- VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
- LOCATION: On Orbit
- OFFICIAL KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Oct. 29 at 2:19:34 p.m. EST
- TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Nov. 7 at about 11:50 a.m. EST
- MISSION DURATION: 8 days, 21 hours and 49 minutes
- CREW: Brown, Lindsey, Parazynski, Robinson, Duque, Mukai, Glenn
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 300 nautical miles/28.45 degrees
- VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
- LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A
- TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Dec. 3 at about 3:55 a.m. EST
- TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec. 14 at about 10:19 p.m. EST
- LAUNCH WINDOW: 5 - 10 minutes
- MISSION DURATION: 11 days, 18 hours
- CREW: Cabana, Sturckow, Currie, Ross, Newman, Krikalev
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees
- Flight Crew arrival at KSC (Nov. 3 at about 6:30 p.m.)
- Unity payload interface verification testing (Nov. 9)
- Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Nov. 5 and 6)
- Unity installed inside orbiter payload bay (Nov. 13)
- VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
- LOCATION: OPF bay 3
- TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: no earlier than March 18, time TBD
- TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: no earlier than March 23, time TBD
- LAUNCH WINDOW: 47 minutes
- MISSION DURATION: 5 days
- CREW: Collins, Ashby, Hawley, Coleman, Tognini
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 153 nautical miles/28.45 degrees
- VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
- LOCATION: OPF bay 2
- TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: August 5, 1999
- TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: August 15, 1999
- LAUNCH WINDOW: 10 minutes
- MISSION DURATION: 10 days
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1998 (2:04 PM EST)
Flight Day 5
STS-95 -- SPACEHAB-SM, SPARTAN & HOST
NOTE: Space Shuttle Discovery continues to provide an excellent platform for research activities under way on mission STS-95. All systems onboard Discovery are operating very well.
Today at about 7:45 a.m., technicians began inspections on the STS-95 solid rocket boosters in Hangar AF. Over the weekend, workers retrieved the video camera that had been installed inside the left booster's forward assembly segment. Footage from that camera is being evaluated by Shuttle external fuel tank and orbiter engineers as part of an ongoing study on how debris contributes to orbiter tile damage.
Evaluations of Discovery's drag chute door continue and preliminary reports indicate that the drag chute remains inside its housing in the orbiter's aft compartment and has not been inadvertently deployed. Mission managers do not currently plan to deploy the chute during Discovery's landing operations on Saturday.
STS-88 -- 1ST FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATIONUNITY CONNECTING MODULE
NOTE: The Unity connecting module arrived at Launch Pad 39A last week and was installed in the payload changeout room on Oct. 26. Last Wednesday, cable routing was completed for the ground support equipment used during payload verification tests. Endeavour's payload bay doors are open and payload testing is in work this week. Unity will be installed in the orbiter's cargo bay Nov. 13.
Endeavour's helium signature leak tests begin tomorrow and preparations are in work today. Gaseous nitrogen servicing of the orbiter's water spray boiler No. 3 and main engine testing also occur this week.
Tomorrow, the STS-88 flight crew arrives at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at about 6:30 p.m. to participate in this week's Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities. The crew will be briefed on orbiter and payload operations while at KSC. They will practice emergency egress activities Thursday and conduct a launch day dress rehearsal on Friday.
STS-88 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
STS-93 -- Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF)
NOTE: Adjustments of Columbia's freon coolant loops No. 1 and No. 2 are complete. Ku-band system tests are also complete. Shuttle main engine installation is in work with engines No. 1 and No. 2 already in place. Structural modal test preparations are under way and auxiliary power unit leak and functional checks are in work. Solid rocket booster stacking operations have resumed in the Vehicle Assembly Building.
STS-101 -- 3rd INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHTSPACEHAB-DM/ICC
NOTE: Removal of Atlantis' simulated orbiter maneuvering system pods was completed last week. The orbiter's aft compartment power control assembly is undergoing some work this week as orbiter receiving inspections continue. Leak checks on the external airlock are also in work.
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