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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1996 (11:26 AM EST)

KSC Public Affairs Contact: Bruce Buckingham
E-mail: Bruce.Buckingham-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov


MISSION: STS-75 -- TETHERED SATELLITE-1R & USMP-3

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Pad 39B
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Feb. 22 at 3:18 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: March 7 at 7:32 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 13 days, 16 hours
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: The Space Shuttle main engine flight readiness test is
complete. Hypergolic loading operations will begin tonight following
the helium signature test which is in work today. The flight
readiness review is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. tomorrow at KSC.

IN WORK TODAY:
* Helium signature test
* Preparations for loading the orbiter with hypergolic reactants

KEY STS-75 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Load hypergolic reactants onboard vehicle (Thursday night)
* Flight readiness review (Friday)
* Begin orbiter aft engine compartment close-outs (Feb. 12)
* Begin countdown (Feb. 19)



MISSION: STS-76 -- 3rd MIR DOCKING

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: March 21 at about 3:35 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: about 6 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: March 30 at about 8:05 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 4 hours
CREW SIZE: 6 up -- 5 down
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: The orbiter docking system mechanical functional test was
successfully completed earlier this week. Hydraulic checks and aft
compartment close-outs are currently in work on the vehicle. The
STS-76 crew is at KSC today reviewing the orbiter’s flight equipment
and inspecting the payload bay configuration.

KEY STS-76 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Final payload bay door closure (Feb. 14)
* Roll over to the Vehicle Assembly Building and mate with external
tank (Feb. 19/20)


MISSION: STS-77 -- SPACEHAB-4 & SPARTAN 207

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 16 at 6:32 a.m.
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 26 at 6:49 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 10 days
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 176 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: Payload bay deconfiguration and the orbital maneuvering system
functional checks continue in work today.

KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Remove the Space Shuttle main engines (Feb. 14-16)
* Install Space Shuttle main engines (March 1)