KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      THURDAY, JANUARY 7, 1999 (4:13 PM EST)
      MISSION: STS-93 -- Chandra X-ray Observatory (formerly AXAF)

      STS-93 images

      • VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
      • LOCATION: OPF bay 3
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: no earlier than April 8 at 7:21 a.m.
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: no earlier than April 13 at 6:28 a.m.
      • LAUNCH WINDOW: 46 minutes
      • MISSION DURATION: 5 days
      • CREW: Collins, Ashby, Hawley, Coleman, Tognini
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 153 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

      NOTE: Columbia's payload bay doors were opened earlier this week following the holiday down period. Also this week, workers replaced a transducer for orbiter freon coolant loop No. 2 and testing of the new component is complete. Columbia's forward and midbody compartment closeouts are in work. Potable water sampling is in progress. In the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank and solid rocket booster closeouts continue.

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

      • Payload bay doors closed prior to OPF rollout (Jan. 13)
      • Orbiter weight and center of gravity tests (Jan. 28)
      • Orbiter transferred to VAB for external tank mate (NET Feb. 1)
      MISSION: STS-96 -- 2nd U.S. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT
      SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULE
      • VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
      • LOCATION: OPF bay 1
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 13, 1999 at 11:41 a.m. EST
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 24, 1999 at 7:51 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: Processing of the orbiter Discovery has resumed following the holiday down period. Functional testing of the orbiter's purge vent drain system is complete. A corrosion control modification on the base heat shield is in progress and main propulsion system leak and functional testing is under way. Technicians are preparing for upcoming radiator functional tests. Replacement of Discovery's window No. 1 continues and window No. 7 replacement begins later this week.

      MISSION: STS-101 -- 3rd INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT
      SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULE/ICC
      • VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
      • LOCATION: Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: August 5, 1999 at 2:15 a.m.
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: August 15, 1999 at 9:09 p.m.
      • LAUNCH WINDOW: 10 minutes
      • MISSION DURATION: 10 days
      • CREW: Halsell, Horowitz, Weber, Lu, Williams
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

      NOTE: Atlantis remains in VAB high bay 2 awaiting Columbia's move to the VAB in early February. Workers are preparing for the installation of Atlantis' onboard tactical air command and navigation system (TACAN). OPF bay 3 will undergo planned open bay work for one week following Columbia's departure and will then house Atlantis throughout the STS-101 processing flow

      MISSION: STS-99 -- SHUTTLE RADAR TOPOGRAPHY MISSION (SRTM)
      • VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
      • LOCATION: OPF bay 2
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Sept. 16 at 8:47 a.m.
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 27 at 12:52 p.m.
      • MISSION DURATION: 11 days
      • CREW: Kregel, Gorie, Kavandi, Voss, Mohri, Thiele
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 126 nautical miles/57 degrees

      NOTE: Endeavour's orbiter maneuvering system functional tests are in work. Shuttle main engine inspections continue and post flight servicing of the onboard waste management system is in progress.

      --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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