MISSION: STS-85 -- CRISTA-SPAS-2 (image)

Index of STS-85 images

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Pad 39A
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: August 7 at 10:41 a.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 1 hour, 39 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: August 18 at 7:05 a.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 20 hours, 24 minutes
• CREW: Brown, Rominger, Davis, Curbeam, Robinson, Tryggvason
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/57 degrees

NOTE: The launch countdown for STS-85 continues on schedule with Shuttle managers working no significant problems. Work to load the power reactant storage distribution system with cryogenic reactants is complete and the orbiter's mid-body umbilical unit was demated and retracted into the Fixed Service Structure late last night. Testing of the pyrotechnic initiator controllers concluded last night as well. Activation of Discovery's communication systems occurs this morning.

The Rotating Service Structure will retract to the launch position at about 4:30 p.m. today, pending weather. Loading of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled to begin at about 1:50 a.m. tomorrow.

On launch day, the STS-85 crew will depart the crew quarters for the launch pad at 7:26 a.m. and begin boarding Discovery about thirty minutes later. The hatch will close behind the crew at 9:11 a.m. in time for a 10:41 a.m. launch.

Air Force weather forecasters currently indicate a 40 percent probability that weather may prohibit Thursday's launch of Discovery. The primary concerns are low cloud ceilings, a slight chance of showers and thick cloud cover.

On Thursday, the winds at KSC are expected to be from the southwest at 8 knots gusting to 12 knots; temperature 84 degrees F; visibility 7 miles; humidity 75 percent; and clouds scattered at 2500 feet and 10,000 feet and broken at 25,000 feet. The 24-hour delay forecast reveals similar conditions with a 30 percent chance of weather violation.

 T-TIME      LENGTH OF HOLD              HOLD BEGINS         HOLD ENDS 
T-11 hours    13 hours, 21 minutes     7:00 a.m. Wed.      8:21 p.m. Wed.
T-6  hours     1 hour                  1:21 a.m. Thurs.    2:21 a.m. Thurs.
T-3  hours     2 hours                 5:21 a.m. Thurs.    7:21 a.m. Thurs.
T-20 minutes  10 minutes              10:01 a.m. Thurs.   10:11 a.m. Thurs.
T-9  minutes  10 minutes              10:22 a.m. Thurs.   10:32 a.m. Thurs.

	 Commander (CDR):  Curtis Brown
	     Pilot (PLT):  Kent Rominger
Mission Specialist (MS1):  Jan Davis
Mission Specialist (MS2):  Robert Curbeam
Mission Specialist (MS3):  Stephen Robinson
Payload Specialist (PS1):  Bjarni Tryggvason

Thursday, August 7

   5:46 a.m.  Wake up 
   6:16 a.m.  Breakfast
*  6:16 a.m.  Crew Photo (All)
   6:46 a.m.  Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
   6:46 a.m.  Don launch and entry suits (MS1, MS3, PS1)
   6:56 a.m.  Don launch and entry suits (CDR, PLT, MS2)
*  7:15 a.m.  Crew suiting photo 
*  7:26 a.m.  Depart for launch pad 39A
*  7:56 a.m.  Arrive at white room and begin ingress
*  9:11 a.m.  Close crew hatch
* 10:41 a.m.  Launch

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

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