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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1995 (11:35 AM EDT)
LAUNCH MINUS 2 DAYS


MISSION: STS-70 -- TDRS-G

VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
LOCATION: Pad 39-B
LAUNCH DATE/TIME: July 13 at 9:41 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 21 at 7:51 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 7 days, 22 hours
CREW SIZE: 5
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: The countdown for launch of Discovery began at 10 a.m.
yesterday for a 2 1/2 hour launch window opening at 9:41 a.m. on
Thursday, July 13. TDRS deployment is scheduled to occur at about
3:53 p.m. Thursday. Discovery is scheduled to land at KSC’s Shuttle
Landing Facility at 7:51 a.m. July 21.

	At this time, Pad 39-B has been cleared for loading the
onboard cryogenic tanks with the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen
reactants. Reactant loading is expected to be finished at about 1
p.m. The reactants will provide electricity for the orbiter and crew
while in space and drinking water as a by-product during their 8-day
mission.

	After the cryogenics are loaded, the orbiter’s mid-body
umbilical unit will be demated and retracted into the fixed service
structure. Final vehicle and facility close-outs will also resume.
Final mid-deck payload loading operations will finish tomorrow.

	On Wednesday, preparations will be made to retract the
rotating service structure to launch position at about 5:30 p.m.
Loading of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled
to begin at about 1:21 a.m. Thursday.

	Air Force weather forecasters are currently indicating a 40
percent probability of weather prohibiting launch on Thursday. The
primary concerns are for thick layered clouds associated with showers
and thunderstorms. During Thursday’s launch window, the winds at Pad
B are expected to be from the east at 7-12 knots; temperature 83
degrees F; visibility 7 miles; humidity 72 percent; and clouds
scattered at 3,000 and 10,000 feet, and broken at 30,000 feet. The
24-hour-delay forecast reveals similar conditions and a 40 percent
chance of violation.

	The five-member astronaut crew was scheduled to arrive at
KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility late last night but were diverted to
Orlando International Airport at about 6:30 p.m. due to heavy rains
and lightning at KSC. The crew was driven from Orlando to their KSC
crew quarters, arriving about 8 p.m. yesterday. Today they will be
involved with checking out their mission plans and fit checks of
their equipment.


SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-70

  T-TIME      LENGTH OF HOLD         HOLD BEGINS               HOLD ENDS
T-27 hours	4 hours		      2:00 a.m. Tuesday	    6:00 a.m. Tuesday
T-19 hours	8 hours		      2:00 p.m. Tuesday	   10:00 p.m. Tuesday
T-11 hours     13 hours, 21 minutes   6:00 a.m. Wednesday   7:21 p.m. Wednesday
T-6  hours	1 hour		     12:21 a.m. Thursday    1:21 a.m. Thursday
T-3  hours	2 hours		      4:21 a.m. Thursday    6:21 a.m. Thursday
T-20 minutes   10 minutes	      9:01 a.m. Thursday    9:11 a.m. Thursday
T-9  minutes   10 minutes	      9:22 a.m. Thursday    9:32 a.m. Thursday


CREW FOR MISSION STS-70

Tom Henricks	  Commander (CDR)
Kevin Kregel	  Pilot (PLT)
Donald Thomas	  Mission Specialist (MS1)
Nancy Currie	  Mission Specialist (MS2)
Mary Ellen Weber  Mission Specialist (MS3)


SUMMARY OF STS-70 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES

Thursday, July 13

  4:46 a.m.	Wake up
* 5:16 a.m.	Breakfast and crew photo
  5:46 a.m.	Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
  5:46 a.m.	Don flight equipment (MS1, MS3)
  5:56 a.m.	Don flight equipment (CDR, PLT, MS2)
* 6:10 a.m.	Crew suiting photo
* 6:26 a.m.	Depart for launch pad 39B
* 6:56 a.m.	Arrive at white room and begin ingress
* 8:11 a.m.	Close crew hatch
* 9:41 a.m.	Launch

* Televised events -- times may vary

NOTE: For additional details regarding STS-70 countdown milestones,
please refer to KSC Release No. 66-95.