"6_2_2_23_3.TXT" (3879 bytes) was created on 01-31-90 STS-36 COUNTDOWN DEMONSTRATION TEST SCHEDULED FOR FEB. 3 RELEASE: A full dress rehearsal for the STS-36 launch countdown is planned this week at Kennedy Space Center. The terminal countdown demonstration test (TCDT), involving the STS-36 flight crew, KSC launch team, and the Mission Control Center (MCC) team, Houston, will culminate with a simulated "T-zero" at 11 a.m., Sat., Feb. 3. The five-member flight crew will arrive at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility on Thurs. to participate in the practice countdown. The STS-36 crew is comprised of Commander John Creighton, Pilot John Casper, and Mission Specialists David Hilmers, Richard Mullane and Pierre Thuot. While at KSC, the flight crew will receive routine instructions for emergency egress procedures at Launch Pad 39-A including a practice drive in the M113 tracked vehicle. At the pad, they will become familiar with the location of breathing apparatus, other emergency equipment and the slidewire basket system. One of the routine activities for the crew while at KSC for the TCDT are briefings by Shuttle and payload engineers. The briefings, scheduled the day before the test, are designed to bring the flight crew up to speed on the status of the vehicle, payload, processing operations and any significant issues. Objectives of the test include establishing timelines and validating sequences involved in the flight crew suit-up and entry into the orbiter's cockpit. The test also offers an occasion for the flight crew, the KSC launch team, the MCC to work together in a launch day configuration. Inter-agency interfaces required to support the terminal countdown will be evaluated. The simulated countdown is set to begin at the T-24 hour mark on Friday at 8 a.m. Atlantis will be powered up for the test and its onboard systems will be activated. Events in the countdown will be condensed or simulated to represent activities that occur during the actual launch countdown and/or to configure the orbiter for the test. The countdown will proceed to the T-3 hour mark and hold for 2 hours, 40 minutes. During the hold, the flight crew will be awakened and have breakfast. Also, the orbiter closeout crew will be assembled and begin preparing Atlantis' cabin for the flight crew's entry. After a weather briefing, the flight crew will get into their flight suits and depart for the launch pad. The closeout crew will assist the astronauts in getting into the cockpit. Each crew member will establish communications with the orbiter test conductor in Firing Room 3. Two 10-minute built-in holds are planned at the T-20 minute and T-9 minute marks. For the purposes of the test, the countdown will be halted at about the T-5 second mark at 11 a.m. After a short debriefing, the flight crew will exit the cockpit quickly to practice an emergency escape while wearing the space suits. This training will take place on the 195-foot level of the Fixed Service Structure where the orbiter crew access hatch and the slidewire baskets are located. Later that day, the flight crew will return to Houston for final mission preparations. They will return to KSC a few days prior to launch. Launch of Atlantis on its sixth flight, designated mission STS-36, is targeted for Feb. 22. The official launch date will be set at the flight readiness review to be held at KSC on Feb 9- 10. STS-36 is a dedicated Department of Defense classified mission. - end - NOTE TO EDITORS: Crew arrival at KSC tomorrow will be carried by NASA Select television beginning at approximately 3:30 p.m., EST. Other crew photo opportunities on Friday and Sat. be will carried locally by KSC. NASA Select TV may be accessed via Satcom F2R, Transponder 13, located at 72-degrees west longitude. "6_2_2_23_4.TXT" (561 bytes) was created on 02-10-90 2/10/90: STS-36 LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT Release No. 90-XX LAUNCH DATE SET FOR STS-36 At the conclusion of today's Flight Readiness Reivew at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Space Shuttle managers set a target date of February 22 for the launch of Atlantis on mission STS-36. The four-hour launch period for this classified Department of Defense mission is scheduled to extend from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. EST. At the present time, no significant problems stand in the way of launch on February 22. "6_2_2_23_5.TXT" (488 bytes) was created on 02-21-90 LAUNCH ADVISORY: STS-36 Postponement 2/21/90 Navy Capt. John O. Creighton, Commander, STS-36, developed an up- per respiratory tract infection during the past 24 hours. In ad- dition, the launch weather is not predicted to be favorable. Therefore, the STS-36 launch has been postponed for at least 24 hours. The Commander's health and weather will be evaluated on Thursday to determine if the launch will be attempted on Friday morning. "6_2_2_23_6.TXT" (828 bytes) was created on 02-23-90 STS-36 LAUNCH STATUS 2/23/90 STS-36 Launch Status Report 10:15 a.m. EST Friday, Feb. 23, 1990 Weather conditions continue to be unacceptable for cryogenic tanking this afternoon which would be required for a Saturday morning launch attempt. The RSS will remain around the vehicle to protect it from forecasted severe weather, including rain and high winds. The weather front is expected to pass through the KSC area this evening, with conditions improving on Saturday. A decision has been made, therefore, to delay an additional 24 hours, aiming for a Sunday morning launch between midnight and 4:00 a.m. Flight surgeons have cleared crew Commander J.O. Creighton for flight. He and pilot, Col. John Casper, are flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft this morning. "6_2_2_23_7.TXT" (2388 bytes) was created on 02-24-90 KSC SHUTTLE STATUS 2-24-90 Saturday February 24, 1990 (as of 10:00 a.m.) KSC Space Shuttle Processing Status Report ----------------------------------------------------------------- STS-36 -- Atlantis (OV 104) - Launch Pad 39-A The countdown for launch of STS-36 is proceeding on schedule. Launch is scheduled to take place Sunday morning, February 25, between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 4:00 a.m. EST. The Rotating Service Structure was moved into the park position at 6:36 a.m. today. This morning the launch team is making preparations to load the external tank with the half million gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants. Loading activities will begin later this afternoon and continue through early evening. The five-member astronaut crew will be participating in routine pre-launch activities today, including status briefings on the activities at the pad and current weather forecasts. Also, the crew will have time to review flight data files and earth observation charts prior to going to sleep early this afternoon. Later this evening, the crew will be awakened and begin final preparations for launch. They will have breakfast, receive a briefing on the weather, don their launch and entry suits in the Operations and Checkout Building, and ride to launch pad 39- A. At the pad, the crew will be assisted with their flight crew equipment in the white room on the 195 foot level of the fixed service structure and get situated in their respective seats for ascent. Commander John Creighton and the rest of the STS-36 crew are reported to be healthy and feeling fine. Weather forecasts indicate a 30 percent chance of violating launch commit criteria during the launch period Sunday morning. The cold front which passed through the KSC area yesterday will continue to move to the east. In the wake of the front, clear skies and cooler temperatures are evident. The forecast for tomorrow predicts cloudless skies with winds from the north at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The temperature should be between 42-47 degrees F. and the dewpoint 33 degrees F. The relative humidity will be at 55 percent, with visibility greater than 7 miles. "6_2_2_23_8.TXT" (1704 bytes) was created on 02-26-90 KSC SHUTTLE STATUS 2-26-90 Monday February 26, 1990 (as of 10:00 a.m.) KSC Space Shuttle Processing Status Report ----------------------------------------------------------------- STS-36 -- Atlantis (OV 104) - Launch Pad 39-A The launch of Atlantis on mission STS-36 was scrubbed this morning at 2:32 a.m. The launch team has been instructed to prepare for a 48 hour recycle to Wednesday morning between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 4:00 a.m. A minimum of 48 hours is necessary to replenish the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen ground storage tanks and to give the launch team a well deserved break. Today's launch attempt was postponed due to unacceptable weather constraints at KSC. A 2,000-foot-thick cloud deck moved into the area at the 5,000 foot level, violating the visibility rules for a return to launch site abort. On the pad, the vehicle was de-tanked without incident. No technical issues are being worked. Following the scrub, Commander John Creighton said "we are disappointed we didn't launch today, but are convinced that the launch team and the mission management team made the correct decision based on the information available. We are looking forward to our next opportunity." Commander Creighton, Pilot John Casper and Mission Specialist David Hilmers will fly back to Johnson Space Center tonight for simulation training and will return to KSC Tuesday morning. Weather forecasts indicate an 80 percent chance of violating launch commit criteria during the launch period Wednesday morning. Low cloud ceilings and cross winds remain the primary concern. "6_2_2_23_9.TXT" (1993 bytes) was created on 02-27-90 KSC SHUTTLE STATUS 2-27-90 KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - TUESDAY, FEB. 27, 1990 - 10 AM STS-36 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A The STS-36 launch countdown is now underway leading up to a third tanking and launch attempt. Pending favorable weather con- ditions, launch is set for no earlier than Wednesday, Feb. 28 be- tween 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. EST. Weather forecasts indicate there is a 60 percent chance of being able to launch during the period on Wednesday. Winds are forecast to be from the east northeast direction at 10 knots gusting to 16 knots. A low cloud layer between 4,000 - 6,500 is also forecast to be in the area during the launch period. The ex- pected temperature is between 62-66 degrees. Today, the launch team will prepare for loading the external tank with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants. Since the 48-hour launch postponement, the propellant storage farms at Launch Pad 39-A have been replenished to support two more tank- ings. Other launch preparations include activating the orbiter's communications system, stowing time critical items in the crew cabin, preparing the pad facility and equipment for launch and replacing the seals around the gaseous oxygen vent arm. There is a requirement to replace the vent arm seals after several tank- ings. The five-member STS-36 flight crew returned to Houston last night at 9 p.m. and are due back late this morning. Commander John Creighton, Pilot John Casper and Mission Specialist David Hilmers practiced ascents in the shuttle simulator at the Johnson Space Center overnight. Later this evening, the flight crew will be awakened, have breakfast, don their flight suits and depart the Operations and Checkout Building for Pad 39-A. They will be assisted in the Pad white room with last minute gear before taking their assigned seats in Atlantis' crew cabin. "6_2_2_23_10.TXT" (569 bytes) was created on 02-28-90 GO FOR ORBIT OPS STATEMENT FROM MISSION CONTROL 3:41 A.M. CST 2/28/90 The STS-36 mission lifted off from the Kennedy Center this morning at 1:50 a.m. CST. At one hour, fifty minutes into the flight of Atlantis, the crew of Atlantis has been given the go for orbit operations. The orbiter and the crew are performing well. The STS-36 landing date and period announcement will be made as soon as practical after the launch-plus-24-hour mark when NASA newscenters are open for business. This concludes commmentary for today on Atlantis and the STS-36 mission. "6_2_2_23_11.TXT" (339 bytes) was created on 03-01-90 STS-36 LANDING DAY STATEMENT FROM MISSION CONTROL 6 A.M. CST 3/1/90 This is Mission Control Houston. The expected landing day for Shuttle mission STS-36 is March 4. The landing is scheduled for Edwards Air Force Base, California. Meanwhile, the STS-36 crew is doing well and Orbiter Atlantis continues to perform satisfactorily. "6_2_2_23_12.TXT" (2442 bytes) was created on 03-05-90 ATLANTIS STATUS REPORT - MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1990 DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH FACILITY, CALIF. Atlantis landed at 10:08 a.m. PST on lakebed runway 23 ending the STS-36 Department of Defense mission. The total distance the orbiter rolled out was 7,900 feet. Atlantis was towed to the Mate Demate Device by about 3 p.m. yesterday. Overall, the orbiter is reported to be in excellant condition. About 62 dings in the tiles were counted by the debris team yesterday. Tile engineers report that only one tile may have to be replaced. The brakes and tires performed nominally. Drops of hydraulic fluid have been observed in the right main landing gear wheel well, the liquid hydrogen 17-inch disconnect cavity and possibly around two of the main engines. Officials won't know the source of the fluid until access is gained into the orbiter's aft engine compartment. Work at Dryden to prepare the shuttle Atlantis for the ferry trip back to Florida is being hampered by high winds. Winds are forecast between 25-35 knots with gusts up to 40 knots. Weather conditions are expected to improve later tonight and through the rest of the week. Work crews may be scaled back overnight because of the winds. Today, workers will perform a detailed post-flight inspection of the thermal protection system, sample the potable water in the crew module, install plugs and caps on the liquid hydrogen T-zero connections and safe pyrotechnic devices on the orbiter. Later tonight, when the winds decrease, Atlantis will be jacked and leveled in the Mate Demate Device. Access to the aft compartment will be gained as soon as possible and ground power supplies will be hooked up to the orbiter. Other work necessary to configure the orbiter for the ferry flight includes: offloading residual liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants from the orbiter's onboard storage tanks, installation of the tail cone over the three main engines and bolting the orbiter to the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Officials are targeting for a one-day ferry flight back to Kennedy Space Center, Florida pending favorable weather conditions and the completion of planned work. A refueling stop is necessary for the cross-country flight. That two-hour stop is currently planned for Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The ferry flight is scheduled to begin no earlier than Saturday, March 10.