"6_2_3_21_4.TXT" (15949 bytes) was created on 12-30-88

SPACE SHUTTLE CHRONOLOGY 1985-1988

1985

Jan. 5  Mated Discovery (OV-103), transported from Vehicle Assembly
Building to Launch Complex 39-A for 51-C

Jan. 24 Conduct 51-C, Discovery (OV-103), launch KSC, land KSC,
Runway 15, Jan. 27, 72 hours (3 days), 1 hour, 33 minutes, 27 seconds

Jan. 27 Discovery (OV-103) at Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Feb. 10 Challenger (OV-099) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building for mating, KSC

Feb. 15 Mated Challenger (OV-099), transported from Vehicle Assembly
Building to Launch Complex 39-A for 51-E

March 4 Challenger (OV-099) rollback from Launch Complex 39-A to
Vehicle Assembly Building for demate due to a timing problem with the
TDRS-B satellite. Telesat-I with PAM-D and TDRS-B with IUS removed
into payload changeout room at Launch Complex 39-A prior to rollback.

March 7 Challenger (OV-099) transferred from Vehicle Assembly
Building to Orbiter Processing Facility at KSC for remanifest of
payload bay from 51-E to 51-B mission

March 23        Discovery (OV-103) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC for mating with
remanifested new mission

March 28        Discovery (OV-103) mated, transported from Vehicle Assembly
Building to Launch Complex 39-A for remanifested new 51-B mission

April 6 Atlantis (OV-104) rollout at Rockwell Palmdale assembly
facility

April 9 Overland transport of Atlantis (OV-104) from Palmdale to
Edwards AFB, Calif.

April 10        Challenger (OV-099) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building for mating, KSC

April 12        Conduct 51-D, fourth flight of Discovery (OV-103), launch
KSC, land KSC, Runway 33, April 19, 144 hours (6 days), 23 hours, 55
minutes, 23 seconds

April 12        Ferry flight, Atlantis (OV-104) from Edwards AFB, Calif., to
Ellington AFB, Texas

April 13        Ferry flight, Atlantis (OV-104) from Ellington AFB, Texas,
to KSC

April 14        Atlantis (OV-104) at Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

April 15        Challenger (OV-099) mated 51-B, transported from Vehicle
Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39-A at KSC for its seventh flight

April 19        Discovery (OV-103) at Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

April 29        Conduct 51-B, seventh flight of Challenger (OV-099), launch
KSC, land Edwards AFB, Calif., Runway 17, May 6, 168 hours (7 days),
8 minutes, 46 seconds

May 10  Ferry flight, Challenger (OV-099) from Edwards AFB, Calif., to
Kelly AFB, Texas

May 10  Atlantis (OV-104) transferred from Orbiter Processing Facility
to Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC for temporary storage

May 11  Ferry flight, Challenger (OV-099) from Kelly AFB, Texas, to KSC

May 11  Challenger (OV-099) at Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

May 24  Ferry flight, Enterprise (OV-101) from Vandenberg AFB, Calif.,
to DFRF, Calif.

May 28  Discovery (OV-103) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building for mating, KSC

May 28  Atlantis (OV-104) transferred from Vehicle Assembly Building
to Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

June 4  Discovery (OV-103) mated 51-G, transported from Vehicle
Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39-A, KSC

June 17 Conduct 51-G, fifth flight of Discovery (OV-103), launch KSC,
land Edwards AFB, Calif., lake bed Runway 23, June 24, 168 hours (7
days), 1 hour, 38 minutes, 52 seconds

June 24 Challenger (OV-099) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building for mating, KSC

June 28 Ferry flight, Discovery (OV-103) from Edwards AFB, Calif., to
Bergstrom AFB, Texas, to KSC

June 29 Challenger (OV-099) mated 51-F, transported from Vehicle
Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39-A, KSC

June 29 Discovery (OV-103) at Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

July 11 Columbia (OV-102) overland transport from Rockwell Palmdale
assembly facility to DFRF

July 12 Conduct 51-F, eighth flight of Challenger (OV-099), launch
scrubbed at T-3 seconds and shutdown of SSMEs due to loss of
redundancy (channel A) on SSME 2 chamber coolant valve

July 14 Ferry flight, Columbia (OV-102) from Edwards AFB, Calif., to
Offutt AFB, Neb.

July 14 Ferry flight, Columbia (OV-102) from Offutt AFB, Neb., to KSC

July 15 Columbia (OV-102) awaiting transfer from KSC demate area to
Vehicle Assembly Building transfer aisle, KSC

July 16 Columbia (OV-102) at Vehicle Assembly Building transfer
aisle, KSC

July 18 Atlantis (OV-104) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building High Bay 2, KSC

July 18 Columbia (OV-102) transferred from Vehicle Assembly Building
transfer aisle to Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

July 29 Conduct 51-F, eighth flight of Challenger (OV-099), launch
KSC, land Edwards AFB, Calif., lake bed Runway 23, Aug. 6, 168 hours
(7 days), 22 hours, 45 minutes, 26 seconds

July 30 Discovery (OV-103) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building for mating, KSC

July 31 Atlantis (OV-104) transferred from Vehicle Assembly Building
High Bay 2 to Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Aug. 6  Discovery (OV-103) mated 51-I, transported from Vehicle
Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39-A, KSC

Aug. 10 Ferry flight, Challenger (OV-099) from Edwards AFB, Calif.,
to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., to Kelly AFB, Texas

Aug. 11 Ferry flight, Challenger (OV-099) from Kelly AFB, Texas, to
Eglin AFB, Fla., to KSC

Aug. 11 Atlantis (OV-104) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building for mating, KSC

Aug. 12 Challenger (OV-099) at Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Aug. 24 Conduct 51-I, sixth flight of Discovery (OV-103), launch
scrubbed at T-5 minutes due to weather

Aug. 25 Conduct 51-I, sixth flight of Discovery (OV-103), launch
scrubbed at T-9 minutes due to a comparison check between the primary
set and backup flight control general- purpose computers

Aug. 27 Conduct 51-I, sixth flight of Discovery (OV-103), launch KSC,
land Edwards AFB, Calif., lake bed Runway 23, Sept. 3, 168 hours (7
days), 2 hours, 17 minutes, 42 seconds

Aug. 29 Atlantis (OV-104) mated 51-J, transported from Vehicle
Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39-A, KSC

Sept. 7 Ferry flight, Discovery (OV-103) from Edwards AFB, Calif., to
Kelly AFB, Texas

Sept. 8 Columbia (OV-102) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building, KSC, for temporary storage

Sept. 8 Ferry flight, Discovery (OV-103) from Kelly AFB, Texas, to KSC

Sept. 8 Discovery (OV-103) at Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Sept. 12        Flight readiness firing of Atlantis (OV-104) for 20 seconds
at Launch Complex 39-A, KSC

Sept. 20        Ferry flight, Enterprise (OV-101) from Edwards AFB, Calif.,
to Kelly AFB, Texas, to KSC

Sept. 26        Discovery (OV-103) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building, KSC

Sept. 26        Columbia (OV-102) transferred from Vehicle Assembly Building
to Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Oct. 3  Conduct 51-J, first flight of Atlantis (OV-104), launch KSC,
land Edwards AFB, Calif., lake bed Runway 23, Oct. 7, 96 hours (4
days), 1 hour, 44 minutes, 38 seconds

Oct. 11 Ferry flight, Atlantis (OV-104) from Edwards AFB, Calif., to
Kelly AFB, Texas, to KSC

Oct. 12 Challenger (OV-099) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building for mating, KSC

Oct. 12 Atlantis (OV-104) at Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Oct. 16 Challenger (OV-099) mated 61-A, transported from Vehicle
Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39-A, KSC

Oct. 30 Conduct 61-A, ninth flight of Challenger (OV-099), launch
KSC, land Edwards AFB, Calif., lake bed Runway 17, Nov. 6, 168 hours
(7 days), 44 minutes, 51 seconds

Nov. 8  Atlantis (OV-104) transferred from Orbiter Processing Facility
to Vehicle Assembly Building for mating, KSC

Nov. 10 Ferry flight, Challenger (OV-099) from Edwards AFB, Calif.,
to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., to Kelly AFB, Texas

Nov. 11 Ferry flight, Challenger (OV-099) from Kelly AFB, Texas, to
Eglin AFB, Fla., to KSC

Nov. 11 Challenger (OV-099) in Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Nov. 12 Atlantis (OV-104) mated 61-B, transported from Vehicle
Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39-A, KSC

Nov. 18 Enterprise (OV-101) ferry flight from KSC to Dulles Airport,
Washington, D.C., becomes property of Smithsonian

Nov. 22 Columbia (OV-102) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building for mating, KSC

Nov. 22 Discovery (OV-103) transferred from Vehicle Assembly Building
to Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Nov. 26 Conduct 61-B, second flight of Atlantis (OV-104), launch KSC,
land Edwards AFB, Calif., concrete Runway 22, Dec. 3, 144 hours (6
days), 21 hours, 4 minutes, 49 seconds

Dec.    Structural spare midfuselage on dock Palmdale for storage

Dec. 1  Columbia (OV-102) mated 61-C, transported from Vehicle
Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39-A, KSC

Dec. 7  Ferry flight, Atlantis (OV-104) from Edwards AFB, Calif., to
Kelly AFB, Texas, to KSC

Dec. 8  Discovery (OV-103) transferred from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building, KSC, for modification period

Dec. 8  Atlantis (OV-104) in Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Dec. 16 Challenger (OV-099), rollover from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building, KSC

Dec. 19 Conduct 61-C, seventh flight of Columbia (OV-102), launch
scrubbed at T-13 seconds due to right-hand SRB auxiliary power unit
turbine system B overspeed

Dec. 22 Challenger (OV-099), mated 51-L, transported from Vehicle
Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39-B, KSC

1986

Jan.    Structural spare body flap on dock Palmdale for storage

Jan. 5  Discovery (OV-103) transported from Vehicle Assembly Building
to Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Jan. 6  Conduct 61-C, seventh flight of Columbia (OV-102), launch
scrubbed at T-31 seconds due to a launch facility liquid oxygen
replenish valve problem

Jan. 7  Conduct 61-C, seventh flight of Columbia (OV-102), launch
scrubbed at T-9 minute hold due to adverse weather conditions at both
transatlantic abort sites

Jan. 10.        Conduct 61-C, seventh flight of Columbia (OV-102), launch
scrubbed at T-9 minute hold due to adverse weather conditions at KSC

Jan. 12 Conduct 61-C, seventh flight of Columbia (OV-102), launch
KSC, land concrete Runway 22, Edwards AFB, Calif., Jan. 18, night
landing, 144 hours (6 days), 2 hours, 3 minutes, 51 seconds

Jan. 16 Discovery (OV-103) transported from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building, KSC

Jan. 19 Discovery (OV-103) transported from Vehicle Assembly Building
to Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Jan. 22 Ferry flight, Columbia (OV-102) from Edwards AFB, Calif., to
Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., to Kelly AFB, Texas

Jan. 23 Ferry flight, Columbia (OV-102) from Kelly AFB, Texas, to
Eglin AFB, Fla., to KSC

Jan. 23 Discovery (OV-103) transported from Orbiter Processing
Facility to Vehicle Assembly Building, KSC

Jan. 23 Columbia (OV-102) at Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

Jan. 27 Conduct 51-L, tenth flight of Challenger (OV-099) launch KSC,
first launch of space shuttle from Launch Complex 39-B, launch
scrubbed at T-9 minute hold due to unacceptable crosswind conditions
at KSC runway in the event of a return-to-launch-site abort

Jan. 28 Conduct 51-L, tenth flight of Challenger (OV-099), launch
KSC, first launch of space shuttle from Launch Complex 39-B, loss of
vehicle and flight crew

March 17        Atlantis (OV-104) rollover from Orbiter Processing Facility
to transfer aisle of Vehicle Assembly Building for short-term
storage, KSC

April 1 Discovery (OV-103) rollover from High Bay 2 of Vehicle
Assembly Building to Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

April 10        Discovery (OV-103) rollover from Orbiter Processing Facility
to High Bay 2 of Vehicle Assembly Building, KSC

April 10        Altantis (OV-104) rollover from transfer aisle of Vehicle
Assembly Building to Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

May 20  Atlantis (OV-104) rollover from Orbiter Processing Facility to
Vehicle Assembly Building High Bay 2, KSC

May 20  Discovery (OV-103) rollover from Vehicle Assembly Building
High Bay 2 to Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

June 4  Discovery (OV-103) rollover from Orbiter Processing Facility
to High Bay 2 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, KSC

June 24 Columbia (OV-102) transferred from Bay 1 to Bay 2 of the
Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

June 26 Discovery (OV-103) rollover from the Vehicle Assembly
Building to Bay 1 of the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

July    Structural spare vertical stabilizer (rudder/speed brake) on
dock Palmdale for storage

Sept. 17        Discovery (OV-103) rollover from Bay 1 of the Orbiter
Processing Facility to High Bay 2 of the Vehicle Assembly Building,
KSC

Oct. 9  Transfer of Atlantis (OV-104) mated, minus SSMEs, from the
Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Complex 39-B for weather
protection fit checks, payload bay operations, SRB flight readiness
test, terminal countdown demonstration test, and emergency egress
simulation, KSC

Oct. 30 Transfer of Discovery (OV-103) from High Bay 2 of the Vehicle
Assembly Building to Bay 1 of the Orbiter Processing Facility for
modifications, KSC

Nov. 22 Transfer of Atlantis (OV-104) mated from Launch Complex 39-B
to Vehicle Assembly Building, KSC

1987

March 13        Transfer of Columbia (OV-102) from Bay 2 of the Orbiter
Processing Facility to High Bay 2 of the Vehicle Assembly Building
for storage, KSC

March 20        Transfer of Atlantis (OV-104) from Vehicle Assembly Building
to Bay 2 of the Orbiter Processing Facility, KSC

July 31 NASA awards contract to Rockwell to build replacement orbiter
(OV-105) using structural spares; authority to proceed.

Aug. 3  Discovery (OV-103) power-up in Orbiter Processing Facility Bay
1 for modification retest

Aug. 3  Start Palmdale facility activation/training

Sept. 9 Transfer of Columbia (OV-102) from High Bay 2 of Vehicle
Assembly Building to Orbiter Maintenance and Refurbishment Facility
for modifications, KSC

Sept. 14        Start system fabrication, assembly and initial system
installation, body flap, OV-105, Palmdale

Sept. 28        Start system fabrication, assembly and initial system
installation, OV-105

Sept. 28        Start system fabrication, assembly and initial system
installation, crew module, OV-105

Oct. 19 Start system fabrication, assembly and initial system
installation, midfuselage, OV-105, Palmdale

Nov. 30 Start system fabrication, assembly and initial system
installation, vertical stabilizer, OV-105, Palmdale

Dec. 9  Atlantis (OV-104) power-up in Orbiter Processing Facility Bay
2 for modification retest

Dec. 22 Wings on dock Palmdale, OV-105

1988

Jan. 6  Space shuttle main engine No. 1 on dock KSC for Discovery
(OV-103)

Jan. 11 Start system fabrication, assembly and initial system
installation, forward RCS, OV-105, Downey

Jan. 11 Start system fabrication, assembly and initial system
installation, lower forward fuselage, OV-105, Downey

Jan. 15 Space shuttle main engine No. 2 on dock KSC for Discovery
(OV-103)

Jan. 21 Space shuttle main engine No. 3 on dock KSC for Discovery
(OV-103)

Jan. 26 Right-hand OMS/RCS pod transported from the Hypergolic
Maintenance and Checkout Facility to the Orbiter Processing Facility
at KSC for installation on Discovery (OV-103)

Jan. 29 Left-hand OMS/RCS pod transported from the Hypergolic
Maintenance and Checkout Facility to the Orbiter Processing Facility
at KSC for installation on Discovery (OV-103)

Feb. 8  Forward RCS transported from the Hypergolic Maintenance and
Checkout Facility to the Orbiter Processing Facility at KSC for
installation on Discovery (OV-103)

Feb. 15 Right-hand OMS/RCS pod for OV-105 on dock Palmdale (install
as much thermal protection system as possible; otherwise, pod would
remain at McDonnell Douglas, St. Louis, Mo., for a year awaiting
hardware)

Feb. 22 Left-hand OMS/RCS pod for OV-105 on dock Palmdale (install as
much thermal protection system as possible; otherwise, pod would
remain at McDonnell Douglas, St. Louis, Mo., for a year awaiting
hardware)

Feb. 29 Start final assembly and closeout system installation of
wings to midfuselage, OV-105, Palmdale

