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: The STS-91 launch countdown begins tomorrow at 9 p.m. and all prelaunch preparations continue on schedule. The contingency space suits are installed in the orbiter's airlock. Aft main engine compartment close-outs continue with installation of the aft doors slated for tomorrow morning.

Preliminary weather forecasts indicate a 40 percent chance that weather could prohibit launch activities on Tuesday. The primary concern is for seabreeze thunderstorms with associated showers and anvil clouds. The forecast calls for scattered clouds at 4,000 feet and broken clouds at 30,000 feet; visibility of 7 miles (in thunderstorms possibly 2 miles); winds from the southeast at 12 knots peaking to 18 knots; a temperature of 83 degrees F and relative humidity of 63 percent.

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

• Flight crew arrival (May 30 at 12:30 p.m.)
• Begin launch countdown (May 30 at 9 p.m.)
• Begin loading onboard cryogenic storage tanks (May 31 at 5 p.m.)
• Retract Rotating Service Structure to launch position (June 2 at 12:30 a.m.)
• Load external fuel tank with cryogenic propellants (June 2 from 9:14 a.m. to 12:14 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: Installation of Endeavour's forward reaction control system is complete and interface checks are planned for today. Auxiliary power unit leak and functional testing continues and main engine heat shield attach point work is under way. Technicians will install hydraulic pump No. 3 today. Endeavour's payload bay doors will be opened today and later the Ku-band antenna will be deployed. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, solid rocket booster joint close-outs continue.

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: Columbia's orbiter maneuvering system leak and functional testing is complete. Ammonia off load from water spray boiler No. 3 concluded yesterday and electrical checks are in work today. Technicians are preparing to remove Columbia's extended duration orbiter (EDO) pallet today. Main propulsion system leak and functional testing begins today.

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

• EDO pallet removal complete (May 29)
• Auxiliary power unit lubrication oil off-load (May 30)

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/