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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1995 (11:16 AM EST)


MISSION: STS-72 -- SFU-Retrieval & OAST-Flyer

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
LOCATION: Pad 39B
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan. 11 at 4:18 a.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 60 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 20 at 2:54 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days, 22 hours, 36 minutes
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 288 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Endeavour departed the Vehicle Assembly Building at 6:48 a.m.
today en route to Pad 39B. The vehicle is expected to be harddown on
the pad at about 2 p.m. Later today, the rotating service structure
will be moved around the orbiter. Also, preparations will begin for
the helium signature leak checks of the main propulsion system on
Friday and the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test early next week.

KEY STS-72 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Helium signature leak check (Friday)
* Crew arrival for Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (11 a.m. Dec. 10)
* Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Dec. 11-12)
* Prelaunch propellant load (Dec. 13-14)
* Main engine flight readiness tests (Dec. 18-19)


MISSION: STS-75 -- TETHERED SATELLITE-1R & USMP-3

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Feb. 22 at 3:18 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: March 7
MISSION DURATION: 13 days, 16 hours
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Auxiliary power unit no. 1 and fuel cell no. 1 have been
removed. The replacement auxiliary power unit is being installed
today. Also, the orbiter’s thermal protection chin panel will be
installed today.

KEY STS-75 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Install main engines (Dec. 11-12)
* Install forward reaction control system (Dec. 15)


MISSION: STS-76 -- 3rd MIR DOCKING

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: March 21 at about 3:31 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: about 6 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: March 30
MISSION DURATION: 10 days (+1)
CREW SIZE: 6 up -- 5 down
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Functional tests and check-out of the forward reaction control
system is complete and any remaining hazardous reactants from the
reaction control system have been removed. Also, the orbiter docking
system has been removed from the orbiter’s payload bay and
transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building. Preparations are
underway to remove the tunnel adapter from the payload bay.

KEY STS-76 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Remove main engines (Dec. 12)
* Remove remote manipulator system (Dec. 12)
* Close payload bay doors for holidays (Dec. 21)


All times eastern