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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1995 (11:32 AM EST)


NOTE: Missions STS-71 and STS-70 are both being targeted for no earlier than
 launch dates and options are being protected for each to be the next one
 launched. A more firm decision is expected later this month.
  
MISSION: STS-71 -- 1st MIR DOCKING
VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: June 10 (no earlier than)
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: 10:12 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 5 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: June 21 at 5:41 p.m. 
MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 19 hours, 31 minutes
CREW SIZE: 7 up, 8 down
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.60 degrees

IN WORK TODAY:
  Aft engine compartment close-outs
  Ku-band antenna tests
  Spacelab final close-outs
  Complete crew cabin, ODS and Spacelab leak checks

WORK COMPLETED:
  Install main engine heatshields
  Crew equipment interface test 
  Final flight control checks

KEY OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
  Final payload bay closure (April 13)
  Roll orbiter to Vehicle Assembly Building (April 19)
  Roll Shuttle vehicle to Launch Pad 39-A (April 25)


MISSION: STS-70 -- TDRS-G

VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: June 8 (no earlier than)
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: 10:20 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: June 16 at 8:33 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 7 days, 22 hours
CREW SIZE: 5
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/28.45 degrees

IN WORK TODAY:
  Auxiliary power unit leak and functional checks
  Water spray boiler checks
  Remove and replace window no. 4

WORK COMPLETED:
  Solid rocket booster stacking operations in Vehicle Assembly Building
    high bay 3

KEY OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
  Mate external tank to solid rocket boosters in Vehicle Assembly
    Building (Thursday)
  Install shuttle main engines (April 17)
  Close payload bay doors (April 25)
  Roll orbiter to Vehicle Assembly Building (May 3)
  Roll Shuttle vehicle to Launch Pad 39-B (May 11) 


MISSION: STS-69 -- WSF-2 & SPARTAN 201-03

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: July 20
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: 12:06 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 31 at 8:37 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 21 hours
CREW SIZE: 5
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 190 statute miles/28.45 degrees

IN WORK TODAY:
  Extended duration orbiter pallet demate preparations
  Preparations to remove main engines
  Functional checks of the forward reaction control system 

WORK SCHEDULED:
  Remove extended duration orbiter pallet (Wednesday)
  Remove main engines (Wednesday)
  Remove fuel cell no. 2 (Thursday)

NOTE: The orbiter Columbia departed Palmdale, Calif., atop the modified 747
 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft at 11:06 a.m. EDT today en route to KSC. Columbia
 is scheduled to make an overnight stop at Ellington Field in Houston,
 Texas, tonight and continue the trip to KSC tomorrow, weather permitting,
 arriving at about 12 noon at the Shuttle Landing Facility. Columbia has
 spent the last six months undergoing structural inspections and
 modifications at the Rockwell facility in Palmdale. Columbia’s next mission
 is STS-73, a 16-day flight targeted for launch in September. Upon arrival,
 Columbia will be stored temporarily in the Vehicle Assembly Building until
 Atlantis is rolled out of the Orbiter Processing Facility for external tank
 mating operations.