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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1996 (11:22 AM 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: Pad 39B
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:  The Spacehab interface verification test is complete. Today
and tomorrow the pad will be closed to non-essential workers as
hypergolic reactants are loaded into the orbiter’s reaction control
system storage tanks.

KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* TEAMS payload interface verification test (Wednesday)
* Spartan payload interface verification test (Thursday)
* Close payload bay doors for flight (Friday)
* Launch Readiness Review (Friday)
* Begin orbiter aft engine compartment close-outs (May 6)
* Flight Readiness Review (May 7)


MISSION: STS-78 -- LIFE AND MICROGRAVITY SPACELAB (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: The Life and Microgravity Spacelab was installed into the
orbiter’s payload bay last week. Electrical and mechanical mates are
complete. The payload interface verification test is scheduled to
begin today.

KEY STS-78 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Install tunnel adapter (Tuesday)
* Final aerosurface checks and flight readiness test (May 3)
* Roll orbiter to Vehicle Assembly Building (May 23)


MISSION: STS-79 -- 4th MIR DOCKING

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION:  Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: July 31 at about 11:42 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: August 9 at about 8:17 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days, 20 hours, 35 minutes
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE:	The Space Shuttle main engines have been removed. Testing of
the orbiter’s main propulsion system continues this week. Also, a
leak check of the no. 3 hydraulic pump is scheduled for later today.

KEY STS-79 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Install Space Shuttle main engines (May 20)

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