KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
      FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1999 (4:59 PM EDT)
      MISSION: STS-96 -- 2nd U.S. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT - SPACEHAB DOUBLE MODULE
      Flight Day 2

      STS-96 photos

      • VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
      • LOCATION: On orbit
      • OFFICIAL KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 27, 1999 at 6:50 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

      NOTE: Shuttle Discovery's systems are performing very well on orbit. Post launch inspections of Launch Pad 39B revealed minimal pad damage. Inspectors did collect several samples of a residue found on various portions of the Fixed Service Structure. Managers expect laboratory evaluations to confirm that the residue resulted from a reaction between solid rocket booster (SRB) exhaust and the protective coating applied to the exterior of the FSS.

      The SRB recovery ships arrived at Hangar AF this afternoon with both SRBs in tow. Preliminary reports indicate that the boosters are in good condition.

      MISSION: STS-93 -- Chandra X-ray Observatory (formerly AXAF)

      STS-93 images

      • VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
      • LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1
      • TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: July 22, 1999 at 12:28 a.m. EDT (under review)
      • TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: July 26, 1999 at 11:35 p.m. EDT (under review)
      • 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: Technicians have completed Columbia's closeouts in preparation for next week's OPF roll out. Weight and center of gravity testing began today and managers plan to transfer Columbia to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Wednesday at about 10 a.m.

      The Chandra payload resides in KSC's Vertical Processing Facility awaiting arrival of the Inertial Upper Stage. The IUS is scheduled to arrive in the VPF Tuesday for mating operations with Chandra on Wednesday. Following electrical and mechanical testing, the spacecraft is slated for transfer to Launch Pad 39B on June 21.

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

      • Columbia rolls to VAB for external tank mating operations (June 2 at about 10 a.m.)
      • Columbia rolls out to Pad 39B (June 7)
      • Chandra payload transferred to Pad 39B (June 21)
      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: Fabrication and installation of tubing for Endeavour's freon coolant loop No. 2 continues. Modifications on the main engine dome heat shields and wireless video installation efforts continue as well.

      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: Installation of Atlantis' power control assembly No. 1 is complete. Wireless video modifications continue. Mass spectrometer leak checks on the orbiter's fuel cell power plant continue. TACAN antenna installation is in progress.

      --end--

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