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

STS-89 images

• VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
• LOCATION: Vehicle Assembly Building
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan. 20, 1998 at 10:31 p.m. EST (under review)
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
• MIR DOCKING DATE/TIME: Jan. 22 at about 3:28 p.m. EST
• MIR UNDOCKING DATE/TIME: Jan. 27 at about 12:08 p.m. EST
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 29, 1998 at 7:18 p.m. EST
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days
• CREW: Wilcutt, Edwards, Dunbar, Anderson, Reilly, Sharipov, Thomas (up), Wolf (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Shuttle Endeavour is mated to the external tank and solid rocket boosters (SRB) in Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay 1. The Shuttle interface test is in work through tomorrow afternoon. Tonight, technicians will begin sanding operations to remove a thin layer of the foam insulation on the STS-89 external tank, in a small area located near the SRB attach points. While investigations into the cause of Columbia’s unusual tile damage continue, managers hope the additional work will reduce the possibility of external tank foam debris contributing to Shuttle tile damage. Sanding the foam will not compromise the tank’s thermal protection and does not violate any engineering or design parameters. Endeavour will roll out to the launch pad no earlier than Dec. 17.

The SPACEHAB payload arrived at pad 39A this morning and has been installed in the Payload Changeout Room. Endeavour’s cargo bay doors will be opened on Dec. 20 for payload installation the following day.

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

• Shuttle transferred to pad 39A (Dec. 17)
• SPACEHAB installed into orbiter (Dec. 21)
• Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Jan. 8-9)

MISSION: STS-90 -- NEUROLAB

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: OPF bay 3
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: April 2, 1998 at 1:19 p.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: April 18, l998 at 12:09 p.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 21 hours, 50 minutes
• CREW: Searfoss, Atlman, Linnehan, Williams, Hire, Buckey, Pawelczyk
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 150 nautical miles/39 degrees

NOTE: Removal of Columbia’s three main engines is complete and functional tests on the forward reaction control system are under way. The USMP-4 and Spartan payloads are in the payload canister and have been moved to the Vertical Processing Facility. Post-flight inspections continue on Columbia’s thermal protection system (TPS) and managers are assessing repair and replacement plans for the damaged TPS tiles.

STS-90 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Off load of residual hypergolic propellants complete (Dec. 16)
• Removal of remote manipulator system (Dec. 17)

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: Functional tests on the orbiter maneuvering system (OMS) proceed on schedule. Fuel cell monitoring modifications continue in Discovery’s midbody and water spray boiler servicing continues. Body flap corrosion repair continues. Preparations are in work for aft flight deck reconfiguration and Modular Auxiliary Data System verifications.

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