KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1998 (5:02 PM EST)
      MISSION: STS-88 -- 1ST FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
      UNITY CONNECTING MODULE
      FLIGHT DAY 6

      STS-88 images

      • VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
      • LOCATION: On orbit
      • KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Dec. 4 at 3:35:34 a.m. EST
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec. 15 at about 10:56 p.m. EST
      • MISSION DURATION: 11 days, 19 hours and 20 minutes
      • CREW: Cabana, Sturckow, Currie, Ross, Newman, Krikalev
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

      NOTE: Following last week's launch, Pad 39A is reported to have sustained less than normal damage and is now undergoing an eight-month modification and upgrade period that concludes in early August of 1999. The solid rocket booster recovery ships returned to Hangar AF on Saturday with the STS-88 boosters in tow. Full inspection of the boosters began yesterday and preliminary reports indicate that both boosters are in good condition following and excellent performance during Friday's launch of Endeavour. Shuttle Endeavour continues to perform very well on orbit and is blazing the trail for future Space Shuttle support of the International Space Station.

      MISSION: STS-93 -- Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF)

      STS-93 images

      • VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
      • LOCATION: OPF bay 3
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: no earlier than March 25, time TBD
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: no earlier than March 30, time TBD
      • LAUNCH WINDOW: 47 minutes
      • MISSION DURATION: 5 days
      • CREW: Collins, Ashby, Hawley, Coleman, Tognini
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 153 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

      NOTE: A transducer on Columbia's freon coolant loop No. 2 has been replaced and servicing of the coolant line is in work this week. Functional tests on the orbiter's external tank umbilical door are complete. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank and solid rocket booster mating activities concluded last week and closeouts are in work this week.

      STS-93 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

      • Payload bay doors closed (Dec. 21)
      • Orbiter weight and center of gravity testing (Jan. 9)
      • Orbiter transferred to VAB for mate to external tank (Jan. 11)
      MISSION: STS-96 -- 2nd U.S. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT
      SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULE

      STS-96 images

      • VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
      • LOCATION: OPF bay 1
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 13, 1999 at 12:33 p.m. EST
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 24, 1999 at 8:47 a.m. EST
      • MISSION DURATION: 11 days (+1)
      • CREW: Rominger, Husband, Ochoa, Jernigan, Barry, Payette, Malenchenko
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

      NOTE: Discovery's orbiter maneuvering system pod functional testing is complete, and workers have bonded and sealed the drag chute door in place for flight. Preparations to remove the Shuttle main engines are in work and heat shield removal is under way. Lubrication oil is being drained from auxiliary power unit No. 2 today. Orbiter pyrotechnic initiator controller testing is also in work this week. Later this week, flash evaporator system leak tests are scheduled.

      STS-96 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

      • Shuttle main engine removal (Dec. 10)
      • Forward reaction control system installation complete (Dec. 18)
      • Payload bay doors closed for holiday downtime (Dec. 22)
      MISSION: STS-101 -- 3rd INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT
      SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULE/ICC
      • VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
      • LOCATION: OPF bay 2
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: August 5, 1999
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: August 15, 1999
      • LAUNCH WINDOW: 10 minutes
      • MISSION DURATION: 10 days
      • CREW: Halsell, Horowitz, Weber, Lu, Williams
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

      NOTE: Atlantis' gaseous nitrogen line replacement is complete. Orbiter maneuvering system bleedline removal is in work. Preparations are also under way to transfer Atlantis to the VAB for temporary storage, making way for Shuttle Endeavour's return from mission STS-88. Atlantis will transfer to OPF bay 3 following Columbia's rollover to the VAB in early January.

      --end--

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      Author: Joel Wells / NASA Public Affairs
      Curator: Kay Grinter (kay.grinter-1@ksc.nasa.gov) / Information Dynamics, Inc.
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