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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Friday, August 23, 1996

George H. Diller


Vehicle: OV-104/Atlantis
Mission number: STS-79
Location: Pad 39-A
Primary payload:  Spacehab-Mir 4
Astronauts: 6
Orbital altitude: 245 statute miles
Inclination: 51.6 degrees
Mission Duration: 9 days, 5 hours, 5 minutes
Launch readiness date:   Sept. 12   6:27 a.m. EDT
Landing date:  Sept. 21  11:36 a.m. EDT

STS-79 IN WORK TODAY:
 -  Spacehab/orbiter interface verification test  (IVT)

STS-79 WORK SCHEDULED:
 -  Astronaut arrival for safety training and Terminal Countdown
    Demonstration Test (Aug. 25  5:30 p.m.)
 -  KSC Launch Readiness Review  (Aug. 26)
 -  STS-79 Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test  (Aug. 27 - 28)
 -  Storable hyergolic propellant loading  (Aug. 29)
 -  Flight Readiness Review  (Aug. 29)

 STS-79 WORK COMPLETED:
 -  Closed payload bay doors for flight  (5:40 p.m. Thursday)
 -  Established electrical and fluid connections between Spacehab and orbiter
 -  Main engine flight readiness test

STS-79 ISSUES AND CONCERNS:  None.  All launch preparations are on
schedule so no work is scheduled at the launch pad this weekend.  The
final launch date for STS-79 will be set at next Thursday’s Flight
Readiness Review.


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

	The right orbital maneuvering system pod begins functional
testing today and will continue next week. The remote manipulator arm
installation and checkout is complete.  In the payload bay, the
payload pre-mate electrical test continues.  Freon coolant loop
testing is scheduled to begin Saturday and will also continue next
week.  In other upcoming processing activity,  the waste containment
system will be installed and checked out,  the water spray boilers
will be serviced and tested, and the liquid hydrogen side of the main
propulsion system will be leak checked.

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

	The orbiter’s star tracker is being installed today.
Installation of the data display units on the flight deck is
complete.  Preparations are beginning to remove and replace fuel cell
No. 3 for a precautionary diaphragm replacement.

	In processing activity planned to occur next week, the
thermal protection tiles will be waterproofed, the Ku-band antenna
will be installed and tested,  the S-band communications system will
be checked out, the orbiter’s wheels and tires will be installed, 
and the main propulsion system helium system leak and functional test
will be performed.


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

Today’s minimum temperature: 74 degrees
Yesterday’s maximum temperature: 87 degrees
Low relative humidity: 57 percent
Peak wind speed/direction: 20 mph/ESE
Precipitation: 0
Total August precipitation: 5.17 inches
Barometric pressure at 7 a.m.: 30.17