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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1996  (11:36 AM EDT)

KSC Public Affairs Contact: Bruce Buckingham (fax 407-867-2692)
E-mail: Bruce.Buckingham-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov


MISSION: STS-79 -- 4th MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB DM (image)

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104 (image)
LOCATION: Pad 39A
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: (no earlier than) Sept. 12 at about 6:26 a.m. (EDT)
LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 21 at about 11:30 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 5 hours
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: The crew of mission STS-79 (image)are at KSC for the Terminal
Countdown Demonstration Test which concluded today. A TCDT is held
prior to each Space Shuttle flight providing the crew of each mission
opportunities to participate in simulated countdown activities and
emergency egress training exercises at KSC. The crew will return to
Johnson Space Center at about 2 p.m. today to continue their
training.

	The Flight Readiness Review is scheduled to begin Thursday
morning at KSC. One issue to be discussed is the launch date,
currently targeted for Sept. 12, and a scheduling conflict with the
Eastern Test Range. If this conflict remains, the earliest Atlantis
could launch is Sept. 14 at about 5:39 a.m.

	Managers are keeping a close watch on the tropics and the
weather systems that have developed over the past several days.
Hurricane Edouard continues to move northwest followed by Tropical
Storm Fran. Managers are discussing options for a potential rollback
of Atlantis (image) to the VAB if the storms show signs of becoming a threat
to central Florida.

KEY STS-79 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
STS-79 Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (today)
Hypergolic propellant loading (Wednesday afternoon)
Flight Readiness Review (Thursday)


MISSION: STS-80 -- WAKE SHIELD FACILITY-3 and ORFEUS-SPAS-2 (image)

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: (no earlier than) Oct. 31 at 2:40 p.m. (EST)
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 20 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: (no earlier than) Nov. 16 at 7:25 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 16 days
CREW SIZE: 5
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 218 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Options are being discussed today regarding when to begin
stacking the solid rocket boosters (image) for STS-80 and which booster set
to use. Stacking would likely be based on a pending rollback decision
in order to keep a high bay in the VAB available for Atlantis' return
to the VAB, if necessary.

KEY STS-80 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
Begin stacking solid rocket boosters in VAB (no earlier than Thursday)
Crew equipment interface test  (Sept. 13-14)
Final payload bay door closure (Sept. 23)
Roll to Vehicle Assembly Building (Sept. 30)

NOTE: MISSION STS-81, ATLANTIS, IS NOW TARGETED FOR LAUNCH ABOUT JAN.
12, 1997. SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS WILL BE ISSUED FOLLOWING MISSION
STS-79.


MISSION: STS-82 -- HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE SERVICING MISSION-2

VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
LOCATION:  Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: February 13, 1997
LAUNCH WINDOW: 61 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: February 23, 1997
MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 22 hours
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 360 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Orbital maneuvering system verifications continue and leak and
functional checks of the auxiliary power units will begin today.

KEY OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
Install and checkout drag chute (image) (Sept. 4-5)
Deliver forward reaction control system to OPF (Sept. 16)
Complete installation of the forward reaction control system (Sept. 18)
-- end --
	
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