Space Shuttle Processing Status 1 November 2000

NOTE: Visit http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/schedule/schedule.htm on the
KSC Home Page for the latest schedule of future Shuttle missions.

Discovery Ferry Flight

Status: Orbiter Discovery is being mated to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
(SCA) today and is undergoing final preparations to depart Edwards Air Force
Base tomorrow morning. The preliminary ferry flight plan has Discovery
departing Edwards at first light Thursday, stopping to refuel at Altus Air
Force Base, Oklahoma overnight, and arriving at KSC Friday.

Workers completed orbiter tail cone installation yesterday and began lifting
Discovery on to the SCA this morning. Ferry managers will finalize the
flight path and KSC arrival time based on updated weather data acquired en
route. Ferry flight rules state that the orbiter and SCA cannot fly through
precipitation, thick clouds or high turbulence. There are also wind and
temperature restrictions.

MISSION: STS-97 – 6th ISS Flight (4A) – PV Module P6

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105

LOCATION: Launch Pad 39B

TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Nov. 30, 2000 at 10:01 p.m.

TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec.10, 2000 at 6:46 p.m.

MISSION DURATION: 10 days

CREW: Jett, Bloomfield, Tanner, Noriega, Garneau

ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 177 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Space Shuttle Endeavour was hard down at Launch Pad
39B yesterday at 5:30 p.m. Launch pad validations are under way and hot
fire testing of the Shuttle’s three auxiliary power units began this
morning. The Rotating Service Structure was extended around the vehicle at
about 2 p.m. today. Shuttle main engine flight readiness testing begins
tonight and the standard helium signature leak test is scheduled on Friday.

Upcoming Milestones

Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test – Nov. 7 and 8

Orbiter prelaunch propellant loading begins – Nov. 9

MISSION: STS-98 – 7th ISS Flight (5A) – U.S. Laboratory

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104

LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) bay 3

TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan.18, 2001 at 3:36 a.m. EDT

TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 28, 2001 at 11:46 p.m.

MISSION DURATION: 10 days

CREW: Cockrell, Polansky, Curbeam, Jones, Ivins

ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Technicians have completed leak and functional
tests on Atlantis’ auxiliary power units. Orbiter ammonia system servicing
continues. Payload bay reconfiguration continues along with wiring
protection efforts in the orbiter’s aft fuselage. Workers are replacing
window No. 8 and technicians are running routine checks on the orbiter’s
robot arm.