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: Midbody close-outs are complete with Columbia's payload bay doors closed this morning. Preparations are under way to place Columbia on to the orbiter transport system for transfer to the VAB on Friday. On Saturday, OPF bay 2 workers will begin preparations to receive Discovery on Oct. 30. The USMP payload will go to Pad 39B on Friday following final work on the Rotating Service Structure. Mission STS-87 will be the first launch from that pad since STS-81 in January, when a major modification period began at the launch site.

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

• USMP payload to Pad 39B (Oct. 24)
• 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. 4 and 5)

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: Space Shuttle main engine and main propulsion system integrated testing continues through this evening. Thruster installation on the left-hand orbiter maneuvering system (OMS) pod is in work today. Leak tests of the transfer-tunnel, tunnel adapter and hatch complement are scheduled for this weekend. Tunnel installation is slated for next Wednesday.

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

• Heat shield installation (Oct. 24)
• Payload premate test (Oct. 29)
• Transfer-tunnel installation (Oct. 29)
• Midbody Crew Equipment Interface Test (Nov. 7)

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. 30, at which time it will be transported to OPF bay 2.

• VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
• LOCATION: OPF bay 3
• TARGET OMDP FERRY DATE: Nov. 12
• TARGET RETURN TO KSC: August 1998
• NEXT MISSION: STS-92 ISS-03-3A (3rd ISS flight)

NOTE: Preparations continue for Atlantis' ferry flight to Palmdale, CA. The orbiter's right and left-hand OMS pods are slated for removal on Thursday and Friday respectively. Removal of auxiliary power unit No. 1 is complete and all APU simulators are installed for flight. Fuel cell removal is in work. Atlantis is expected to roll to the Mate/Demate Device on Nov. 11 to be mated to the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Departure for the Palmdale phase of Atlantis' Orbiter Maintenance Down Period (OMDP) is scheduled for Nov. 12.

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