MISSION: STS-86 -- 7th MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB DM

STS-86 images

• VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
• LOCATION: Pad 39A
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Sept. 25 at about 10:34 p.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: about 10 minutes
• MIR DOCKING TIME: Sept. 27 at 5:30 p.m. EDT
• UNDOCKING TIME: Oct. 3 at 11:46 a.m. EDT
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 5, time about 7:00 p.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 20 hours, 22 minutes
• CREW: Wetherbee, Bloomfield, Parazynski, Titov, Chretien, Lawrence, Wolf (up), Foale (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Preparations are in work to start the launch countdown for mission STS-86 at 2 p.m. today. Following normal aft compartment close-out activities last week, technicians reopened the aft to change out a helium regulator on main engine No. 1 that displayed indications of pressure loss. The new regulator was retested over the weekend and the aft compartment is now closed for flight. Flight crew equipment stowage is complete.

A 59-pound replacement computer for the Mir space station arrived at KSC early today for installation into Atlantis on Wednesday during scheduled late stow activities. The STS-86 crew is scheduled to arrive at KSC at about 3:30 p.m.

STS-86 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Crew arrival at SLF (3:30 p.m. today)
• Pyrotechnic initiator controller resistance test (Sept. 23)
• Cryogenic loading of power reactant storage and distribution system (Sept. 23)
• Begin loading of external tank for launch (1:10 p.m. Sept. 25)

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

STS-87 images

NOTE: Servicing of Columbia's ammonia system is complete. Installation of Columbia's main engines begins tomorrow. Work on the orbiter's freon coolant loop begins Tuesday. Workers will install gas beams in the Shuttle's cargo bay for installation of a secondary payload on Wednesday. Solid rocket booster stacking operations are complete for STS-87 and work to mate the external tank to the SRBs is slated to begin Thursday.

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

• Shuttle main engine installation begins (Sept. 23)
• Mate external tank to SRBs (Sept. 25)
• Fuel cell voltage tests (Sept. 26)

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, Wolf (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Installation of a section of flex hose between Endeavour's aft and forward airlock concludes today and the tunnel adapter is scheduled for installation tomorrow. Potable water servicing begins today. Fuel cell modifications in the orbiter's forward compartment are complete. In the Hypergol Maintenance Facility, replacement of a final faulty transducer in the forward reaction control system is complete and testing is in work.

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

• Tunnel adapter installation (Sept. 23)

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

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3
• 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: Tests on Discovery's forward reaction control system are complete. Pyrotechnic initiator controller tests and main propulsion system leak and functional checks are complete. Preparations are under way to roll the Shuttle to the VAB next week to make room in OPF bay 3 for Atlantis' return. The payload bay doors will be closed on Thursday.

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