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: At Hangar AF, initial solid rocket booster inspections are complete and the hardware is in good condition. No nozzle erosion was detected during the evaluations.

Space Shuttle Atlantis continues to perform well on orbit as more than 75 percent of the Mir transfer activities are complete.

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: Heat shield installation concludes today. Main engine and main propulsion system integrated testing is in work. Fuel cell monitoring system modifications continue in Columbia's midbody. Payload premate tests begin tomorrow morning. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank/solid rocket booster post-mate close-outs are in work.

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: Work to replace an O-ring in the tunnel adapter's forward extension is complete and installation of the forward extension is slated for today. Leak and functional checks of the Shuttle's three auxiliary power units are in work through Friday. Inspection of the orbiter's body flap is ongoing. 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.

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 tomorrow afternoon to make room in OPF bay 3 for Atlantis' return. The payload bay doors are closed and the strongbacks are removed. The orbiter 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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