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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1996 (10:20 AM EDT)

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


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

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
LOCATION: Pad 39B
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:  The pad is open today following hypergolic reactant loading
into the orbiter’s reaction control system storage tanks. Operations
are now underway to complete the payload interface verification
tests.

KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* TEAMS payload interface verification test (today)
* Spartan payload interface verification test (Thursday)
* Close payload bay doors for flight (Friday)
* Launch Readiness Review (Friday)
* Begin orbiter aft engine compartment close-outs (May 6)
* Flight Readiness Review (May 7)
* Ordnance installation and hypergolic pressurization (May 7)
* Begin launch countdown (May 13)


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

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: June 20 at about 10:49 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 6 at about 8:46 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 22 hours
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 statute miles/39 degrees

NOTE: The tunnel adapter was installed yesterday and the payload
interface verification test is complete and good. The external tank
will be mated with the boosters later this week in the Vehicle
Assembly Building.

KEY STS-78 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Mate external tank with solid rocket boosters (Friday)
* Final aerosurface checks and flight readiness test (Friday)
* Roll orbiter to Vehicle Assembly Building (May 23)


MISSION: STS-79 -- 4th MIR DOCKING

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION:  Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: July 31 at about 11:42 p.m.
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:	Testing of the orbiter’s main propulsion system continues
this week. A functional check of the orbital maneuvering system pods
is scheduled for tomorrow. Checks of the Ku-band system are underway
today.

KEY STS-79 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Orbital maneuvering system functional checks (Thursday)
* Install Space Shuttle main engines (May 20)

 -- end --

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