Space Shuttle Status Report 13 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: On orbit
• OFFICIAL KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Sept. 8, 2000 at 8:46 a.m. EDT
• KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 20, 2000 at about 3:40 a.m.
• MISSION DURATION: 11 days, 18 hours and 54 minutes
• CREW: Wilcutt, Altman, Lu, Malenchenko, Morukov, Mastracchio, Burbank
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 177 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Note: Systems on Shuttle Atlantis continue to operate normally on flight day 6 of mission STS-106. KSC ground control is preparing to support landing operations Sept. 20 at 3:40 a.m. EDT. Solid rocket booster inspections and disassembly continue on schedule.

• VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
• LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A
• 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: Testing of Space Shuttle Discovery’s auxiliary power units is complete. Launch pad validations continue as scheduled. Today, technicians are replacing transducer seals on the orbiter’s left-hand maneuvering engine. Workers will replace a fuel line quick disconnect on auxiliary power unit No. 2 Thursday. The Rotating Service Structure begins moving around the Shuttle on Thursday at about 9 a.m.

The flight crew arrived at KSC last night to participate in routine Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities through Friday morning. The Test culminates with a full dress rehearsal and a simulated emergency egress from the Discovery’s crew module at Pad 39A. The crew plans to depart KSC for Houston, TX at 2 p.m. on Friday.

The Zenith-1 (Z-1) Truss arrived at the launch pad early this morning, and today workers are transferring it to the Payload Changeout Room. The payload will be installed into the orbiter Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Milestones:
Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test – Sept. 14-15
Rotating Service Structure extended – Sept. 14
Payload installed into orbiter – Sept. 19

• 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: Technicians have completed checks on Endeavour’s space-to-space orbiter radio system. Preparations are under way for Shuttle main engine installation. The orbiter’s TV and communication system will be tested this week. Installation of the thermal protective “chin panel” continues.