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

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102 (image)
• LOCATION: Pad 39A
• 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 (image)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Following completion of the Flight Readiness Review yesterday, NASA managers set April 3 as the official launch date for the Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) mission. The crew of mission STS-83 includes: Commander Jim Halsell; Pilot Susan Still; Mission Specialists Janice Voss, Michael Gernhardt and Donald Thomas; and Payload Specialists Roger Crouch and Greg Linteris. Thomas, who suffered a broken ankle following a routine training exercise on Jan. 29, has officially been cleared to fly as planned.

Work at the pad today includes preparations for loading hypergolic propellants this weekend. X-rays of thruster seals on the right hand orbital maneuvering system pod are complete and the seals are good for flight.

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

* Load hypergolic propellants (March 23)

* Ordnance installation (March 26)

* Begin launch countdown (2 p.m. March 31)

* Crew arrival (March 31)

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 No. 3 will be reinstalled on Atlantis today following the removal and replacement of the low pressure oxidizer turbo pump. The crew equipment and interface test, involving the STS-84 crew members, will be conducted tomorrow in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3. The crew will conduct checks of the orbiter crew module and of the Orbiter Docking System in the payload bay.

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

* Crew equipment and interface test (March 22)

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

* Close payload bay doors for roll to VAB (March 31)

* 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, Rominger, Davis, Curbeam, Robinson, Tryggvason
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/57 degrees

NOTE: The forward reaction control system functional checks will begin later today. The Space Shuttle main engines will be removed beginning Monday.

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

* Remove Space Shuttle main engines (March 24-25)

* Remove and replace fuel cell No. 2 (March 25)

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