Mar 7 1983
From The Space Library
March 7-19: A KSC spokesman said that another problem could delay further the first flight of Challenger: contamination of the giant tracking and data-relay satellite (TDRS) to be carried on that flight. A storm February 28 with winds from 60 to 70 mph had carried "sand, salt, silica particles, and paint chips" into the room at the launch pad where the payload was kept and onto the satellite. NASA said earlier that the TDRS was not seriously damaged by "particulate matter" found on it; however, the contaminants were undergoing laboratory tests, and the sensitive Earth-scanner and tracking instruments were being closely examined. Launch would again be delayed, probably to April 7.
Spokesman James Kukowski said that NASA could fly the 21/2-ton satellite as is; try to clean it inside the Challenger cargo bay (where it was installed February 25); remove and clean it at the launch pad; return it to a KSC payload assembly building; or send it back to TRW's plant in California. Delays were costing up to $3 million a day in overtime. (NY Times, Mar 8/83, C-8; Mar 11/83, A-14; Mar 19/83, 14; W Post, Mar 9/83, A-17; Mar 11/83, A-18; Mar 19/83, A-10)
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