MISSION: STS-95 -- SPACEHAB-SM, SPARTAN & HOST

STS-95 images

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
• 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, Makai, Glenn
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 310 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Technicians have completed premate testing for the robot arm. Functional tests on Discovery's external airlock upper hatch and replacement of a faulty electronic assembly that supports the Ku-band antenna are also complete. Valve leak checks on the orbiter maneuvering system oxidizer storage tanks are under way and fuel tank checks concluded yesterday. The STS-95 flight crew participated in the Crew Equipment Interface Test yesterday, familiarizing themselves with the orbiter's midbody and crew compartments.

Today, workers will complete installation and relocation of sensors for the integrated vehicle monitoring system (IVHM) and IVHM system testing follows this evening. Over the weekend, technicians will perform Ku-band system testing and prepare for payload bay door closure slated for the middle of next week. In the Vehicle Assembly Building this week, workers completed installation of an accelerometer on the external tank and a camera on the left solid rocket booster's forward assembly. Data will be collected with these tools during ascent as part of the Shuttle program's study on how external tank foam debris impacts orbiter tile damage.

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

• Payload bay door closure (Sept. 8)
• Orbiter roll over to VAB for mate to the external tank (Sept. 14)
• Shuttle rolls to Pad 39B (Sept. 21)
• Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (Oct. 8-9)

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: Removal of Endeavour's main landing gear wheels and tires is complete and the nose landing gear wheels are installed. Radiator No. 4 installation is in work today and tomorrow. Preparations are in progress for robot arm installation tomorrow. Main engine heat shield work continues and engine installation begins next week.

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

• Shuttle main engine installation (Sept. 10)
• Engine heat shield installation (Sept. 18)
• Integrated orbiter hydraulic testing (Sept. 21)
• Crew Equipment Interface Test (Sept. 25)

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: 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: Preparations for fuel cell voltage testing are ongoing and testing begins later today. Testing of the overboard waste dump valve and heater is under way. Heat shield corrosion control efforts continue.

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/