KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1998 (4:09 PM EDT)
      Launch-1 Day

      KSC Public Affairs Contact: Bruce Buckingham (fax 407-867-2692)
      E-mail: Bruce.Buckingham-1@ksc.nasa.gov

      Launch Viewing Information

      MISSION: STS-90 -- NEUROLAB

      STS-90 images

      Virtual tour of orbiter and Neurolab
      • VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
      • LOCATION: Pad 39B
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: April 17, 1998 at 2:19 p.m. EDT
      • LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 3 at 12:09 p.m. EDT
      • EXPECTED MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 21 hours, 50 minutes
      • CREW: Searfoss, Altman, Linnehan, Williams, Hire, Buckey, Pawelczyk
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 150 nautical miles/39 degrees

      NOTE: The launch of Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-90 with Neurolab was postponed 24 hours earlier today due to difficulties with one of two network signal processors (NSP) on the orbiter. Mission managers first noticed the problem at about 3 a.m. today during normal communications systems activation prior to tanking operations. As a result, work to load the external tank with the cryogenic propellants did not begin and launch postponement was made official at about 8:15 a.m.

      The NSPs, which are located in the orbiter’s middeck, format data and voice communications between the ground and the Space Shuttle. Both processors are required for launch and landing and are also highly desirable for on-orbit mission operations. The unit which failed, NSP No. 2, has at this time been removed and replaced. Testing of the new unit is scheduled to be completed this evening.

      The RSS will remain in the open launch configuration.

      The countdown clock has been reset to the T-11 hour hold position and will remain there until 11:59 p.m.

      Tomorrow, the external tank will be loaded with 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen beginning at about 5:30 a.m. During this three-hour operation, the crew will be awakened and begin final preparations for launch. They are scheduled to depart for the pad at about 11 a.m.

      Air Force weather officials continue to forecast a zero percent chance that weather will prohibit launch activities tomorrow afternoon. The forecast calls for few clouds at 3,500 and scattered clouds at 25,000 feet; visibility of at least 7 miles; winds from the south at 12-20 knots; a temperature of 83 degrees F and relative humidity of 55 percent.

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      Status reports and other NASA publications are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/kscpao.htm

      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/

      SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-90
        T-TIME    LENGTH OF HOLD               HOLD BEGINS         HOLD ENDS
T-11 hours    51 hours, 58 minutes     10:00 p.m. Tues.    11:59 p.m. Thurs.
T-6  hours     1 hour                   4:59 a.m. Fri.      5:59 a.m. Fri.
T-3  hours     2 hours                  8:59 a.m. Fri.     10:59 a.m. Fri.
T-20 minutes  10 minutes                1:39 p.m. Fri.      1:49 p.m. Fri.
T-9  minutes  10 minutes                2:00 p.m. Fri.      2:10 p.m. Fri.

      CREW FOR MISSION STS-90
               Commander (CDR):  Richard Searfoss
             Pilot (PLT):  Scott Altman
Mission Specialist (MS1):  Rick Linnehan
Mission Specialist (MS2):  Kay Hire
Mission Specialist (MS3):  Dave Williams
Payload Specialist (PS1):  Jay Buckey  
Payload Specialist (PS2):  James Pawelczyk

      SUMMARY OF STS-90 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES
      Friday, April 17 

  7:00 a.m.  Wake up 
  7:30 a.m.  Breakfast  
* 9:54 a.m.  Crew photo
 10:24 a.m.  Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
 10:24 a.m.  Don launch and entry suits (MS1, MS3, PS)
 10:34 a.m.  Don launch and entry suits (CDR, PLT, MS2)
*10:50 a.m.  Suit up photo
*11:04 a.m.  Depart for launch pad 39B
*11:34 a.m.  Arrive at white room and begin ingress
*12:49 p.m.  Close crew hatch
* 2:19 p.m.  Launch

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

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