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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1996 (10:24 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 LANDING DATE/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 pad will be opened later today for normal work following
pressurization of the hypergolic system tanks. Aft engine compartment
close-outs and launch countdown preparations continue this week. The aft
doors are scheduled to be installed on Saturday. The countdown is set to
begin at the T-43 hour mark at 2 a.m. Monday.

KEY STS-76 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Pressurize hypergolic fuel/oxidizer storage tanks (today)
* Stow and checkout spacesuits (Friday)
* Crew arrival (12:01 a.m. Monday)
* Begin countdown for launch (2 a.m. Monday)


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.
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 continues today.
Payload premate testing continues in work as well. Solid rocket booster
stacking operations is nearing completion in the Vehicle Assembly Building.
The external tank will be mated to the solid rocket boosters next week.

KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Tunnel adapter installation (Friday)
* Mate external tank with solid rocket boosters (March 20)
* 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 LANDING DATE/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 Tethered Satellite System and United States Microgravity Payloads
will be removed tomorrow and transported to the Operations and Checkout
Building on Saturday. Preparations are in work to remove the main engines
beginning next week.

KEY STS-78 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Remove STS-75 payloads (Friday)
* Hypergolic deservicing (Saturday)
* Remove Space Shuttle main engines (March 21)