MISSION: STS-83 -- Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (image)

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102 (image)
• LOCATION: Pad 39A
• LAUNCH DATE/TIME: April 3 at 2:01 p.m. EST
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: April 19 at about 7:37 a.m. EDT
• MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 16 hours, 36 minutes
• CREW: Halsell, Still, Voss, Thomas, Gernhardt, Linteris, Crouch (image)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: The launch countdown for mission STS-83 began on time yesterday at 2 p.m. EST shortly after the crew arrived at KSC. (image) At this time, there are no serious technical issues being addressed by the Mission Management Team that would prohibit an on time launch on Thursday. The commander's heads-up display unit may be removed and replaced due to intermittent signals. This work can be done without impact to the launch schedule.

Pad 39-A was cleared at about 10 a.m. today to load the onboard cryogenic tanks and the extended duration orbiter pallet in the payload bay with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants. Reactant loading will be complete at about 10 p.m. The reactants provide electricity for the orbiter and crew while in space and drinking water as a by-product for the 16-day mission.

Tomorrow, operations will begin to demate the orbiter's mid-body umbilical unit and retract it into the Fixed Service Structure. Final vehicle and facility close-outs will also resume. Final mid-deck payload stowage operations will begin following cryogenic loading operations.

Also on Wednesday, preparations will be made to retract the Rotating Service Structure to launch position at about 8 p.m. Loading of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled to begin at about 5:11 a.m. Thursday.

Air Force weather forecasters are currently indicating only a 20 percent probability of weather prohibiting launch of Columbia on April 3. The only concern is for a slight chance of showers.

During Thursday's launch window, the winds at KSC are expected to be from the east at 7 knots gusting to 12 knots; temperature 77 degrees F; visibility 7 miles; humidity 52 percent; and clouds with 40 percent sky coverage at 3,500 feet and 25 percent sky coverage at 10,000 feet. The 24-hour delay forecast reveals similar conditions and a 30 percent chance of violation. Please refer to KSC Release No. 47-97 for more information on Shuttle weather launch commit criteria.

 T-TIME       LENGTH OF HOLD            HOLD BEGINS        HOLD ENDS
T-27 hours      4 hours                6:00 a.m. Tues.   10:00 a.m. Tues.
T-19 hours      8 hours                6:00 p.m. Tues.    2:00 a.m. Wed.
T-11 hours     13 hours, 41 minutes   10:00 a.m. Wed.    11:41 p.m. Wed.
T-6  hours      1 hour                 4:41 a.m. Thurs.   5:41 a.m. Thurs.
T-3  hours      2 hours                8:41 a.m. Thurs.  10:41 a.m. Thurs.
T-20 minutes   10 minutes              1:21 p.m. Thurs.   1:31 p.m. Thurs.
T-9  minutes   10 minutes              1:42 p.m. Thurs.   1:52 p.m. Thurs.

         Commander (CDR):  Jim Halsell (Red Team)
             Pilot (PLT):  Susan Still (Red Team)
Mission Specialist (MS1):  Janice Voss (Blue Team)
Mission Specialist (MS2):  Michael Gernhardt (Blue Team)
Mission Specialist (MS3):  Donald Thomas (Red Team)
Mission Specialist (PS1):  Roger Crouch (Blue Team)
Mission Specialist (PS2):  Greg Linteris (Red Team)

Thursday, April 3

   1:30 a.m.  Wake up (Red Team )
   3:30 a.m.  Breakfast (Red Team)
   8:30 a.m.  Lunch (Red Team)
   9:06 a.m.  Wake up (Blue Team)
   9:36 a.m.  Breakfast (Blue Team)
*  9:40 a.m.  Crew Photo (All)
  10:06 a.m.  Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
  10:06 a.m.  Don launch and entry suits (MS1, MS3, PS1, PS2)
  10:16 a.m.  Don launch and entry suits (CDR, PLT, MS2)
* 10:30 a.m.  Crew suiting photo
* 10:41 a.m.  Depart for launch pad 39A
* 11:16 a.m.  Arrive at white room (image) and begin ingress
* 12:31 p.m.  Close crew hatch
*  2:01 p.m.  Launch

* Televised events (times may vary slightly)
All times Eastern

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