Space Shuttle Status Report 1 September 2000

NOTE: This is an orbiter processing report and does not reflect the chronological order of upcoming Space Shuttle flights. Visit http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/schedule/schedule.htm on the KSC Home Page for the latest schedule of future Shuttle missions.

• VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
• LOCATION: Launch Pad 39B
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Sept. 8, 2000 at 8:45 a.m. EDT (preferred launch time)
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 19, 2000 at 3:54 a.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 1/2 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 19 hours and 9 minutes
• CREW: Wilcutt, Altman, Lu, Malenchenko, Morukov, Mastracchio, Burbank
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 177 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Countdown preparations continue on schedule for mission STS-106. The countdown is set to begin at the T-43 hour mark on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. EDT. At the pad, orbiter aft compartment close-outs will conclude tonight, and a final confidence check of the aft compartment is scheduled for tomorrow. No work is scheduled at the pad on Sunday or Monday.

Monday, Sept. 4, the seven-member crew is set to arrive at KSC from their homes in Houston to begin final preparations for launch.

Milestones:
Flight crew arrives at KSC – Sept. 4 at about 9 p.m.
Launch Countdown begins – Sept. 5 at 11 a.m.
Shuttle’s external tank propellant loading begins – Sept. 7 at about 11:55 p.m.

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: VAB high bay 3
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Oct. 5, 2000 at 9:30 p.m. EDT
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 16, 2000 at about 5 p.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 11 days
• CREW: Duffy, Melroy, Wakata, Chiao, Wisoff, Lopez-Alegria, McArthur
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 177 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: In the VAB, Space Shuttle Discovery’s Shuttle Interface Test is ongoing. Next week, workers will complete final preparations for Discovery’s roll to Launch Pad 39A. The Z-1 truss is slated for payload canister installation on Sept. 11. On Sept. 13, the Z-1 truss is scheduled to move out to Launch Pad 39A for installation into the orbiter.

Milestones:
Shuttle roll to Launch Pad 39A – Sept. 11
Payload to the pad – Sept. 13

Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test – Sept. 14-15

• VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
• LOCATION: OPF bay 2
• TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Nov. 30, 2000 at 10:48 p.m.
• TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec. 10, 2000 at time TBD
• MISSION DURATION: 10 days
• CREW: Jett, Bloomfield, Tanner, Noriega, Garneau
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 177 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Endeavour’s robot arm has been installed inside the payload bay. Ku-Band antenna testing is complete and Endeavour’s thermal protective “chin panel” is being installed today.