GO TO THE PREVIOUS SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT

GO TO THE NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT


KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 1995 (6:55 PM EDT) LAUNCH DAY MISSION: STS-71 -- 1st MIR DOCKING VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104 LOCATION: Launch Pad 39-A LAUNCH DATE: NET June 27 APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: 3:32 p.m. EDT LAUNCH WINDOW: 10 minutes KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 7 (time is TBD) MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 19 hours CREW SIZE: 7 up, 8 down ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.60 degrees NOTE: Poor weather at Kennedy Space Center forced mission managers to scrub today’s launch attempt of Atlantis. Clouds, rain, thunderstorms and the threat of lightning postponed today’s scheduled launch of Atlantis on the first mission to dock with Russia’s Mir Space Station. No serious technical problems were encountered throughout the launch attempt today. However, as the astronauts and cosmonauts were about to leave for the pad, lightning struck the pad’s lightning mast. No damage was incurred to the pad or vehicle and the count proceeded as planned. The decision to scrub was made at about 4 p.m. Launch of Atlantis has been re-scheduled for no earlier than Tuesday, June 27. The 10 minute window opens at about 3:32 p.m. EDT. An on time launch Tuesday would result in a landing of Atlantis back at Kennedy Space Center on July 7 at about 10:54 a.m. The countdown clock in Firing Room 1 has been recycled to the T-11 hour mark. The rotating service structure will be moved back around the orbiter tomorrow after de-tanking of the cryogenic fuels in the external tank are complete tonight. Following this, preparations will be made to top-off the onboard cryogenic tanks with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants. The seven-member crew of Atlantis will remain at Kennedy Space Center during the stand-down time, awaiting Tuesday’s launch attempt. There are few specific plans for crew activities Sunday and Monday. The commander and pilot are scheduled to fly the Shuttle Training Aircraft Monday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. Other likely activities include vehicle and weather status briefings, flight plan review and relaxation time. Air Force weather forecasters currently indicate an 80 percent probability of weather prohibiting launch on Tuesday. The primary concerns are for a likelihood of thunderstorms and showers in the vicinity of Launch Pad 39-A. During Tuesday’s launch window, the winds at Pad A are expected to be from the southeast at 7-12 knots; temperature 83 degrees F; visibility 7 miles; and clouds will be scattered at 3,000 feet and 6,000 feet, and broken at 12,000 feet and 25,000 feet. The 24-hour and 48-hour forecasts are not available at this time. The tanking forecast for Tuesday is listed as a 10 percent chance of violation. 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 Tuesday, June 27 3:32 a.m. Wake up 4:04 a.m. Breakfast * 10:04 a.m. Lunch and crew photo 10:37 a.m. Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2) 10:37 a.m. Don flight equipment (MS1, MS3, MS4, MS5) 10:47 a.m. Don flight equipment (CDR, PLT, MS2) * 11:04 p.m. Crew suiting * 11:17 p.m. Depart for launch pad 39A * 11:47 p.m. Arrive at white room and begin ingress * 1:32 p.m. Close crew hatch * 3:32.02 p.m. Launch * Televised events -- All Times are approximate

GO TO THE STATUS REPORTS HOME PAGE