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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
MONDAY, JUNE 3, 1996  (12:22 PM EDT)

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


MISSION: STS-78 -- LIFE AND MICROGRAVITY SPACELAB (LMS)

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Pad 39B
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: June 20 at 10:49 a.m. (EDT)
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 7 at about 8:39 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 22 hours (+1 day)
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: The main engine flight readiness test is complete except for a
retest of the engine no. 1 oxygen pre-valve which will be conducted
again today. Also, preparations are underway for the helium signature
test on the main propulsion system, set to begin tomorrow. The Launch
Readiness Review for Columbia's mission is scheduled to begin at 1:30
p.m. today.

	This morning, the crew of mission STS-78 arrived at KSC for
the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. The TCDT is a countdown
rehearsal for the crew and launch team at KSC and is conducted at KSC
prior to each flight. Tomorrow, the crew will take part in emergency
egress exercises at the pad. The test will end at about 11 a.m.
Wednesday with a simulated main engine shut down at the pad. The
STS-78 crew are: Commander Tom Henricks; Pilot Kevin Kregel; Mission
Specialists Susan Helms, Richard Linnehan and Charles Brady; and
Payload Specialists Jean-Jacques Favier (French Space Agency) and
Robert Brent Thirsk (Canadian Space Agency).

KEY STS-78 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
Launch Readiness Review (Monday)
Helium signature test (Tuesday)
Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Tuesday-Wednesday)
Flight Readiness Review (Thursday)
Begin countdown at the T-43 hour mark (June 17)


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

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION:  Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: July 31 at about 11:42 p.m. (EDT)
LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: August 9 at about 8:17 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days, 20 hours, 35 minutes
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Work associated with the replacement of six thrusters on
Atlantis' reaction control system has been successfully completed.
Also, all three Space Shuttle main engines were installed last
weekend and securing is in work. Preparations are also underway for
the orbiter docking system functional check (tomorrow) and for the
installation of the tunnel adapter (Wednesday). In the Vehicle
Assembly Building, the external tank will be mated to the solid
rocket boosters on Thursday.

KEY STS-79 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
Orbiter Docking System functional check (Tuesday)
Install Spacehab tunnel adapter (Wednesday)
Mate external tank  with solid rocket boosters in VAB (Thursday)
Close payload bay doors for flight (June 19)
Roll Atlantis to Vehicle Assembly Building (June 24)


PREPARATIONS FOR ORBITER MAINTENANCE DOWN PERIOD

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

NOTE: Post-mission servicing continues in the Orbiter Processing
Facility. The payload bay doors are now open and work is underway to
remove the Spacehab payload (today) and tunnel adapter (tomorrow).
The tunnel adapter will be delivered to OPF bay 1 and installed into
the orbiter Atlantis later this week.

	Over the next 60 days, Endeavour will be prepared for its
first Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP) which involves sending
the orbiter to Palmdale, CA, for about eight months of major
modifications and structural inspections. Endeavour's next mission
will be the first International Space Station assembly Space Shuttle
flight, scheduled for launch from KSC in late 1997.

KEY PRE-OMDP OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
Remove Spacehab payload (today)
Remove tunnel adapter (Tuesday)
Remove Space Shuttle main engines (June 18-19)
Remove right hand orbital maneuvering system pod (June 26)
Remove forward reaction control system (June 27)
Remove left hand orbital maneuvering system pod (July 1)

NOTE on DISCOVERY: The orbiter Discovery, currently undergoing a
series of modifications and thorough inspections in Palmdale, CA, is
scheduled to be delivered back to KSC later this month. The vehicle
is targeted to be rolled out of the Palmdale facility on June 25,
begin the ferry flight on June 26 and arrive back at KSC June 27. 
The Orbital Maintenance Down Period (OMDP) is a routinely scheduled
operation that periodically removes all orbiters from flight
operations. Once Discovery is back at KSC, preparations will begin
for its next flight, mission STS-82, the second Hubble Space
Telescope servicing mission, set for launch in February 1997.
-- end --
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