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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1996 (9:08 AM EST)

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

MISSION: STS-76 -- 3rd MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Pad 39B
LAUNCH DATE/TIME: March 21 at about 3:35 a.m. EST
LAUNCH WINDOW: 6 to 10 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDINGDATE/TIME: March 30 at about 8:04 a.m. EST
MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 4 hours, 29 minutes
CREW SIZE: 6 up -- 5 down
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: The payload bay doors were closed for flight yesterday as aft engine 
compartment closeouts continue. The pad will be closed later today 
for ordnance installation and connection. This will be followed by 
pressurization of the hypergolic system tanks tomorrow. Also, launch 
countdown preparations are in work this week.

KEY STS-76 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Ordnance installation (tonight)
* Pressurize hypergolic reactant storage tanks (Thursday)
* Crew arrival (12:01 a.m. Monday)
* Begin countdown for launch (2 a.m. Monday)


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

VEHICLE:  Endeavour/ Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 16 at 6:32 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 26 at 7:09 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 10 days
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 176 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: Installation of the Space Shuttle  main engines will begin later this 
afternoon. Payload premate testing continues in work today. Solid rocket 
booster stacking operations continue in the Vehicle Assembly Building.

KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Install Space Shuttle main engines (Wednesday/Thursday)
* Tunnel adapter installation (Friday)
* Landing gear functional checks (March 21)


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

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102 
LOCATION:Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: June 27 at 10:49 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDINGDATE/TIME: July 13 at 8:46 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 22 hours
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: The payload bay doors were opened yesterday and visual inspections 
made of the payload bay configuration. The Tethered Satellite System and 
U.S. Microgravity Payload will be removed on Friday and 
transported to the Operations and Checkout Building on Saturday.

KEY STS-78 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Remove STS-75 payloads (Friday)
* Hypergolic deservicing (Saturday)