MISSION: STS-90 -- NEUROLAB
Flight Day 15

STS-90 images

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: On orbit
• OFFICIAL KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: April 17, 1998 at 2:19 p.m. EDT
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 3 at 12:09 p.m. EDT
• EXPECTED MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 21 hours, 50 minutes
• CREW: Searfoss, Altman, Linnehan, Williams, Hire, Buckey, Pawelczyk
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 150 nautical miles/39 degrees

NOTE: Orbiter Columbia and the STS-90 flight crew began their third week of nervous system research as the Neurolab mission approaches an end. The Shuttle is expected to touch down at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility Sunday May 3 at 12:09 p.m. EDT. The deorbit burn is scheduled to occur about one hour before touchdown at 11:02 a.m. There is a backup landing opportunity at KSC on Sunday at 1:43 p.m. EDT. NASA managers have not called for Edwards Air Force Base, CA, to support Sunday's landing activities. Preliminary weather forecasts indicate favorable conditions to support a Shuttle landing at KSC on Sunday.

MISSION: STS-91 -- 9TH AND FINAL MIR DOCKING, SPACEHAB-SM

STS-91 images

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: VAB high bay 1
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: June 2 at about 6:10 p.m. EDT
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
• MIR DOCKING DATE/TIME: June 6 at about 12:59 p.m.
• MIR UNDOCKING DATE/TIME: June 8 at about 12:01 p.m.
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: June 12 at about 2:03 p.m. EDT
• MISSION DURATION: about 9 days, 19 hours, 53 minutes
• CREW: Precourt, Gorie, Lawrence, Chang-Diaz, Kavandi, Ryumin, Thomas (down)
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Mating operations for Discovery and the new super lightweight external tank, and umbilical connection leak checks are complete. Technicians have complete efforts to shave off a thin layer of thermal protective foam from a small area on the external tank's outer surface. Shaving efforts will minimize the chance of TPS foam debris contacting the orbiter during ascent. The Shuttle is expected to begin its transfer to Pad 39A at about 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

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

• Rollout to Pad 39A (May 2)
• Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (May 6-7)
• Tanking test of first Super Lightweight Tank (May 18)
• Flight Readiness Review (May 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: under review
• 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: Endeavour's remote manipulator system has been installed in the orbiter's payload bay. The right-hand orbiter maneuvering system's helium system is undergoing verification tests today. Leak and functional tests of the main propulsion system are in work.

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/