MISSION: STS-87 -- U.S. MICROGRAVITY PAYLOAD-4

STS-87 images

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: On orbit
• OFFICIAL KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Nov. 19 at 2:46 p.m.
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec. 5 at about 7:20 a.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 16 hours, 34 minutes
• CREW: Kregel, Lindsey, Scott, Chawla, Doi, Kadenyuk
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 150 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: This morning, Columbia underwent routine system checks in preparation for tomorrow's landing at Kennedy Space Center. The STS-87 crew also performed standard "housekeeping" duties, stowing equipment that had been used during the mission.

Weather conditions are forecast to be favorable at KSC for both landing opportunities tomorrow, so the backup California landing site is not being asked to support on Friday. At the time of landing, forecasters are expecting scattered clouds at 2,000 ft and 25,000 ft; visibility at 7 miles; winds from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 16 knots and no precipitation is anticipated. With plans to land Columbia on KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33, a head wind is expected.

The two landing opportunities at KSC are at 7:20 a.m. and 8:55 a.m. EST. Commander Kevin Kregel will perform a deorbit burn using the two orbiter maneuvering system engines about one hour before touchdown.

MISSION: STS-89 -- 8th MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB DM

STS-89 images

• VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
• LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan. 15, 1998 at about 1:01 a.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 24, 1998 at about 4:45 a.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 3 hours, 44 minutes
• CREW: Wilcutt, Edwards, Dunbar, Anderson, Reilly, Sharipov, Thomas (up), Wolf (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Payload bay cleaning efforts are complete and structural leak tests of the orbiter's aft and midbody compartments are under way. Endeavour's payload bay doors are slated for closure tomorrow. Saturday, orbiter weight and center of gravity tests will precede final preparations to transport Endeavour to the Vehicle Assembly Building early Sunday morning.

STS-89 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Final payload bay door closure (Dec. 5)
• Orbiter towed to VAB for mate to external tank (Dec. 7)
• SPACEHAB payload moved to pad 39A (Dec. 11)
• Shuttle transferred to pad 39A (Dec. 12)
• Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Dec. 17-18)

MISSION: STS-91 -- 9th MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB-SM

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: OPF bay 2
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 28 at 8:33 p.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: June 7 at about 12:17 a.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 3 hours, 44 minutes
• CREW: Precourt, Gorie, Lawrence, Chang-Diaz, Kavandi, Thomas (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Fuel cell monitoring modifications proceed in Discovery's midbody. Checks of the orbiter's water spray boiler and orbiter maneuvering system functional testing continue. Next week, fuel cell No. 2 is slated for replacement and window No. 8 will also be replaced.

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