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: Work on Columbia's right inboard elevon is complete and both forward and aft compartment close-outs are in work. Tomorrow, technicians will complete work to install the aft doors. Aft compartment structural leak tests will follow. The orbiter is currently scheduled to roll over to the Vehicle Assembly Building at 10 a.m. on Monday, to be mated to the external tank and solid rocket booster stack in high bay 3.

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

• 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 AND FINAL 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 3:36 p.m. EDT
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 18 hours, 31 minutes
• CREW: Precourt, Gorie, Lawrence, Chang-Diaz, Kavandi, Ryumin, Thomas (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Electrical connections on Discovery's airlock are complete. The orbiter's recently repaired body flap has been installed and instrumentation mates are under way. Modifications to the external tank separation camera and the orbiter's global positioning system continue. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, stacking operations for the right-hand solid rocket booster continue in high bay 1.

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

• Tunnel adapter installation (March 16)
• Payload premate test begins (March 17)
• Crew Equipment Interface Test (March 28)
• Shuttle main engine installation complete (March 31)

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 (under review)
• 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: All three of Endeavour's main engines were removed earlier this week. Inspections of the drag chute compartment were completed yesterday in preparation for drag chute installation today. Auxiliary power unit installation is under way and technicians continue to perform torque checks on the wing-to-fuselage attach bolts. A Spacelab gaseous nitrogen line is being removed today and orbiter hydraulic system testing is in work.

STS-88 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Main propulsion system leak and functional testing begins (March 16)
• Remove right-hand orbital maneuvering system pod (March 26)

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/