Shuttle Crew Gets Morale Boost as Power Is Turned On

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Electrical power surged into space shuttle Discovery and worker morale soared here today as NASA began readying the ship for the first post-Challenger flight next June.

“It’s a great boost for morale, and gives us confidence that the road map we have laid out for return to launch is makeable,” said John Talone, the Discovery flow director.

The shuttle program was thrown into turmoil by the Jan. 28, 1986, Challenger explosion that killed all seven crew members.

Engineers today switched on Discovery’s power for the first time in more than a year, verifying the electrical system. Workers then turned on cooling systems and began a systematic check of the shuttle’s instrumentation, communications, radar and other systems.

NASA has set a target date for launch of June 2, 1988.