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: Preparations are under way for the transfer of Columbia to the VAB on Friday. The orbiter will be jacked down, and weight and center of gravity determination will be completed today. First motion for rollover is planned for 5 a.m. tomorrow. On Saturday, OPF bay 2 workers will begin preparations to receive Discovery on Oct. 30.

The USMP payload is now scheduled for transfer to Pad 39B on Monday. Technicians are working to remove debris from a gear mechanism on the Rotating Service Structure. Water blasting and borescope inspections are planned for today, and the gears will be rotated tomorrow. Managers expect the pad to be ready for payload activities next week and anticipate no impact to the launch date.

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

• Orbiter rollover to VAB (Oct. 24)
• USMP payload to Pad 39B (Oct. 27)
• Orbiter rollout 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. Thruster installation on the left-hand orbiter maneuvering system (OMS) pod will conclude today. Leak tests of the transfer-tunnel, tunnel adapter and hatch complement are scheduled for this weekend. Tunnel installation is slated for next week.

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-hand OMS pod was removed this morning and preparations are in work for the left-hand pod’s removal tomorrow. Fuel cell removal continues. 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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