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

STS-87 images

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: Pad 39B
• 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 arrived at launch Pad 39B at about 2:45 p.m. yesterday after departing the VAB atop the crawler transporter at 7 a.m.. Today, pad validations are in work and a hot fire test of auxiliary power unit No. 2 is complete. The Rotating Service Structure was fully extended at about 10 a.m. and the engine flight readiness test is slated for later this afternoon. Tonight the payload bay doors will be opened and vertical payload installation begins Saturday morning.

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

• 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: Installation of Endeavour's heat shields continue. Main propulsion system leak and functional checks are under way and crew module leak checks are set for Sunday. Functional tests of the external tank umbilical doors are in work and preparations are under way for the payload premate test set for Friday. Solid rocket booster stacking activities continue in VAB high bay 1.

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

• Heat shield installation complete (Oct. 30)
• Payload premate test (Oct. 31)
• Midbody Crew Equipment Interface Test (Nov. 7)

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

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: OPF bay 2
• 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 arrived in OPF bay 2 today at about 10:45 a.m. The orbiter returned from temporary storage in the VAB and will now undergo processing for its next mission, STS-91.

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

NOTE: Removal of fuel cell No. 1 continues through Saturday. Preparation of Atlantis main propulsion system and main engines for the ferry flight to Palmdale, CA, is complete. Installation of the simulated OMS pods, or alta pods, began today and continues through Friday. Endeavour's "roll-around" tires are all installed to accommodate a move to KSC's Mate-Demate Device on Nov. 10. Atlantis is expected to depart the Shuttle Landing Facility atop the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on Nov. 11.

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