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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1996 (12:25 PM EDT) LAUNCH - 2 DAYS 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 19 at 6:30 a.m. (EDT) LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 29 at 7:07 a.m. MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 0 hours, 37 minutes CREW SIZE: 6 ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 176 statute miles/39 degrees NOTE: The countdown for launch of Endeavour continues on schedule today for liftoff on Sunday, May 19. The 2 1/2 hour window opens at 6:30 a.m. EDT. This morning, Pad 39-B was cleared to load the onboard cryogenic tanks with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants. Reactant loading was completed at about 7 a.m. The reactants provide electricity for the orbiter and crew while in space and drinking water as a by-product for the 10-day mission. Operations are currently in work to demate the orbiter’s mid-body umbilical unit and retract it into the Fixed Service Structure. Mid-deck close-out operations are underway and final Spacehab stowage operations will begin at about 2 p.m. and continue through the rest of the day. Final vehicle and facility close-outs have also resumed. Tomorrow, preparations will be made to retract the Rotating Service Structure to launch position at about 12 p.m. Loading of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled to begin at about 9:40 p.m. Saturday. Air Force weather forecasters are currently indicating a 10 percent probability of weather prohibiting launch on Sunday. The only concern is for the slight possibility of showers in the vicinity of KSC. During Sunday’s launch window, the winds at Pad B are expected to be from the east-southeast at 8 knots; temperature 74 degrees F; visibility 7 miles; humidity 82 percent; and clouds scattered at 3,500 feet. The 24-hour-delay forecast reveals similar conditions. KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES: * Move Rotating Service Structure to launch position (12 p.m. Saturday) * Begin fueling of external tank (about 9:40 p.m. Saturday) SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-77 T-TIME LENGTH OF HOLD HOLD BEGINS HOLD ENDS T-27 hours 4 hours 8:00 p.m. Thurs. 12:00 midnight Thurs. T-19 hours 4 hours 8:00 a.m. Fri. 12:00 noon Fri. T-11 hours 20 hours, 10 minutes 8:00 p.m. Fri. 4:10 p.m. Sat. T-6 hours 1 hour 9:10 p.m. Sat. 10:10 p.m. Sat. T-3 hours 2 hours 1:10 a.m. Sun. 3:10 a.m. Sun. T-20 minutes 10 minutes 5:50 a.m. Sun. 6:00 a.m. Sun. T-9 minutes 10 minutes 6:11 a.m. Sun. 6:21 a.m. Sun. CREW FOR MISSION STS-77 Commander (CDR): John Casper Pilot (PLT): Curt Brown Mission Specialist (MS1): Andy Thomas Mission Specialist (MS2): Dan Bursch Mission Specialist (MS3): Mario Runco Mission Specialist (MS4): Marc Garneau (CSA) SUMMARY OF STS-77 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES Sunday, May 19 1:30 a.m. Wake up * 2:00 a.m. Breakfast and Crew Photo 2:30 a.m. Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2) 2:30 a.m. Don launch and entry suits (MS1, MS3, MS4) 2:40 a.m. Don launch and entry suits (CDR, PLT, MS2) * 2:55 a.m. Crew suiting photo * 3:10 a.m. Depart for launch pad 39B * 3:40 a.m. Arrive at white room and begin ingress * 5:00 a.m. Close crew hatch * 6:30 a.m. Launch * Televised events (times may vary slightly) All times Eastern-- end -- For automatic e-mail subscriptions to this daily Shuttle status report or KSC originated press releases, send an Internet electronic mail message to: domo@news.ksc.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line) type the words "subscribe shuttle-status", or "subscribe ksc-press-release" (do not use quotation marks). The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription. To remove your name from the list at any time, send an e-mail address to domo@news.ksc.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line), type (no quotes) "unsubscribe shuttle-status", or "unsubscribe ksc-press-release."