KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1998 (1:20 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 (preferred launch time)
      • 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: Last week, Endeavour's payload bay doors were opened to support spacesuit installation and checks. Spacesuit checks are complete. Ground support equipment needed for routine vertical payload operations is in position and payload bay closeouts will conclude Sunday, Nov. 29. Endeavour's ordnance testing resumes tonight. Orbiter aft compartment closeouts continue today and will conclude late tomorrow night with the installation of the aft compartment doors.

      Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) managers are gathering at KSC for the Flight Readiness Review today and tomorrow. After reviewing Space Shuttle system and ISS topics, managers are expected to announce Dec. 3 as the official STS-88 launch date.

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

      • Orbiter aft compartment closeouts begin (Nov. 24)
      • Flight crew equipment stow (Nov. 24-25)
      • Crew arrives for launch (12:01 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30)
      • Begin launch countdown (7 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30)
      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 orbiter maneuvering system and reaction control system electrical checks concluded last week. Friday the orbiter's payload bay doors were closed in preparation for Saturday's structural modal tests. Modal testing concluded Saturday evening. Tile work is under way on Columbia's external tank umbilical doors. Last week the main engine carrier panels were installed and next Monday main engine insulation foaming begins. Solid rocket booster stacking operations in the Vehicle Assembly Building are complete and close-outs continue.

      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: Discovery's forward reaction control system was removed from the nose of the orbiter on Friday. Workers completed hypergolic deservicing last week. The orbiter's main engine heat shields will be removed today and engine removal begins next week. Today workers will perform post-flight tests on the new Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring system in Discovery's main propulsion system.

      MISSION: STS-101 -- 3rd INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT
      SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULE/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' orbiter maneuvering system high point bleed line removal continues today. Main propulsion system (MPS) electrical checks began Friday and MPS leak checks are under way. Installation of thermal protective tiles on Atlantis' forward and aft compartments continue this week. Tile waterproofing is also in work today. Window inspections are ongoing and polishing begins tomorrow.

      --end--

      For automatic e-mail subscriptions to these Shuttle status reports or KSC-originated press releases, send an Internet electronic mail message to domo@news.ksc.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line) type the words "subscribe shuttle-status", or "subscribe ksc-press-release" (do not use quotation marks). The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription.

      To remove your name from the list at any time, send an e-mail address to domo@news.ksc.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line), type (no quotes) "unsubscribe shuttle-status", or "unsubscribe ksc-press-release."

      Status reports and other NASA publications are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/kscpao.htm

      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/

      Author: Joel Wells / NASA Public Affairs
      Curator: Kay Grinter (kay.grinter-1@ksc.nasa.gov) / Information Dynamics, Inc.
      Go to the Previous Space Shuttle Status Report
      Go to the Next Space Shuttle Status Report
      Go to the Status Reports Home Page