- VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
- LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A
- KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Dec. 3 at about 3:56 a.m. EST (preferred launch time)
- KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec. 14 at about 10:17 p.m. EST (lst opportunity)
- LAUNCH WINDOW: 10 minutes (3:54 a.m. to 4:04 a.m.)
- MISSION DURATION: 11 days, 19 hours
- CREW: Cabana, Sturckow, Currie, Ross, Newman, Krikalev
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1998 (1:07 PM EST)
STS-88 -- 1ST FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATIONUNITY CONNECTING MODULE
LAUNCH-2 DAYS
NOTE: Shuttle Endeavour's payload bay closeouts are complete and the doors are closed for flight. The orbiter's backup flight systems have been tested and load tests on the Shuttle's data processing system are complete. Loading of cryogenic reactants into Endeavour's power reactant storage and distribution system concluded early this afternoon.
Later today, the orbiter midbody umbilical unit will be demated and retracted into the Fixed Service Structure at Pad 39A. The orbiter's navigation system self tests and main engine final preparations are also slated to occur today.
In keeping with the flight crew's on orbit sleep cycle, crew members will wake up today at 2:30 p.m. A launch pad visit and walk-down is slated for this evening and T-38 training jet flights from the Shuttle Landing Facility will complete the crew's activities for the day.
Air Force weather forecasters continue to indicate a 60 percent chance that weather could prohibit launch on Dec. 3. The threat of low cloud ceilings and showers are the primary concern. The forecast calls for clouds scattered at 4,000 feet and broken at 25,000 feet; visibility at 7 miles; winds from the ENE at 10 knots and gusts to 15 knots; temperature at 72 degrees F; and relative humidity at 79 percent. The probability of weather prohibiting launch for a 24-hour scrub turnaround remains 60 percent and the 48-hour turnaround forecast is at 40 percent.
Commander (CDR): Robert Cabana
Pilot (PLT): Fredrick Sturckow
Mission Specialist (MS1): Jerry Ross
Mission Specialist (MS2): Nancy Currie
Mission Specialist (MS3): Jim Newman
Mission Specialist (MS4): Sergei Krikalev
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