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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1995 (2:35 PM EDT)

LAUNCH - 2 DAYS


MISSION: STS-73 -- U.S. MICROGRAVITY LABORATORY-2

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Pad 39B
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Oct. 6 at 9:40 a.m. EDT
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 22 at 7:35 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 172 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: The launch of Columbia on mission STS-73 has been postponed for
24 hours. The delay is due to expected high winds associated with
Hurricane Opal affecting operations at KSC during the hours prior to
tanking and through the launch window on Thursday. Opal is forecast
to make landfall near Pensacola, Fla., tonight. Winds, thunderstorms
and lightning associated with this tropical system would have likely
prohibited tanking operations that were scheduled to commence early
Thursday morning.

	Mangers have now set Friday, Oct. 6, as Columbia’s launch
date. The 2 1/2 hour window opens at 9:40 a.m. Given an on time
launch on Friday, Columbia is scheduled to land at KSC’s Shuttle
Landing Facility at 7:35 a.m. Oct. 22.

	The countdown clock will remain at the T-11 hour built-in
hold until 7:20 p.m. Thursday.

	The orbiter’s onboard cryogenic tanks were loaded yesterday
with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants. The mid-body
umbilical unit has been demated and retracted into the fixed service
structure. Final mid-deck payload loading operations and spacelab
experiment stowage operations are also complete.

	On Thursday, preparations will be made to retract the
rotating service structure to launch position at about 2:30 p.m.,
weather permitting. This move could be delayed several hours, if
weather constrains operations, without impacting the overall
schedule.  Loading of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is
scheduled to begin at about 1:20 a.m. Friday.

	Air Force weather forecasters are indicating a 70 percent
probability of weather prohibiting launch on Friday. This is due to
the potential for gusting winds, rain and clouds associated with
anticipated remnants of Hurricane Opal. There is a 10 percent
probability of tanking criteria violation for a launch attempt on
Friday.

	During Friday’s launch window, the winds at Pad B are
expected to be from the southwest at 12 - 20 knots; temperature 81
degrees F; visibility 7 miles; humidity 79 percent; and clouds broken
at 2,500 feet, 10,000 feet and 25,000 feet. The 24-hour delay
forecast reveals somewhat improved conditions and a 40 percent chance
of violation.


CREW FOR MISSION STS-73

Ken Bowersox		Commander (CDR)			Red Team
Kent Rominger           Pilot (PLT)			Red Team
Catherine Coleman	Mission Specialist (MS1)	Blue Team
Michael Lopez-Alegria	Mission Specialist (MS2)	Blue Team
Kathryn Thornton	Mission Specialist (MS3)	Red Team
Fred Leslie		Payload Specialist (PS1)	Blue Team
Albert Sacco		Payload Specialist (PS2)	Red Team


SUMMARY OF STS-73 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES

Thursday, Oct. 5

7:00 p.m. 		Wake up (Blue Team)
7:30 p.m.		Breakfast (Blue Team)

Friday, Oct. 6

  12:30 a.m.		Lunch (Blue Team)
   4:00 a.m.		Wake up (Red Team)
*  5:15 a.m.		Breakfast/Dinner and Crew Photo
   5:45 a.m.            Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
   5:45 a.m.		Don launch and entry suits (MS1, MS3, PS1, PS2)
   5:55 a.m.		Don launch and entry suits (CDR, PLT, MS2)
*  6:10 a.m.		Crew suiting photo
*  6:25 a.m.		Depart for Launch Pad 39B
*  6:55 a.m.		Arrive at white room and begin orbiter ingress
*  8:10 a.m.		Close crew hatch
*  9:40 a.m.		Launch

* Televised events (times may vary slightly)
All times Eastern

NOTE: For additional details regarding STS-73 countdown milestones,
please refer to KSC Release No. 99-95.