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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1996 (10:02 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 pad is closed today for ordnance connections, which are
expected to be complete by mid-afternoon. Following this, the pad
will remain closed to pressurize the hypergolic reactant tanks
onboard Columbia. Following these hazardous operations, the pad will
reopen to continue aft engine compartment and payload bay close-outs.
Efforts continue on schedule for launch one week from tomorrow.

IN WORK TODAY:
* Ordnance connections
* Hypergolic reactant tank pressurization

KEY STS-75 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Complete aft engine compartment close-outs (Saturday)
* Close payload bay doors for flight (Saturday)
* Crew arrival at KSC (3:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19)
* Begin launch countdown (4 p.m. 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: Hydraulic checks and aft compartment close-outs are currently
in work on the vehicle. Close-outs of the payload bay and auxiliary
power units continue this week. The payload bay doors will be closed
for flight tomorrow.

KEY STS-76 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Final payload bay door closure (Feb. 15)
* Roll over to the Vehicle Assembly Building and mate with external
tank (Feb. 19/20)
* Roll out to Pad 39B (Feb. 28)


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: Removal of the Space Shuttle main engines is complete. Work
today includes a radiator mechanical functional check on the payload
bay doors. Also, a system test of the power reactant storage and
distribution system is in work today.

KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Install remote manipulator system (Thursday)
* Install drag chute (Feb. 20)
* Install Space Shuttle main engines (March 1)