NOTE: The Hubble Space Telescope was released from the orbiter's payload bay at 1:41 a.m. EST today. Landing remains scheduled for about 1:48 a.m. EST on Friday. Deorbit burn is set for 12:38 a.m. Friday. The second landing opportunity for KSC on Friday occurs at 3:31 a.m. Two landing opportunities on Friday at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, occur at 3:22 a.m. and 5:04 a.m. EST.
Friday's weather at KSC is expected to be generally favorable with possible scattered clouds as low as 3,000 feet; winds 6 - 10 knots from the southwest and possible showers off shore at a distance not expected to violate landing criteria.
The mission STS-82 crew are: Commander Ken Bowersox; Pilot Scott Horowitz; Mission Specialists Joe Tanner, Steve Hawley, Greg Harbaugh, Mark Lee and Steve Smith. (image)
Workers continue to clean-up Orbiter Processing Facility bay No. 2 following Monday's spill of monomethyl hydrazine (the liquid fuel used in the orbiter's reaction control system). Bay 2 remains closed today as crews wrap-up operations required to purge the bay of all remnants of the highly toxic substance. Managers expect to have clean-up operations complete in time to prepare the bay for Discovery's roll-in after a Friday morning landing.
NOTE: The main engine heat shields are being installed today. Mid-body and aft engine compartment close-outs are continuing. Orbital maneuvering system and reaction control system interface verification tests continue as well.
STS-83 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
NOTE: Leak and functional testing of the newly installed APU is in work this week. The orbital maneuvering system pod functional checks are complete to date and close-outs are in work. Stacking of the solid rocket boosters in the VAB continues.
STS-84 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
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