Status Report

Space Shuttle Status Report 4 October 2000

By SpaceRef Editor
October 4, 2000
Filed under

Launch – 1 Day

MISSION: STS-92 – 5th ISS Flight (3A) – Z-1 Truss, PMA-3

LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A

TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Oct. 5, 2000 at about 9:38 p.m. EDT

TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 16, 2000 at about 4:57 p.m.

LAUNCH WINDOW: No more than 5 minutes

MISSION DURATION: 11 days

CREW: Duffy, Melroy, Wakata, Chiao, Wisoff, Lopez-Alegria, McArthur

ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 177 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

The launch countdown for mission STS-92 remains on schedule
as final preparations for liftoff continue at Pad 39A. Loading of
Discovery’s onboard cryogenics began on time last night and concluded
earlier this morning. Following this, the orbiter mid-body umbilical was
detached from the vehicle. Also, final Shuttle main engine preparations were
conducted. Tonight, late stow operations of flight crew equipment will
begin.

The rotating service structure is scheduled to be moved away
from the vehicle at about 1:30 a.m. tomorrow, and filling of the external
tank with its load of cryogenic propellants is set to commence at about
12:15 p.m. This operation will conclude at about 3:15 p.m.

Meanwhile, the seven-member crew continues to review mission
plans. The commander and pilot will practice landing approaching at the
Shuttle Landing Facility in the Shuttle Training Aircraft later this
evening.

Weather forecasters continue to indicate a 40 percent chance
of weather violation for Thursday night’s launch attempt. The official
forecast calls for clouds to be scattered to broken from 3,000 feet to 7,
000 feet and from 12,000 to 16,000 feet, and broken from 25,000 to 30,000
feet; visibility at 7 miles; launch pad winds from the southwest at 8
gusting to 12 knots; temperature at 78 degrees F; and relative humidity at
85 percent.

The primary concern is for lingering showers or low clouds.
The 24-hour delay forecast indicates a 40 percent chance of weather
violation and the 48-hour delay forecast shows a 60 percent chance of
weather prohibiting launch.

SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-92

    T-TIME            LENGTH OF HOLD        HOLD BEGINS        HOLD ENDS
T-27 hours 4 hours 4 p.m. Tues. 8 p.m. Tues.
T-19 hours 4 hours 4 a.m. Wed. 8 a.m. Wed.
T-11 hours 13 hours, 43 minutes 4 p.m. Wed. 5:43 a.m. Thurs.

T-6 hours 2 hours 10:43 a.m. Thurs. 12:43 a.m. Thurs.
T-3 hours 2 hours 3:43 p.m. Thurs. 5:43 p.m. Thurs.
T-20 minutes 10 minutes 8:23 p.m. Thurs. 8:33 p.m. Thurs.

T-9 minutes about 45 minutes 8:44 p.m. Thurs. 9:29 p.m.
Thurs.

CREW FOR MISSION STS-92

Commander (CDR): Brian Duffy

Pilot (PLT): Pamela Melroy

Mission Specialist (MS1): Leroy Chiao

Mission Specialist (MS2): Bill McArthur

Mission Specialist (MS3): Jeff Wisoff

Mission Specialist (MS4): Mission Specialist (MS5): Michael
Lopez-Alegria Koichi Wakata

SUMMARY OF STS-92 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES

Thursday, Oct. 5

9:30 a.m. Crew wake up

10:30 a.m. Breakfast

*4:38 p.m. Snack and photo

5:08 p.m. Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)

5:08 p.m. Don flight suits (MS1, MS3, MS4, MS5)

*5:18 p.m. Don flight suits (CDR, PLT, MS2)

*5:48 p.m. Depart for launch pad

*6:18 p.m. Arrive at white room and begin ingress

*7:33 p.m. Close crew hatch

*9:38 p.m. Launch

* Televised events (times may vary slightly)
All times Eastern

SpaceRef staff editor.