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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1995 (10:23 AM EDT)

LAUNCH - 1 DAY


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

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102 
LOCATION: Pad 39B
LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Oct. 20 at 9:50 a.m. (EDT)
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Nov. 5 at 6:45 a.m. (EST)
MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 172 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: Launch of Columbia on mission STS-73 remains on schedule for
Friday, Oct. 20. The clock will begin counting at the T-11 hour mark
at 7:30 p.m. today, for a scheduled T-0 at 9:50 a.m. on Friday. The
launch window extends for 2 1/2 hours. (The available launch period
extends until 1:30 p.m. Friday and could be utilized if a decision is
made to delay crew entry into the orbiter.)

	No technical issues or concerns are being discussed by the
mission management team or by NASA engineers at pad 39B. Mission
managers will hold a standard launch minus one day meeting at 11:30
a.m. today at KSC to formalize tomorrow’s launch attempt.

	At this time, final mid-deck payload loading operations are
underway. The rotating service structure will be retracted to launch
position at about 2 p.m. today, pending weather. Loading of the
external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled to begin at
about 1:30 a.m. Friday.

	Air Force weather forecasters are currently indicating an 60
percent probability of weather prohibiting launch on Friday. A
stationary front and upper level low pressure system over Florida are
showing signs of weakening. An approaching cold front is expected to
move through the KSC area early Saturday. There is less than a 10
percent chance of weather violating tanking constraints during
tanking operations early Friday morning.

	On Friday, the primary concern is for low clouds and, to a
lesser degree, possible crosswind violations at the Shuttle Landing
Facility. During Friday’s launch window, the winds at Pad 39B are
expected to be from the east at 15-20 knots; temperature 78 degrees
F; visibility 7 miles; humidity 91 percent; and clouds broken at
2,500 feet, 10,000 feet and 25,000 feet. The 24-hour-delay forecast
reveals slightly better conditions and a 40 percent chance of
violation.

	The STS-73 crew have remained at KSC since Sunday’s launch
attempt. Today they are reviewing their flight plans.

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						7:30 p.m. Thursday
T-6  hours	 1 hour	       12:30 a.m. Friday	1:30 a.m. Friday
T-3  hours	 2 hours	4:30 a.m. Friday	6:30 a.m. Friday
T-20 minutes	10 minutes	9:10 a.m. Friday	9:20 a.m. Friday
T-9  minutes	10 minutes	9:31 a.m. Friday	9:41 a.m. Friday


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. 19

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

Friday, Oct. 20

  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)
*  6:15 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
*  9:50 a.m.	Launch

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