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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1995 (12:05 PM EDT)

LAUNCH - 1 DAY


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

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Pad 39B
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Oct. 15 at 9:46 a.m. EDT
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 31 at 6:41 a.m. (EST)
MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 172 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: The countdown for launch of Columbia continues on schedule
today following yesterday’s 24-hour postponement for additional
checks required on Columbia’s three Space Shuttle main engines.
Launch is set for Sunday, Oct. 15 at 9:46 a.m.

	Technicians have completed the ultrasound checks on the three
engine’s high pressure oxidizer turbo pump discharge ducts and
engineers have cleared the engines for launch. Also, the no. 1
general purpose computer on Columbia’s flight deck that exhibited
signs of problems during normal prelaunch testing has been replaced
and successfully tested.

	At this time, final vehicle and facility close-outs are
continuing. Final mid-deck payload loading operations are also
underway.

	The rotating service structure will be retracted to launch
position at about 4 p.m. today, pending weather. Loading of the
external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled to begin at
about 1:26 a.m. Sunday.

        Air Force weather forecasters are currently indicating an 80
percent probability of weather prohibiting launch on Sunday. An upper
level disturbance, centered south of the Florida Keys, may produce
extensive cloudiness and showers. Also, a cold front is moving
westward and will likely influence KSC’s weather during the launch
window on Sunday. There is a 20 percent chance of weather violating
tanking constraints during tanking operations overnight.

	During Sunday’s launch window, the winds at Pad 39B are
expected to be from the west (gradually shifting to come from the
north) at 12-18 knots; temperature 83 degrees F; visibility 7 miles;
humidity 68 percent; and clouds scattered to broken at 2,500 feet and
broken at 4,000 feet and 10,000 feet.

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


SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-73 (Run 3)

T-TIME        LENGTH OF HOLD               HOLD BEGINS              HOLD ENDS
T-11 hours	43 hours, 26 minutes   12:01 a.m. Saturday	7:26 p.m. Saturday
T-6  hours	 1 hour	               12:26 a.m. Sunday	1:26 a.m. Sunday
T-3  hours	 2 hours	        4:26 a.m. Sunday	6:26 a.m. Sunday
T-20 minutes	10 minutes	        9:06 a.m. Sunday	9:16 a.m. Sunday
T-9  minutes	10 minutes	        9:27 a.m. Sunday	9:37 a.m. Sunday


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

Saturday, Oct. 14

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

Sunday, Oct. 15

  12:30 a.m.	Lunch (Blue Team)
   4:00 a.m.	Wake up (Red Team)
*  5:11 a.m.	Breakfast/Dinner and Crew Photo
   5:41 a.m.    Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
   5:41 a.m.	Don launch and entry suits (MS1, MS3, PS1, PS2)
   5:51 a.m.	Don launch and entry suits (CDR, PLT, MS2)
*  6:10 a.m.	Crew suiting photo
*  6:21 a.m.	Depart for Launch Pad 39B
*  6:51 a.m.	Arrive at white room and begin orbiter ingress
*  8:06 a.m.	Close crew hatch
*  9:46 a.m.	Launch

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