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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1995 (12:23 PM EDT) LAUNCH MINUS 1 DAY MISSION: STS-71 -- 1st MIR DOCKING VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104 LOCATION: Launch Pad 39-A LAUNCH DATE: June 23 APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: 5:08.49 p.m. EDT LAUNCH WINDOW: 7 minutes KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 4 at 12:04 p.m. MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 18 hours, 56 minutes CREW SIZE: 7 up, 8 down ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.60 degrees NOTE: The countdown for the launch of Atlantis on mission STS-71 on Friday at 5:08 p.m. EDT continues on schedule today. Overnight, technicians were able to repair a leaking helium tank in the reaction control system on Atlantis’ right-hand orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pod. The pressure in the tank was reduced to ambient, a fitting on the tank replaced and a leak check performed. Results of the current leak checks are reported to be excellent. Once the tank is at full flight pressure later this morning, a final set of leak checks will be made and the OMS pod will be closed for flight. No other technical issues are being worked by the management team and no further problems are being reported from the pad. Yesterday operations to load the cryogenic reactants were completed at about 3 p.m. The orbiter’s mid-body umbilical unit has been demated from the orbiter and retracted into the fixed service structure. This was followed by final vehicle and facility close-outs. Today, the orbiter’s mid-deck storage facilities will be checked and final flight materials installed for the 11 day mission. Later today, preparations will begin to retract the rotating service structure (RSS) to launch position. RSS move is set for about 8:30 p.m. today. Loading of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled to begin at about 7:45 a.m. tomorrow. Air Force weather forecasters currently indicate an 80 percent probability of weather prohibiting launch on Friday. The primary concerns are for a likelihood of thunderstorms and showers in the vicinity of Launch Pad 39-A. During Friday’s launch window, the winds at Pad A are expected to be from the east-southeast at 12-18 knots; temperature 82 degrees F; visibility 7 miles; and clouds scattered at 3,000 feet, broken at 7,000 feet and 15,000 feet, and 80 percent cirrus coverage at 25,000 feet. The 24-hour and 48-hour forecasts reveal similar conditions and a 70 percent chance of violation each day. Today, the seven-member astronaut crew will be briefed on tomorrow’s launch weather outlook at Kennedy Space Center and the TAL sites in Spain and Africa. Also today, the crew will receive a final mission briefing and make last minute adjustments to their flight plans while completing their review of launch day activities. SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-71 T-TIME LENGTH OF HOLD HOLD BEGINS HOLD ENDS T-27 hours 4 hours 1:30 a.m. Wed. 5:30 a.m. Wed. T-19 hours 8 hours 1:30 p.m. Wed. 9:30 p.m. Wed. T-11 hours 19 hours, 49 minutes 5:30 a.m. Thurs. 1:19 a.m. Fri. T-6 hours 2 hours 6:19 a.m. Fri. 8:19 a.m. Fri. T-3 hours 2 hours 11:19 a.m. Fri. 1:19 p.m. Fri. T-20 minutes 10 minutes 3:59 p.m. Fri. 4:09 p.m. Fri. T-9 minutes 40 minutes 4:20 p.m. Fri. 5:00 p.m. Fri. CREW FOR MISSION STS-71 Robert "Hoot" Gibson Commander (CDR) Charles Precourt Pilot (PLT) Ellen Baker Mission Specialist (MS3) Greg Harbaugh Mission Specialist (MS1) Bonnie Dunbar Mission Specialist (MS2) Anatoly Solovyev Mir 19 Commander (MS4 - Ascent only) Nikolai Budarin Mir 19 Flight engineer (MS5 - Ascent only) Vladimir Dezhurov Mir 18 Commander (Entry only) Gennady Strekalov Mir 18 Flight engineer (Entry only) Norm Thagard Mir 18 Cosmonaut-Researcher (Entry only) SUMMARY OF STS-71 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES Friday, June 23 5:09 a.m. Wake up 5:45 a.m. Breakfast * 11:30 a.m. Dinner and crew photo 12:14 p.m. Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2) 12:14 p.m. Don flight equipment (MS1, MS3, MS4, MS5) 12:24 p.m. Don flight equipment (CDR, PLT, MS2) * 12:40 p.m. Crew suiting * 12:54 p.m. Depart for launch pad 39A * 1:24 p.m. Arrive at white room and begin ingress * 3:09 p.m. Close crew hatch * 5:08.49 p.m. Launch * Televised events -- times may vary NOTE: For additional details regarding STS-71 countdown milestones, please refer to KSC Release No. 55-95.