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

STS-86 images

• VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
• LOCATION: On orbit
• OFFICIAL KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Sept. 25 at 10:34 p.m.
• OFFICIAL MIR DOCKING TIME: Sept. 27 at 3:58 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: The solid rocket booster recovery ships arrived at Hangar AF on Saturday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. with the STS-86 boosters in tow. Preliminary examinations indicated no significant damage and booster inspections are in work today.

All of Atlantis' systems are performing very well as Mir transfer activities continue aboard the docked spacecraft.

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

STS-87 images

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
• 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 7:00 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: Columbia's three main engines were installed last week and heat shield installation is in work today. Main engine and main propulsion system integrated testing is in work through Tuesday. Fuel cell monitoring system modifications continue. Installation of secondary payloads into the orbiter's midbody began Friday and payload premate tests pick up on Wednesday. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank/solid rocket booster mating operations concluded on Friday.

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

• Crew Equipment Interface Test (Oct. 3)
• Final payload bay door closure (Oct. 14)
• Orbiter roll over to VAB (Oct. 20)

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 Endeavour's tunnel adapter was completed last week and the tunnel's forward extension will be installed today following an O-ring replacement. Leak and functional checks of the Shuttle's three auxiliary power units is in work through Friday. In the Hypergol Maintenance Facility, work continues on the right-hand orbiter maneuvering system pod in preparation for its delivery to the OPF on Tuesday night. Delivery of the forward reaction control system to the OPF is scheduled for later this week.

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

• Helium system leak and functional tests (Oct. 1)
• Forward reaction control system installation (Oct. 3)

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: Preparations continue for the transfer of Discovery to the VAB on Oct. 1, to make room in OPF bay 3 for Atlantis' return. With the payload bay doors closed, strongbacks removed and work platforms pulled from the aft compartment, Discovery will be ready for tow operations at about 10 a.m. Wednesday. The Shuttle will remain in temporary storage in high bay 2 until Oct. 27 and no work is scheduled on the vehicle during that time.

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