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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1996 (1:04 PM EDT)

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: Vehicle Assembly Building
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: Endeavour is hard-mated to the external tank and solid rocket boosters in the 
VAB. The Shuttle interface verification test is scheduled to begin tomorrow. Rollout to 
Pad 39B is on schedule to begin at about 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 16.

KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Begin Shuttle interface tests (Thursday)
* Deliver Spacehab payload to Pad 39B (April 15)
* Roll vehicle to Pad 39B (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: Replacement of one of Columbia’s thrusters used for on-orbit maneuvering 
continues today in the OPF.  

KEY STS-78 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Install Space Shuttle main engines (April 15-16)
* Begin payload premate tests (April 18)
* Install Life and Microgravity Science (LMS) payload into transport canister (April 22)
* LMS payload installation into orbiter (April 26) 


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

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Edwards Air Force Base, 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 STS-76 EDWARDS LANDING DATE/TIME: March 31 at 8:28:57 a.m. EST 

NEXT ATLANTIS MISSION: STS-79 -- 4th MIR DOCKING
TARGET STS-79 LAUNCH DATE: July 31 at about 11:42 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days, 20 hours, 35 minutes
TARGET STS-79 KSC LANDING DATE: August 9 at about 8:17 p.m.


NOTE:	The orbiter Atlantis, bolted atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), remains at 
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The faulty engine on the modified Boeing 747 SCA has 
been replaced and a ground test confidence run of the new engine is scheduled for 
later today. If the test goes well, the orbiter/SCA will depart Edwards at about 9:30 a.m. 
EDT tomorrow. The current flight plan calls for the vehicle’s first stop to be Davis-
Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Az., then probably on to Barksdale Air Force Base, in 
Shreveport, La.  The earliest Atlantis is expected to arrive at KSC is late Friday morning. 
If the ground test of the SCA engines is not fully successful, managers are prepared to 
demate the orbiter Atlantis from the SCA and perform a flight test of the SCA. If this 
option is selected, Atlantis’ departure from Edwards likely will be delayed until Friday or 
Saturday.