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

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102 (image)
• LOCATION: Pad 39A
• 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: Rollout of Space Shuttle Columbia from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad 39A began at 6:32 a.m. today. Earlier this morning, the crawler transporter was positioned under the mobile launcher platform (MLP) with the Shuttle mounted on top and final preparations were made for the 3.4 mile move to the pad. The move is expected to be complete by early this afternoon when the vehicle is secured on the pad and orbiter's umbilical connections made.

Once at the pad, workers will prepare to hot fire auxiliary power unit No. 2 late tonight. The Rotating Service Structure will be placed around the vehicle Wednesday morning and preparations made for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test on Thursday and Friday. The crew for mission STS-83 is scheduled to arrive at KSC at about 5 p.m. today for the TCDT.

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

* Hot fire auxiliary power unit No. 2 (tonight)

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

* Remove and replace SRB nozzle plugs (March 15)

* Flight Readiness Review (March 20)

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: Space Shuttle main engine securing is in work today. Servicing of the ammonia system on the orbiter and close-outs of the Orbiter Docking System also continue 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: Check-outs of the orbital maneuvering system and reaction control system are underway while preparations for removal of the Space Shuttle main engines begin later this week. A test of the orbiter's navigational system is scheduled for Thursday.

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

* Tactical Air Command and Navigation System (TACAN) test (March 13)

* Fuel cell voltage tests (March 14)

* Remove Space Shuttle main engines (March 28)

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