KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1998 (4:30 PM EDT)

      KSC Public Affairs Contact: Joel Wells (fax: 407-867-2692)

      Launch Viewing Information
      MISSION: STS-95 -- SPACEHAB-SM, SPARTAN & HOST

      STS-95 images

      • VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
      • LOCATION: Launch Pad 39B
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. EST
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Nov. 7 at 12:04 p.m. EST
      • LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours and 30 minutes
      • MISSION DURATION: 8 days, 22 hours and 4 minutes
      • CREW: Brown, Lindsey, Parazynski, Robinson, Duque, Mukai, Glenn
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 300 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

      NOTE: Loading of hypergolic propellant into Discovery’s onboard storage tanks continues. Oxidizer loading concluded yesterday and fuel loading begins today. Tomorrow morning, the orbiter’s payload bay doors will be opened and payload interface verification testing will resume. Preparations for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) are in work. The STS-95 flight crew arrives at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility this evening to participate in mission familiarization activities and TCDT exercises on Thursday and Friday.

      STS-95 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

      • Flight crew arrival at KSC (Oct. 6 at about 7 p.m.)
      • Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Oct. 8-9)
      • Flight Readiness Review (Oct. 13)
      • SPACEHAB early stow (Oct. 16)
      • Orbiter aft compartment closeouts begin (Oct. 19)
      • Payload bay doors closed for flight (Oct. 22)
      • SPACEHAB late stow (Oct. 26)
      • Launch countdown begins (Oct. 26)
      MISSION: STS-88 -- FIRST FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
      UNITY CONNECTING MODULE

      STS-88 images

      • VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
      • LOCATION: OPF bay 1
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Dec. 3 at 4:45 a.m. EST
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec. 14 at 11:14 p.m. EST
      • LAUNCH WINDOW: 5 - 10 minutes
      • MISSION DURATION: 11 days, 18 hours and 29 minutes
      • CREW: Cabana, Sturckow, Currie, Ross, Newman, Krikalev
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

      NOTE: Installation of the Imax camera inside Endeavour’s cargo bay was completed last week and camera connection verifications were completed yesterday. Checks of the orbiter docking system fan are complete and final Ku-band testing concluded yesterday. The orbiter’s aft compartment closeouts are ongoing and checks of the Shuttle main engine No. 2 yaw actuator continue. Final inspections of the orbiter’s radiators and payload bay are in progress. Secondary payload installation continues. Preparations for Monday’s transfer of Endeavour to the Vehicle Assembly Building proceed on schedule.

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

      • Payload bay door closure (Oct. 8)
      • Orbiter weight and center of gravity testing (Oct. 10)
      • Orbiter transfer to Vehicle Assembly Building (Oct. 12)
      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: Jan. 21, 1999 at 11:26 a.m. EST
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 26, 1999 at 10:33 a.m. EST
      • LAUNCH WINDOW: 47 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 mechanical systems are undergoing checks this week. Functional tests of the waste collection system will conclude today. Preparations for the payload premate test continue. Technicians are preparing for auxiliary power unit fuel line connections today. Shuttle main engine installation is scheduled for next week and engine heat shield installation follows.

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

      • Payload premate test (Oct. 13)
      • Shuttle main engine installation complete (Oct. 15)
      • Engine heat shield installation complete (Oct. 28)
      MISSION: STS-101 -- 3rd FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
      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: Access platforms continue to be installed in and around Atlantis as technicians proceed with standard receiving inspections. Preparations are under way for orbiter power system validations tomorrow. Workers are also occupied with efforts to deconfigure the orbiter from the recent ferry flight setup.

      --end--

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