KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1999 (3:28 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 forward and midbody compartment closeouts continue. Technicians will cycle the left-hand payload bay door today to check recently replaced seals. Managers plan to close the orbiter's payload bay doors Friday in preparation for an early February transfer to the Vehicle Assembly Building. Leak checks on two of the orbiter's hypergolic line disconnects are in work today and this week Ku-band system stowage is scheduled.

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

      • Payload bay doors closed prior to OPF rollout (Jan. 15)
      • Orbiter weight and center of gravity tests (Jan. 28)
      • Orbiter transfer 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: Removal of Discovery's caution and warning box is complete. The orbiter's ammonia controller has been replaced and the forward reaction control system (FRCS) has arrived in the OPF for installation tomorrow. Last week, radiator functional tests and inspections revealed a probable micrometeroid ding on a portion of the radiator and engineering evaluation is now under way. Main propulsion system functional tests are ongoing and corrosion control modifications on the engine heat shields continue. Replacement of Discovery's window No. 1 is complete and window No. 7 replacement is in work today. Workers will evaluate window No. 5 this week.

      STS-96 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

      • FRCS installation complete (Jan. 12)
      • Androgynous peripheral docking system installation begins (Jan. 18)
      • Orbiter maneuvering system thruster replacement begins (Jan. 23)
      • Payload premate test (Feb. 1)
      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 out of OPF bay 3 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 left orbiter maneuvering system (OMS) pod functional tests are complete and good. Functional tests on the right OMS pod are in work. Technicians completed post flight deservicing of the orbiter's waste management system last week. Shuttle main engine inspections continue and preparations for FRCS testing are under way.

      STS-99 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):

      • FRCS removal complete (Jan. 21)
      • Main engine heat shield removal complete (Jan. 26)
      • Main engine removal complete (Jan. 26)
      • Orbiter external airlock removal complete (Jan. 27)

      --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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