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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1996  (2:52 PM EDT)

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


MISSION: STS-79 -- 4th MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB DM (image)

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104 (image)
LOCATION: Pad 39A
LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Sept. 14 at about 5:39 a.m. (EDT)
LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
MIR DOCKING: About 12:39 a.m., Sept. 16
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 23 at 9:34 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 3 hours, 55 minutes
CREW SIZE: 6
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 196-245 statute miles/51.6 degrees
All times are EST

NOTE: As a result of the projected path of Hurricane Fran, KSC has gone into Hurricane Condition 
3 (HurCon 3) which indicates KSC can expect sustained 50 knot winds within 48 hours.  During 
HurCon 3, designated personnel at the space center could be relieved of their normal duties as 
required for hurricane preparations. Because of the threat from Hurricane Fran, rollback 
preparations continue for Atlantis to be moved off the pad and into the VAB tomorrow morning. A 
final decision from the launch director will be made later tonight.

	All preparations for rollback are complete except for retraction of the orbiter weather protection 
panels at the pad. If the call to rollback is made, the Rotating Service Structure will be retracted at 
about 1:30 a.m. tomorrow and first motion will occur at about 3:30 a.m. Atlantis would then arrive in 
the safety of the Vehicle Assembly Building by about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. 

	If conditions worsen, KSC could go to HurCon 2 sometime overnight. This call would be made if 
Hurricane Fran continues on its projected path and high winds are expected at KSC within 24 hours.


MISSION: STS-80 -- WAKE SHIELD FACILITY-3 and ORFEUS-SPAS-2 (image)

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: (no earlier than) Oct. 31 at 2:40 p.m. (EST)
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 20 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: (no earlier than) Nov. 16 at 7:25 a.m. 
MISSION DURATION: 16 days   
CREW SIZE: 5
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 218 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Options remain under discussion as to when to begin stacking the solid rocket boosters for 
STS-80. Stacking remains unlikely earlier than Friday and is based on the track of Hurricane Fran. 
The payload bay doors will remain closed until the threat of hurricane force winds at KSC passes.

KEY STS-80 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Begin stacking solid rocket boosters in VAB (no earlier than Sept. 6)
* Crew equipment interface test  (Sept. 13-14)
* Final payload bay door closure (Sept. 23)
* Roll to Vehicle Assembly Building (Sept. 30)


NOTE: MISSION STS-81, ATLANTIS, IS TARGETED FOR LAUNCH ON JAN. 12, 1997. 
SHUTTLE PROCESSING STATUS WILL BE ISSUED FOLLOWING MISSION STS-79.


MISSION: STS-82 -- HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE SERVICING MISSION-2

VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
LOCATION:  Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: February 13, 1997
LAUNCH WINDOW: 61 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: February 23, 1997
MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 22 hours
CREW SIZE: 7
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 360 statute miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: The payload bay doors will remain closed as a precaution for possible
hurricane conditions this week.

KEY OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
* Install and checkout drag chute (image) (Sept. 4-5)
* Deliver forward reaction control system to OPF (Sept. 16)
* Complete installation of the forward reaction control system (Sept. 18)
-- end --	
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