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 was rolled out of OPF bay 2 on Friday and mated to the external tank and solid rocket boosters Saturday morning in VAB high bay 3. The Shuttle interface test is currently in work through tomorrow. The Shuttle is scheduled to begin its roll out to Pad 39B at 7 a.m. Wednesday.

The U.S. Microgravity Payload was transported to the pad late last night and is being transferred to the payload change-out room today. Over the weekend, workers successfully completed troubleshooting activities on the gear mechanisms of the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) at Pad 39B. Pad 39A is no longer being actively considered as a backup for this launch.

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

• Orbiter rollout to Pad 39B (Oct. 29 at 7 a.m.)
• Install USMP into orbiter (Nov. 1)
• Flight Readiness Review (Nov. 3)
• Crew arrival for TCDT (Nov. 3 at 9:30 a.m.)
• 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 is complete. Thruster installation on the left-hand orbiter maneuvering system (OMS) pod is complete. Leak checks of Endeavour's crew module and airlock are in work today. Engine heat shield installation is in work through tomorrow. Transfer-tunnel installation is slated to begin this weekend.

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

• Heat shield installation complete (Oct. 28)
• Payload premate test (Oct. 29)
• Transfer-tunnel installation (Nov. 1)
• 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: Precourt, Gorie, Lawrence, Chang-Diaz, Kavandi, Thomas (down)
• 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. Orbiter processing for mission STS-91 will resume once the orbiter is moved to the OPF.

• 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 is complete and preparations for Atlantis' ferry flight to Palmdale, CA, continue. Today, all three fuel cells will be removed and ammonia deservicing begins tomorrow. The orbiter's main propulsion system is also undergoing preparation for the cross-country flight. 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 the morning of Nov. 12.

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