs command it (relies on the
default value in the Main Engine Controller). The Enable Postion tells the
General Purpose Computers (GPCs) to send the Limit Shutdown Enable command
to the Main Engine Controller. Likewise the Inhibit position sends the
Limit Shutdown Inhibit command to the Main Engine Controller.

When is this switch used? Normally it isn't. If one engine fails and the loss
of another engine would put the orbiter into an undesireable Abort option
(I'm talking After the SRBs have Ignited...and realistically after they
have seperated) then Mission Control will make a call to the crew to position
the switch to the Inhibit position and take the risk until enough velosity
is reached to obtain a more favourable Abort option (Like Abort To Orbit
Vs Trans Atlantic Abort). then the switch is positioned to Enable.

There is Just one switch so the Limit Shutdown Enable or Inhibit commands are
sent to all engines (which makes sense).

Probably more on Limit Control Switch than anyone wanted but...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Waterman / NASA Space Shuttle Main Engine Avionics
[email protected]
Disclaimer: This is NOT an Official NASA statement...I'm Just an Engineer
-------------------------------------------------------------------------       

================================================================================

From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: STS-55 Update
Date: 26 Mar 93 22:38:50 EST
Organization: NASA, Kennedy Space Center

STS-55 Update:

The Check Valve which Leaked has been Isolated to the one in the Oxidizer
Preburner Augmented Spark Igniter (ASI) Line. This is part of the line
which takes a small amount of LOX and some H2 in a cavity at the top of
the Oxidizer Preburner where two Spark Igniters supply the Ignition source
for the Oxidizer Preburner. This Check Valve has been removed
and flown back to the design center in California for Failure Analysis. 

The following is an UNOFFICIAL launch schedule (Pending outcome of the failure
analysis). Remember this is unofficial and subject to change but it is what
we are currently working to.

April 6  STS-56 OV-103 Discovery [Engines 2024/2033/2018]
    

April 23 STS-55 OV-102 Columbia  [Engines 2031/2109/2029]


May 18   STS-57 OV-105 Endeavour [Engines 2019/2034/2017]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Waterman / NASA Space Shuttle Main Engine Avionics
[email protected]
Disclaimer: This is NOT an Official NASA statement...I'm Just an Engineer
-------------------------------------------------------------------------    

               DAILY SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                         March 30, 1993
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
 
                              STS-55

SPECIAL TOPICS

STS-55:

     At Pad 39-A, the changeout of Columbia's three main engines
is underway.  Yesterday main engine #2 was removed and replaced.
Main engine #3 is being removed and replaced today. Main engine
#1 is scheduled to be removed and replaced on Wednesday.

 

       KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                      Friday, April 2, 1993

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
 
                             STS-55

Mission: STS-55/SL-D2                  Orbital Altitude: 160 nm
Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Location: Launch Pad 39-A              Crew Size: 7
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours      KSC Landing: May 3
Target Launch Date: NET April 24

IN WORK TODAY:
*  Securing of main engines following replacement
*  Hydraulic operations
*  Close rudder speed brake
*  Cavity purges
*  Preparations to open payload bay doors today to replace GAUSS
   camera film

WORK SCHEDULED:
*  Continue electrical checks on main engines
*  Reaction control system regulator flow checks (Tuesday)
*  Preparations to enter spacelab to service experiments
   (Thursday)

WORK COMPLETED:
*  Main engine installation
*  Thruster drying and inspections
*  Liquid hydrogen actuator hose leak checks

 

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                      Monday, April 5, 1993

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham

 
                               STS-55

Mission: STS-55/SL-D2                  Orbital Altitude: 160 nm
Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Location: Launch Pad 39-A              Crew Size: 7
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours      KSC Landing: May 3
Target Launch Date: NET April 24

IN WORK TODAY:
*  Securing of main engines following replacement
*  Hydraulic operations
*  Close rudder speed brake
*  Cavity purges
*  Preparations to open payload bay doors today to replace GAUSS
   camera film

WORK SCHEDULED:
*  Continue electrical checks on main engines
*  Reaction control system regulator flow checks (Tuesday)
*  Preparations to enter spacelab to service experiments
   (Thursday)

WORK COMPLETED:
*  Main engine installation
*  Thruster drying and inspections
*  Liquid hydrogen actuator hose leak checks

 

From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: STS-55 abort...
Organization: NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 1993 17:33:24 GMT

We've already discussed that a purge check valve in the Helium
purge system of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) caused the
STS-55 abort.  To give you some more insight into the kind of problem
we have to deal with on each Shuttle flight, I'm posting a couple
of pictures from the L-2 (Launch minus 2 days) review for STS-56.
At the STS-56 L-2 review, the STS-55 abort was examined to ensure
that there was not a generic flaw which could cause a similar
problem on STS-56.

The STS-55 abort was caused by a particle stuck in the purge check
valve.  This particle is a piece of an O-ring introduced at the time of
manufacturing and/or cleaning the valve.  Several years ago, the
tooling used to back-purge (clean) the valves had an O-ring problem:
normal operation of the tooling caused minute pieces of an O-ring to
flake off.  We detected and corrected that tooling problem back then (I
don't have the exact time frame), but some of the particles caused by
this bad tooling have evidently been floating around in the SSME
plumbing for several flights over several years, causing no damage.
But this time, a particle shook loose from whatever nook or cranny
it had been hiding in and migrated into the poppet.


-- Ken Jenks, NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office
      [email protected]  (713) 483-4368

     "Finxerunt animi, raro et perpauca loquentis."
     "To action little, less to words inclined."
        -- Horace


--------------------------------------
Pictures are available from:

  pragma::public:[nasa]sts-55_poppet.gif
                       sts-55.particle.gif


   [Note: Resolution is mediocre.  - dg]

     KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT
                      Friday, April 9, 1993

Mitch Varnes

 
                     STS-55

Mission: STS-55/Spacelab D-2
Vehicle: OV-102/ Columbia
Location: Launch Pad 39-A
TARGETED LAUNCH DATE: NET April 24

IN-WORK TODAY:

* Replacement and servicing of payloads inside Spacelab module
* Flight Readiness Test of orbiter's engines and aerosurfaces
* Helium Signature Test of orbiter's main propulsion system

WORK SCHEDULED:

* Continuation of Flight Readiness Test and Helium Signature leak checks
* Leak checks of Shuttle main engines

WORK COMPLETED:

* Payload bay doors opened
* Film replaced in GAUSS payload camera

 

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                     Monday, April 12, 1993

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham

 
                            STS-55

Mission: STS-55/SL-D2                 Orbital Altitude: 184 miles
Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Location: Launch Pad 39-A             Crew Size: 7
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours     KSC Landing: May 3
Target Launch Date: NET April 24


IN WORK TODAY:
*  Main engine securing and leak checks
*  Engine check valve leak checks
*  Helium signature leak check preparations
*  Open payload bay doors
*  Test microwave scanning beam landing system (MSBLS)
*  Power-up spacelab and conduct vent checks
*  Replace GAUSS camera film

WORK SCHEDULED:
*  Helium signature leak checks (Tuesday)
*  Orbital maneuvering system heater checks (Wednesday)
*  Preparations to enter spacelab to service experiments
   (Thursday)
*  External tank purges (Thursday)
*  Begin aft engine compartment closeouts (Thursday)
*  Close payload bay doors for flight (Friday)

WORK COMPLETED:
*  Main engine flight readiness test
*  Hydraulic operations
*  Electrical checks on main engines

 

          KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                     Tuesday, April 13, 1993

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham

 
                            STS-55

Mission: STS-55/SL-D2                 Orbital Altitude: 184 miles
Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Location: Launch Pad 39-A             Crew Size: 7
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours     KSC Landing: May 3
Target Launch Date: NET April 24
Launch Window: 10:52 a.m. - 12:22 p.m.

IN WORK TODAY:
*  Helium signature leak checks
*  Main engine leak checks

WORK SCHEDULED:
*  Continue engine check valve leak checks following helium sig-
   nature tests
*  Liquid hydrogen cavity purge
*  Orbital maneuvering system heater checks (Wednesday)
*  Preparations to enter spacelab to make final service of ex-
   periments (Thursday)
*  External tank purges (Thursday)
*  Begin aft engine compartment closeouts (Thursday)
*  Close payload bay doors for flight (Friday)

WORK COMPLETED:
*  Microwave scanning beam landing system (MSBLS) tests
*  Spacelab power-up and vent checks
*  Open payload bay doors
*  Helium signature leak check preparations
*  Main engine flight readiness test


 

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Wednesday, April 21, 1993

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham

 
                                STS-55

Mission: STS-55/SL-D2                 Orbital Altitude: 184 miles
Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Location: Launch Pad 39-A             Crew Size: 7
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours     KSC Landing: May 3
Target Launch Date: April 24
Launch Window: 10:52 a.m. - 1:22 p.m.

IN WORK TODAY:
*  Launch countdown preparations
*  Aft engine compartment confidence test and closeouts
*  Orbiter thruster cover removal
*  Solid rocket booster purges
*  Mobile launcher and pad washdown

WORK SCHEDULED:
*  Countdown begins at 4:00 p.m. today at the T-43 hour mark
*  Load fuel cell storage tanks with onboard cryogenic reactants

WORK COMPLETED:
*  Crew arrived at KSC at 9:30 a.m.
*  Spacelab trace contaminant purge
*  Hypergolic stabilization
*  Aerosurface positioning

 

      KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
 
                         STS-55 L-1 Day
                     Friday, April 23, 1993

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham


Mission: STS-55/SL-D2                 Orbital Altitude: 184 miles
Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Location: Launch Pad 39-A             Crew Size: 7
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours     KSC Landing: May 3
Launch Date: April 24                 Landing Time: 8:57 a.m.
Launch Window: 10:52 a.m. - 1:22 p.m.


     Operations at launch pad 39-A are continuing to run smoothly and without
problem for the launch of Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-55. Launch
remains on schedule to occur at the open- ing of the window at 10:52 a.m.
Saturday, April 24.

     The countdown clock is currently holding at T-11 hours.  This 12 hour, 32
minute built-in hold will last until 8:32 p.m. today.

     Rotation of the service structure away from the Shuttle vehicle remains
scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

     Following RSS rotation, crews will continue with the instal- lation of
time critical flight crew materials and perform pre- ingress switch list
checks.  Also, operations will commence to ac- tivate the fuel cells.

     This evening Mission Control, Houston, will configure and check
communication links between mission control, KSC, and the Shuttle Columbia.

     The countdown clock will enter the planned one hour hold at the T-6 hour
mark as last minute checks are made prior to loading the external tank with
over 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants.  Once
the pad is clear of all person- nel, tanking will begin at about 2:30 a.m.
tomorrow.  Following the three hour tanking operation, the "ice team" will be
deployed to the pad for final assessments of the vehicle.

     The seven members of the flight crew have been divided into two shifts for
around-the-clock operations once in orbit.  The blue team consists of commander
Steve Nagel, pilot Tom Henricks, mission specialist Jerry Ross and payload
specialist Ulrich Wal- ter.  The red team is mission specialists Charles
Precourt and Bernard Harris, and payload specialist Hans Schlegel.

     The weather forecast for launch tomorrow is very optimistic with Air Force
forecasters allowing a zero percent probability of violating launch constraints
during the window that opens at 10:52 a.m.  The 24 hour and 48 hour delay
predictions show a 10 percent chance of violation each day.





           SUMMARY OF HOLDS AND HOLD TIMES FOR STS-55

T-27 hours --- 4 hour hold ----------- Thurs. 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon
T-19 hours --- 4 hour hold ----------- Thurs. 8:00 p.m. - 12 mid.
T-11 hours --- 12 hour, 32 min. hold - Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 8:32 p.m.
T-6 hours ---- 1 hour hold ----------- Sat. 1:32 a.m. - 2:32 a.m.
T-3 hours ---- 2 hour hold ----------- Sat. 5:32 a.m. - 7:32 a.m.
T-20 minutes - 10 minute hold -------- Sat. 10:12 a.m.-10:22 a.m.
T-9 minutes -- 10 minute hold -------- Sat. 10:33 a.m.-10:43 a.m.



          SUMMARY OF STS-55 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES

Saturday
5:42 a.m. -------- Wake up
6:12 a.m. -------- Breakfast/Dinner
6:32 a.m. -------- Don flight equipment (PS1, PS2)
6:57 a.m. -------- Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
6:57 a.m. -------- Don flight equipment (MS1, MS3)
7:07 a.m. -------- Don flight equipment (CDR, PLT, MS2)
7:37 a.m. -------- Depart for launch pad 39-A
8:07 a.m. -------- Arrive at white room and begin ingress
9:22 a.m. -------- Close crew hatch
10:52 a.m. ------- Launch (April 24, 1993)



                     CREW FOR MISSION STS-55

Commander (CDR) Steve Nagel
Pilot (PLT) Tom Henricks
Mission Specialist (MS1) Jerry Ross
Mission Specialist (MS2) Charles Precourt
Mission Specialist (MS3) Bernard Harris
Payload Specialist (PS1) Ulrich Walter
Payload Specialist (PS2) Hans Schlegel



Blue Team:  Nagel, Henricks, Ross, Walter
Red Team:   Precourt, Harris, Schlegel

                 KSC SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT   4/25/93

 
             STS-55 L-1 Day (48-Hour Scrub Turnaround Recycle)
                        Sunday, April 25, 1993

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham


Mission: STS-55/SL-D2                 Orbital Altitude: 184 miles
Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Location: Launch Pad 39-A             Crew Size: 7
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours     KSC Landing: May 5
Launch Date: April 26                 Landing Time: 8:55 a.m.
Launch Window: 10:50 a.m. - 1:20 p.m.


     Following the 48-hour postponement of yesterday's launch at- tempt of the
Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-55, work to replace the faulty Inertial
Measurement Unit that caused the scrub has been completed.  While placing
Columbia's three IMU's into the operational mode prior to tanking, data was
displayed by IMU number 2 that was symptomatic of an intermittent power supply
problem.  Though this IMU was successfully tested, there was no assurance the
unit would not fail again.

     Today, operations at launch pad 39-A are continuing to run smoothly as
efforts are concentrated on testing the new IMU with the other two on board.
Testing will begin at about 4:00 p.m. today and should be completed within a
few hours.

     Also, the eight mid-deck lockers with time critical experi- ments have
been removed and are being restowed aboard Columbia today.  The last of the
lockers is scheduled to be installed at about 11:00 p.m. tonight.

     Later today crews will perform pre-ingress switch list checks and activate
the fuel cells.

     This evening Mission Control, Houston, will configure and check
communication links between Mission Control, KSC and the Shuttle Columbia.

     No other problems are being tracked at this time for the launch of Space
Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-55. Launch is on schedule to occur at the
opening of the window at 10:50 a.m.  Mon- day, April 26.

     At 8:30 p.m. tonight, the countdown clock will be at T-11 hours and
counting.  The countdown clock will enter the planned one hour hold at the T-6
hour mark as last minute checks are made prior to loading the external tank
with over 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants.
Once the pad is clear of all personnel, tanking will begin at about 2:30 a.m.
tomorrow.  Following the three hour tanking operation, the "ice team" will be
deployed to the pad for final assessments of the vehicle.

     The STS-55 flight crew has remained at KSC during this delay.  The seven
members of the flight crew have been divided into two shifts for
around-the-clock operations once in orbit.

     The weather forecast for launch tomorrow is optimistic with Air Force
forecasters allowing a 20 percent probability of violating launch constraints
during the window that opens at 10:50 a.m.  The primary concern is for a slight
chance of showers, mostly offshore.  The 24 hour delay prediction shows a 10
percent chance of violation.



      SUMMARY OF REMAINING HOLDS AND HOLD TIMES FOR STS-55

T-6 hours ---- 1 hour hold ----------- Mon. 1:30 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.
T-3 hours ---- 2 hour hold ----------- Mon. 5:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
T-20 minutes - 10 minute hold -------- Mon. 10:10 a.m.-10:20 a.m.
T-9 minutes -- 10 minute hold -------- Mon. 10:31 a.m.-10:41 a.m.



          SUMMARY OF STS-55 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES

Saturday
5:40 a.m. -------- Wake up
6:10 a.m. -------- Breakfast/Dinner
6:30 a.m. -------- Don flight equipment (PS1, PS2)
6:55 a.m. -------- Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
6:55 a.m. -------- Don flight equipment (MS1, MS3)
7:05 a.m. -------- Don flight equipment (CDR, PLT, MS2)
7:35 a.m. -------- Depart for launch pad 39-A
8:05 a.m. -------- Arrive at white room and begin ingress
9:20 a.m. -------- Close crew hatch
10:50 a.m. ------- Launch (April 26, 1993)



                     CREW FOR MISSION STS-55

Commander (CDR) Steve Nagel
Pilot (PLT) Tom Henricks
Mission Specialist (MS1) Jerry Ross
Mission Specialist (MS2) Charles Precourt
Mission Specialist (MS3) Bernard Harris
Payload Specialist (PS1) Ulrich Walter
Payload Specialist (PS2) Hans Schlegel



Blue Team:  Nagel, Henricks, Ross, Walter
Red Team:   Precourt, Harris, Schlegel

 

STS-55 Spacelab D-2 Mission    April 26, 1993

The space shuttle Columbia  lifted off at 9:50:00 a.m. CST into partly cloudy
Florida skies.  Mission Control Status Reports are generally issued
several hours after liftoff, and are usually updated on a 12 hour basis,
depending on mission events.  We will be posting these updates as they are
released.

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #1

Monday, April 26, 1993, 5:30 p.m. CDT

  Payload activities have started on board Columbia as the German Spacelab
mission gets underway following a flawless launch and smooth laboratory
activation.

Following the successful activation of the Spacelab module, Mission Specialist
Jerry Ross and Payload Specialist Ulrich Walter have initiated the Biolabor
experiments which study the effects of microgravity on a variety of biological
specimen including small frogs and fish.  The Biolabor facility represents 16
of the 88 experiments that make up the D-2 payload.

Columbia was launched from the Kennedy Space Center today at 9:50 a.m.  Central
and since that time has been functioning without any major systems anomalies.
Crew members, however, were required to switch to the backup orbiter
refrigerator/freezer when the primary unit began warming up early in the flight
because of a suspected blockage in that units freon system.  Astronauts
switched to the backup unit which has been functioning as expected.

The freezer unit is needed to preserve the blood and urine samples for the life
sciences experiments as well as some of the biological samples from Biolabor.
Its normal operating temperature ranges between -21 and -23 degrees Centigrade.

The seven-member crew is divided into two teams for 24-hour payload operations
for STS-55. The Red Team consisting of Mission Specialists Charlie Precourt and
Bernard Harris and Payload Specialist Hans Schlegel began a six- hour sleep
period shortly after Columbia arrived on orbit.  They will be awakened 7:20
p.m.  Central and, after a short handover from the Blue Team, will begin their
first full day of payload operations.  The Blue Team consisting of Commander
Steve Nagel, Pilot Tom Henricks, Ross and Walter will begin their sleep period
at 8:50 p.m.  Central.

Before the Red Team began their sleep period, Mission Manager Hauk Dodeck spoke
to the crew from the German Operations Control Center and extended
congratulations from German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Columbia currently is circling the Earth once every 90 minutes in a 163 by 161
n.m. orbit.
 

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #2

 
Tuesday, April 27, 1993, 6:30 a.m. CDT

Crewmembers aboard Columbia spent the night powering up new experiments
in the German Spacelab and continuing work with experiments that have
been ongoing since yesterday afternoon.

Columbia and all of the Spacelab equipment powered up so far are in
excellent shape.  Among the experiments performed during the night was
the fusion of plant cell protoplasts, a process of electrically fusing
plant cells, in most instances from tobacco plants selected because of
their cellular qualities, to create hybrid cells.

During the night, the materials processing lab rack, called MEDEA, also
was powered up.  The materials experments will focus on growing and
working with substances such as gallium arsenide crystals, used in
microcomputer chips and other electronic circuitry.

In addition, a stereo camera called MOMS mounted at the back of the
lab's exterior has been viewing various areas of Earth as Columbia
orbits, taking images that may allow maps of the terrain to be made
with a resolution of objects as small as a few yards across.  Another
lab area powered up is the Anthorack, an area that will focus on
medical investigations of the effects of weightlessness on humans.

A survey of Columbia's cargo bay with television cameras showed a loose
thermal blanket on the airlock hatch. The loose insulation blanket
poses no problems for the shuttle.  A similar situation occurred on
mission STS-40, and controllers may have to take a little extra care to
ensure the hatch doesn't become too hot or too cold.

Columbia fired its steering jets in a brief adjustment early yesterday
evening designed to optimize the shuttle's orbit.  The small firing had
the net effect of dropping the shuttle's orbital high point by 2
nautical miles.  Columbia is now in a 161 nautical mile circular orbit,
completing one orbit every 90 minutes.

STS-55 Status Report #3
MISSION CONTROL CENTER

Tuesday, April 27, 1993, 9:30 a.m. CDT


The Blue Team of Steve Nagel, Tom Henricks, Jerry Ross, and Ulrich Walter took
over the Orbiter operations and science laboratory work at about 7:30 a.m.

Overnight, the Red Team of Charlie Precourt, Bernard Harris and Hans Schlegel
continued experiment work with the fusion of plant cell protoplasts, a process
of electrically fusing plant cells from tobacco plants.  German scientists have
reported the first series of cell eletrofusion attempts were successful.
Results of this experiment may lead to new plant hybridizing procedures.

The first respiratory monitoring measurements were taken this morning on
Payload Specialist Ulrich Walter for the series of lung function studies
included in the Anthrorack experiments.  A series of measurements is planned
throughout the flight.  The complement of Anthrorack investigations is
coordinated to gather more information on the interdependent human biological
systems and how they affect each other in the microgravity environment.

The Flight Control team is consulting with engineers on the orbiter
refrigerator/freezer.  The primary OR/F was not cooling properly on flight day
one and was replaced with the backup unit.  Although the backup OR/F is
functioning well, mission managers and scientists strongly prefer having a
backup refrigerator/freezer ready to go on line should the other unit have
difficulties.  The stable preservation of biological samples is necessary for
the post-flight studies that will complete the human physiology experiments.

Columbia continues to perform well on its fourteenth mission.  Flight planners
expect to know by week's end if an extra day of science work will be available
should electricity-producing fuel margins be adequate.

-end-

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report  #4

Tuesday, April 26, 1993, 5 p.m. CDT

  Columbia passed a major milestone this afternoon as the shuttle fleet's
oldest orbiter, marking the 100th day of flight time in space.

Shortly after Columbia crossed the milestone at 1/06:18:34 Mission Elapsed
Time, STS-55 Commander Steve Nagel congratulated the teams that built and
maintain the orbiter.

"We've really got this laboratory cranked up," Mission Specialist Jerry Ross
told controllers at the German control center this afternoon.

Both Ross and Payload Specialist Ulrich Walter performed exercises that
measured and analyzed their exhaled gases.  The procedures are part of an
investigation of lung function for the suite of Anthrorack experiments.  Then,
both astronauts worked with experiments to study the crystallization of
different semi-conductor materials and the solidification of metallic
alloys.Pilot Tom Henricks also performed the first experiments to test the
reflexes that maintain blood pressure.

The afternoon also went smoothly for flight controllers in Houston. The flight
control team located a small nitrogen leak into the crew cabin, but a
troubleshooting procedure performed by crew members quickly isolated the leak
in the of the common manifold area.  The isolated leak will have no impact on
the operations of the orbiter's water tanks, but may affect the use of the
urine monitoring system.

During STS-55, the urine monitoring system is being used to collect samples for
the life sciences experiments and for a comparison test called Detailed
Supplementary Objective 323.  Because of the nitrogen leak isolation,
pressurized water will not be available for the UMS to completely clean itself
in between sample collections.The DSO 323 investigators have decided to
continue use of the UMS and payload operators in Germany are currently
discussing whether to switch to an alternate collection method or to continue
UMS operations knowing there may be some minor contamination between samples.

Columbia is currently in a 161 by 160 n.m. orbit.
 

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                     Tuesday, April 27, 1993

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham

 
                         STS-55

Mission: STS-55/SL-D2                 Orbital Altitude: 184 miles
Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102              Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours     Crew Size: 7
Launch Date/Time: April 26 at 10:50 a.m.
Scheduled KSC Landing Date and Time: May 5 at 8:53 a.m.

NOTE: Launch of Shuttle Columbia occurred on time and without
delay yesterday at 10:50 a.m. All launch operations proceeded
without problem. Landing is set for about 8:53 a.m. on Wednesday,
May 5. If sufficient onboard cryogenic fuels are available, the
mission may be extended one day.

                     CREW FOR MISSION STS-55

Commander: Steve Nagel
Pilot: Tom Henricks
Mission Specialists: Jerry Ross, Charles Precourt, Bernard Harris
Payload Specialists: Ulrich Walter, Hans Schlegel

Blue Team:  Nagel, Henricks, Ross, Walter
Red Team:   Precourt, Harris, Schlegel

 

pragma::public:[nasa]sts-55.nasa_select

(current as of flight day 3)


- dave

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #5


Tuesday, April 27, 1993, 10 p.m. CDT

Columbia's crew continued their science work on schedule in tandem with an
impromptu plumbing job aboard the spacecraft.

Flight controllers believe a stuck accordion-shaped bellows in the shuttle's
wastewater tank caused a pressure build-up that led to a nitrogen leak from the
tank.  Fluid and nitrogen are separated in the tank by the bellows device, with
fluid inside the bellows and nitrogen outside.  Nitrogen pumped into the tank's
exterior compartment causes the bellows to contract and thus pressurizes the
fluid so that it can be expelled overboard from the shuttle via an exterior
vent.

The crew quickly solved the wastewater problem by hooking up a contingency
water collection bag in place of the tank.  The tank will not be used for the
remainder of the flight.  The bag will hold all wastewater onboard, fed from
the toilet and the dehumidifiers, and let operations of those devices proceed
as normal.  The only difference will be a simple procedure to dump the bag's
contents overboard from Columbia every few days.

The crew also removed several floorboards from Columbia's lower deck to
visually inspect the waste tank and verified the damage to it.  The crew
confirmed that no fluid leaked from the tank and that the leak was of nitrogen
only.  Flight controllers immediately turned off the nitrogen supply to the
tank when the leak was spotted.  However, turning nitrogen off to the waste
tank also cut off the pressure to the four drinking water tanks onboard.

The pressure on the drinking water tanks now is only about half of normal, a
change that poses no problems except that water comes out from the galley
slower and dumps overboard a bit slower.  Still, a procedure that would allow
the drinking water tanks to be put back to full pressure by capping the line
leading to the now unused waste tank may be performed by the crew tomorrow.

The problems with the waste tank did not interrupt any science activities
onboard, and with with the back-up collection bag in place, the toilet onboard
performs exactly as normal.

Columbia is in a 161 by 160 nautical mile orbit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #6


Wednesday, April 28, 1993, 10 a.m. CDT

Columbia's Blue Team took over science investigations and Orbiter operations
today about 7 a.m.  CDT. The Red Team begins its sleep period at 9:30 a.m.
CDT.

Overnight, the contingency water collection bag has operated well as a
replacement for the waste water tank which has been shut down due to a nitrogen
leak.  No fluid leaked from the tank.  The nitrogen supply to the waste water
and drinking water tanks remains turned off.  Flight controllers are consulting
on a repair procedure that would cap the nitrogen line leading to the
now-unused waste tank, allowing flight controllers to turn back on the nitrogen
supply and fully pressurize the drinking water tanks.  The drinking water tanks
are currently pressurized to about half the normal level.  The supply water
flows into the galley and out through the dump nozzle at a slower rate, but is
still usable.  The Blue Team Orbiter crew, Steve Nagel and Tom Henricks, may be
asked to perform that task during the early part of their shift today.

The in-flight maintenance team also is reviewing a possible procedure to bring
back on line the primary Orbiter refrigerator/freezer.  The backup OR/F unit
was turned on Monday when the primary unit would not cool to the proper
temperature for preserving blood, urine and saliva samples being gathered
throughout the flight for the biological investigations.  Further evaluation
must be completed before the OR/F procedure can be scheduled.

Flight controllers are working on an additional list of instruments and systems
that might be powered down when not in use.  Mission managers want to conserve
the hydrogen and oxygen used by Columbia's fuel cells to generate electricity
for operating the vehicle's systems and the Spacelab experiments.  If
conservation measures are successful, an additional day of science operations
could be added to the end of the mission while still preserving the two weather
contingency days already held in reserve.

At 8:59 this morning, Pilot Tom Henricks sent a greeting to participants and
sponsors in the "Take Our Daughters to Work" event being held at JSC today.
Fifty JSC women engineers, scientists, computer experts and an astronaut will
present information about their work, participate in a special facilities tour
with the girls they are sponsoring, then take the girls to their workplaces for
an afternoon of observing the sponsors in their regular duties.  The program is
sponsored by JSC's Federal Women's Council and was initiated by the Ms.
Foundation, a national multi-issue public women's fund that supports efforts of
women and girls to govern their own lives.

  Columbia travels around the Earth every 90 minutes in a circular orbit of 162
nautical miles.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #7

Wednesday, April 28, 1993, 5:30 p.m. CDT

The STS-55 crew is closing the books on the waste water tank anomaly today as
they perform a procedure to isolate the suspect tank from the pressurization
system for Columbia's supply water tanks.

The procedure which got underway at about 5:15 p.m.  Central, required the crew
to install a quick disconnect device to the waste tank's nitrogen line.  Once
the quick disconnect is in place, crew members will be able to pressurize the
supply water tanks normally, returning the Urine Monitoring System, the
Personal Hygiene System and the galley to their normal operating modes.

Earlier today, the crew and flight control team members verified the
contingency waste collection bag installation by performing a short waste water
dump.  All systems worked as expected as more than 20 pounds of waste liquid
was expelled from the orbiter.

Payload activities also went well today as Mission Specialist Jerry Ross and
Payload Specialist Ulrich Walter performed materials science and biological
science experiments.  In one experiment, Walter used the fluid physics module
to vibrate columns of water so that pressure sensors could determine their
dynamics.  In the meantime, Ross worked with experiments that looked at the
diffusion rates of molten salts and used the Holographic Optics Laboratory for
investigations of heat mass and particle transport.

Walter and Ross also joined Commander Steve Nagel and Pilot Tom Henricks for an
in-flight press interview with two German television stations.

STS-55 element set GSFC-010 (orbit 48)

STS-55
1 22640U 93 27  A 93119.55437440 0.00044139  00000-0  12681-3 0   106
2 22640  28.4609 247.0889 0010670 278.6023  81.3380 15.91492930   483

Satellite: STS-55
Catalog number: 22640
Epoch time:      93119.55437440         (29 APR 93   13:18:17.95 UTC)
Element set:     GSFC-010
Inclination:       28.4609 deg
RA of node:       247.0889 deg          Space Shuttle Flight STS-55
Eccentricity:    0.0010670                  Keplerian Elements
Arg of perigee:   278.6023 deg
Mean anomaly:      81.3380 deg
Mean motion:   15.91492930 rev/day      Semi-major Axis: 6676.2366 Km
Decay rate:       0.44E-03 rev/day*2    Apogee  Alt:        304.97 Km
Epoch rev:              48              Perigee Alt:        290.73 Km


NOTE - This element set is based on NORAD element set # 010.
       The spacecraft has been propagated to the next ascending
       node, and the orbit number has been adjusted to bring it
       into agreement with the NASA numbering convention.

R.A. Parise, Goddard Space Flight Center

G.L.CARMAN

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #8


Thursday, April 29, 1993, 3 a.m. CDT

Columbia's crew has spent a quiet night forging ahead through a variety
of science experiments in the German Spacelab, including the first
powering up of a German Space Agency-developed robot arm.

The robotic experiment, called ROTEX, will investigate various methods
of controlling a robotic arm, including remotely controlled operations
from the ground, operations controlled by the crew aboard Columbia,
totally automatic operations and other modes.  The device will also
assist designers in evaluating how well they have planned for the
effects of weightlessness on the various joints and sensors of the arm
as well as the joystick controller for it.

Experiments in the physics of fluids in weightlessness and the behavior
of various dissolved solutions in zero-gravity also continued, as did
checks of plants, cells and the aquatic animals aboard.

Early yesterday evening, the crew capped a line that had fed nitrogen
into a now unused waste water tank on Columbia, thus allowing the
nitrogen system to be turned back on to fully pressurize Columbia's
potable water supply tanks.  That system is now in fully normal
operation.  Flight controllers did note a shut down of Columbia's flash
evaporator system, or FES, when a dump of excess potable water was
begun shortly afterward.  The excess water was then dumped overboard
via an exterior nozzle that dumps it much quicker than the FES does.

The FES is a preferred method for dumping water at times during this
mission because it dumps the water in much finer particles than the
usual nozzle dump, thus lessening the chance the dumped water would
contaminate any of the astronomical and Earth observation equipment.
Water can be dumped by the nozzle if Columbia moves to an orientation
that ensures the water stays clear of the cargo bay.

Flight controllers believe the FES may have ice in the core and can be
restarted by flushing it with warm water, a procedure that has been
done on several shuttle flights where similar problems occurred.
However, they are continuing to study that plan since there is no
urgent need for the FES.

Columbia is in a 161 by 160 nautical mile orbit, circling Earth each 90
minutes.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #9

Thursday, April 29, 1993, 11 a.m. CDT

Columbia continues to perform well on the fourth day of the D-2 German
Spacelab mission.  Electricity conservation measures initiated
yesterday have added more than three hours to the 16 hours of mission
extension time gained since launch.  The goal is to accumulate enough
extra fuel used to generate electricity to add one day onto the mission
for additional science work in the Spacelab module.  Mission managers
are optimistic that turning off equipment not critical to science work
or Orbiter operations will gain the electricity reserve needed for the
extra day.

The STS-55 crew held a press conference at 6:20 a.m. CDT with German
television reporters just before the handover from the Red Team to the
Blue Team of Steve Nagel, Tom Henricks, Jerry Ross and Ulrich Walter.

Henricks and Nagel performed a trim burn at 7:24 a.m. CDT using the
reaction control jets to slightly adjust Columbia's orbit from 161 x
160 nautical miles down to 161 x 158 nautical miles.  Columbia has been
gaining energy because of the small maneuvers to point the Modular
Optical Multispectral Scanner, known as  MOMS, at the Earth.  The
digital images will be used to produce topographical maps by automatic
data evaluation processes for the first time.  MOMS resolution permits
details of only a few yards to be recognizable.

While Ross and Walter work on the experiments in Spacelab, Henricks and
Nagel assembled a cable that will power both Orbiter
refrigerator/freezers.  The crew will periodically check temperatures
through a pair of multimeters to be hooked up along with the cable
during the second OR/F maintenance procedure, likely to be scheduled
late today or Friday.  Researchers would like to have the primary OR/F
back in operation as a back-up to the secondary unit that has been
operating since Monday.  The biological samples of blood, urine and
saliva require stable storage conditions until returned to medical
investigators in Germany and the US.

Flight controllers are studying options to thaw out a suspected ice
formation in the flash evaporator system's core.  Since the excess
supply water created by Columbia's fuel cells can be dumped through
exterior nozzles, it is not urgent to immediately turn on the FES.  A
procedure used on previous Shuttle missions when similar conditions
with the FES were encountered may be used later in the flight.  Warm
water can be flushed through the FES core to restart it.

At about 9:50 a.m. CDT, (MET 3/00.03), the cooling system radiator
panels were deployed on both payload bay doors.  The two forward
radiator panels on each payload bay door can be raised away from the
door to allow additional head rejection from both sides of the radiator
panel.  Radiators in the deployed position are about 30 percent more
efficient because they reject heat from both top and bottom.  With the
flash evaporator system shut down due to a suspected ice formation in
its core, the supplemental cooling will maintain the temperatures
required for Spacelab experiment operations.

Although the Flight Control team and the crew have had a few technical
problems with Columbia, mission managers expect no serious impact to
Columbia's full nine-day science mission.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #10

Thursday, April 29, 1993, 5 p.m. CDT
 

STS-55 Commander Steve Nagel and Pilot Tom Henricks are completing a
procedure to troubleshoot and possibly recover the primary orbiter
refrigerator/freezer.

The crew will measure seven different parameters for the primary
refrigeration unit including the inner temperature, input current,
evaporator temperature and motor temperature.  The entire 41-step
procedure was expected to take about three hours. The middeck
refrigerator began warming up shortly after Columbia arrived on orbit.
The unit was then powered down and experiment samples were stored in a
back-up unit which continues to operate normally.

Today, Henricks also tested the Crew Telesupport Experiment which is a
graphics device that will allow shuttle astronauts to interact with
ground controllers instantaneously.  Henricks and investigators were
unable to establish the communications link between the German
Operations Control Center and Columbia, but the equipment onboard
performed very well.

Nagel also made contact with cosmonauts on the Russian space station
Mir using Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment equipment. Nagel said the
two crews talked for about a minute and exchanged greetings and
congratulations. During the contact, Mir was about 51 n.m. above
Columbia over Indonesia.

In the Spacelab module, Mission Specialist Jerry Ross and Payload
Specialist Ulrich Walter continued with their D-2 payload activities.
Both astronauts completed respiratory tests and continued processing
the materials science investigations. Dr. Peter Sahm said the more than
200 German investigators were "extraordinarily satisfied" with the
experiments so far and reported that a 20 mm galium arsenide crystal,
the largest grown in space, has been grown in during the mission.

Columbia continues to operate well as it makes its 14th flight and is
currently circling the Earth in a 162 by 158 n.m. orbit.

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #11


Friday, April 30, 1993, 6 a.m. CDT

Columbia's Red Team science crew -- Mission Specialist Bernard Harris
and German Space Agency astronaut Hans Schlegel -- continued working on
schedule in the German Spacelab during the night while the spacecraft
caretaker -- Mission Specialist Charlie Precourt -- dealt with a few
minor glitches.

Lab work included monitoring the growth of cress roots in
weightlessness by Harris to investigate how the roots, which have the
ability to sense up and down, grow in an environment where those
directions don't exist. Ground controllers in Germany also continued
investigations into controlling the robotic arm experiment onboard,
called Rotex, driving the arm to grasp various objects. More work
remains scheduled with the arm.

Cameras in the cargo bay continued to photograph the Milky Way in
ultraviolet wide- angle images and to take stereo television of Earth
to be used in making highly detailed maps that can show areas in
wavelengths from the visible to infrared light.

What originally was thought to be a small cabin leak aboard Columbia,
is now believed to be normal, but flight controllers will continue to
closely watch the data to support their findings.

Precourt later successfully flushed Columbia's flash evaporator system,
or FES, with warm water to purge what was believed to be ice blocking
its operation.  The FES, a cooling system on the spacecraft sometimes
used to slowly dump excess water overboard, has operated normally after
the flush. The system had turned off during a water dump Tuesday
night.

Precourt also played a videotaped tour of the spacecraft's cabin given
by German astronaut Ulrich Walter for German controllers.   Columbia
remains in a 160 by 158 nautical mile orbit, and the Blue Team of crew
members will awaken at about 6:20 a.m. CDT.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #12

Friday, April 30, 1993, 10 a.m. CDT

The STS-55 Blue Team took over this morning from the Red Team at about
7 a.m. Central time.  Jerry Ross and Ulrich Walter had sessions on the
Anthrorack respiratory monitoring experiments.  These studies take
advantage of microgravity to learn more about lung function and the
body's regulating mechanisms under conditions not available to medical
researchers on Earth.

Later today, a procedure will be sent to the crew for cleaning up some
particles found floating in the sample chamber of one of the materials
processing experiments.  The experiment uses a sample encased in an
aluminum oxide ceramic mold.  When Red Team payload crew member Hans
Schlegel pulled the sample from its case, he noticed some of the
ceramic material had flaked off and a few particles were floating in
the chamber.  Schlegel returned the sample and case to the experiment
container and closed the door to prevent the particles escaping into
the Spacelab environment.  Flight controllers are working out the final
details of the clean-up procedure. Preliminary plans call for one or
two crew members to insert the portable vacuum cleaner hose into the
sample chamber opening and vacuum out the particles.  Crew members will
wear goggles and a mask to avoid any particles causing irritation of
the eyes or respiratory system.

Further analysis on yesterday's indications of a small leak of cabin
air showed the actual cause of the increased oxygen flow to be a change
in air temperature and not an air leak.  The change in oxygen flow was
detected by flight controllers yesterday over a period of about 12
hours, and the Red Team's Charlie  Precourt closed several valves in
Columbia's air system and on some lab workstations that had overboard
vents.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #13

Friday, April 30, 1993, 5 p.m. CDT
 
Houston flight controllers had a quiet afternoon Friday as Columbia
hummed along with no new systems anomalies, and controllers at the
German Operations Control Center have kept busy as STS-55 science
operations continue.

Mission Specialist Jerry Ross used the Holographic Optics Laboratory to
study Marangoni convection which causes fluid currents to move from low
pressure areas to high pressure areas. Investigators on the ground
watched the convection currents develop as particles in the HOLOP
started oscillating.

Also today, Ross and Payload Specialist Ulrich Walter performed some
respiratory procedures for investigations studying gas exchange within
the lung in microgravity. There are four experiments studying this
aspect of human physiology.

Later today, Payload Specialist Hans Schlegel will be the first subject
for a U.S. investigation that calls for injecting saline into each of
the payload crew members. The experiment examines the natural fluid
shifts that occur on orbit and disrupts those shifts with the fluid
infusion. The flight experiment, like many of the life science
investigations, will be supplemented with data collected before and
after the flight.

Pilot Tom Henricks, who has been off duty most of the day, will also
conduct some tests with the Crew Telesupport Experiment this evening.

German scientists are pleased with the science data that has been
collected so far in the. The 88 experiments are intended to study life
sciences, material sciences, technology applications, Earth
Observations, astronomy and atmospheric physics.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #14


Saturday, May 1, 1993, 8:30 a.m. CDT

Columbia performed trouble-free during the night and Mission Control
was fairly quiet as the crew continued experiments in the German
Spacelab -- including having the first space I.V. administered.

In the first run of an investigation hoped to provide insight into the
effects on various body systems of restoring the amount of body fluids
lost in the first days of space flight, Mission Specialist Bernard
Harris, M.D., assisted crewmate Hans Schlegel of the German Astronaut
Corps to take an infusion of about two liters of saline solution.  The
solution replaces body fluids that are lost as astronauts adapt to
weightlessness.  Once the fluid is infused, the echocardiograh is used
to study the heart, kidney, aorta, and femoral arteries responses to
the replacement of the fluid. The fluid will be gone from the body
within 24 to 36 hours after infusion.

For the investigation, an electrocardiograph, blood samples and
breathing evaluations are performed both before and after the saline
injection. Schlegel is the first of four crew members that will have
the saline injection and undergo the tests. Harris is scheduled for an
infusion later this morning.

Shuttle astronauts have had to drank large quantities of water prior to
their return home from a mission for several years as a method of
replacing the lost fluid and easing their return to gravity. The
infusion experiments may help validate whether bedrest studies done on
Earth to mimic the weightless effects are accurate as well.

Other than the infusion, Schlegel had a light work shift on the
spacecraft today as ground controllers provided him a mid-flight break
from the hectic Spacelab work. All crew members will be scheduled for
similiar breaks. Along with Harris and Schlegel, Mission Specialist
Charlie Precourt watched over Columbia during the night, maneuvering
the spacecraft when needed to point various cameras in the cargo bay at
stars or the Earth.

The blue team was awakened at 4:30 a.m. CDT and relieved the red shift
at about 6:30 a.m. CDT. A United States press conference with reporters
in Houston and Florida is scheduled for the blue team at 2:05 p.m. CDT
today.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------


MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #15


Saturday, May 1, 1993, 10 a.m. CDT

Payload Specialist Ulrich Walter of the German Astronaut Corps was the
second test subject today in an experiment that researchers hope will
provide insight into the effects on various body systems of restoring
body fluids lost in the first days of space flight. About two liters of
saline solution is infused through a catheter in an arm vein.  Jerry
Ross assisted Walter with the infusion procedure. Once the fluid is
infused,  the echocardiograh is used to study the heart, kidney, aorta,
and femoral arteries' responses to the replacement of the fluid. The
fluid will be gone from the body within 24 to 36 hours after infusion.

The whole protocol includes an electrocardiograph, blood samples and
breathing evaluations performed both before and after the saline
injection.  Mission Specialist Bernard Harris, M.D., will be the third
test subject for the investigation.  Jerry Ross has set up the
equipment and installed the saline bag in the warmer for Harris' test
which is scheduled for the Red Team's post-sleep period at 4:15 p.m.
CDT today.

Just before 9 a.m. CDT, Capcom Carl Meade asked Ross and Walter to
minimize opening the door of the orbiter refrigerator/freezer after
data indications that the OR/F compressor was running longer than usual
causing the compressor temperature to rise.  With the saline infusion
protocols being conducted this morning, numerous blood, urine and
saliva samples have been collected. The warm samples also contribute to
the compressor running longer. Although the temperature was within
normal limits, engineers are being conservative with the OR/F
operations since the other unit is not working.

After the Blue Team's lunch break today, Ross has a light work shift
for the remainder of his work day. Ground controllers scheduled
staggered mid-flight breaks from the hectic Spacelab work pace for each
payload crew member.   A United States press conference with reporters
in Houston and Florida is scheduled for the blue team at 2:05 p.m. CDT
today.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #17 


Sunday, May 2, 1993, 4 a.m. CDT

Columbia's crew smoothly went through their schedule of experiments
during the night as the shuttle continued to operate trouble-free.

Among the activities for the Red Team -- Mission Specialists Charlie
Precourt and Bernard Harris and German Space Agency Payload Specialist
Hans Schlegel -- were an infusion of saline for Harris; work with the
robotics experiment, Rotex; and continued studies of fluid dynamics in
zero-g.

Harris, with assistance from Schlegel, was the third crewmember to
undergo an injection of about two liters of saline solution in an
experiment that temporarily replaces body fluids astronauts lose as
they adapt to weightlessness.  Replacing the fluid quickly and taking
careful measurements such as an echocardiogram, blood samples and
breathing evaluations before and after the I.V. are hoped to give
insight into better ways to ease astronauts' return to gravity.

Harris reported his saline infusion was colder than body temperature
due to the fact that it had been removed from the warming tray for a
period of time before it was used.  Harris suggested that to ensure the
saline is at body temperature as desired for the experiment the saline
bags be removed from the warmer just before being injected.

The saline onboard is being given to the crewmembers at body
temperature only for scientific reasons -- to attempt to mimic as
closely as possible the way an astronaut's body is when he first
becomes weightless.  Room temperature saline poses no danger.  In fact,
saline is routinely administered at room temperature when it is used at
hospitals on Earth.

In working with Rotex, ground controllers in Germany reported to the
crew that the robot had performed a first by capturing a free floating
object in space via remote control from Earth.

The Blue Team of crewmen will awaken just after 4 a.m. central and
relieve the red shift at about 5:45 a.m. Columbia is in a 162 by 156
nautical mile orbit.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #18

Sunday, May 2, 1993, 10:30 a.m. CDT

Mission managers this morning decided to extend the STS-55 mission an
extra day to gather additional Spacelab science data.  The flight
control team and the astronaut crew have worked together over the last
3 days to conserve electrical power and have accumulated 25 hours
additional margin on the cryogenic fuels that produce electricity on
Columbia.  By continuing the power saving efforts for the rest of the
flight, controllers expect to accumulate up to 30 hours additional
electrical generation capacity.  Columbia is scheduled to land at
Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, May 6, 8:02 a.m. CDT.

Columbia's Blue Team awoke at 4 a.m. CDT to begin their seventh working
day in space. The STS-55 Commander Steve Nagel and Pilot Tom Henricks
exercised on the Spacelab's bicycle ergometer after the handover from
the Red Team to the Blue Team at 6 a.m. CDT.

Jerry Ross, with assistance from Ulrich Walter, was the fourth
crewmember to undergo an injection of about two liters of saline
solution in an experiment that temporarily replaces body fluids
astronauts lose as they adapt to weightlessness. Replacing the fluid
quickly and taking careful measurements such as an echocardiogram,
blood samples and breathing evaluations before and after the I.V. are
hoped to give insight into better ways to ease astronauts' return to
gravity.

The saline infusion is being administered warmed to body temperature
for scientific reasons -- to attempt to mimic as closely as possible
the way an astronaut's body is when he first becomes weightless. Room
temperature saline poses no danger. In fact, saline is routinely
administered at room temperature when it is used at hospitals on
Earth.

This afternoon, Nagel and Walter will have light work schedules for the
remainder of the day. Mission planners scheduled mid-fllight breaks
from the hectic Spacelab work pace for each crew member.

At about 3:45 a.m. CDT, the Mission Operations Computer stopped
processing data for about 15 minutes. Flight controllers are analyzing
the reason for the temporary loss of data displays in Mission Control.
However, no data were lost because all data are recorded as they are
downlinked from the Orbiter.  Preliminary analysis points to a
malfunction in a peripheral computer, the channel interface control
unit.  The CICU turned off data going into the MOC.  Engineers reset
the CICU, then brought on line a backup mission operations computer.
Presently, Mission Control is operating with both the primary MOC and
the fully-redundant backup unit. Once the malfunction analysis is
complete, one of the mission operations computers will be held in
standby.

Columbia's systems are operating well as it circles the Earth every 90
minutes in a slightly elliptical orbit of 162 by 156 nautical miles.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
Status Report #19
 
Sunday, May 2, 1993, 5 p.m. CDT

Ground controllers in Houston and Germany are beginning to develop
plans for a 10th day in space following mission managers' decision to
extend STS-55 one day.

Crew members have been taking measures for the last several days to
save enough energy for an extra day on orbit. Their efforts were
rewarded this morning when managers announced that Columbia's 14th
flight would end Thursday, May 6, with landing at the Kennedy Space
Center. Pre-flight planning included discussions about activities on an
extra day, but details of the 10th day will be developed over the next
few days.

This afternoon, Pilot Tom Henricks performed a variety of orbiter tasks
such as stowage of the Crew Telesupport Experiment and a waste water
dump. Mission Specialist Jerry Ross, however, was busy with materials
science and biology experiments. Earlier today, Ross was the final
subject in the saline infusion experiment that designed the study the
cardiovascular system in orbit.

Ross also provided additional information about the contents of the
orbiter refrigerator/freezer. Following those discussions, ground
controllers in Germany and Houston believe the unit has plenty of space
for the required urine and blood samples.

Following a handover from the "day shift" -- Commander Steve Nagel,
Henricks, Ross and Walter, the "night shift" -- Mission Specialists
Charlie Precourt and Bernard Harris and Payload Specialist Hans
Schlegel -- will begin another busy day of payload activities. All
seven crew members will participate in a conversation with German
Federal Minister of Research and Technology Matthias Wissman at 5:20
a.m. CDT, followed by a press conference.

Columbia continues to work with no new systems anomalies in a 162 by
156 orbit.

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Thursday, April 29, 1993

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)

 
                            STS-55

Mission: STS-55/SL-D2       Orbital Altitude: 184 miles
Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102    Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours     Crew Size: 7
Launch Date/Time: April 26 at 10:50 a.m.
Scheduled KSC Landing Date/Time: May 5 at 8:53 a.m.

NOTE: The Shuttle Columbia remains on orbit. Landing is set for
about 8:53 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5, at KSC. If sufficient on-
board cryogenic fuels are available, the mission may be extended
one day. 

              CREW FOR MISSION STS-55

Commander: Steve Nagel
Pilot: Tom Henricks
Mission Specialists: Jerry Ross, Charles Precourt, Bernard Harris
Payload Specialists: Ulrich Walter, Hans Schlegel

Blue Team:  Nagel, Henricks, Ross, Walter
Red Team:   Precourt, Harris, Schlegel

 

MCC Status Report #20

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #20

Monday, May 3, 1993, 6 a.m. CDT

Columbia's crew remained on schedule as they worked through various
experiments in the German Spacelab and tended to several housekeeping chores.

German Space Agency Payload Specialist Hans Schlegel manipulated the Rotex
robotic arm from onboard Columbia, using a hand controller and wearing special
goggles that provided three-dimensional views from TV cameras mounted on the
robot's gripping mechanism.  Schlegel gave ground controllers at the German
Space Operations Control Center an overview of the robot controls onboard as he
evaluated them.

In addition, Schlegel, along with fellow lab crewman Bernard Harris, closely
watched the meals they ate and later took a trace substance as part of an
experiment that tracks the amount of nitrogen in the body in weightlessness.
Work with melting metals and studying plant cells also continued in experiments
onboard, as did studies of the behaviour of fluids in weightlessness.

The crew also organized the blood and urine samples in the freezer aboard the
spacecraft to move the empty racks in the freezer to the front and assist in
keeping down the amount of time required to store new samples inside.  The
samples in the freezer were disorganized because the crew has been keeping the
door open for very short periods of time as samples are stored, thus most
samples were in front and most empty spaces in the back of the unit.

The contingency waste bag that wastewater is flowing into aboard Columbia also
was moved to a wet trash compartment under the middeck floor that provides good
ventilation to reduce any odors from the bag.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STS-55 Status Report #21

Monday, May 3, 1993, 10:30 a.m.  CDT

The STS-55 crew held an on-orbit press conference with German news media at
5:20 CDT this morning.

The Blue Team of Steve Nagel, Tom Henricks, Jerry Ross and Ulrich Walter took
over Spacelab experiment work and Orbiter operations at 6 a.m.  CDT.

Walter, along with Harris and Schlegel of the Red Team, are test subjects this
morning for a study of the whole-body nitrogen turnover.  Investigators want to
further understand the interaction beween the observed loss of nitrogen and
muscle function and size under micro gravity conditions.  In preparation for
the study, the astronauts monitored their diets before the Shuttle mission so
that investigators could determine each one's 24-hour energy requirements and
dietary composition.  For the test, the astronauts ingest a special tracer
amino acid that will show up in the blood and urine samples collected over a
12-hour period during which they eat special meals that provide specified
amounts of nutrients.

Other experiments underway this morning include measurements of the body's
blood pressure regulating system, and a cell polarity and gravity study.
Garden cress roots are being studied to determine how much the absence of
gravity affects cellular development in the roots.

Columbia is performing well.  Power management measures are being followed to
maintain cryogenic fuel margins for the extra day of science operations added
to the flight.

Houstonians will be able to see Columbia pass overhead on Tuesday morning at
5:58 a.m.  CDT. Columbia can be seen for about two minutes 15 degrees above
west-southwest traveling to 57 degrees above south-southeast.

-end-

STS-55
1 22640U 93 27  A 93123.25305914 0.00042450  00000-0  11791-3 0   181
2 22640  28.4600 219.3897 0013548 312.9549  46.9926 15.92061423  1076

Satellite: STS-55
Catalog number: 22640
Epoch time:      93123.25305914         (03 MAY 93   06:04:24.31 UTC)
Element set:     GSFC-018
Inclination:       28.4600 deg
RA of node:       219.3897 deg          Space Shuttle Flight STS-55
Eccentricity:    0.0013548                  Keplerian Elements
Arg of perigee:   312.9549 deg
Mean anomaly:      46.9926 deg
Mean motion:   15.92061423 rev/day      Semi-major Axis: 6674.6472 Km
Decay rate:       0.42E-03 rev/day*2    Apogee  Alt:        305.30 Km
Epoch rev:             107              Perigee Alt:        287.22 Km


NOTE - This element set is based on NORAD element set # 018.
       The spacecraft has been propagated to the next ascending
       node, and the orbit number has been adjusted to bring it
       into agreement with the NASA numbering convention.

R.A. Parise, Goddard Space Flight Center

G.L.CARMAN



STS-55
FLIGHT DAY 8 STATE VECTOR
ON ORBIT OPERATIONS
(Posted 05/03/93 by Roger Simpson)

The following vector for the flight of STS-55 is provided by NASA Johnson Space
Center, Flight Design and Dynamics Division for use in ground track plotting
programs.  The vector represents the trajectory of Columbia during on orbit
operations, after the OMS-2 maneuver.  The vector assumes an on time launch.
Questions regarding these postings may be addressed to Roger Simpson, Mail Code
DM4, L. B. J. Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058.


Lift off Time : 1993/116/14:49:59.981
Lift off Date : 04/26/93

Vector Time (GMT) : 123/15:19:59.981
Vector Time (MET) : 007/00:30:00.000
Orbit Count : 113
Weight : 238858.0 LBS
Drag Coefficient : 2.00
Drag Area : 1208.5 SQ FT

     M50 Elements                           Keplerian Elements
-----------------------                 --------------------------
X    =     -430891.4  FT                A          = 3605.7655 NM
Y    =   -20091036.2  FT                E          = 0.001478
Z    =     8662545.6  FT                I  (M50)   =  28.30985 DEG
Xdot =  24384.743348  FT/S              Wp (M50)   =  19.46285 DEG
Ydot =   2313.796309  FT/S              RAAN (M50) = 215.61776 DEG
Zdot =   6636.438369  FT/S            / N (True)   =  37.12301 DEG
                           Anomalies  \ M (Mean)   =  37.02090 DEG

                                        Ha         = 162.086   NM
                                        Hp         = 155.289   NM

Mean of 1950 (M50)   : Inertial, right-handed Cartesian system whose
Coordinate System      origin is the center of the earth.  The epoch
                       is the beginning of the Besselian year 1950.
                       X axis: Mean vernal equinox of epoch
                       Z axis: Earth's mean rotational axis of epoch
                       Y axis: Completes right-hand system
A:    Semi-major axis
E:    Eccentricity                         N:    True anomaly
I:    Inclination                          M:    Mean anomaly
Wp:   Argument of perigee                  Ha:   Height of apogee
RAAN: Right ascension of ascending node    Hp:   Height of perigee

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #22

Monday, May 3, 1993, 5 p.m. CDT

Pilot Tom Henricks and Houston ground controllers successfully transferred
graphic images this afternoon to and from Columbia with the Crew Telesupport
Experiment for the first time.

In a test with the interactive graphics system, technicians in Houston
successfully sent three messages to the orbiter.  Henricks responded with two
messages.  The activity was the first two-way transmission with the experiment.
Previous transmissions resulted only in a single image successfully transmitted
from Columbia.

Also today, end-of-mission plans are firming up as controllers in Houston and
Germany prepare for an extra day of science this week.

The additional time will help investigators replace lost data and improve
degraded data as well as provide additional information.  Houston flight
controllers, in the meantime, have been identifying activities for the orbiter
crew and discussing the deorbit and landing options.

With the Kennedy Space Center as the prime landing site, equipment to gather
post-flight medical information has been shipped to Florida. Because of the
decreased ability to collect such information if landing were to occur at the
Edwards Air Force Base, mission managers are working to optimize the landing
opportunities to KSC.

Also this afternoon, payload activities kept Mission Specialist Jerry Ross and
Payload Specialist Ulrich Walter busy.  Ross worked with materials science
experiments to develop crystals from semiconductor material and Walter
performed experiments studying the effects of polarization of cress plants in
microgravity.  Both payload crew members participated in an investigation which
required that the astronauts ingest a special tracer amino acid that shows up
in the blood and urine samples.  The study is focusing on the interaction
between the observed loss of nitrogen and muscle function and size under
microgravity conditions.

Columbia continues to operate without new systems anomalies as it circles the
Earth in a 162 by 157 n.m. orbit.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #23


Tuesday, May 4, 1993, 2:30 a.m. CDT

Columbia's crew continued on schedule through a busy slate of human life
sciences experiments in the German Spacelab during the night, including an
investigation of lung function in weightlessness and the body's reactions to
glucose in weightlessness.

Mission Specialist Bernard Harris and German Space Agency astronaut Hans
Schlegel started out their 12-hour workshift without breakfast to perform a
glucose experiment that studies how much insulin an astronaut's body produces.
The two took a dose of glucose and then had three blood samples each taken over
the next hour and a half.  They then had a late breakfast.

Next, Schlegel and Harris performed a series of breathing evaluations designed
to study the function of the lungs in space.  Breathing measurements of both
crewmen were made first at rest and then while exercising on a stationary
bicycle.

Mission Control lost communications with Columbia for about an hour and 20
minutes after an errant command was sent to the spacecraft by controllers.  The
command caused the shuttle's Ku-band dish antenna to lose track of the
communications satellite as the antenna was being switched from pointing to a
satellite over the Pacific Ocean to point at a satellite over the Atlantic.
Once communications were lost, flight controllers had to stand by for the crew
to recognize the lack of communications and then perform a procedure to restore
them.  All communications equipment on the spacecraft and on the ground is
functioning normally.

Columbia is in a 162 by 156 nautical mile orbit, circling Earth every 90
minutes, 34 seconds.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #24

Tuesday, May 4, 1993, 10:30 a.m. CDT

The Blue Team took over the Spacelab science experiments at 7:30 central time
this morning.  Red Team Mission Specialist Bernard Harris participated in a
television interview as part of a medical conference at the Mayo Clinic at 7:40
a.m.  CDT.

Payload Commander Jerry Ross and German Space Agency astronaut Ulrich Walter
started out their 12-hour workshift without breakfast to perform a glucose
experiment that studies how much insulin an astronaut's body produces.  The two
took a dose of glucose and then had three blood samples each taken over the
next hour and a half.

Next, Ross and Walter will perform a series of breathing evaluations designed
to study the function of the lungs in space.  Breathing measurements of both
crewmen will be made first at rest and then while exercising on a stationary
bicycle.

Nagel and Henricks both exercised on the bicycle ergometer earlier this
morning.  In between maneuvering Columbia to the various attitudes for the MOMS
camera observations, the inertial measurement alignments and the supply water
dump, Nagel and Henricks assisted the payload crew with experiment setups and
stowage.

Ross and Walter have stepped through several tasks on the experiments on the
behavior of various dissolved solutions in microgravity as well as checks of
plants and fungi growth studies.

At 10:03 a.m.  CDT Tom Henricks reported the screen of CRT 4 went blank.
Henricks cycled the power switch to the CRT, but the screen stayed blank.  Data
processing system engineers are evaluating the malfunction and may consider
sending commands to reload the computer's software.

Columbia's and the Spacelab's systems are operating well.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STS-55 Status Report #25
Tuesday, May 4, 1993, 5 p.m.  CDT


Extension day science will start flowing down from Columbia this evening as the
Red Team begins working through the science activities planned for the extra
day on orbit.

The Red Team will start their payload activities about 9 p.m.  Central.
Materials science investigations will then continue with MEDEA furnaces
developing gallium arsenide crystals for semiconductor research and with
Werkstofflabor devices forming liquid columns for fluid physics studies.
Mission Specialist Bernard Harris and Payload Specialist Hans Schlegel also
perform procedures for a study of the reflexes in the neck that control blood
pressure and heart rate, execute experiment protocols for investigations of
lung function in space, and take measurements of body tissue thickness for a
study of the natural fluid shift that occurs on orbit.

The Blue Team astronauts will have similar activities planned for them when
they start their next shift.

Preparations for landing will begin Wednesday with the checkout of Columbia's
aerodynamic surfaces at 5:05 a.m.  Central and a test firing of the orbiter's
steering jets at 6:05 a.m.  Central. Following the completion of those
activities, Commander Steve Nagel and Pilot Tom Henricks will begin stowing
some of the orbiter equipment for the return home.

Today Blue Team members Jerry Ross and Ulrich Walter continued materials
science, life science and biology experiments.  Henricks stowed the Crew
Telesupport Experiment for the remainder of the mission.

In Houston, forecasters are keeping an eye on Florida weather conditions for
landing day.  Currently, the primary concern for landing is low clouds at the
Kennedy Space Center.

Columbia continues to work without major systems anomalies.  It is circling the
Earth once every 90 minutes in a 163 by 154 n.m. orbit.

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #26

Wednesday, May 5, 1993, 2:30 a.m CDT

Columbia's crew continued a steady rhythm of experiments overnight, with
members of the red shift onboard smoothly flowing through their 10th shift of
the mission.

The science work for Mission Specialist Bernard Harris and German Space Agency
Payload Specialist Hans Schlegel included continued monitoring of materials
experiments dealing with the creation of gallium arsenide crystals, a computer
chip material being studied to obtain it in a purer form than available on
Earth; studies of the behavior of fluids and convection currents in
weightlessness; and research on the effects of microgravity on the human body.

While Harris and Schlegel performed the lab work, crewmate Charlie Precourt
oversaw operations of the spacecraft.  Precourt stowed the shuttle's radiators
back into their latched position along the interior of the payload bay doors
without trouble late yesterday.  The radiators had been deployed from their
stowed position earlier in the flight to provide extra cooling for the shuttle
and laboratory.

The blue shift will awaken just after 3 a.m. central and relieve their fellow
crewmen at about 5 a.m.  Among the first activities for the blue team will be
to perform a standard day-before-entry checkout of the equipment Columbia will
use to return home to the Kennedy Space Center Thursday morning with a
scheduled touchdown at about 8:03 a.m. central.  The weather forecast for
landing at present is favorable except for a slight chance of low clouds and
rainshowers in the vicinity of Kennedy.

Columbia is in an orbit with a high point of 163 nautical miles and a low point
of 154 nautical miles.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #27

Wednesday, May 5, 1993, 10:30 a.m. CDT

Columbia's commander Steve Nagel and Pilot Tom Henricks began their tenth
work day in space with a standard day-before-entry checkout of the flight
control systems followed by the reaction control system hotfire test at 6 a.m.
CDT. All the systems worked well for the FCS checkout which tests the Orbiter's
aerosurfaces used to control Columbia as it enters the Earth's denser lower
atmosphere.  The RCS hotfire test verifies that Columbia's small steering jets
are in good working order for Thursday's 8:03 a.m.  CDT landing at Florida's
Kennedy Space Center.

Henricks completed an intense exercise session as the test subject for a study
of the effects of intense exercise performed 18 to 24 hours before landing.
Investigators want to determine if one high intensity exercise session on a
stationary bicycle performed before landing can restore cardiovascular fitness
to preflight levels.  Henricks also completed a high intensity exercise session
on flight day 3.  Results of the two tests will be compared with exercise tests
conducted before and after the mission.

The payload crew of Jerry Ross and German Astronaut Ulrich Walter continued
studies of lung function as part of the research into the effects of
microgravity on the human body.  Walter also is working on fluid physics
experiments while Ross is operating the ROTEX, a six-jointed robotics arm.

Columbia and the Spacelab systems are performing well with no major problems.

At 10:01 a.m.  CDT today, the Space Shuttle Program accumulated one year of
total flight time during Columbia's fourteenth flight.  This milestone occurs
during the fifty-fifth Shuttle mission in the program that began April 12,
1981, with Columbia's first flight.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #28

Wednesday, May 5, 1993, 5 p.m. CDT


Blue Team crew members finished their science activities this afternoon and
began stowing the Spacelab equipment as STS-55 enters its final hours.

Before starting to stow the equipment, Jerry Ross and Ulrich Walter removed a
sample from the Heating Facility for Turbine Blades in the Werkstofflabor and
initiated the final processing activity.  Ross deactivated the MEDEA materials
science instruments and Walter deactivated the ROTEX robotic arm and Biolabor
biology experiments.  Crew members also completed the final data takes for an
experiment that assesses the effects of weightlessness on the reflex that
controls the body's heart rate and blood pressure.

The Red Team will be responsible for the final close out of the D-2 experiments
and laboratory.  Deactivation of the lab module will begin at about 11:35 p.m.
Central tonight and will take about two hours.  The Red Team will then complete
the final stowage of the crew cabin equipment before the deorbit activities
begin.

Columbia is currently scheduled to fire its two orbital maneuvering system
engines at 7:01 a.m.  Central on Orbit 158 to bring the orbiter and crew home
to Kennedy Space Center's Runway 33 at 8:03 a.m.  Central. A back-up
opportunity on Orbit 159 would result in a landing at the Edwards Air Force
Base at 9:29 a.m.  Central.

Weather conditions are expected to be dynamic in Florida Thursday, and
forecasters will be watching the situation until landing time.  The primary
concerns for the weather team are low clouds and rain showers in the area.
California is expected to have acceptable weather.

Columbia continues to operate without any anomalies that will affect landing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-55 Status Report #29

Thursday, May 6, 1993, 2:30 a.m. CDT

Columbia's crew bid researchers at the German Space Operations Control Center
in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, "aufweiderzehen" and shut down the Spacelab
module and connecting tunnel without incident, sealing them up for today's trip
home.

Columbia will have two opportunities to land today.  The first and the
preferred one, if weather permits, is at Florida's Kennedy Space Center with a
touchdown at about 8:03 a.m.  CDT. The second, which may be used if the weather
forecasts are poor for Florida as the morning wears on, is at California's
Edwards Air Force Base with a touchdown at about 9:30 a.m.  CDT.

For a Florida landing, Columbia's engines would fire at 7:05 a.m. to begin its
descent.  For a California landing, Columbia's engines would fire one orbit
later, at about 8:31 a.m. central.

As of early this morning, the weather forecast for Florida called for possible
low cloud cover and rain showers in the vicinity, however, flight controllers
will continue to get updates to the forecast as Columbia's flight moves through
its final hours.  The forecast for California called for scattered, high cloud
decks and winds favorable for a landing.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STS-55 LANDING STATEMENT   5/6/93

The STS-55 Spacelab D-2 mission came to a conclusion this morning after
completing 160 orbits, and traveling over 4.1 million miles.

Columbia's main gear touched down at 9:30 CDT on runway 22 at Edwards Air
Force Base in California.  Columbia was scheduled to land at the Shuttle
Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but was diverted to the
alternate landing site at Edwards due to unacceptable weather conditions.

 

5/06/93:  STATEMENT BY NASA ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL S. GOLDIN

Allen Clark
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.


(following the successful landing of STS-55/Spacelab D2)


        I would like to congratulate the German Space Agency on the successful
flight of the German Spacelab D-2 mission.  Astronauts Ulrich Walter, Hans
Schlegel and the entire German Aerospace Establishment (DLR) team should be
extremely proud of their contributions to the success of this mission.

        I am looking forward to the results from this mission's numerous
experiments in microgravity and life sciences.  These results will be important
in preparing for our work together on the Space Station.

re .98
    
>Columbia's crew bid researchers at the German Space Operations Control Center
>in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, "aufweiderzehen"
    
    Close but no cigar.
    
    auf Wiedersehen

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                                Monday, May 10, 1993

KSC Contact: Mitch Varnes
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)

 
                            STS-55
Mission: STS-55/SL-D2
Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102
Crew Size: 7
Launch Date/Time: April 26 at 10:50 a.m.
Landing Place/Time: May 6 at 10:29 a.m. EDT at Edwards Air Force
Base, Calif.

Post-landing servicing of the Space Shuttle Columbia is continu-
ing on schedule at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.  The
aerodynamic tail cone will be placed around the orbiter's engines
today.  Columbia and its 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft are
scheduled to begin the cross-country ferry flight to the Kennedy
Space Center tomorrow morning.  Weather permitting, Columbia will
fly from California to Biggs Army Air Field, near El Paso, Texas,
for an overnight stopover.  The duo will leave Texas Wednesday
morning and should be back at KSC by late afternoon on Wednesday.

 

 
STS-55 MISSION HIGHLIGHTS
 
An Educational Publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
MH-019/5-93
 
Space Shuttle Columbia
April 26 - May 6, 1993
 
Commander: Steven R. Nagel (COL, USAF)
Pilot: Terence T. Henricks (COL, USAF)
Payload Commander: Jerry L. Ross    (COL, USAF)
Mission Specialist: Charles J. Precourt, (LTC, USAF)
Mission Specialist: Bernard A. Harris, Jr. (M.D.)
Payload Specialist: Ulrich Walter (Ph.D.)
Payload Specialist: Hans W. Schlegel (Physicist)
 
Major Mission Accomplishments
 
* Completed the second flight of the German microgravity research program of
Spacelab missions.  The U.S. and Germany gained valuable experience for future
space station operations.
 
* Conducted 88 experiments to study life sciences, material sciences,
technology applications, Earth observations, astronomy, and atmospheric
physics.
 
* Surpassed the 365th day in space for the Space Shuttle fleet.  Also surpassed
the 100th day of flight time in space for Columbia, the fleet's oldest Orbiter
on its fourteenth flight.
 
* Conserved enough electrical power to extend the mission one full day for
further science investigations.
 
* Conducted amateur radio contacts with schools around the world using both
American and German radio experiments.  Also participated in a Space Medicine
conference with the Mayo Clinic.
 
* Conducted the first tele-robotic capture of a free floating object by flight
controllers in Germany.
 
* Conducted the first intervenus saline solution injection in space as part of
an experiment to study the human body's response to direct fluid replacement as
a countermeasure for amounts lost during space flight.
 
* Successfully completed an in-flight maintenance procedure for collection of
orbiter waste water allowing the mission to continue .
 
        The Flagship of the Space Shuttle fleet, Columbia, successfully roared
into orbit leaving behind technical problems which delayed the launch for a
month.  Columbia carried to orbit the second reusable German Spacelab on the
STS-55 mission and demonstrated the shuttle's ability for international
cooperation, exploration, and scientific research in space.  The Spacelab
Module and an exterior experiment support structure contained in Columbia's
payload bay comprised the Spacelab D-2 payload. (The first German Spacelab
flight, D-1, flew on an earlier Shuttle mission in October 1985.)
 
        The D-2 mission, as it was commonly called, augmented the German
microgravity research program started by the D-1 mission.  The German Aerospace
Research Establishment (DLR) had been tasked by the German Space Agency (DARA)
to conduct the second mission.  DLR, NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and
agencies in France and Japan contributed to D-2's scientific program.  Eleven
nations participated in the experiments.  Of the 88 experiments conducted on
the D-2 mission, four were sponsored by NASA.
 
         The crew worked in two shifts around-the-clock to complete
investigations into the areas of fluid physics, materials sciences, life
sciences, biological sciences, technology, Earth observations, atmospheric
physics, and astronomy.  Many of the experiments advanced the research of the
D-1 mission by conducting similar tests, using upgraded processing hardware, or
implementing methods that take full advantage of the technical advancements
since 1985.  The D-2 mission also contained several new experiments which were
not previously flown on the D-1 mission.
 
        The experiments themselves involved everything from the inward
examination of the human body in microgravity to the outward exploration of the
Milky Way. The operations of the D-2 Spacelab complement of experiments were
directed from the German Space Operations Center in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
The German operations team worked with flight controllers at the Johnson Space
Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Goddard Space Flight Center. Some of
the experiments conducted on the D-2 mission and their results are further
described below.
 
Spacelab Module Experiments
 
Robotic Technology Experiment (ROTEX)
        The ROTEX used a robotic arm working in an enclosed workcell.  The
crewmembers, German flight controllers, and robot itself took turns at
manipulating objects using the arm to simulate various tasks which may be
required of robots working in space.  The ROTEX experiment successfully
completed all its objectives.  Flight controllers in Germany were even able to
demonstrate the robot's ability to capture free floating objects using ground
commanding.
 
Werkstofflabor - "Materials Sciences Laboratory"
        Holding almost one-fourth of the D-2 experiments, this facility housed
five furnaces, a fluid physics module, and a crystal growth module.  Many of
the experiments reconfirmed research from the first German Spacelab mission.
The Isothermal Heating Facility, Turbine Blade Facility, High Temperature
Thermostats (2), and Gradient Heating Facility furnaces were used for
investigating materials and processes such as: metallic alloys, diffusion,
solidification of alloys and metal-ceramic composites, and crystal growth.  In
one of the experiments, the crew was able to produce a monotectic alloy of
bismuth-aluminum.  Bismuth drops were placed into an aluminum melt and remained
in place during solidification.  This is impossible to perform on Earth due to
the higher specific gravity of bismuth which sinks in aluminum.  These types of
alloys are excellent candidates for bearings which can withstand higher loads
and temperatures and improve efficiency.
 
        The Advanced Fluid Physics Module provided a precision apparatus for
establishing a containerless column of fluid between two parallel coaxial
discs, allowing for disturbances to be applied for the study of the fluid's
behavior.  The Cryostat experiment attempted to grow high-quality crystals of
biochemical macromolecules by diffusion of proteins into corresponding saline
solutions.  These crystals will be used to determine the geometric structures
of the molecules on the atomic scale using X-ray diffraction.
 
Holographic Optics Laboratory (HOLOP)
        The investigation of heat transfer and of cooling processes in
transparent materials (such as fluids, salt solutions, and solvents) is of
great interest for research into metallurgy and casting.  The HOLOP facility
operated with laser light in order to make the processes easily visible.  The
HOLOP facility not only completed its science objectives, but also demonstrated
the first use of telescience.  Telescience allowed the scientists on the ground
to visually observe and send up computer commands to make real-time adjustments
to experiment parameters.  The telescience operations (over 600 commands were
issued) were considered by the German experimenters as a precursor to Space
Station operations and deemed extremely successful.
 
Anthrorack
        Anthrorack, from the Greek word "anthropos" meaning human being, was a
sophisticated medical research facility which was used in some 20 different
experiments.  Different organs of the body and their controlling mechanisms
were investigated.  Two of the NASA sponsored experiments utilized the
Anthrorack facility to study the effects of microgravity on cardiovascular
regulation and lung function.  A noteworthy result of pulmonary phenomena was
that lung perfusion is not as homogenous in microgravity as expected.  Theory
predicted that carbon dioxide and oxygen in the lungs would be more evenly
distributed providing for greater efficiency.  A potentially very practical
improvement in medical diagnostics was also developed for the Anthrorack.
Crewmembers used a small accelerometer (normally used to measure mechanical
jitters) placed on the skin below the heart to measure the heart's pumping
power.  The standard method used for many years for this measurement required
intrusive methods.
 
Materials Sciences Double Rack for Experiment Modules and Apparatus
(MEDEA)
        The MEDEA was another facility containing two furnaces and one high
precision thermostat for the investigation into critical point phenomena,
directional solidification of metallic crystals, and various long-term
crystallization experiments.  The very precise measurements of critical point
phenomena, the singularity of certain thermo-physical properties (specific
heat), allowed the experimenters to confirm the conventional text book theory
which remained in doubt after the D-1 mission.  The largest crystals ever, (20
mm in diameter) of the semiconductor compound gallium arsenide were grown on
this mission.  Gallium arsenide is of great importance in electronic
applications such as light emitting diodes, semiconductor lasers, photo
detectors, and high speed switching circuits.
 
Exterior Unique Support Structure
Experiments
 
Modular Optoelectronic Multispectral/stereo Scanner (MOMS-2)
        The MOMS-2 was a newly developed photographic system which will enable
topographical maps to be produced by automatic data evaluation processes for
the first time.  Resolution down to 4.5 meters was achieved.
 
Galactic Ultra-wide-angle Schmidt System (GAUSS) Camera
        The GAUSS camera with its 145 degree field-of-view camera, operating in
six spectral bands, was able to take more than 100 pictures of all parts of the
Milky Way and significantly expand the knowledge of our galaxy.
 
Secondary Payloads
 
        STS-55 crewmembers also participated in two amateur radio experiments,
SAREX II from the United States and the German SAFEX. The experiments allowed
students and amateur radio operators from around the world to talk directly
with the Space Shuttle in orbit.
 
Educational Activities
 
        Mission Specialist Bernard Harris participated in an interview for a
Space Medicine Conference being held at the Mayo Clinic during the mission.
Dr. Harris completed his residency training in internal medicine at the Mayo
Clinic. Dr. Harris will also participate in a post-flight video about Space
Medicine.
 
Mission Facts
 
Orbiter: Columbia
Mission Dates: April 26 - May 6, 1993
 
Commander: Steven R. Nagel (COL, USAF)
Pilot: Terence T. Henricks (COL, USAF)
Payload Commander: Jerry L. Ross (COL, USAF)
Mission Specialist: Charles J. Precourt (LTC, USAF)
Mission Specialist: Bernard A. Harris, Jr. (M.D.)
Payload Specialist: Ulrich Walter (Ph.D)
Payload Specialist: Hans W. Schlegel (Physicist)
 
Mission Duration:  9 days,  23 hours,  39 minutes
Kilometers Traveled:  6,636,978
Orbit Inclination:  28.5 degrees
Orbits of Earth: 159
Orbital Altitude:  296 km
Payload Weight Up: 13,736 kg
Orbiter Landing Weight: 103,545 kg
Landed: Edwards Air Force Base Runway 22
 
 
Payloads and Experiments:
 
    SL-D2 - German Spacelab
    SAREX - Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment
 
Educational Activities
 
SAREX contacts with 14 schools.
Space Medicine Conference interview.
 
Crew Biographies
 
Commander: Steven R. Nagel (COL, USAF) Steven Nagel was born in Canton,
Illinois. He received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical and
astronautical engineering from the University of Illinois and a master of
science degree in mechanical engineering from California State University,
Fresno. Nagel was an F-100 pilot with the 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron at
England Air Force Base, Louisiana. During the Vietnam War, he served as a T-28
instructor for the Laotian Air Force at Udorn, Thailand, before returning to
the U.S. to become an A-7D instructor pilot and flight examiner at England Air
Force Base. He was later assigned to the 6512th Test Squadron at Edwards Air
Force Base, California. Nagel has logged 7,000 hours flying time.  He became an
astronaut in 1979 and has flown in space three times: as a mission specialist
aboard STS-51G, a pilot on STS-61A, and commander of STS-37.
 
Pilot: Terence T. "Tom" Henricks (COL, USAF) Tom Henricks was born in Bryan,
Ohio, but considers Woodville, Ohio, to be his hometown.  He received a
bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy
in 1974 and a master's degree in public administration from Golden Gate
University in 1982.  Upon graduation from the Air Force Academy, Henricks
completed pilot training and flew F-4 fighter aircraft in England, Iceland, and
the U.S. He is a graduate of the Air Force's Fighter Weapons and Test Pilot
Schools. He was an F-16C test pilot prior to his selection as a NASA astronaut.
He has logged 747 parachute jumps and over 4,000 hours flying time in jet
aircraft and has flown once in space as pilot aboard STS-44.
 
Mission Specialist: Jerry L. Ross (COL, USAF) Jerry Ross was born in Crown
Point, Indiana. He earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in
mechanical engineering from Purdue University. After accepting a commission
with the Air Force, he was assigned to the Ramjet Engine Division of the Air
Force Aero-Propulsion Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
While there, he conducted computer-aided design studies on ramjet and mixed
cycle propulsion systems.  During his tour of duty at Edwards Air Force Base as
chief B-1 flight test engineer, Ross was responsible for training and
supervising all Air Force B-1 flight test engineer crew members.  He has logged
nearly 2,100 flying hours in 21 different types of aircraft, and also holds a
private pilot's license.  Selected as an astronaut in 1980, Ross was a mission
specialist on STS-61B, STS-27, and STS-37.
 
Mission Specialist: Charles J. Precourt (LTC, USAF) Charles Precourt was born
in Waltham, Massachusetts, but considers Hudson, Massachusetts, his hometown.
He received a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the
U.S. Air Force Academy, a master of science degree in engineering management
from Golden Gate University, and a master of arts degree in national security
affairs and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He also studied
as an exchange student at the French Air Force Academy. Precourt flew the F-15
while based at Bitburg Air Base in Germany. As a test pilot at Edwards Air
Force Base, California, Precourt flew the F-15E, F-4, A-7 and A-37 aircraft.
His flight experience includes more than 4,500 hours in over 40 types of civil
and military aircraft.  Precourt was selected as an astronaut in 1990.
 
Mission Specialist: Bernard A. Harris, Jr. (M.D.) Bernard Harris, Jr., was born
in Temple, Texas. He earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from the
University of Houston and doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University
School of Medicine. After completing his residency training in internal
medicine at the Mayo Clinic, he worked at the NASA Ames Research Center in the
field of musculoskeletal physiology and disuse osteoporosis.  He then joined
NASA Johnson Space Center as a clinical scientist and flight surgeon,
conducting clinical research of space adaptation and how to counter the effects
of extended space flight.  Harris is the author and co-author of numerous
scientific publications, and also a licensed private pilot.  He was named an
astronaut in 1990.
 
Payload Specialist: Ulrich Walter (German Astronaut) Walter was born in
Iserlohn, Germany. He received a diploma degree in solid state physics from the
University of Cologne after having served as an instructor and lieutenant at
the Army Air Defense School. After studying neutron scattering in magnetic
systems, he graduated and became a member of the academic staff.  He held
postdoctoral positions at the Argonne National Laboratory, Chicago, and the
University of California at Berkeley, before being nominated as a German
astronaut in 1987.  Along with his training as a science astronaut at the DLR,
Germany, he headed a team at the University of Darmstadt, Germany, studying
high-temperature superconductors and highly correlated electron systems by
scanning tunneling microscopy.  Walter has authored 35 publications in various
international scientific journals, is a certified diver, and holds a private
pilot's license.  This was his first space flight.
 
Payload Specialist: Hans W. Schlegel (German Astronaut) Hans Wilhelm Schlegel
was born in Oberlingen, Germany. Schlegel has served as a paratrooper in the
Federal Armed Forces of Germany. He earned a diploma degree in Physics at the
Technical University of Aachen, Germany. He became a member of the academic
staff at Rheinisch Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen as an experimental
solid state physicist.  While there, he conducted research in the field of
electronic transport properties and optical properties of semi-conductors.
Schlegel then became a specialist in non- destructive material testing
methodology in the research and development department of the Institut Dr.
Forster GmbH & Co. KG in Reutlingen, Germany. He received his basic astronaut
training at the German Aerospace Research Establishment. Schlegel is a
certified diver and holds a private pilot's license including instrument rating
and aerobatics.  This was his first space flight.

Article: 299
From: [email protected] (Jan Vorbrueggen)
Newsgroups: sci.space.science
Subject: Symposium on first results of Spacelab D-2 (STS-55)
Date: 23 Mar 94 14:09:09 GMT
Organization: Institut fuer Neuroinformatik, Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, Germany
 
The "Frankfurter Rundschau" of 18.3.94 contained a short article on a
symposium about the first results of the 88 experiments conducted in
April/May 1993 on Spacelab D-2. Specific items mentioned: 
 
- A detector for edemas, useful for diagnosis and therapy of circulatory and
  renal diseases, which is also able to measure edemas early in their
  development. A commercial version is being developed.
 
- A hand-held tonometer, which measures the pressure inside the eye bulb. It
  allows measurement without assitence by the patient himself. Main area of
  application are patients at risk for glaucoma. This is also being
  commercialized. 
 
- During preprations for the mission, a new peptide named Urodialtin was
  discovered. (By the name, it sounds like a vasodilatary agent produced by
  the kidneys.) Clinical trials have started.
 
- Experiments on D-1 and D-2 resulted in a procedure for new alloys of lead
  and aluminum, which are useful in bearings. The usual application in car
  engines is cited.
 
- I've mentioned Rotex before, a robot hand and arm which, among other feats,
  autonomously caught a free flying object with visual guidance from an image
  processing on the ground, despite variable delays in the 4-7s range. The PI
  reports strong interest from Japan. They apparently plan repair satellites
  for communications satellites in GSO.
 
	Jan