Space Shuttle Status Report 12-09-1999
MISSION: STS-103 – 3rd Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
LOCATION: Pad 39B
TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: No earlier than December 16 at 9:18 p.m.
TARGET LANDING DATE/TIME: December 26 at about 6:40 p.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 41 minutes
MISSION DURATION: about 9 days and 21 hours
CREW: Brown, Kelly, Smith, Foale, Grunsfeld, Nicollier, Clervoy
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 317 nautical miles/28.45 degrees
Work in progress: Shuttle managers today decided to replace a dented main
propulsion system hydrogen line in Space Shuttle Discovery’s engine
compartment. Managers expect the replacement work to take about 3 days,
followed by system retests and final aft compartment close-outs. The
progress of this planned effort will be monitored throughout, but
preliminary assessments reflect a launch date of no earlier than Dec. 16.
Under the current plan, the launch countdown will begin Tuesday, Dec. 14 at
1:30 a.m.
Workers noted a dent in the line during routine aft compartment inspections
Tuesday. The dent measures 12 inches long and about 1/2-inch deep. The line
recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the external
tank during prelaunch engine conditioning. The section of this manifold
line that requires replacement measures about 6 feet long.
A spare hydrogen recirculation line has already been prepared for
installation. Tomorrow morning, workers at Launch Pad 39B will begin work
to remove the damaged line. Under the current plan, installation of the
replacement line begins Saturday and orbiter aft compartment close-outs
will occur on Monday.
MISSION: STS-99 – Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
LOCATION: VAB
TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan. 13, 2000 at 1:11 p.m. EST
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 24, 2000 at 5:15 p.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours and 30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 11 days and 4 hours
CREW: Kregel, Gorie, Kavandi, Voss, Mohri, Thiele
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 126 nautical miles/57 degrees
Work in progress: In the Vehicle Assembly Building, workers have completed
installation of Endeavour’s main engine No. 3. Final connections are in
work to day and main propulsion system leak checks follow tomorrow. Space
Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to roll out of VAB high bay 1 Monday at about
7 a.m. headed for Launch Pad 39A.
