MISSION: STS-87 -- U.S. MICROGRAVITY PAYLOAD-4

STS-87 images

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: Pad 39B
• KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Nov. 19 at 2:46 p.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec. 5 at about 7:20 a.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 16 hours, 34 minutes
• CREW: Kregel, Lindsey, Scott, Chawla, Doi, Kadenyuk
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 150 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: At the conclusion of yesterday’s Flight Readiness Review for mission STS-87, NASA managers announced Nov. 19 as the official launch date for Space Shuttle Columbia. The interface verification test for USMP-4 is complete and the payload bay doors will be closed tonight to support loading of hypergolic propellants into the orbiter on Thursday. The helium signature test is in work today. The STS-87 crew are participating in training and mission familiarization activities today at KSC. A simulated main engine cut-off at T-0 is set for tomorrow at 11 a.m., concluding the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test.

STS-87 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Nov. 4 and 5)
• Pre-launch propellant loading (Nov. 6)
• Begin aft engine compartment close-outs (Nov. 10)

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

STS-89 images

• VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
• LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan. 15, 1998 at about 1:03 a.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 24, 1998 at about 4:47 a.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 3 hours, 44 minutes
• CREW: Wilcutt, Edwards, Dunbar, Anderson, Reilly, Sharipov, Thomas (up), Wolf (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Integrated hydraulic operations are under way and interior and exterior close-outs of Endeavour’s air lock continues through Saturday. Payload premate testing begins today and transfer-tunnel installation is slated for early next week. The orbiter’s fuel cell monitoring modifications continue.

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

• Midbody Crew Equipment Interface Test (Nov. 7)
• Transfer-tunnel installation (Nov. 14)
• Crew compartment CEIT (Nov. 15)

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: Work on Discovery’s body flap is under way and fuel cell monitoring modifications are in work in the crew compartment. Work to deconfigure the orbiter from its VAB storage period concludes today.

STS-91 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Removal of the forward reaction control system complete (Nov. 30)

• VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
• LOCATION: OPF bay 3
• TARGET OMDP FERRY DATE: Nov. 11
• TARGET RETURN TO KSC: August 1998
• NEXT MISSION: STS-92 ISS-03-3A (3rd ISS flight)

NOTE: Preparations for Atlantis’ ferry flight to Palmdale, CA, continue on schedule. Tail cone installation and payload bay closure are slated for tomorrow. Mating of the orbiter to the top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is set for Nov. 10 and departure for Palmdale is planned for early Nov. 11.

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