MISSION: STS-83 -- Microgravity Science Laboratory-1

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: Vehicle Assembly Building
• TARGET 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
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Columbia was hard mated to the external tank yesterday afternoon and operations remain on schedule for the Shuttle interface test tomorrow. Roll out to Pad 39A is set for first motion at 7 a.m. Monday. Following the 6 hour trip to the pad and after the vehicle is hard-down on the pad, the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) will remain open as umbilical connections and pad validations are completed. Preparations will then pick-up for the hot fire of auxiliary power unit No. 2 Monday night. Following the hot fire, the RSS will be moved into position around the vehicle Tuesday morning. The crew of mission STS-83 are due to arrive at KSC Tuesday evening for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test next week.

STS-83 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

* Begin Shuttle interface test (Saturday)

* Roll out to Pad 39A (first motion set for 7 a.m. March 10)

* Hot fire auxiliary power unit No. 2 (March 10)

* Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) (March 13-14)

* Remove and replace SRB nozzle plugs (March 15)

MISSION: STS-84 -- 6th MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB DM (image)

• VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
• LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 15 at about 4:07 a.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 24 at about 7:52 a.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 3 hours, 45 minutes
• CREW: Precourt, Collins, Foale, Noriega, Lu, Clervoy, Kondakova
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Installation of the Space Shuttle main engines continues. Engines No. 1 and 3 are on the orbiter and engine No. 2 is being installed today. Engine securing will pick-up following installation. Forward reaction control system functional checks and mid-body close-outs also continue in work today.

STS-84 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

* Orbiter Docking System functional check (March 13-14)

* Mate external tank to solid rocket boosters (March 24)

* Roll over to the VAB (April 9)

MISSION: STS-85 -- CRISTA-SPAS-2

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
• TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: July 17 at 10:06 a.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 1 hour, 54 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 28 at about 6:54 a.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 20 hours, 48 minutes
• CREW: Brown, Ashby, Davis, Curbeam, Robinson, Tryggvason
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/57 degrees

NOTE: The main landing gear wheel and tire assemblies have been removed for brake inspections. Checks-outs of the orbital maneuvering system and reaction control system are slated to begin on Monday.

STS-85 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

* Fuel cell voltage tests (March 14)

* Remove Space Shuttle main engines (March 28)

NOTE ON ENDEAVOUR: The orbiter Endeavour has been at the Orbiter Assembly Facility in Palmdale, CA, since August 1996 undergoing extensive inspections and modifications as part of its first Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP), an action that periodically removes all of NASA's orbiters from flight operations. Endeavour is now scheduled to be ferried back to KSC during the last week of March. Target dates show Endeavour departing Palmdale on March 25 and arriving at KSC on March 26, weather permitting.

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