KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1999 (4:30 PM EDT)
      MISSION: STS-96 -- 2nd U.S. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT - SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULE
      • VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
      • LOCATION: Launch Pad 39B
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 27, 1999 at 6:48 a.m. EDT
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: June 6, 1999 at 3:25 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, 20 hours and 37 minutes
      • 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

      NOTE: Shuttle managers today confirmed May 27 as the launch date for Shuttle mission STS-96. Based on an updated weather forecast and prompt repairs of Discovery’s hail-damaged external tank foam insulation, managers decided to transfer Space Shuttle Discovery back to Launch Pad 39B Thursday morning. Shuttle close-out work will commence once Discovery arrives at the pad and will conclude in time for May 27 launch. The launch countdown begins at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 24.

      Discovery’s external tank repairs were completed today and tonight workers will remove access platforms and scaffolding in preparation for Thursday’s move to the pad. If weather continues to cooperate, Discovery will begin moving out of VAB high bay 1 about 2 a.m. tomorrow and will be hard down at Pad 39B by midday.

      The STS-93 stack remains under temporary lightning protection on the east side of the VAB. When VAB high bay 1 becomes available, the STS-93 stack will move inside the VAB to continue processing for its planned July launch.

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

      • Discovery rolls to Launch Pad 39B (May 20 at about 2 a.m.)
      • Launch pad validations complete (May 21)
      • Flight crew equipment stowage complete (May 22)
      • Orbiter aft compartment closeouts complete (May 24)
      • Launch countdown begins (May 24 at 9 a.m.)

      --end--

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      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/

      Author: Joel Wells / NASA Public Affairs
      Curator: Kay Grinter (kay.grinter-1@ksc.nasa.gov) / Information Dynamics, Inc.
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