GO TO THE PREVIOUS SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORTGO TO THE NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1995 (10:02 AM EDT) LAUNCH - 1 DAY 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: Following yesterday’s 24-hour launch delay, Columbia is now back on schedule for launch of mission STS-73 set for 9:40 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6. Given an on time launch, Columbia is scheduled to land at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility at 7:35 a.m. Oct. 22. Yesterday’s management decision to delay Columbia’s launch was 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. At this time, the orbiter’s onboard cryogenic tanks are fully loaded with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants and the mid-body umbilical unit has been retracted into the fixed service structure. Final mid-deck payload loading operations and spacelab experiment stowage operations are also complete. Workers are now in the process of activating the orbiter’s inertial measurement units and making preparations to retract the rotating service structure from the vehicle at about 2 p.m. This move could be delayed by several hours without impacting the overall schedule if weather continues to threaten the area. Loading of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled to begin at about 1:20 a.m. tomorrow but could begin earlier if the vehicle is ready. 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 15 - 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. The primary objective of mission STS-73 is to successfully perform the planned operations of the second U.S. Microgravity Laboratory. USML-2 experiments cover a variety of scientific disciplines including fluid physics, materials science, biotechnology and combustion science. 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.