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 7:19 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: The remote manipulator system was installed over the weekend. Midbody close-outs continue with payload premate tests in work and payload bay door closure set for next week. Work on Columbia's elevons concludes this weekend.

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

• Final payload bay door closure (Oct. 21)
• USMP payload to Pad 39B (Oct. 23)
• Orbiter roll over to VAB (Oct. 24 )
• Orbiter roll out to Pad 39B (Oct. 29)
• USMP payload installed (Nov. 1)
• Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Nov. 3 and 4)

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: Over the weekend, technicians completed work to connect the oxidizer cross-feed lines to the orbiter maneuvering system (OMS) pod. Preparations are under way for main engine installation slated for Wednesday. Stacking of the STS-89 solid rocket boosters continues in the Vehicle Assembly Building with the arrival of the left forward segment expected tomorrow.

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

• Shuttle main engine installation begins (Oct. 15)
• Payload premate test (Oct. 20)

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

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Vehicle Assembly Building
• 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 is in storage in VAB high bay 2 with the environmental control system purge equipment connected. The orbiter will remain in temporary storage until Oct. 27.

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

NOTE: Saturday, the SPACEHAB module and transfer tunnel were removed and Atlantis' main engines were pulled yesterday. The orbiter docking system is scheduled for removal tomorrow night. Work to deconfigure Atlantis for its ferry flight to Palmdale, CA continues. The orbiter maintenance down period (OMDP) is scheduled to last a little more than 9 months.

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