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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1995 (9:41 AM EDT)


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

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Pad 39B
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Sept. 28 at 9:35 a.m. EDT
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 14 at 7:30 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 21 hours, 55 minutes
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 172 statute miles/39 degrees

IN WORK TODAY:
* Aft engine compartment close-outs
* Continue ordnance operations
* Hypergolic fuel pressurization

WORK COMPLETED:
* Prelaunch propellant load
* Auxiliary power unit hot fire

KEY OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Functional check-out of contingency spacesuits (Thursday)
* Begin countdown (4 a.m. Monday)
* STS-73 crew arrival at KSC (7 a.m. Monday)


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

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Nov. 2 at 11:25 a.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 9 minutes, 14 seconds
TARGET MIR DOCKING DATE: Nov. 5
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Nov. 10 at 8:30 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 7 days, 21 hours
CREW SIZE: 5
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.6 degrees

KEY OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Docking module interface verification test (Wednesday/Thursday)
* Final payload bay door closure (Sept. 26)
* Roll to Vehicle Assembly Building (Oct. 2)
* Move to Pad 39A (Oct. 9)


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

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan. 11 at 5:04 a.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 38 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 20 at 3:14 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days, 22 hours, 11 minutes
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Post-mission servicing of Endeavour following Monday’s landing
at KSC continues in OPF bay 3. Jack and leveling operations are
complete and work has begun to drain the residual cryogenic reactants
from the orbiter’s onboard fuel cell supply tanks. The payload bay
doors will be open tomorrow and the payloads removed on Saturday.


DISCOVERY/OV-103 -- Pre-Orbiter Maintenance Down Period

VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
DATE OF DEPARTURE FOR PALMDALE, CALIF.: Sept. 26

NOTE: Discovery is scheduled to be delivered to Palmdale, Calif., for
a nine-month Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP). During this
time, the vehicle will be outfitted with a 5th set of cryogenic tanks
and an external airlock to support missions to the international
Space Station. Discovery is scheduled to depart KSC via the 747
Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) on Tuesday, Sept. 26. Discovery’s next
flight, the second mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, is
targeted for launch in early 1997.

KEY OPERATIONAL MILESTONES:
* Install protective tail cone (in work today)
* Place orbiter on transporter and retract landing (Friday)
* Move orbiter to Shuttle Landing Facility for mate with 747 SCA (Monday)