MISSION: STS-93 -- Chandra X-ray Observatory

STS-93 images

• VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
• LOCATION: Launch Pad 39B
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: July 20, 1999 at 12:36 a.m. EDT (under review)
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 24, 1999 at 11:31 p.m. EDT
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 46 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 4 days, 23 hours
• CREW: Collins, Ashby, Hawley, Coleman, Tognini
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 153 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: At Launch Pad 39B, preparations continue for Shuttle Columbia's target launch date of July 20. This week, technicians completed installation of the orbiter's mass memory unit No. 1 and pressurization of auxiliary power unit No. 2. Workers also completed the flight readiness test for the Chandra X-ray Observatory payload. Later this week, the IUS flight batteries will be installed. Tomorrow morning, Shuttle managers will assemble at KSC to conduct the STS-93 Flight Readiness Review. An official launch date is expected to be announced at the conclusion of the meeting.

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

• Inertial Upper Stage battery installation (July 8-9)
• Flight Readiness Review (July 8)
• Orbiter aft compartment closeouts begin (July 8)
• Close payload bay doors for flight (July 17)

MISSION: STS-99 -- SHUTTLE RADAR TOPOGRAPHY MISSION (SRTM)

• VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
• LOCATION: OPF bay 2
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Sept. 16, 1999 at 8:47 a.m. EDT
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 27, 1999 at 12:52 p.m. EDT
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours and 30 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 11 days, 4 hours and 5 minutes
• CREW: Kregel, Gorie, Kavandi, Voss, Mohri, Thiele
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 126 nautical miles/57 degrees

NOTE: Functional testing on Endeavour's external tank umbilical doors is complete. Workers are installing the Shuttle main engine heatshields today. Integrated orbiter hydraulic testing is scheduled later to begin later this week.

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

• SRTM payload installed into orbiter (July 20)
• Crew Equipment Interface Test (July 28)

MISSION: STS-103 -- 3rd HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE SERVICING MISSION (HST-3)

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: OPF bay 1
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Oct. 14, 1999 at 5:42 a.m. EDT
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 24, 1999 at 3:20 a.m. EDT
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 42 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 21 hours and 38 minutes
• CREW: Brown, Kelly, Smith, Foale, Grunsfeld, Nicollier, Clervoy
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 317 nautical miles/28.45 degrees

NOTE: Discovery's orbital maneuvering system continues to undergo functional tests. Replacement of the orbiter's three fuel cells continues. Fuel cells No. 2 and No. 3 have already been replaced. Main propulsion system leak checks are in progress and draining of residual propellant from the left-hand orbital maneuvering system engine is scheduled this week.

MISSION: STS-101 -- 3rd INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT - SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULE/ICC

• VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
• LOCATION: OPF bay 3
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: December 2, 1999
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: December 13, 1999
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 5-10 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 10 days and 19 hours
• CREW: Halsell, Horowitz, Weber, Lu, Williams, Malenchenko, Morukov
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

NOTE: Checks on Atlantis' forward reaction control system are in progress. Wireless video modifications and mass spectrometer leak checks on the orbiter's fuel cell power plant continue. Installation of the orbiter's external airlock is slated to begin next week. Water spray boiler checks begin later this week.

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/