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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1996 (11:22 AM EST)

LAUNCH MINUS 3 DAYS

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: 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 countdown for launch of Atlantis on Thursday began on time today 
at 2 a.m. for the third mission to dock with Russia's Mir space station. The 
six-member crew arrived at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility today at 12:06 
a.m. Weather forecasters are currently predicting a 60 percent chance of 
weather violating launch with the primary concern being for possible high 
winds..

IN WORK TODAY:
* Final vehicle close-outs for launch
* Stowage of flight crew equipment
* Start preparations for servicing fuel cell storage tanks
* Review flight software stored in mass memory units

WORK COMPLETED:
* Crew arrival (12:06 a.m. today)
* Begin countdown (2 a.m. today)
* Countdown preparations
* Aft engine compartment close-outs
* Checkout of spacesuits

KEY STS-76 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Load cryogenic reactants into Atlantis fuel cell storage tanks (10 p.m. 
today)
* Move rotating service structure to park position (9 a.m. Wednesday)
* Begin cryogenic loading of external tank for flight (about 6:15 p.m. 
Wednesday)


CREW FOR MISSION STS-76

Commander (CDR):	 	Kevin Chilton
Pilot (PLT): 		  	Richard Searfoss
Mission Specialist (MS1): 	Ronald Sega
Mission Specialist (MS2): 	Rich Clifford
Mission Specialist (MS3): 	Linda Godwin
Mission Specialist (MS4): 	Shannon Lucid


SUMMARY OF STS-76 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES

Wednesday, March 20

   4:30 p.m.   Wake up
   5:00 p.m.   Breakfast
* 10:40 p.m.   Lunch and crew photo
  11:10 p.m.   Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
  11:10 p.m.   Don launch and entry suits (MS1, MS3, MS4)
  11:20 p.m.   Don launch and entry suits (CDR, PLT, MS2)
* 11:35 p.m.   Crew suiting photo
* 11:50 p.m.   Depart for launch pad 39B

Thursday, March 21

* 12:20 a.m.   Arrive at white room and begin ingress
*  1:35 a.m.   Close crew hatch
*  3:35 a.m.   Launch

* Televised events (times may vary slightly)
All times Eastern