KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1999 (3:25 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 mid-May 1999
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: TBD
      • 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 aft compartment closeouts continue and potable water servicing is under way. The orbiter's drag chute compartment is undergoing instrumentation work this week. A system of temporary sensors is being installed inside the compartment to help engineers better understand the structural stress associated with vehicle transfers. This week, Shuttle managers are awaiting information from Chandra spacecraft officials to determine Columbia's target launch date and any impacts to downstream Shuttle flights.

      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 20, 1999 (under review)
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 31, 1999 (under review)
      • MISSION DURATION: 11 days (+1)
      • CREW: Rominger, Husband, Ochoa, Jernigan, Barry, Payette, Malenchenko
      • ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

      NOTE: Four of six orbital maneuvering system thrusters onboard Discovery were replaced over the weekend. The remaining two thrusters will be installed tonight. Replacement of orbiter windows No. 2 and No. 7 continues. Heat shield modification efforts are under way and sensor work on the main propulsion system is ongoing. This week, workers will test Discovery's power reactant storage and distribution system.

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

      • Androgynous peripheral docking system (APDS) installation begins (Feb. 1)
      • APDS checkout (Feb. 9)
      • Payload premate test (Feb. 15)
      • Robot arm replacement (Feb. 19)
      • Shuttle main engine installation (Feb. 23)
      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. Installation of Atlantis' onboard tactical air navigation system (TACAN) is in progress and aft compartment leak checks are in work. Atlantis is scheduled to undergo orbiter processing for STS-101 in OPF bay 3. The date for Atlantis' transfer from the VAB to the OPF will be determined after Shuttle managers assess the impact of Shuttle Columbia's STS-93 delay.

      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 forward reaction control system will be removed from the orbiter this week. Robot arm removal is in work today and Shuttle main engine removal begins tonight. Docking mechanism removal is scheduled today.

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

      • 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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