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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1995 (2:48 PM EDT)

LAUNCH DAY -- Flight Day 1

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

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Orbit
LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Oct. 20 at 9:53 a.m. (EDT)
KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Nov. 5 at 6:48 a.m. (EST)
MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 172 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-73 was launched today at
9:53 a.m., three minutes into the launch window. The short delay
occurred at T-5 minutes as engineers confirmed range operations were
up and capable of supporting launch. Columbia is scheduled to land at
6:48 a.m. Nov. 5 at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility.

	The USML-2 payload has been activated and the crew, divided
into two teams, will work 12-hour shift rotations in the Spacelab
during their 16 days in space.

	The STS-73 crew are: Commander Ken Bowersox, Pilot Kent
Rominger, Mission Specialists Catherine Coleman, Michael
Lopez-Alegria and Kathryn Thornton, and Payload Specialists Fred
Leslie and Albert Sacco.


MISSION: STS-74 -- 2nd MIR DOCKING (Docking Module)

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Pad 39A
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Nov. 11 at about 7:57 a.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 6 minutes, 57 seconds
TARGET MIR DOCKING DATE: Nov. 14
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Nov. 19 at about 7:04 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 7 days, 21 hours
CREW SIZE: 5
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Mission managers have determined that Atlantis, on mission
STS-74, will be targeted for launch no earlier Nov. 11. The official
launch date will be established during the Flight Readiness Review
next week.

KEY STS-74 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Launch Readiness Review (Oct. 23)
* Prelaunch propellant load (Oct. 23-24)
* Helium signature test (Oct. 26)
* Flight Readiness Review (Oct. 26)
* Begin aft engine compartment close-outs (Oct. 30)


MISSION: STS-72 -- SFU-Retrieval & OAST-Flyer

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan. 11 at 4:18 a.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 60 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 20 at 2:54 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days, 22 hours, 36 minutes
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/28.45 degrees

KEY STS-72 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Install main engines (Oct. 25-26)
* Final payload bay door closure (Nov. 21)
* Roll to Vehicle Assembly Building (Nov. 29)