From: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Columbia at Pad 39-B, STS-52 countdown test on Oct. 1-2 [Release/NTE 136-92/KSC] (Forwarded)
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 20:22:20 GMT

          Lisa Malone
          (407) 867-2468                                     Sept. 29, 1992


          KSC News Release No. 136-92

          NOTES TO EDITORS:
          COLUMBIA AT PAD 39-B, STS-52 COUNTDOWN TEST ON OCT. 1-2

               Returning to the launch pad for her 13th voyage into  space,
          Columbia,  the flagship of the orbiter fleet, arrived at Pad 39-B
          on Sept. 26 for the final few weeks of flight preparations.

               This week,  technicians  are  replacing  one  of  Columbia's
          three  7,000  pound main engines with a spare because of concerns
          about welds in the nozzle's aft manifold.  There are no  concerns
          with Columbia's  other two engines.  A helium signature leak test
          of the three engines and main propulsion system is planned  early
          next week.

               In  addition,   the  primary  STS-52  payloads,   the  Laser
          Geodynamic  Satellite  II  and  the  United  Stated  Microgravity
          Payload-1,  are  being  tucked away inside Columbia's payload bay
          this week and interface tests will follow.

               On Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.,  the six STS-52 flight crew mem-
          bers  will arrive at KSC for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration
          Test planned Oct.  1-2.  At 8  a.m.  on  Thursday,  Oct.  1,  the
          countdown  clock  will begin ticking at the T minus 24 hour mark.
          The mock countdown will end at 11 a.m.  Friday,  Oct.  2  with  a
          simulated main engine cutoff.

               While here,  the crew will receive training in emergency es-
          cape procedures at the launch  pad,  practice  driving  the  M113
          tracked  vehicles  and  practice  flying  in the Shuttle Training
          Aircraft.

               Columbia spent a little over two months in Orbiter  Process-
          ing  Facility  bay 1 where the Shuttle team completed testing the
          orbiter's complex systems.  Several major orbiter components were
          installed in the OPF, including the forward reaction control sys-
          tem and the three main engines.

               Four  of the 11 payloads installed while Columbia was in the
          OPF included CANEX-2, Attitude Sensor Package,  Crystals by Vapor
          Transport and the Tank Pressure Control Experiment.

               Columbia  will  not be flying with the extended duration or-
          biter pallet this flight,  but will be using the new regenerative
          carbon  dioxide  removal  system for removing carbon dioxide from
          the crew cabin atmosphere.

               Columbia's end-of-mission  landing  is  planned  at  Kennedy
          Space Center.  KSC's landing and recovery teams will safe the or-
          biter  and tow it to the Orbiter Processing Facility within hours
          after landing.  Columbia's next flight,  STS-55,  is planned next
          year with the Spacelab D-2 German payload.

               Columbia  was the first operational orbiter of the fleet and
          flew the first five Shuttle flights.  It has completed 12 of  the
          50  shuttle flights to date and has scored several highlights for
          the program,  including flying the  first  Spacelab  flight,  the
          ASTRO-1 payload, retrieval of the Long Duration Exposure Facility
          and the first extended duration orbiter mission.

               Mission  STS-52  is  a planned 10-day mission currently tar-
          geted for launch during the third week of October.  The  official
          launch date will be set on Oct. 6 at the Flight Readiness Review.


          * NOTES TO EDITORS:

               Properly badged news media representatives and photographers
          who  wish  to  cover  the STS-52 crew arrival at KSC on Wednesday
          need to be at the Press Site no later than 10:30 a.m.  for escort
          to the Shuttle Landing Facility.  The crew plans to arrive at KSC
          by about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

               The STS-52 flight crew will be  available  for  an  informal
          question  and  answer  session  and  photos at Launch Pad 39-B on
          Thursday at 2:30 p.m.  News media representatives need to  be  at
          the  Press Site no later than 1:30 p.m.  for escort to the launch
          pad.

               There will be no photo opportunity of the flight crew  walk-
          ing  out  of the Operations and Checkout Building on Friday morn-
          ing.

               Commentary of  the  last  hour  of  the  Terminal  Countdown
          Demonstration  Test  will be provided on the "V" circuits and lo-
          cally at the Press Site. There will be no NASA Select coverage of
          TCDT activities.
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