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: Post-Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test securing and crew module destow activities on Columbia are complete. The pad will be closed today and tomorrow for loading of hypergolic propellants into the orbiter.

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

• Prelaunch propellant loading (Nov. 6-7)
• Begin aft engine compartment close-outs (Nov. 10)
• Ordnance installation (Nov. 11-13)

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 complete and close-outs of Endeavour's air lock continue through Saturday. The orbiter's fuel cell monitoring modifications continue with performance monitor connections complete. Main propulsion system electrical close-outs continue with resistance checks today. Orbiter maneuvering system tests are also underway. Payload premate testing continues and transfer-tunnel installation is slated for early next week.

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 to purge Discovery's reaction control system is complete and hydraulic testing is underway. Technicians are removing thermal protective tiles from the area beneath the orbiter's nose in preparation for "chin panel" modifications. Fuel cell monitoring modifications continue.

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. Aft compartment close-outs are slated for tonight. Mating of the orbiter to the top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) is set for Nov. 10 and departure for Palmdale is planned for early Nov. 11. The SCA is scheduled to arrive at the Shuttle Landing Facility tomorrow afternoon.

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