KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1998 (3:21 PM EST)

      Launch Viewing Information
      MISSION: STS-88 -- 1ST FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
      UNITY CONNECTING MODULE

      STS-88 images

      • VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
      • LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Dec. 3 at about 3:59 a.m. EST
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec. 14 at about 11:48 p.m. EST
      • LAUNCH WINDOW: 5 - 10 minutes
      • MISSION DURATION: 11 days, 19 hours and 49 minutes
      • CREW: Cabana, Sturckow, Currie, Ross, Newman, Krikalev
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

      NOTE: At Launch Pad 39A, leak checks of the hydraulic hoses on Endeavour's main engine No. 2 yaw actuator are complete and good. Preparations continue for next week's hypergolic propellant loading operations. Mating of the orbiter midbody umbilical unit is in progress. The first U.S. component for the International Space Station, the Unity connecting module, will be installed in the Shuttle's payload bay tomorrow.

      STS-88 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

      • Unity installed inside orbiter payload bay (Nov. 13)
      • Payload sharp edge inspection (Nov. 16)
      • Prelaunch propellant loading (Nov. 17)
      • Orbiter aft compartment closeouts begin (Nov. 19)
      • Ordnance installation (Nov. 23)
      • Flight crew equipment stow (Nov. 24)
      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 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

      NOTE: Columbia's main engine/main propulsion system integrated tests are complete. Checks on the multifunction cathode ray tube display screen located on the orbiter's flight deck concluded this week. Engine heat shield installation and aft compartment closeouts continue. Workers will replace a damaged sensor for freon coolant line No. 2. Structural modal test preparations continue and auxiliary power unit lubrication servicing is underway. Tonight, the STS-93 flight crew arrives at KSC to participate in tomorrow's Crew Equipment Interface Test. Solid rocket booster stacking operations continue in the Vehicle Assembly Building.

      MISSION: STS-96 -- 2nd U.S. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT
      SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULE

      STS-96 images

      • VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
      • LOCATION: OPF bay 1
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 13, 1999 at 12:33 p.m. EST
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 24, 1999 at 8:47 a.m. EST
      • MISSION DURATION: 11 days (+1)
      • CREW: Rominger, Husband, Ochoa, Jernigan, Barry, Payette, Malenchenko
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

      NOTE: Workers have opened Discovery's payload bay doors and completed functional tests on the doors. Preparations are in work to remove the complement of STS-95 payloads from the orbiter cargo bay. Payload removal begins at about 8 a.m. tomorrow and the canister will depart OPF bay 3 at about 6 p.m. Inspections of main engines and drag chute compartment continue. Preparations for hypergolic deservicing and forward reaction control system functional tests begin this week.

      MISSION: STS-101 -- 3rd INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT
      SPACEHAB-DM/ICC
      • 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

      NOTE: Atlantis' auxiliary power unit lines are connected. Remote manipulator system installation continues and will conclude early next week. The new space-to-space radio communication system is being installed inside the orbiter.

      --end--

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      Author: Joel Wells / NASA Public Affairs
      Curator: Kay Grinter (kay.grinter-1@ksc.nasa.gov) / Information Dynamics, Inc.
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