MISSION: STS-90 -- NEUROLAB

STS-90 images

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: Pad 39B
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: April 16, 1998 at 2:19 p.m. EDT
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
• *TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 3 at 11:07 a.m. EDT
• *EXPECTED MISSION DURATION: 16 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes
• CREW: Searfoss, Altman, Linnehan, Williams, Hire, Buckey, Pawelczyk
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 150 nautical miles/39 degrees
  *The mission is currently baselined to last 16 days (MET of 15/21:50). The option to add the 17th day, (MET of 16/21:48) if power margins permit, will be addressed during the flight.

NOTE: At Pad 39B, ordnance installation was completed last night and pyrotechnic initiator controller testing is in work. Payload early stow efforts are also complete. Columbia's prelaunch preparations continue on schedule with the launch countdown slated to begin early Monday morning. Orbiter aft compartment closeouts continue through Saturday.

STS-90 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Flight crew equipment stowed (April 9)
• Orbiter aft compartment closeouts complete (April 11)
• Launch countdown begins (April 13 at 2 a.m.)
• Crew arrival (April 13 at 3:30 p.m.)

MISSION: STS-91 -- 9TH AND FINAL MIR DOCKING, SPACEHAB-SM

STS-91 images

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: OPF bay 2
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 28 at 8:05 p.m. EDT
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: June 7 at about 3:36 p.m. EDT
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 18 hours, 31 minutes
• CREW: Precourt, Gorie, Lawrence, Chang-Diaz, Kavandi, Ryumin, Thomas (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Discovery's main landing gear wheel and tire assembly installation is complete. Nose wheel steering and break system hydraulic tests are also complete. Payload cooling kit line leak checks concluded yesterday. Orbiter midbody and aft compartment closeouts are in work and tunnel adapter installation begins later today. SPACEHAB tunnel installation is slated for early next week. Following inspection of the ground support equipment used during Space Shuttle main engine (SSME) leak checks, SSME/main propulsion system integrated testing will resume. Preparations for Friday's Crew Equipment Interface Test continue.

STS-91 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Crew Equipment Interface Test (April 10)
• Shuttle main engine heatshield installation (April 11)
• SPACEHAB tunnel installation (April 13)
• Payload bay doors closed (April 16)

MISSION: STS-88 -- FIRST FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
(NODE-1, PMAs 1 and 2)

STS-88 images

• VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
• LOCATION: OPF bay 1
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: July 9, 1998, at 12:44 p.m. EDT (under review)
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 10 minutes
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 20, 1998 at 8:02 a.m. EDT
• MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 19 hours, 18 minutes
• CREW: Cabana, Sturckow, Currie, Ross, Newman
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Removal of Endeavour's right-hand orbiter maneuvering system pod is complete and inspection of the helium isolation valve is in work. Main propulsion system leak checks continue in the orbiter's aft compartment. In the orbiter's midbody, alignment of the androgynous peripheral docking system base is complete and replacement of an orbiter docking system floodlight is scheduled for this week. Torque checks of the right wing-to-fuselage attach bolts continue.

STS-88 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Right-hand orbital maneuvering system pod removal complete (April 9)
• Remote manipulator system installation complete (April 13)

Information about the countdown and mission can be accessed electronically via the Internet at: http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/ and at http://shuttle.nasa.gov/