Space Shuttle Status Report 28 August 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 4:59 a.m.
• LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 1/2 minutes
• MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 20 hours and 14 minutes
• CREW: Wilcutt, Altman, Lu, Malenchenko, Morukov, Mastracchio, Burbank
• ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 177 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Prelaunch processing of Space Shuttle Atlantis continues on schedule at Launch Pad 39B. Last week, workers loaded oxidizer and fuel into the orbiter’s onboard storage tanks. Engineers successfully completed a hot fire test of auxiliary power unit No. 1 last Friday, and payload interface verification testing is complete. Technicians are working to close-out Atlantis’ aft compartment for flight and preparations are under way for ordnance installation. Shuttle managers will convene the STS-106 Flight Readiness Review at KSC tomorrow and are expected to announce Sept. 8 as Atlantis’ official launch date.

Milestones:
Flight Readiness Review – Aug. 29
Ordnance installations complete – Aug. 30

Orbiter payload bay doors closed for flight – Aug. 30
Space suit functional testing – Aug. 30

Orbiter aft compartment close-outs complete – Sept. 1

• 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: After rolling into the VAB transfer aisle last Thursday, orbiter Discovery was lifted into high bay 3 and soft-mated to the external tank and solid rocket boosters. Electrical and mechanical connections are ongoing, and the Shuttle Interface Test is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Today, Shuttle Program managers decided that Space Shuttle Discovery will not roll out to Launch Pad 39A until after the launch of Shuttle Atlantis. The precautionary decision to avoid having two Space Shuttles at KSC’s launch pads during hurricane season minimizes the threat that high winds pose to flight hardware. With a successful launch of Shuttle Atlantis on Sept. 8, Discovery is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39A on Sept. 11. Shuttle managers do not expect this processing change to affect Discovery’s Oct. 5 launch date.

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: Functional tests of Endeavour’s docking mechanism are complete. Standard rigging work on the orbiter’s right-hand external tank umbilical door are also complete. Endeavour’s thermal protective “chin panel” is being installed beneath the orbiter’s nose.