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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Thursday, August 15, 1996

George H. Diller


Vehicle: OV-104/Atlantis
Mission number: STS-79
Location: VAB High Bay Bay 3
Primary payload:  Spacehab (image) - Mir 4
Astronauts: 6
Orbital altitude: 245 statute miles
Inclination: 51.6 degrees
Mission Duration: 9 days, 5 hours
Target Launch date:   Sept. 12   6:27 a.m. EDT
Landing date:  Sept. 21  11:30 a.m. EDT

STS-79 IN WORK TODAY:
 -  Establishing electrical connections between orbiter and
    external tank/solid rocket booster stack

STS-79 WORK SCHEDULED:
 -  Shuttle Interface Test  (Friday)
 -  Rollout from VAB to Pad 39-A  (Aug. 20  4 a.m.)
 -  Main engine flight readiness test
 -  Astronaut arrival for safety training and Terminal Countdown
    Demonstration Test (Aug. 25  5:30 p.m.)
 -  STS 79 Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test  (Aug. 27 - 28)
 -  Flight Readiness Review  (Aug. 29)

STS-79 WORK COMPLETED:
 -  Connection of tail service mast umbilical
 -  Mating of orbiter to external tank/solid rocket booster stack


STS-80/OV-102/Columbia
ORFEUS-SPAS 2 (image)/Wake Shield Facility 3
OPF Bay 1

	Orbiter processing activities remain on schedule.  Drag chute (image)
installation is continuing.  Preparations continue for installing the
remote manipulator system tomorrow.  Payload bay reconfiguration for
ORFEUS-SPAS and the Wake Shield Facility are nearing completion. 
Preparations are beginning for the payload pre-mate electrical tests.
Flash evaporator system testing continues.  Troubleshooting is being
performed on general purpose computer No. 5.  Installation of the
three main engines is expected to begin on Friday night.  In the
Vehicle Assembly Building, stacking of the STS-80 solid rocket
boosters is scheduled to begin on Aug. 29.

  	
STS-82/OV-103/Discovery
HST Second Servicing Mission
OPF Bay 2

	The installation of the right orbital maneuvering system pod
is complete and the associated electrical hook-ups are in work. 
Installation of the payload bay flood lights is occurring.  The main
propulsion system functional test is scheduled to begin today and
orbiter electrical system testing resumes.  Preparations for testing
the cryogenic reactant system and the Ku-band communications system. 
Functional testing of the radiators is complete.  The orbiter’s
forward reaction control system is scheduled for installation on Aug.
30.


KSC 24-Hour Weather Summary
Shuttle Landing Facility - 7 a.m.

Today’s minimum temperature: 76 degrees
Yesterday’s maximum temperature: 92 degrees
Low relative humidity: 53 percent
Peak wind speed/direction: 25 mph/SE
Precipitation: 0
Total August precipitation: 4.25 inches
Barometric pressure at 7 a.m.: 30.07