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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1996 (11:15 AM EST) LAUNCH - 1 DAY KSC Public Affairs Contact: Bruce Buckingham E-mail: Bruce.Buckingham-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov MISSION: STS-75 -- TETHERED SATELLITE-1R & USMP-3 VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102 LOCATION: Pad 39B TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Feb. 22 at 3:18 p.m. LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: March 7 at about 7:32 a.m. MISSION DURATION: 13 days, 16 hours CREW SIZE: 7 ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/28.45 degrees NOTE: The countdown continues today for the launch of Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-75 at 3:18 p.m. Thursday at the opening of a 2 1/2 hour window. The mission management team met briefly this morning to discuss an incident that occurred overnight at Pad 39B. At about 1 a.m., a neutralizing agent, believed to be sodium hydroxide, was spilled over the left-hand solid rocket booster and the left side of the external tank. This non-toxic liquid is used to neutralize any potential hazardous vapors that may be present during normal operations to remove covers off the reaction control system thrusters on Columbia. The incident has not seriously delayed today’s normal pad operations. However, engineering evaluations are in work to determine if any concerns exist for the liquid contacting the flight hardware. Operations to load the cryogenic reactants that service the orbiter’s fuel cells were completed yesterday and today work continues to off-load extra cryogenics from the storage tanks. This operation is expected to be complete by mid-afternoon. Once this is done, the orbiter’s mid-body umbilical unit will be demated from the orbiter and retracted into the fixed service structure. Later today, preparations will begin to retract the rotating service structure (RSS) to launch position. RSS move is set for about 7 p.m. today. Loading of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled to begin at about 7 a.m. tomorrow. Air Force weather forecasters are currently indicating a zero percent probability of weather prohibiting launch on Thursday. No weather concerns are in the forecast. During Thursday’s launch window, the winds at Pad 39B are expected to be from the southeast at 7-10 knots; temperature 75 degrees F; visibility 7 miles; humidity 62 percent; and clouds scattered at 3,500 feet and 25,000. The 24-hour-delay forecast reveals similar conditions. Today, the seven-member astronaut crew will be briefed on tomorrow’s launch weather outlook at KSC and the TAL sites in Spain and Africa. SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-75 T-TIME LENGTH OF HOLD HOLD BEGINS HOLD ENDS T-27 hours 4 hours 8:00 a.m. Tuesday 12:00 noon Tuesday T-19 hours 8 hours 8:00 p.m. Tuesday 4:00 a.m. Wednesday T-11 hours 12 hours, 58 minutes 12:00 noon Wednesday 12:58 a.m. Thursday T-6 hours 1 hour 5:58 a.m. Thursday 6:58 a.m. Thursday T-3 hours 2 hours 9:58 a.m. Thursday 11:58 a.m. Thursday T-20 minutes 10 minutes 2:38 p.m. Thursday 2:48 p.m. Thursday T-9 minutes 10 minutes 2:59 p.m. Thursday 3:09 p.m. Thursday CREW FOR MISSION STS-75 Andy Allen Commander (CDR) White Team Scott Horowitz Pilot (PLT) Red Team Jeff Hoffman Mission Specialist (MS1) White Team Maurizo Cheli Mission Specialist (MS2) Red Team Claude Nicollier Mission Specialist (MS3) Blue Team Franklin Chang-Diaz Mission Specialist (MS4) Blue Team Umberto Guidoni Payload Specialist (PS1) Red Team SUMMARY OF STS-75 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES Thursday, Feb. 22 3:00 a.m. Wake up (Red Team) 3:30 a.m. Breakfast (Red Team) 7:30 a.m. Wake up (White Team) 8:00 a.m. Breakfast (White Team) and Lunch (Red Team) 10:13 a.m. Wake up (Blue Team) * 10:43 a.m. Crew Photo and Meal (Red, White and Blue Teams) 11:13 a.m. Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2) 11:13 a.m. Don launch and entry suits (MS1, MS3, MS4, PS1) 11:23 a.m. Don launch and entry suits (CDR, PLT, MS2) * 11:40 a.m. Crew suiting photo * 11:53 a.m. Depart for Launch Pad 39-B * 12:33 p.m. Arrive at white room and begin orbiter ingress * 1:48 p.m. Close crew hatch * 3:18 p.m. Launch * Televised events (times may vary slightly) All times Eastern