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

STS-87 images

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: Vehicle Assembly Building
• 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 Space Shuttle Columbia rolled into the VAB transfer aisle at about 6 a.m. today. The orbiter will be mated to the external tank and solid rocket boosters in high bay 3 over the weekend and is slated to roll out to Pad 39B on Wednesday.

The USMP payload is now scheduled for transfer to the pad on Monday. Workers continue to troubleshoot gear mechanisms at the base of the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) and functional tests are slated for Saturday. Managers expect Pad 39B to be ready for payload activities next week; however, support preparations for Pad 39A are under way in case it is needed. No impact to the launch date is anticipated.

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

• USMP payload to Pad 39B (Oct. 27)
• Orbiter rollout to Pad 39B (Oct. 29)
• USMP payload installed (Nov. 1)
• STS-87 Flight Readiness Review (Nov. 3)
• 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 is complete. Preparations are in work to demate Endeavour's fuel cells and fuel cell modifications continue. Transfer-tunnel installation is slated for next week.

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

• Heat shield installation (Oct. 25)
• Payload premate test (Oct. 29)
• Transfer-tunnel installation (Oct. 31)
• 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 temporary storage in VAB high bay 2 awaiting transport to OPF bay 2 on Oct. 30. Following the successful rollover of Columbia to the VAB this morning, preparation began in bay 2 to receive Discovery next week. Orbiter processing for mission STS-91 will resume with the Shuttle's OPF arrival next Friday.

• 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: Removal of Atlantis' orbital maneuvering system pods, in preparation for its ferry flight to Palmdale, CA, will conclude today. All fuel cells have been deserviced and removal work continues. Ammonia boiler sampling and deservicing are under way. The orbiter's main engines are undergoing preparations for the November ferry flight and main propulsion system preparations begin tonight. 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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