MISSION: STS-90 -- NEUROLAB

STS-90 images

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: OPF bay 3
• 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: The Neurolab transfer tunnel has been mechanically and electrically mated and the tunnel interface verification test was completed on Friday. Space Shuttle main engine close-out operations and leak checks are complete. Main engine heat shields are being installed and a landing gear functional test is scheduled for today. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, the external tank was successfully mated to the solid rocket boosters on Thursday. Close-out operations are continuing.

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

• Close payload bay doors (March 10)
• Roll orbiter to Vehicle Assembly Building and mate with external tank (March 16)
• Rollout to Pad 39B (March 23)
• Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (March 30-31)

MISSION: STS-91 -- 9TH 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 2:35 p.m. EDT
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 18 hours, 30 minutes
• CREW: Precourt, Gorie, Lawrence, Chang-Diaz, Kavandi, Ryumin, Thomas (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Discovery’s right-hand orbiter maneuvering system pod was not installed last Friday as planned due to concerns with the attach points. The pod is scheduled to be installed tomorrow. Preparations to install the orbiter’s airlock and check-outs of the orbiter’s body flap continue today. The airlock is scheduled to be installed later this week and the body flap will be installed early next week. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, stacking operations for Discovery’s solid rocket boosters continue.

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

• Install right-hand OMS pod (March 3)
• Install airlock (March 4-5)
• Shuttle main engine installation completion (March 19-20)

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
• 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: Preparations to remove the main engines are under way with heat shield removal in work today. Also, preparations are underway to remove and replace the orbiter’s 4-inch liquid hydrogen external tank disconnect attach point.

NOTE on ATLANTIS (OV-104): Atlantis remains at Palmdale, CA, undergoing scheduled maintenance and orbiter modifications. The vehicle is due to be ferried back to KSC in August.

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/