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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1996 (10:05 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 pad will remain closed today to non-essential workers as
hypergolic reactants continue to be loaded into the orbiter’s
reaction control system storage tanks. The oxidizer loading is
complete and fuel loading is now underway. Once the pad is opened to
normal work tonight, operations will begin to complete the payload
interface verification tests.

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 tunnel adapter will be installed today as the payload
interface verification test continues. Solid rocket booster stacking
operations in the VAB are complete and the external tank will be
mated with the boosters later this week.

KEY STS-78 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Mate external tank with solid rocket boosters (Friday)
* Final aerosurface checks and flight readiness test (Friday)
* 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:	Testing of the orbiter’s main propulsion system continues
this week. A functional check of the orbital maneuvering system pods
is scheduled for mid-week. Window no. 6 will be replaced today.

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

-- end --

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