KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1998 (1:31 PM EST)

      KSC Public Affairs Contact: Joel Wells (fax 407-867-2692)
      E-mail: Joel.Wells-1@ksc.nasa.gov

      Launch Viewing Information

      MISSION: STS-90 -- NEUROLAB

      STS-90 images

      • VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
      • LOCATION: Pad 39B
      • 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: Launch pad validations continue and Columbia's hydraulic connections are complete. Main engine ball seal leak checks are in work and preparations are under way for the helium signature leak test set for tomorrow. Purging of the gaseous nitrogen (GN2) lines on the mobile launch platform and cleaning of a GN2 panel continues through next week. Auxiliary power unit interface leak checks are under way and preparations for hypergolic system loading are in work. Prelaunch propellant load is slated for the middle of next week.

      On Monday, the orbiter's payload bay doors will be opened to give technicians access to two bolts on a getaway special canister. Workers will add a washer to each bolt to ensure proper torque and the doors will be closed again on Tuesday. The minor unplanned work will not impact the launch date.

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

      • Helium signature leak test (March 27)
      • Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (March 30-31)
      • Prelaunch propellant load (April 1)
      • Flight Readiness Review (April 2)
      • Orbiter aft compartment closeouts begin (April 6)
      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: Discovery's body flap shaft installation is complete and body flap rub panel modification is in work. External tank (ET) separation camera modifications continue and the super lightweight tank instrumentation work is underway. Auxiliary power unit lubrication servicing is in progress.

      Preparations continue for tunnel adapter installation Tuesday. Payload premate testing begins tomorrow and continues through Saturday. Preparations are also in work for main engine installation late next week. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, preparations continue for orbiter/ET mate.

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

      • Payload premate test (March 27)
      • Tunnel adapter installation (March 31)
      • Shuttle main engine installation begins (April 2)
      • Crew Equipment Interface Test (April 4)
      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: Leak checks of the replaced liquid hydrogen four-inch disconnect are complete and good. Change-out of a leaky liquid oxygen prevalve on Endeavour's main propulsion system is complete and checks are in work. Draining of the right-hand orbiter maneuvering system fuel cross-feed lines has been rescheduled to next week. Next week, technicians will also remove the forward reaction control system (FRCS) to replace a leaky thruster. Torque checks of the orbiter's left wing-to-fuselage attach bolts continue. Installation of the manipulator positioning mechanism that supports the robot arm continues.

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

      • Remove right-hand orbital maneuvering system pod (April 2)
      • Forward reaction control system removal (April 8)
      • Remote manipulator system installed (April 9)

      --end--

      For automatic e-mail subscriptions to this daily Shuttle status report or KSC-originated press releases, send an Internet electronic mail message to domo@news.ksc.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line) type the words "subscribe shuttle-status", or "subscribe ksc-press-release" (do not use quotation marks). The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription.

      To remove your name from the list at any time, send an e-mail address to domo@news.ksc.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line), type (no quotes) "unsubscribe shuttle-status", or "unsubscribe ksc-press-release."

      Status reports and other NASA publications are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/kscpao.htm

      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/

      Go to the Previous Space Shuttle Status Report
      Go to the Next Space Shuttle Status Report
      Go to the Status Reports Home Page