NSTS 1988 News Reference Manual

Editors NOTE: This document is an exact hypertexting of the NSTS News Reference manual that was handed out to the press in September 1988. It is online for historical purposes only and does not reflect the many changes or improvements to the Shuttle Fleet after that date. Although this was the last date this particular document was updated, Space Shuttle Annual reports (located at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/) contain updates to some of this information.

SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

• SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM

• SPACE SHUTTLE REQUIREMENTS

• LAUNCH SITES

• BACKGROUND AND STATUS

• MISSION PROFILE

• ABORTS

• RETURN TO LAUNCH SITE OVERVIEW

• TRANSATLANTIC LANDING ABORT OVERVIEW

• ABORT TO ORBIT OVERVIEW

• ABORT ONCE AROUND OVERVIEW

• CONTINGENCY ABORT OVERVIEW

• ORBITER GROUND TURNAROUND

ORBITER MANUFACTURING AND ASSEMBLY

OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS

• ORBITER

• ORBITAL MANEUVERING SYSTEM/REACTION CONTROL

• SYSTEM AC-MOTOR-OPERATED VALVES

• PRIMARY RCS MODS

• FUEL CELL MODS

• AUXILIARY POWER UNIT MODS

• MAIN LANDING GEAR

• NOSE WHEEL STEERING MODS

• THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM MODS

• WING MODIFICATION

• MIDFUSELAGE MODIFICATIONS

• GENERAL-PURPOSE COMPUTERS

• INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNIT MODS

• CREW ESCAPE SYSTEM

• EMERGENCY EGRESS SLIDE

• 17-INCH ORBITER/EXTERNAL TANK DISCONNECTS

• SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE MARGIN IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

• SSME FLIGHT PROGRAM

• SOLID ROCKET MOTOR REDESIGN

• ORIGINAL VERSUS REDESIGNED SRM FIELD JOINT

• ORIGINAL VERSUS REDESIGNED SRM CASE-TO-NOZZEL JOINT

• NOZZLE

• FACTORY JOINT

• PROPELLANT

• IGNITION SYSTEM

• GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

• DESIGN ANALYSIS SUMMARY

• VERIFICATION/CERTIFICATION TEST

• NON-DESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION

• CONTINGENCY PLANNING

• INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT

SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS

• HOLD-DOWN POSTS

• SRB IGNITION

• ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION

• HYDRAULIC POWER UNITS

• THRUST VECTOR CONTROL

• SRB RATE GYRO ASSEMBLIES

• SRB SEPARATION

• RANGE SAFETY SYSTEM

• SRB DESCENT AND RECOVERY

EXTERNAL TANK

• LIQUID OXYGEN TANK

• INTERTANK

• LIQUID HYDROGEN TANK

• ET THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM

• ET HARDWARE

• ET RANGE SAFETY SYSTEM

SPACE SHUTTLE COORDINATE SYSTEM

ORBITER STRUCTURE

• FORWARD FUSELAGE

• CREW COMPARTMENT

• AIRLOCK

• FORWARD FUSELAGE AND CABIN WINDOWS

• WING

• MIDFUSELAGE

• PAYLOAD BAY DOORS

• AFT FUSELAGE

• OMS/RCS PODS

• BODY FLAP

• VERTICAL TAIL

ORBITER PASSIVE THERMAL CONTROL

ORBITER PURGE, VENT AND DRAIN SYSTEM

ORBITER FLIGHT CREW ESCAPE SYSTEMS

• INFLIGHT CREW ESCAPE SYSTEM

• EMERGENCY EGRESS SLIDE

• SECONDARY EMERGENCY EGRESS

CREW EQUIPMENT

• FOOD SYSTEM AND DINING

• SHUTTLE ORBITER MEDICAL SYSTEM

• OPERATIONAL BIOINSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM

• RADIATION EQUIPMENT

• CREW APPAREL

• SLEEPING PROVISIONS

• PERSONAL HYGIENE PROVISIONS

• HOUSEKEEPING

• SIGHTING AIDS

• MICROCASSETTE RECORDER

• PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT

• WICKET TABS

• REACH AID

• RESTRAINTS AND MOBILITY AIDS

• CREW EQUIPMENT STOWAGE

• EXERCISE EQUIPMENT

• SOUND LEVEL METER

• AIR SAMPLING SYSTEM

SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITER SYSTEMS

• THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM

• REINFORCED CARBON-CARBON

• HIGH-TEMPERATURE REUSABLE SURFACE INSULATION TILES

• FIBROUS REFRACTORY COMPOSITE INSULATION TILES

• LOW-TEMPERATURE RESUABLE SURFACE INSULATION TILES

• ADVANCED FLEXIBLE REUSABLE SURFACE INSULATION BLANKETS

• FELT REUSABLE SURFACE INSULATION

• THERMAL BARRIERS

• TILE IDENTIFICATION

• FLAGS AND LETTERS

• REWATERPROOFING

• MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM

• ORBITER MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM HELIUM SUBSYSTEM

• MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM PROPELLANT MANAGEMENT SUBSYSTEM

• MPS EXTERNAL TANK

• SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINES

• POGO SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

• SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE CONTROLLERS

• MALFUNCTION DETECTION

• ORBITER HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS

• MPS THRUST VECTOR CONTROL

• HELIUM, OXIDIZER AND FUEL FLOW SEQUENCE

• ORBITER/EXTERNAL TANK SEPARATION SYSTEM

• 17-INCH DISCONNECT

• EXTERNAL TANK SEPARATION SYSTEM

• ORBITER UMBILICAL DOORS

• ORBITAL MANEUVERING SYSTEM

• HELIUM PRESSURIZATION

• PROPELLANT STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION

• ENGINE BIPROPELLANT VALVE ASSEMBLY

• ENGINE THRUST CHAMBER ASSEMBLY

• OMS THRUSTING SEQUENCE

• ENGINE THRUST VECTOR CONTROL SYSTEM

• THERMAL CONTROL

• OMS-RCS INTERCONNECT

• OMS-TO-RCS GAUGING SEQUENCE

• ABORT CONTROL SEQUENCES

• OMS ENGINE FAULT DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION

• OMS GIMBAL ACTUATOR FDI

• REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

• PRESSURIZATION SYSTEM

• PROPELLANT SYSTEM

• RCS QUANTITY MONITOR

• ENGINE PROPELLANT FEED

• RCS ENGINES

• HEATERS

• RCS JET SELECTION

• ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM

• POWER REACTANT STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION

• FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS

• ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROL

• ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM

• CREW COMPARTMENT CABIN PRESSURIZATION

• CABIN AIR REVITALIZATION

• WATER COOLANT LOOP SYSTEM

• ACTIVE THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM

• SUPPLY AND WASTE WATER

• WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEM

• WASTE WATER TANK

• AIRLOCK SUPPORT

• CREW ALTITUDE PROTECTION SYSTEM

• RADIOISOTOPE THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR COOLING AND GASEOUS NITROGEN PURGE FOR PAYLOADS

• AUXILIARY POWER UNITS

• WATER SPRAY BOILERS

• HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

• LANDING GEAR SYSTEM

• MAIN LANDING GEAR BRAKES

• NOSE WHEEL STEERING

• CAUTION AND WARNING SYSTEM

• ORBITER LIGHTING SYSTEM

• PANEL LIGHTING

• INSTRUMENT LIGHTING

• NUMERIC LIGHTING

• EXTERIOR FLOODLIGHTS

• SMOKE DETECTION AND FIRE SUPPRESSION

• PAYLOAD DEPLOYMENT AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM

• PAYLOAD RETENTION MECHANISMS

• COMMUNICATIONS

• SPACE FLIGHT TRACKING AND DATA NETWORK

• TRACKING AND DATA RELAY SATELLITE SYSTEM

• ORBITER COMMUNICATIONS

• S-BAND SYSTEM

• KU-BAND SYSTEM

• KU-BAND RENDEZVOUS RADAR

• PAYLOAD COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• ULTRAHIGH FREQUENCY SYSTEM

• AUDIO SYSTEM

• INSTRUMENTATION

• PULSE CODE MODULATION MASTER UNIT

• NETWORK SIGNAL PROCESSOR

• GROUND COMMAND INTERFACE LOGIC

• GENERAL-PURPOSE COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE

• MASTER TIMING UNIT

• OPERATIONAL RECORDERS

• PAYLOAD RECORDER

• TELEPRINTER

• TEXT AND GRAPHICS SYSTEM

• CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION SYSTEM

• ORBITER EXPERIMENTS SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR OV-102 (COLUMBIA)

• SHUTTLE INFRARED LEESIDE TEMPERATURE SENSING

• SHUTTLE ENTRY AIR DATA SYSTEM

• SHUTTLE UPPER ATMOSPHERE MASS SPECTROMETER

• AERODYNAMIC COEFFICIENT IDENTIFICATION PACKAGE

• HIGH-RESOLUTION ACCELEROMETER PACKAGE

• MODULAR AUXILIARY DATA SYSTEM

• AVIONICS SYSTEMS

• DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM

• SOFTWARE

• GPCS

• MASS MEMORY UNITS

• MULTIFUNCTION CRT DISPLAY SYSTEM

• MASTER TIMING UNIT

• COMPUTER DATA BUS NETWORK

• MULTIPLEXERS/DEMULTIPLEXERS

• MASTER EVENTS CONTROLLERS

• DATA BUS ISOLATION AMPLIFIERS

• BACKUP FLIGHT CONTROL

• GUIDANCE, NAVIGATION AND CONTROL

• FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM HARDWARE

• NAVIGATION AIDS

• INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNITS

• STAR TRACKERS

• CREWMAN OPTICAL ALIGNMENT SIGHT

• TACAN

• AIR DATA SYSTEM

• MICROWAVE SCAN BEAM LANDING SYSTEM

• RADAR ALTIMETER

• ACCELEROMETER ASSEMBLIES

• ORBITER RATE GYRO ASSEMBLIES

• SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER RATE GYRO ASSEMBLIES

• ROTATIONAL HAND CONTROLLER

• TRANSLATIONAL HAND CONTROLLER

• CONTROL STICK STEERING PUSH BUTTON LIGHT

• INDICATORS

• RUDDER PEDALS

• SPEED BRAKE/THRUST CONTROLLER

• BODY FLAP SWITCH

• RHC/PANEL ENABLE/INHIBIT

• TRIM SWITCHES

• AEROSURFACE SERVOAMPLIFIERS

• DIGITAL AUTOPILOT

• RENDEZVOUS THRUSTING MANEUVERS

• COMPONENT LOCATIONS

• DEDICATED DISPLAY SYSTEMS

• ATTITUDE DIRECTOR INDICATOR

• HORIZONTAL SITUATION INDICATOR

• ALPHA MACH INDICATOR

• ALTITUDE/VERTICAL VELOCITY INDICATOR

• SURFACE POSITION INDICATOR

• FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM PUSH BUTTON INDICATORS

• REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM COMMAND LIGHTS

• G-METER

• HEAD-UP DISPLAY

MISSION EVENTS SUMMARY

• TERMINAL COUNT

• FIRST STAGE

• SECOND STAGE

• ASCENT ABORT MODES

• RETURN TO LAUNCH SITE

• TRANSATLANTIC LANDING

• ABORT TO ORBIT

• ABORT ONCE AROUND

• CONTINGENCY ABORT

• MANUAL THRUST VECTOR CONTROL

• ORBIT INSERTION

• ON ORBIT

• ON-ORBIT CHECKOUT

• DEORBIT

• ENTRY

DISPLAYS AND CONTROLS

SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PAYLOADS

• PAYLOAD ASSIST MODULE

• INERTIAL UPPER STAGE

• AIRBORNE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

• IUS STRUCTURE

• EQUIPMENT SUPPORT SECTION

• IUS AVIONICS SUBSYSTEM

• IUS SOLID ROCKET MOTORS

• IUS REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

• IUS-TO-SPACECRAFT INTERFACES

• FLIGHT SEQUENCE

• SPACELAB

• PRESSURIZED MODULE, OR LABORATORY

• INSTRUMENT POINTING SUBSYSTEM

• PALLET ONLY

• ELECTRICAL POWER

• COMMAND AND DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• MASS MEMORY UNIT

• DATA DISPLAY SYSTEMS

• CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION

• PRESSURIZED MODULE INTERCOM

• PRESSURIZED MODULE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SUBSYSTEM AND LIFE SUPPORT

• PRESSURIZED MODULE/TUNNEL AIR LOOP

• PRESSURIZED MODULE ACTIVE THERMAL CONTROL SUBSYSTEM

• PRESSURIZED MODULE CAUTION AND WARNING

• PRESSURIZED MODULE EMERGENCY CONDITIONS

• PALLET-ONLY ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SUBSYSTEM

• GETAWAY SPECIAL PROGRAM

NASA CENTERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• JOHN F. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

• ORBITER PROCESSING FACILITY

• ORBITER MODIFICATION AND REFURBISHMENT FACILITY

• LOGISTICS FACILITY

• VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING

• EXTERNAL TANK PROCESSING

• SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE WORKSHOP

• SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER PROCESSING

• HYPERGOLIC MAINTENANCE AND CHECKOUT FACILITY

• ORBITER MATING

• SPACE SHUTTLE VEHICLE TESTING

• MOBILE LAUNCHER PLATFORM

• CRAWLER-TRANSPORTER

• LAUNCH COMPLEXES 39-A AND 39-B

• FIXED SERVICE STRUCTURE

• ROTATING SERVICE STRUCTURE

• SOUND SUPPRESSION WATER SYSTEM

• SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE HYDROGEN BURNOFF SYSTEM

• FLAME DEFLECTOR SYSTEM

• PROPELLANT STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION

• PAYLOAD PROCESSING

• PROCESSING FACILITIES AT CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION

• RADIOISOTOPE THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR STORAGE BUILDING

• VERTICAL PROCESSING FACILITY

• PAYLOAD HAZARDOUS SERVICING FACILITY

• PAYLOAD CHANGEOUT ROOM

• VERTICAL PROCESSING/INTEGRATION OPERATIONS

• HORIZONTAL CARGO PROCESSING FACILITIES

• SPACELAB ASSEMBLY/CHECKOUT AREA

• SPACELAB PROCESSING/INTEGRATION OPERATIONS

• SMALL, SELF-CONTAINED PAYLOAD (GETAWAY SPECIAL) PROCESSING

• LIFE SCIENCES PAYLOADS

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PAYLOADS

• LAUNCH CONTROL CENTER

• LAUNCH PROCESSING SYSTEM

• LAUNCH PAD OPERATIONS AFTER ROLLOUT

• FLIGHT READINESS FIRING AND EXTERNAL TANK TANKING TESTS

• TERMINAL COUNTDOWN DEMONSTRATION TEST

• PRELAUNCH PROPELLANT LOAD

• FINAL PRELAUNCH PREPARATIONS

• LAUNCH COUNTDOWN

• SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER RETRIEVAL, DISASSEMBLY AND REFURBISHMENT

• SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER DISASSEMBLY FACILITY OPERATIONS

• PARACHUTE REFURBISHMENT FACILITY

• SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY

• TOWING TRACTORS

• LYNDON B. JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

• MISSION CONTROL CENTER

• FLIGHT CONTROL ROOMS

• MULTIPURPOSE SUPPORT ROOM

• PAYLOAD OPERATIONS CONTROL CENTERS

• COMMUNICATIONS

• MISSION CONTROL SUPPORT AREAS

• FLIGHT CREW COMPLEMENT AND CREW TRAINING

• TRAINING FACILITIES

• TEST FACILITIES

• OFF-SITE CONTRIBUTORS

• GEORGE C. MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

• PAYLOAD OPERATIONS CONTROL CENTER

• SPACELAB TRAINING FACILITIES

• NATIONAL SPACE TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES

• GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

ORBITER APPROACH AND LANDING TEST PROGRAM

SPACE SHUTTLE CHRONOLOGY

• 1970

• 1971

• 1972

• 1973

• 1974

• 1975

• 1976

• 1977

• 1978

• 1979

• 1980

• 1981

• 1982

• 1983

• 1984

• 1985

• 1986

• 1987

• 1988

CONTRACTORS

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

METRIC CONVERSION TABLE

NEWSROOM REFERENCES

---

NSTS 1988 News Reference Manual

Volume 2 - Operations

SPACE SHUTTLE OVERVIEW

MISSION PREPARATION AND PRELAUNCH-OPERATIONS

• MISSION PLANNING
• PAYLOAD INTEGRATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
• CARGO INTEGRATION AND MANIFEST DEVELOPMENT
• SHUTTLE CARGO CAPABILITY
• PAYLOAD ACCOMMODATIONS
• SMALL PAYLOAD ACCOMMODATIONS
• MIDDECK PAYLOAD ACCOMMODATIONS
• CREW RELATED SERVICES
• ASTRONAUT SELECTION AND TRAINING
• PILOT ASTRONAUTS
• MISSION SPECIALIST ASTRONAUTS
• PAYLOAD SPECIALISTS
• ASTRONAUT TRAINING
• ADVANCED ASTRONAUT TRAINING
• SHUTTLE MISSION SIMULATOR
• SPACE SHUTTLE PROCESSING
• LAUNCH PROCESSING SYSTEM
• SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER PROCESSING FACILITIES
• ASSEMBLY AND REFURBISHMENT FACILITY
• ROTATION PROCESSING BUILDING AND SURGE FACILITY
• ORBITER PROCESSING FACILITY OVERVIEW
• ORBITER MODIFICATION AND REFURBISHMENT FACILITY
• LOGISTICS FACILITY
• SPACE SHUTTLE INTEGRATION AND ROLLOUT
• VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING
• MOBILE LAUNCHER PLATFORMS
• CRAWLER TRANSPORTERS
• CRAWLERWAY
• COMPLEX-39 LAUNCH PAD FACILITIES
• FIXED SERVICE STRUCTURE
• ORBITER ACCESS ARM
• EXTERNAL TANK HYDROGEN VENT LINE AND ACCESS ARM
• EXTERNAL TANK GASEOUS OXYGEN VENT ARM
• EMERGENCY EXIT SYSTEM
• LIGHTNING MAST
• ROTATING SERVICE STRUCTURE
• PAYLOAD CHANGEOUT ROOM
• ORBITER MIDBODY UMBILICAL UNIT
• HYPERGOLIC UMBILICAL SYSTEM
• OMS POD HEATERS
• SOUND SUPPRESSION WATER SYSTEM
• SRB IGNITION OVERPRESSURE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
• MAIN ENGINE HYDROGEN BURNOFF SYSTEM
• PAD SURFACE FLAME DEFLECTORS
• PAD-PROPELLANT STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION
• LAUNCH PAD/LAUNCH PROCESSING SYSTEM INTERFACE
• LAUNCH EQUIPMENT TEST FACILITY
• SPACE SHUTTLE CARGO PROCESSING
• MULTI-USE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
• VERTICAL CARGO PROCESSING FACILITIES
• VERTICAL CARGO PROCESSING OPERATIONS
• HORIZONTAL CARGO PROCESSING FACILITIES
• OPERATIONS AND CHECKOUT BUILDING SPACELAB FACILITIES
• SPACELAB PROCESSING AND INTEGRATION OPERATIONS
• GETAWAY SPECIAL PAYLOADS
• LIFE SCIENCES PAYLOADS
• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PAYLOADS

LAUNCH AND FLIGHT OPERATIONS

• PRELAUNCH OPERATIONS
• PRELAUNCH PROPELLANT-LOADING
• FINAL PRELAUNCH ACTIVITIES
• LAUNCH CONTROL CENTER OPERATIONS
• LAUNCH COUNTDOWN
• LAUNCH MINUS 3 DAYS
• LAUNCH MINUS 2 DAYS
• LAUNCH MINUS 1 DAY
• LAUNCH DAY
• MISSION CONTROL CENTER
• PAYLOAD OPERATIONS CONTROL CENTER
• SPACE TRACKING AND DATA ACQUISITION
• GROUND NETWORK
• SPACE NETWORK
• FLIGHT OPERATIONS
• LAUNCH ABORT MODES
• ON-ORBIT OPERATIONS
• MANEUVERING IN ORBIT

LANDING POSTLANDING AND SRB RETRIEVAL OPERATIONS

• SHUTTLE LANDING OPERATIONS
• POST LANDING OPERATIONS
• RECOVERY CONVOY OVERVIEW
• RECOVERY CONVOY OPERATIONS
• SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER RETRIEVAL OPERATIONS
• SRB-DISASSEMBLY OPERATIONS
• PARACHUTE REFURBISHMENT

SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• NSTS ORGANIZATION
• LAUNCH CONSTRAINT PROCEDURES
• LAUNCH DECISION PROCESS
• MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION SUMMARIES

PROGRAM CHRONOLOGY

GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

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