- VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
- LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3
- OFFICIAL KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: July 23, 1999 at 12:31 a.m. EDT
- KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 27, 1999 at 11:20 p.m. EDT
- MISSION DURATION: 4 days, 22 hours, 50 minutes
- CREW: Collins, Ashby, Hawley, Coleman, Tognini
THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1999 (3:31 PM EDT)
STS-93 -- Chandra X-ray Observatory
NOTE: Following Columbia's tow to the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3 early Wednesday morning at the conclusion of its STS-93 mission, workers continue safing operations and post-mission inspections. Columbia is being readied for ferry to Palmdale, CA at the end of September for an extended period of structural inspections and orbiter modifications.
Last night, engineers in the OPF made initial visual inspections of the No. 3 main engine nozzle and the apparent hotwall ruptures in three adjacent coolant tubes. Engineers believe these ruptures resulted in a small hydrogen leak that occurred during Columbia's launch last week. Overnight, the damaged area was removed from the nozzle and sent to the Rocketdyne facility in Conoga Park, CA for analysis.
Also, access to the orbiter's aft engine compartment continues in order to allow workers to troubleshoot a problem that caused an apparent short circuit on one of the electrical busses that feed controllers on the right and center main engines. The center main engine primary controller was shutdown shortly after booster ignition and the backup controller for the right main engine was disqualified.
The solid rocket boosters were towed to Hangar AF and inspections began July 26. Initial indications show both boosters to be in excellent condition following launch.
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