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Aresearch.187 net.columbia utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!mhtsa!research!sjb Sat Dec 5 15:39:04 1981 turnaround work The Columbia returned in such good condition that NASA officials think they may be able to have it and the Challenger running operational flights by the end of 1982. STS-3, the third of four test flights, has been tentatively set for 19 March, with a crew of Robert Lousma and Charles Fullerton. This would mean a turnaround of four months, compared to the seven month turnaround between STS-1 and STS-2. If all proceeds fine then, STS-4 would be scheduled for June or July, with a crew of Vance Brand and Bob Overmyer. STS-4, the last scheduled test flight, would land on the 15,000 foot runway at Cape Canaveral. Rockwell International is supposed to deliver Challenger by June, 1982, for six months of pre-flight work, and then two more shuttles, Atlantis and Discovery, over the next two years.

Plans for STS-3 include a more extensive test of the ship's systems, more testing of the RMS, and some more scientific experiments.

Of the 30,572 tiles taken up into space on STS-2, all came back, 32 needed replacement, 54 others were loosened slightly, and 334 nicks were detected, fixable without removal.

Work before STS-3 includes:

-Replacement and servicing to the bad fuel cell that shortened STS-2. A fourth fuel cell will be installed to accommodate the length of STS-3, scheduled to last seven days.

-The APU that didn't function correctly on STS-2 will be replaced, and oil filters in the other two will be changed.

-The three main engines will be thoroughly inspected, and the power drive unit in the rudder brake system will be removed for an overhaul which will take a month.

-Specialists will work on a problem with the RMS. This will be done without removing it from the cargo bay.

If all goes well with STS-3 and STS-4, the first operational flight could be scheduled for October or November, 1982, with a cargo of three commercial communications satellites.

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