MISSION: STS-86 -- 7th MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB DM

STS-86 images

• VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
• LOCATION: On orbit
• OFFICIAL KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Sept. 25 at 10:34 p.m.
• OFFICIAL MIR DOCKING TIME: Sept. 27 at 3:58 p.m. EDT
• UNDOCKING TIME: Oct. 3 at 11:46 a.m. EDT
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 5 at about 7:00 p.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 20 hours, 22 minutes
• CREW: Wetherbee, Bloomfield, Parazynski, Titov, Chretien, Lawrence, Wolf (up), Foale (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: At Hangar AF, solid rocket booster disassembly activities are underway and the nozzles will be shipped to Utah on Friday.

Atlantis' systems continue to operate very well on orbit with more than 80 percent of the Mir transfer activities complete.

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

STS-87 images

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
• TARGET 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 7:00 a.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 16 hours, 33 minutes
• CREW: Kregel, Lindsey, Scott, Chawla, Doi, Kadenyuk
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 150 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Heat shield installation is complete and aft compartment close-outs continue. Tests on the fuel cell monitoring system modifications continue in Columbia's midbody and fuel cell voltage tests are slated for early next week. Preparations continue for the payload premate test. With weight-saving modifications complete on Columbia's elevons, work continues on the flipper doors located above the elevon cove. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank/solid rocket booster post-mate close-outs continue.

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

• Crew Equipment Interface Test (Oct. 3)
• Final payload bay door closure (Oct. 14)
• Orbiter roll over to VAB (Oct. 20)

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, Wolf (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: The tunnel adapter's forward extension was installed yesterday and leak checks are in work. Leak and functional checks of the Shuttle's three auxiliary power units continue. Endeavour's body flap inspections continue. In the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility, work continues on the right-hand orbital maneuvering system (OMS) pod in preparation for its delivery to the OPF on Friday night.

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

• Forward reaction control system installation (Oct. 3)
• Right-hand OMS pod installation (Oct. 4)

MISSION: STS-91 -- 9th MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB-SM

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
• 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: TBD
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Discovery will move to high bay 2 in the VAB this afternoon, to make room in OPF bay 3 for Atlantis' return. The orbiter will remain in temporary storage until Oct. 27 and no processing work is scheduled for the vehicle during that time.

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