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

STS-91 images

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: June 2 at about 6:10 p.m. EDT
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 7-10 minutes
• MIR DOCKING DATE/TIME: June 4 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: Preparations for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test continue on schedule. The STS-91 flight crew arrived at KSC Monday evening and are participating in mission familiarization activities this week before their launch day dress rehearsal set for Thursday.

Discovery's master event controller (MEC) No. 1 failed tests on Monday and technicians completed MEC removal efforts yesterday. A new MEC will be installed tomorrow afternoon. Orbiter midbody umbilical mates are complete and vertical payload installation concluded yesterday. The helium signature test continues through this afternoon. Routine forward and aft compartment cleaning is in work through the weekend and external tank umbilical close-outs conclude tonight.

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

• Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (May 6-7)
• Tanking test of first super lightweight external 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: No earlier than Sept. 3 (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: Verification of Endeavour's right-hand orbiter maneuvering system helium system continues. Technicians are checking a valve on the reaction control system. Installation of a strut in bay 3 of the midbody is in work. Drag chute installation is in work and hydraulic checks of Endeavour's main landing gear begin tonight. Window No. 1 is scheduled for installation Friday.

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 Dec. 3 at 2:50 p.m.
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec. 8 at 1:57 p.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 43 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 4 days, 23 hours, 7 minutes
• CREW: Collins, Ashby, Hawley, Coleman, Tognini
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 153 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Following NASA's decision yesterday not to refly the Neurolab mission, KSC workers will focus efforts to process Columbia for the AXAF mission on STS-93. Draining of the orbiter's power reactant storage and distribution system is complete and technicians now have access to Columbia's aft compartment. Fuel cell and water spray boiler evaluations are in work.

The payload bay doors will be opened today and technicians will begin Neurolab deconfiguration on Friday. Removal of the Spacelab payload from the cargo bay occurs Monday.

STS-93 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

• Neurolab removal from payload bay (May 11)
• Tunnel adapter removal (May 14)
• Main engine heat shield removal (May 20)
• Main engine removal (May 21)

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/