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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1996 (9:08 AM EST) KSC Public Affairs Contact: Bruce Buckingham (fax 407-867-2692) E-mail: Bruce.Buckingham-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov MISSION: STS-76 -- 3rd MIR DOCKING & SPACEHAB VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104 LOCATION: Pad 39B LAUNCH DATE/TIME: March 21 at about 3:35 a.m. EST LAUNCH WINDOW: 6 to 10 minutes TARGET KSC LANDINGDATE/TIME: March 30 at about 8:04 a.m. EST MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 4 hours, 29 minutes CREW SIZE: 6 up -- 5 down ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 184 statute miles/51.6 degrees NOTE: The payload bay doors were closed for flight yesterday as aft engine compartment closeouts continue. The pad will be closed later today for ordnance installation and connection. This will be followed by pressurization of the hypergolic system tanks tomorrow. Also, launch countdown preparations are in work this week. KEY STS-76 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only): * Ordnance installation (tonight) * Pressurize hypergolic reactant storage tanks (Thursday) * Crew arrival (12:01 a.m. Monday) * Begin countdown for launch (2 a.m. Monday) MISSION: STS-77 -- SPACEHAB-4 & SPARTAN 207 VEHICLE: Endeavour/ Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: May 16 at 6:32 a.m. LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 26 at 7:09 a.m. MISSION DURATION: 10 days CREW SIZE: 6 ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 176 statute miles/39 degrees NOTE: Installation of the Space Shuttle main engines will begin later this afternoon. Payload premate testing continues in work today. Solid rocket booster stacking operations continue in the Vehicle Assembly Building. KEY STS-77 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only): * Install Space Shuttle main engines (Wednesday/Thursday) * Tunnel adapter installation (Friday) * Landing gear functional checks (March 21) MISSION: STS-78 -- LIFE AND MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE (LMS) VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102 LOCATION:Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2 TARGET LAUNCH DATE/TIME: June 27 at 10:49 a.m. LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours, 30 minutes TARGET KSC LANDINGDATE/TIME: July 13 at 8:46 a.m. MISSION DURATION: 15 days, 22 hours CREW SIZE: 7 ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 statute miles/39 degrees NOTE: The payload bay doors were opened yesterday and visual inspections made of the payload bay configuration. The Tethered Satellite System and U.S. Microgravity Payload will be removed on Friday and transported to the Operations and Checkout Building on Saturday. KEY STS-78 OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only): * Remove STS-75 payloads (Friday) * Hypergolic deservicing (Saturday)