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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 1996 (9:19 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: Ordnance (part 1) operations are complete and the pad re-opened
for regularly scheduled work. Aft engine compartment close-outs will
continue throughout the week. The Flight Readiness Review will be
held today at KSC beginning at 12 noon EDT. The FRR is a meeting of
all management and engineering aspects involved in preparing the
vehicle for flight. Managers and engineers from NASA’s spaceflight
centers will be present for this final management review. Following
the FRR, a firm launch date is expected to be announced.

KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Flight Readiness Review (today)
* Functional check of the contingency spacesuits (Wednesday)
* Ordnance (Part 2) operations (Thursday)


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: Installation of the Spacelab transfer tunnel will begin later
tonight once workers complete operations to replace a bearing on a
keel fitting in the orbiter’s payload bay. Following installation,
the interface verification test is scheduled to be conducted on
Thursday.

KEY STS-78 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Spacelab transfer tunnel interface verification test (Thursday)
* Crew equipment interface test (Friday)
* Final payload bay door closure (May 17)
* 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:	The replacement fuel cell no. 2 will be installed on board
the orbiter today as a functional check of the orbital maneuvering
system pods continues in work. Also, a leak check and functional test
of the auxiliary power units is scheduled for later today. In the
Vehicle Assembly Building, stacking of the left hand solid rocket
booster continues.

KEY STS-79 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Install Space Shuttle main engines (May 20)

 -- end --

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