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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
MONDAY, JULY 15, 1996  (1:17 PM EDT)

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


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

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Vehicle Assembly Building
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME:  Mid-September
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: TBD
MISSION DURATION: 8 days, 20 hours, 35 minutes
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Last Friday, NASA managers decided to replace the Space Shuttle
Atlantis’ reusable solid rocket boosters, delaying its July 31, 1996
launch.  The decision to replace the STS-79 solid rocket motors,
which also utilized the new adhesive, was made to provide an
opportunity to better understand the J-joint failure and to improve
the safety margin of the joint.

Atlantis will borrow the SRB set intended for use on mission STS-80.
Launch managers are working Atlantis’ launch schedule and will
recommend a target launch date later this week, for sometime in
mid-September.


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

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME (under review):  Oct. 31 at 2:40 p.m. (EDT)
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 20 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME (under review): 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: Columbia’s payload bay doors are open and preps for Spacelab
removal are in work.  Waterproofing of the orbiter’s thermal
protection system is complete.  The delay of Atlantis’ launch and the
booster switch may affect Columbia’s launch schedule by one week.

KEY OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Removal of Spacelab from the payload bay (July 16)
* Removal of auxiliary power unit No.1 (July 26)
* Begin removing Space Shuttle main engines (July 30)


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 LANDING DATE: Febuary 23, 1997
MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 22 hours
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 360 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE:  The receiving inspection continues on Discovery following its
return from Palmdale, CA.  Removal of the right orbital maneuvering
system simulator pod is complete and preparations are underway for
removal the left simulator pod.

OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Open payload bay doors (July 16)
* Install right hand orbital maneuvering system pod (about July 26)


PREPARATIONS FOR ORBITER MAINTENANCE DOWN PERIOD

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3

NOTE:	The removal of fuel cell 3 is complete as preparations
continue for the vehicle’s first Orbiter Maintenance Down Period in
Palmdale, CA.

KEY PRE-OMDP OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Final payload bay closure (July 16)
* Rollover to Shuttle Landing Facility (July 29)
* Depart KSC for ferry flight to Palmdale, CA (July 30)
-- end --
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