Apur-ee.163
net.columbia
utzoo!decvax!pur-ee!davy
Wed Nov  4 18:55:57 1981
We may have to wait 10 days
NASA officials now are saying that it could be a week to 10 days
before the shuttle can be relaunched, due to problems with the
APUs (Auxilliary Power Units).

According to Hugh Harris, the shuttle spokesman, something contaminated
the oil used to lubricate the APUs, causing the filters to clog.  This
caused oil pressure to rise, and thus, the mission to be scrubbed.

According to Harris, there are two options now under consideration by
the officials.
       [1] The APU's can be drained of their oil, overhauled, and
           then re-loaded with oil and re-installed.  This, coupled
           with the re-loading of the fuel tanks, could delay the
           launch up to 10 days.

       [2] The APUs can be replaced with "new" ones, thus allowing the
           shuttle to take off on it's mission, and, the others can
           be fixed in the meantime.

Nothing was said about which option was/is chosen, I guess we'll have to
wait and see.  The APUs are used to provide power to the steering
mechanisms in the shuttle (flaps, langing gear, etc.) during takeoff
and landing.

--Dave

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