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 at 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 continue on schedule for the launch of Atlantis on the 7th Mir docking mission. Loading of cryogenics into the power reactant storage distribution system and pyrotechnic initiator controller tests are complete. Mir's replacement computer was installed into the SPACEHAB module this morning and late stow activities concluded at about 10:30 a.m. today.

Last night, the orbiter's mid-body umbilical unit was demated and retracted into the Fixed Service Structure. Tomorrow, at about 4 a.m., the Rotating Service Structure will be retracted to the launch position. Loading of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled to begin at about 1:09 p.m. on Thursday.

On launch day, the STS-86 crew will depart the crew quarters for the launch pad at 6:44 p.m. and begin boarding Atlantis about thirty minutes later. The hatch will close behind the crew at 8:29 p.m. in time for a 10:34 p.m. launch. The launch window actually opens at about 10:29 p.m. and extends for about 10 minutes. However, instead of launching at the opening of this period mission managers have decided to target the most optimum launch time of 10:34 p.m. for vehicle performance reasons.

Air Force weather forecasters currently indicate a 20 percent probability that weather would prohibit Thursday's launch of Atlantis. The primary concern is a slight chance of showers.

On Thursday, the winds at KSC are expected to be from the southwest at 8 knots gusting to 12 knots; temperature 80 degrees F; visibility 7 miles; humidity 72 percent; and clouds few at 3000 feet; scattered at 7000 feet. The 24-hour delay forecast reveals a 60 percent chance of weather violation with concerns for debris clouds, low cloud ceilings and showers. The 48-hour delay forecast reveals a 70 percent chance of weather violation.

T-TIME           LENGTH OF HOLD            HOLD BEGINS          HOLD ENDS

T-11 hours	24 hours, 39 minutes	 6:00 a.m. Wed.	     6:39 a.m. Thurs.
T-6  hours	 2 hours		11:39 a.m. Thurs.    1:39 p.m. Thurs.
T-3  hours	 2 hours		 4:39 p.m. Thurs.    6:39 a.m. Thurs.
T-20 minutes	10 minutes		 9:19 p.m. Thurs.    9:29 p.m. Thurs.
T-9  minutes	about 45 minutes	 9:40 p.m. Thurs.   10:25 p.m. Thurs.

         Commander (CDR):	James Wetherbee
             Pilot (PLT):	Mike Bloomfield
Mission Specialist (MS1):	Vladimir Titov
Mission Specialist (MS2):	Scott Parazynski
Mission Specialist (MS3):	Jean-Loup Chretien
Mission Specialist (MS4):	Wendy Lawrence
Mission Specialist (MS5):	Dave Wolf (up)
Mission Specialist (MS6):	Michael Foale (down)

Thursday, September 25 

  10:30 a.m.	Wake up 
  11:05 a.m.	Breakfast
   4:30 p.m.	Lunch
  *5:34 p.m.	Snack and Crew Photo (All)
   6:04 p.m.	Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
   6:04 p.m.	Don launch and entry suits (MS1, MS3, MS4, MS5)
   6:14 p.m.	Don launch and entry suits (CDR, PLT, MS2)
*  6:30 p.m.	Crew suiting photo 
*  6:44 p.m.	Depart for launch pad 39A
*  7:14 p.m.	Arrive at white room and begin ingress
*  8:29 p.m.	Close crew hatch
* 10:34 p.m.	Launch

* Televised events (times may vary slightly)
All times Eastern

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