Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!ames!trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee
From: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Shuttle Status for 10/11/89 (Forwarded)
Message-ID: <33403@ames.arc.nasa.gov>
Date: 11 Oct 89 19:55:20 GMT
Sender: usenet@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Reply-To: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Lines: 46


           KSC SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING REPORT - WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11, 1989

                       STS-34  -  ATLANTIS (OV 104) - PAD 39-B

               Workers have opened up the orbiter's aft compartment and
          will be setting up special platforms on the mobile launcher
          platform to allow removal of the controller from main engine
          number 2. Schedulers are assessing a new launch date.

               Today, workers will continue setting up access platforms and
          begin removing heat shields surrounding the number two engine.
          Once the access has been set up and the heat shields have been
          removed, the engine will be positioned to allow removal of the
          controller. Rocketdyne technicians are scheduled to begin
          disconnecting the controller today. There are about two dozen
          connections between the controller and engine.

               Once the new controller has been installed, a flight
          readiness test, which involves cycling engine valves and
          actuators, will be conducted to verify the operation of the
          controller. The controller weighs about 230 pounds and is an
          electronic package that controls all main engine components and
          operations. The dimensions of the controller are 23 X 14 X 7
          inches.

               After the successful retest of the controller, workers will
          button up the aft compartment and remove access stands prior to
          the resumption of the launch countdown.

               Only work necessary to change the controller is planned at
          the launch pad until the countdown resumes. The STS-34 countdown
          will remain in an indefinite hold at the T minus 19 hour mark.
          The countdown entered the second planned built-in hold last night
          at 4 p.m. at the T minus 19 hour mark.

               Yesterday, the launch team successfully completed loading
          the power reactant storage and distribution system with the
          liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants. Console operators
          will monitor this system from the firing room.

               The STS-34 five-member flight crew left the Kennedy Space
          Center this morning. They will return to Houston and practice
          launch, entry and Galileo deploy simulations in the shuttle
          simulator. The crew will return to KSC several days prior to the
          launch.