- VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
- LOCATION: Launch Pad 39B
- TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: No earlier than May 27, 1999 at 6:48 a.m. EDT
- TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: June 6, 1999 at 2:45 a.m. EDT
- LAUNCH WINDOW: 10 minutes
- ISS DOCKING DATE: May 29, 1999 at 12:25 a.m. EDT
- ISS UNDOCKING DATE: June 3, 1999 at 6:37 p.m. EDT
- MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 19 hours
- CREW: Rominger, Husband, Ochoa, Jernigan, Barry, Payette, Tokarev
- ADDITIONAL PAYLOADS: ICC, STARSHINE, SVF AND IVHM
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees
- STS-93 stack leaves VAB (May 15 at about 8 a.m.)
- Shuttle Discovery begins roll back from launch pad to VAB (May 16 at about 4 a.m.)
- External tank repair efforts (May 17-19)
- Discovery begins roll out and return to Pad 39B (May 20 at about 4 a.m.)
- STS-93 stack returns to VAB (May 21)
FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1999 (4:04 PM EDT)
STS-96 -- 2nd U.S. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT - SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULENOTE: Shuttle managers decided yesterday to roll Space Shuttle Discovery back to the Vehicle Assembly Building to complete repair work on the hail-damaged external tank foam insulation. Today, KSC managers developed a recovery plan to make Discovery ready for launch no earlier than May 27 if weather conditions cooperate with the current schedule. The plan calls for the STS-93 booster and external tank stack to be removed from VAB high bay 1 on Saturday at 8 a.m. to make room for Discovery's return. The STS-93 stack will temporarily reside at the Mobile Launcher Platform Refurbishment Site until Monday. Shuttle Discovery is slated to begin its 6-hour trip from Pad 39B to the VAB at 4 a.m. Sunday. On Monday morning, the STS-93 stack will transfer to Pad 39B to take advantage of its weather protection system.
When Discovery arrives inside the VAB, workers will establish access to the tank's damaged areas and a full inspection of the tank will reveal exactly how much repair work is needed. Preliminary reports indicate that at least 35 foam divots must be repaired over 3 days. Once the necessary repairs are complete, the Space Shuttle could begin moving back to the launch pad as early as Thursday, May 20 at 4 a.m.
After Discovery returns to the launch pad, workers must repeat ordnance installation and checks, pressurization of the Shuttle's propellant system, aft compartment close-outs and solid rocket booster close-outs before proceeding with the launch countdown.
The following schedule assumes cooperative weather conditions.
STS-96 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
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/