
STS-96 -- 2nd U.S. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHTNOTE: Last Friday, technicians completed verification tests on Discovery's remote manipulator system or robot arm. Today, workers will perform functional checks on the orbiter's new docking mechanism. Replacement of the orbiter's water spray boiler continues. Installation of the integrated vehicle health monitoring system for the orbiter's main propulsion system proceeds on schedule and base heat shield fastener modifications continue. Drag chute instrumentation installation continues as well. Booster stacking operations continue in VAB high bay 3.
STS-96 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
STS-93 -- Chandra X-ray Observatory (formerly AXAF)
NOTE: Columbia is jacked and leveled in VAB high bay 2 undergoing system observation during a temporary storage period. Columbia will remain in the VAB until mid-April, when Shuttle Discovery rolls out of OPF bay 1. Columbia will then be transferred to OPF bay 1 to complete STS-93's orbiter prelaunch preparations.
STS-99 -- SHUTTLE RADAR TOPOGRAPHY MISSION (SRTM)NOTE: Shuttle Endeavour's forward reaction control system has been installed and preparations for functional checks are ongoing. Modifications of Endeavour's freon coolant loop No. 1 continue to go well.
STS-101 -- 3rd INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHTNOTE: Work on Atlantis' tactical air and navigation system (TACAN) is under way. Atlantis' orbiter maneuvering and reaction control systems are undergoing drain line modifications and window No. 1 is being replaced.
For automatic e-mail subscriptions to these Shuttle status reports or KSC-originated press releases, send an Internet electronic mail message to domo@news.ksc.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line) type the words "subscribe shuttle-status", or "subscribe ksc-press-release" (do not use quotation marks). The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription.
To remove your name from the list at any time, send an e-mail address to domo@news.ksc.nasa.gov. In the body of the message (not the subject line), type (no quotes) "unsubscribe shuttle-status", or "unsubscribe ksc-press-release."
Status reports and other NASA publications are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/kscpao.htm
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/