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: Yesterday, Columbia's engine flight readiness test concluded and water spray boiler testing is also complete. Close-outs of the aft engine compartment continue through Saturday. Ordnance installation is in work today and tomorrow. The space suits that will be used in this mission's planned space walk were installed yesterday and are being tested today. Orbiter/payload interface verification testing is complete.

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

• Aft engine compartment close-outs complete (Nov. 15)
• STS-87 crew arrives at KSC (Nov. 16 at about 3:30 p.m.)
• Launch countdown begins (Nov. 16 at 3 p.m.)
• Power reactant storage and distribution system loading (Nov. 17)
• Rotating Service Structure retracted (Nov. 18 at 9 p.m.)
• Loading external tank with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen begins (Nov. 19 at 6:26 a.m.)

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: Fuel cell voltage tests are complete. Wiring modifications on Endeavour's global positioning satellite system are ongoing. Interior and exterior airlock close-outs and functional tests are under way. Preparations continue for transfer-tunnel installation next week. This morning, the STS-87 external tank was mated to the solid rocket boosters in VAB high bay-1.

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

• Crew compartment CEIT (Nov. 15)
• Payload bay door closing (Nov. 18)
• Transfer-tunnel installation (Nov. 19)
• Orbiter transferred to VAB (Dec. 1)

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: Technicians are working to replace windows No. 5 and No. 6. Preparations are under way for fuel cell monitoring modifications in Discovery's midbody. Today, the orbiter's body flap will be removed for corrosion repair. Leak checks and inspections are in work on the vehicle's flash evaporator system.

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

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

• VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
• CURRENT LOCATION: Tinker Air Force Base, OK
• TARGET RETURN TO KSC: August 1998
• NEXT MISSION: STS-92 ISS-03-3A (3rd ISS flight)

NOTE: Atlantis remained overnight at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, yesterday because of unacceptable weather conditions en route to Palmdale, CA. Following a weather briefing today, ferry flight managers decided to remain another night in Oklahoma and depart for Palmdale at about 8 a.m. EST tomorrow. Managers sited freezing rain and unacceptable weather as reasons for the additional night's stay. Atlantis should arrive in California atop the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft tomorrow afternoon, pending further weather review. Atlantis is being ferried to Palmdale for a scheduled Orbiter Maintenance Down Period that is scheduled to last through August 1998.

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