Space Shuttle Status Report 03-24-2000

• VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
• LOCATION: Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 3
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: NET April 17, 2000 at about 7:03 p.m.
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: April 28, 2000 at about 2:01 p.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: up to 10 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 18 hours and 56 minutes
• CREW: Halsell, Horowitz, Weber, Williams, Voss, Helms, Usachev
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: The flight crew’s Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test at KSC has been moved from March 30 and 31 to April 6 and 7. As a precaution, managers decided to postpone TCDT to allow Commander Jim Halsell’s sprained left ankle additional time to heal and to ensure his full participation in training activities.

However, to optimize crew training requirements, Shuttle managers are currently reviewing launch date options for STS-101. A delay of as much as a few days is possible. Managers are expected to make a final decision early next week.

In the VAB, workers are performing final connections and primary leak checks on Altantis’ replaced main engine No. 1. Technicians have completed hydraulic pump replacement efforts on the right-hand solid rocket booster. Space Shuttle Atlantis remains scheduled for rollout to Launch Pad 39A Saturday at about 7 a.m. The SPACEHAB payload is slated for installation into the orbiter’s payload bay on Sunday.

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: OPF bay 1
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: TBD
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: TBD
• MISSION DURATION: 11 days
• CREW: Duffy, Melroy, Wakata, Chiao, Wisoff, Lopez-Alegria, McArthur
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 160 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Auxiliary power unit lubrication servicing concluded yesterday. Functional tests of the lights in Discovery’s cargo bay are complete. Window No. 1 installation continues on schedule. Preparation for the payload premate test is ongoing.

• VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
• LOCATION: OPF bay 2
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: TBD
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: TBD
• MISSION DURATION: 9 days
• CREW: Jett, Bloomfield, Tanner, Noriega, Garneau
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Installation of Endeavour’s wireless video system continues along with crew module window inspections. Fuel cell No. 2 is slated for removal next week.