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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
MONDAY, APRIL 8, 1996 (12:27 PM EST)

KSC Public Affairs Contact: Bruce Buckingham  (fax 407-867-2692)
E-mail: Bruce.Buckingham-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov


MISSION: STS-77 -- SPACEHAB-4 & SPARTAN 207

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 16 at 6:32 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 26 at 7:09 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 10 days
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 176 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: Operations continue today to roll Endeavour to the Vehicle Assembly 
Building for stacking with the solid rocket boosters and external tank. The 
weight and center of gravity checks are complete and the vehicle is mounted 
on the orbiter transporter. Rollover is scheduled for late this afternoon.

KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Mate orbiter with external tank (Tuesday)
* Begin Shuttle interface tests (April 11)
* Deliver Spacehab payload to Pad 39 B (April 15)
* Roll vehicle to Pad 39 B (7 a.m. April 16)
* Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (April 23-24)


MISSION: STS-78 -- LIFE AND MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE (LMS)

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: June 20 at about 10:49 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 6 at about 8:46 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 22 hours
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: Standard testing of the Flash Evaporator System will begin today and 
preparations to replace one of the thrusters used for on-orbit maneuvering 
is in work.

KEY STS-78 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Install Space Shuttle main engines (April 15)
* Install LMS payload into transport canister (April 22)


MISSION: STS-76 -- 3rd MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Dryden Flight Research Facility, Calif.
OFFICIAL STS-76 LAUNCH DATE/TIME: March 22 at 3:13:04 a.m. EST
MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 5 hours, 15 minutes, 53 seconds
OFFICIAL EDWARDS LANDING DATE/TIME: March 31 at 8:28:57 a.m. EST


NOTE:  The orbiter Atlantis, bolted atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 
(SCA), aborted its departure from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on 
Saturday after being airborne for only 15 minutes. The orbiter/SCA departed 
EAFB at 4:55 p.m. EST en route back to Kennedy Space Center following its 
landing in California on March 31. But about 5 minutes after departure, the 
flight crew of the SCA observed a fire warning indicator light for engine 
No. 3, the right inboard engine. Pilots Gordon Fullerton and Tom McMurtry 
shut down the engine and returned to Edwards on the remaining three engines 
without further incident. The engine is scheduled to be replaced today. The 
orbiter/SCA is expected to be ready to begin the ferry return back to KSC no 
later than Thursday. A departure as early as Wednesday is possible if 
operations to replace the SCA engine go ahead of schedule.  Additional 
information is expected later today.