From: yee@atlas.arc.nasa.gov (Peter Yee)
Subject: Shuttle Status for 12/11/92 (Forwarded)
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Originator: yee@atlas.arc.nasa.gov
Reply-To: yee@atlas.arc.nasa.gov (Peter Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 21:57:40 GMT

                           KSC SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                              Friday, December 11, 1992

                                                       Bruce Buckingham
                                                       Kennedy Space Center
                                                       407-867-2468
                                                       (fax 867-2692)


          Vehicle: Endeavour/OV-105
          Location: Launch Pad 39-B
          Mission: STS-54/TDRS-F
          Mission Duration: 6 days     Crew Size: 5
          Target Launch Date: Second Week in January, 1993
          Estimated Launch Time: 8:52 am EST


          IN WORK TODAY:
          *  Work to secure heaters for Orbital Maneuvering System and
             Reaction Control System for weekend powerdown.
          *  Preparations for Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test
          *  Auxiliary Power Unit leak checks

          WORK SCHEDULED:
          *  Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test next week
              - Crew arrival 11:30 am Monday;
              - PAO session with crew at pad 3:30 pm Tuesday;
              - T-0 11:00 am Wednesday.
          *  Open payload bay doors
          *  Launch Readiness Review (Thursday, Dec. 17)
          *  Flight Readiness Review (Dec. 22)
          *  TDRS/IUS end-to-end test (Monday, Dec. 14)
          *  IUS flight readiness checks (Wednesday, Dec. 16)

          WORK COMPLETED:
          *  Pre-launch hypergolic propellant loads
          *  Pad open for normal work 10:00 p.m. Thursday
          *  TDRS/Orbiter integration verification test


           NOTE ON DISCOVERY: MISSION STS-53/DOD -- DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH
                                 CENTER, CALIFORNIA 

               Discovery remains in the Mate-Demate Device at the Dryden
          Flight Research Center following its landing at 3:43 pm EST
          Wednesday, Dec. 9. The vehicle has been jacked and leveled and
          operations are continuing to prepare it for ferry flight
          beginning Dec. 15. Discovery is slated for a two-day
          cross-country flight atop the modified 747 Shuttle Carrier
          Aircraft. If weather allows, arrival at KSC is targeted for
          mid-afternoon Dec. 16.

          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.
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