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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1996 (10:45 AM EDT)

KSC Public Affairs Contact: Bruce Buckingham
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: Operations continue to complete the payload interface
verification tests. The payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed
for flight tomorrow. Aft engine compartment close-outs begin Monday.

KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Spartan payload interface verification test (today)
* Close payload bay doors for flight (Friday)
* Launch Readiness Review (Friday)
* Begin orbiter aft engine compartment close-outs (Monday)
* Flight Readiness Review (Tuesday)
* Ordnance installation and hypergolic pressurization (Tuesday)
* 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 and crew module were successfully checked
for leaks yesterday. Hydraulic testing of the orbiter’s aerosurfaces
will begin on Friday. The external tank will be mated with the
boosters on Friday 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 also in work 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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