MISSION: STS-91 -- 9TH AND FINAL MIR DOCKING, SPACEHAB-SM, Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS)

STS-91 images

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A
• 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. EDT
• MIR UNDOCKING DATE/TIME: June 8 at about 12:01 p.m. EDT
• 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: Discovery's main engine leak checks are complete and orbiter aft compartment close-outs are in work. Installation of the external tank separation camera is also complete. End-to-end testing of the AMS payload concluded Saturday and payload bay door closure is slated to occur today.

At pad 39A, preparations are under way for ordnance installation early tomorrow morning. Tomorrow afternoon, technicians will partially drain and then refill the orbiter maneuvering system oxidizer tank to ensure proper loading and pressurization. Launch countdown preparations begin this week with the 43-hour countdown clock scheduled to start Saturday at 9 p.m. The STS-91 flight crew arrives at KSC Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

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

• Close payload bay doors for flight (May 26)
• Ordnance installation complete (May 29)
• Orbiter aft compartment close-outs begin (May 30)
• Begin launch countdown (May 30 at 9 p.m.)

MISSION: STS-88 -- FIRST FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
UNITY (Node-1)

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: Flushing of Endeavour's ammonia boiler system was completed Friday. Preparations are in work today to support forward reaction control system installation on Wednesday. Auxiliary power unit leak and functional testing is under way. In the VAB, solid rocket booster joint close-outs continue and external tank/solid rocket booster mate is slated for the first week in June.

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: Mechanical connections of Columbia's replaced fuel cell No. 2 are complete. Efforts to remove the extended duration orbiter (EDO) pallet continue through next week. Orbiter maneuvering system functional testing is in work. Main propulsion system inspections are under way and water spray boiler No. 3 off-load is in progress. This week technicians will replace the nose landing gear wheels and tires.

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

• Main propulsion system leak and functional test (May 27)
• Auxiliary power unit lubrication oil off load (May 28)
• EDO pallet removal complete (May 28)

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/