- VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
- LOCATION: Launch Pad 39B
- TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 27, 1999 at 6:49 a.m. EDT
- TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: June 6, 1999 at 1:58 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
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1999 (2:55 PM EDT)
(Launch Minus 1 day)
STS-96 -- 2nd U.S. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT - SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULENOTE: Preparations for launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on Thursday continue as scheduled today. The Rotating Service Structure was retracted away from the vehicle and placed in launch configuration early this afternoon. Earlier today, the orbiter's inertial measurement units were activated and the flight crew's equipment was stowed in the orbiter.
Currently, final walkdowns of the pad are being completed in preparation for loading of the 500,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants into the Shuttle's external tank. Loading operations will begin at about 9:30 tonight.
The crew will begin final preparations for launch when they awake at about 6:30 p.m. today. They are scheduled to begin donning their launch and entry suits at 2:19 a.m. tomorrow and depart for the launch pad at about 3 a.m.
Weather forecasters currently indicate a 20 percent chance that weather could prohibit Thursday's launch attempt. The forecast calls for scattered clouds with bases at 20,000 feet; visibility at 7 miles with a slight chance of early morning fog; southwesterly winds at 7 knots peaking to 10 knots; temperature at 72 degrees F; relative humidity at 93 percent and dew point at 70 degrees F.
The crew for mission STS-96 are: Commander Kent Rominger, Pilot Rick Husband, and Mission Specialists Tamara Jernigan, Ellen Ochoa, Daniel Barry, Julie Payette, and Valerie Tokarev.
| SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-96 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| T-TIME | LENGTH OF HOLD | HOLD BEGINS | HOLD ENDS |
| T-6 hours | 2 hours | 7:54 p.m. Wed. | 9:54 p.m. Wed. |
| T-3 hours | 2 hours | 12:54 a.m. Thurs. | 2:54 a.m. Thurs. |
| T-20 minutes | 10 minutes | 5:34 a.m. Thurs. | 5:44 a.m. Thurs. |
| T-9 minutes | 40 minutes | 5:55 a.m. Thurs. | 6:35 a.m. Thurs. |
| CREW FOR MISSION STS-96 | |
|---|---|
| Commander (CDR) | Kent Rominger |
| Pilot (PLT) | Rick Husband |
| Mission Specialist (MS1) | Tamara Jernigan |
| Mission Specialist (MS2) | Ellen Ochoa |
| Mission Specialist (MS3) | Daniel Barry |
| Mission Specialist (MS4) | Julie Payette |
| Mission Specialist (MS5) | Valerie Tokarev |
| SUMMARY OF STS-96 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES | |
|---|---|
| Thursday, May 27 | |
| 1 a.m. | Wake up from optional nap |
| *1:49 a.m. | Snack/crew photo |
| 2:19 a.m. | CDR, PLT, MS2 weather briefing |
| 2:19 a.m. | MS1, MS3, MS4, MS5 don launch and entry suits |
| *2:29 a.m. | CDR, PLT, MS2 don launch and entry suits |
| *3 a.m. | Depart for Launch Pad 39B |
| *3:30 a.m. | Arrive at white room and begin ingress |
| *4:44 a.m. | Close crew hatch |
| *6:48 a.m. | Launch |
Televised events (times may vary slightly)
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