VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Pad 39B
TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan. 12, 1997 at about 4:22 a.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 22, 1997 at about 8:32 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 4 hours
CREW: Baker, Jett, Grunsfeld, Ivins, Wisoff, Linenger (up) Blaha (down)
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: The Spacehab was transferred from the pad's payload change-out room to the orbiter's payload bay yesterday and the payload interface verification test is scheduled to begin tomorrow. The helium signature test is being conducted today as a final leak check of the main propulsion system. Preparations are also underway to load hypergolic propellants into the orbit's reaction control system next week.

Managers have determined that due to the work necessary on the orbiter's airlock actuators, the payload bay doors will remain open throughout the holiday period.

Work to remove the six actuators from the airlock hatches (image) is complete. Three of the actuators will be delivered to the Logistic Depot in Cape Canaveral for disassembly and recycle. The other three actuators will be sent to the vender for the same work. The preliminary schedule indicates all actuators should be back at the pad for installation by next weekend and the leak checks completed before Christmas. This schedule will allow Atlantis to remain on its current launch schedule.

On Sunday, the STS-81 crew will arrive at KSC for the scheduled Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. This countdown dress rehearsal will begin on Monday and end with a simulated launch countdown and main engine cutoff Tuesday morning.

KEY STS-81 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
Payload interface verification test (Saturday/Sunday)
Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Dec. 16-17)
Pre-launch propellant load (Dec. 18)
Launch Readiness Review (Dec. 19)
Complete actuator hatch installation and leak checks (Dec. 24)

VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: February 13, 1997 at 2:59 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 61 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: February 23, 1997 at 1:35 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 22 hours
CREW: Bowersox, Horowitz, Lee, Hawley, Harbaugh, Smith, Tanner
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 360 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Checks of the main propulsion system and the Ku-band antenna continue today. Due to additional requirements, the payload bay door closing has been reset for Dec. 21. The Global Position Satellite receiver is being installed into the orbiter today. Managers continue their assessment of the schedules for work on Discovery's airlock hatch actuators and the requirements necessary to remove and recycle them for flight.

KEY STS-82 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
Close payload bay doors (Dec. 21)
Roll to VAB (Jan. 8)

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: March 27 at 2:19 p.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: April 12 at 7:47 a.m. EST
MISSION DURATION: 16 days
CREW: Halsell, Still, Voss, Thomas, Gernhardt, Linteris, Crouch
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: The inertial measurement unit has been removed and shipped to Johnson Space Center for flight re-certification. A functional check of the forward reaction control system is in work today.

KEY STS-83 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
Remove remote manipulator system from payload bay (Dec. 17)
Close payload bay doors (Dec. 20)

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