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, Makai, Glenn
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 310 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Space Shuttle Discovery rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building yesterday at about 2 a.m. and arrived at pad 39B at about 8 a.m. The Rotating Service Structure was moved into place at 10 a.m. providing orbiter access to pad workers. Launch pad validations are in work and Shuttle main engine flight readiness testing begins later today.

Shuttle managers are closely monitoring the progress of Hurricane Georges and developing precautionary plans to roll back Shuttle Discovery into the VAB if needed. At 11 a.m. today, managers declared a Hurricane Condition IV at KSC which means forecasters are predicting up to 50 knot winds within 72 hours. Tomorrow morning, weather forecasters will brief KSC managers on the hurricane's latest developments and the Hurricane Condition will be addressed again. If Hurricane Condition III (50 knot winds within 48 hours) is declared tomorrow, managers could opt to begin rollback preparations as early as tomorrow. If a Shuttle rollback becomes necessary, managers do not expect an impact to Discovery's target launch date.

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

• Shuttle main engine flight readiness test complete (Sept. 23)
• Vertical payload transported to pad (Sept. 25)
• Payload installed into orbiter (Sept. 26)
• Helium Signature Test (Sept. 28)
• 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: Endeavour's radiator deployment was completed successfully. Robot arm connector testing is complete and closeout work is under way. Freon coolant loop No. 2 servicing preparations are in progress and potable water servicing is in work. Orbiter window No. 8 is being replaced today. In the VAB, preparations are under way for external tank/solid rocket booster mating activities slated for later today.

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

• Integrated orbiter hydraulic testing (Sept. 24)
• Crew Equipment Interface Test (Sept. 25)
• Final payload bay door closing (Oct. 5)
• Orbiter transfer to VAB (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 power reactant storage and distribution system testing is complete. Mass memory unit No. 2 loading is scheduled for later today. Leak checks of the replaced overboard waste dump valve occur today.

OV-104 Atlantis - Return from OMDP in Palmdale, CA

NOTE: Due to high winds in Palmdale, CA, yesterday, workers were unable to mate orbiter Atlantis to NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Those mating activities have been rescheduled for today. If weather permits, the cross-country ferry flight begins at first light Wednesday morning and continues on to Ft. Hood, TX, for refueling. Currently the flight plan calls for an overnight stay in Ft. Campbell, KY, and with a Thursday midday departure, Atlantis would arrive at KSC Thursday afternoon Sept. 24. These plans are subject to available daylight and weather conditions on the flight path. Shuttle managers will also factor Hurricane Georges' progress and potential threat to KSC into any flight plan decisions.

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/