• 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 payload interface verification test was successfully conducted on Saturday and Sunday. Also, the helium signature test is complete. The STS-81 crew arrived at KSC yesterday for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test which is being held today and tomorrow. The crew will take part in this countdown dress rehearsal which ends with a simulated main engine ignition/cut-off tomorrow at about 11 a.m.

Work to remove the six actuators from the orbiter's airlock hatches (image) is complete. Three of the six hatch actuators have been rechecked and will be delivered back to the pad for re-installation early this week. The other three actuators were sent to the vendor and will be back at the pad for installation by the end of this week. Final leak checks of the hatch actuators are scheduled to be complete by Dec. 24.

KEY STS-81 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Monday and Tuesday)
• Pre-launch propellant load (Wednesday and Thursday)
• Launch Readiness Review (Thursday)
• Complete actuator hatch installation and leak checks (Dec. 24)
• Close payload bay doors for flight (Jan. 2)
• Flight Readiness Review (Jan. 6)

• 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: Discovery's airlock hatch actuators will be removed and checked beginning this week. The payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed for the holidays on Saturday.

KEY STS-82 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Close payload bay doors (Dec. 21)
• Roll to VAB (Jan. 8)
• Roll out to Pad 39A (Jan. 15)

• 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: Post flight reconfiguration of the payload bay is in work today. The remote manipulator system will be removed from the orbiter tomorrow. The payload bay doors will be closed for the holidays on Friday.

KEY STS-83 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Remove remote manipulator system from payload bay (Tuesday)
• Close payload bay doors (Dec. 20)

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