KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1998 (11:39 AM EST)
      MISSION: STS-88 -- 1ST FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
      UNITY CONNECTING MODULE
      FLIGHT DAY 9

      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: All systems aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour continue to perform very well on orbit. Removal of the solid rocket booster aft skirts is complete and both nozzles have been removed. Today, the nozzles will be shipped to Utah. Booster disassembly activities are on schedule with completion set for Dec. 15.

      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: Leak tests of Columbia's crew compartment are complete. Shimming of the orbiter's payload bay aft bulkhead continues. The routine modification ensures proper payload bay door closure. Auxiliary power unit No. 2 fuel tank pressurization is scheduled today. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank and solid rocket booster closeouts continue.

      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: Removal of Discovery's main engines is complete. Orbiter pyrotechnic initiator controller testing continues and workers are replacing window No. 6 today. Preparations to remove the orbiter's robot arm are in work this week.

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

      • 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: Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: August 5, 1999 at 2:15 a.m.
      • 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: Yesterday, orbiter Atlantis moved from OPF bay 2 to VAB high bay 2 at about 1:20 p.m. It will be stored there on hydraulic jacks until Columbia transfers to the VAB in January. This move makes way in the OPF for Shuttle Endeavour's return from mission STS-88.

      --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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