NOTE: At Hangar AF, preliminary evaluations of the left hand nozzle-to-case joint and nozzle assembly for STS-84’s solid rocket boosters are complete. The nozzles will be shipped to Utah today for arrival on May 27.
With the main objectives of the STS-84 mission achieved, the Atlantis crew is turning their attention toward preparations for the return home. With plenty of consumables on board Atlantis and preliminary forecasts showing acceptable weather conditions at KSC through the weekend, mission managers may not call for landing support from Edwards Air Force Base, CA, until Monday, if needed. Forecasters are monitoring a stationary front in the vicinity of KSC, but hope that associated clouds and showers will pass by tomorrow morning.
A deorbit burn for the first KSC landing opportunity on Saturday would occur at about 6:47 a.m. EDT with touchdown at about 7:52 a.m. The second KSC opportunity has an 8:25 a.m. deorbit burn time and a 9:28 a.m. landing time. Sunday has two KSC landing opportunities at 8:29 a.m. and 10:05 a.m.
The crew of STS-84 are: Commander Charles Precourt, Pilot Eileen Collins and Mission Specialists Jean-Francois Clervoy, Carlos Noriega, Edward Lu, Elena Kondakova, Michael Foale (up) and Jerry Linenger (down).
NOTE: Ammonia servicing is complete. Heat shield installation continues through tonight and water spray boiler servicing is in work. While working close-outs in Columbia’s mid-body, technicians noted cracks in two fuse holders that are part of the orbiter’s power distribution system. As a result, work to repair a power distribution assembly and replacement of a power controller assembly will begin this weekend.
The additional work in the mid-body will likely delay the installation of the Spacelab transfer tunnel until next week. Managers are assessing what impact if any the additional work will have on remaining OPF milestones. No impact to the overall pad schedule is expected.
STS-94 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
NOTE: Shuttle main engine and main propulsion system integrated testing continues. Payload interface verification test post operations are in work. Mid-body closeouts continue on schedule.
STS-85 SCHEDULED OPERATIONAL MILESTONES (dates are target only):
ENDEAVOUR (OV-105) NOTE: Endeavour arrived in the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2 today at about noon, making room in OPF bay 3 for Atlantis, once it lands at KSC on Saturday.
Mission managers announced yesterday that Endeavour will fly on mission STS-89 instead of Discovery. The 8th Mir docking mission is currently slated for launch in January of 1998.
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