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

STS-89 images

• VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
• LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan. 22, 1998 at approximately 9:43 p.m. EST
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 5-10 minutes
• MIR DOCKING DATE/TIME: Jan. 24 time TBD
• MIR UNDOCKING DATE/TIME: Jan. 29 time TBD
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 31, 1998 time TBD
• 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: Space Shuttle Endeavour arrived at Pad 39A today at about 1 p.m. The complement of orbiter, external tank and solid rocket boosters began the 3.4 mile trip from the VAB just after 7 a.m. today atop mobile launch platform No. 3. Pad validations are under way and the main engine flight readiness test is slated for Sunday. Work to secure the Shuttle for the holidays begins early next week.

Sanding operations on the STS-89 external tank thermal foam insulation were completed successfully yesterday and were followed by a walk-down inspection of the modified area last night. The additional work required in the VAB and the subsequent tight processing schedule at the pad caused NASA managers to move the target launch date to Jan. 22. An official launch date is expected to be announced at the Flight Readiness Review, scheduled for Jan. 7.

Endeavour's cargo bay doors will be opened tonight to support SPACEHAB installation beginning tomorrow morning. The orbiter/payload interface verification test begins Jan. 4.

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

• SPACEHAB installed into orbiter (Dec. 20)
• Payload Interface Verification Test (Jan. 4-5)
• Flight Readiness Review (Jan. 7)
• Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Jan. 9-10)

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: Columbia's radiator and payload bay door inspections are complete, and functional tests on the forward reaction control system are also complete. Removal of the remote manipulator system is in work and Ku band antenna stowage occurs today. The payload bay doors will be closed today in preparation for the holiday downtime period.

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 are nearing completion. Fuel cell monitoring modifications proceed with installation of pulse code modulators that will process the data stream from each of the 288 individual fuel cell outputs. There are 96 individual "substacks" or outputs for each of the three fuel cells onboard an orbiter. Body flap corrosion repairs also continue and aft flight deck reconfiguration is under way. Technicians are also preparing to configure Discovery for the holiday, downtime period.

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