STS-75 Mission Control Center 
Status Report # 24

Tuesday, March 5 -- 4 p.m. CST

Columbia's astronauts had one last look at the Tethered Satellite
late this morning telling flight controllers they could see both the
satellite and the tether hanging beneath it.

Lighting precluded a viewing opportunity during the point of closest
approach between the two spacecraft, but one orbit later the crew saw
and filmed TSS from a distance of about 450 nautical miles.  The
videotape was played back for flight controllers on the ground this
afternoon.  Today's pass of the satellite marks the final viewing
opportunity for the seven astronauts on board Columbia.

Shortly before 7 p.m. central today, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Jeff Hoffman
and Claude Nicollier will participate in the final on-orbit interview
for the flight.  The three crew members will discuss their missions
with both Univision and Telenoticias, the two largest Hispanic
television networks.

Wednesday morning, Commander Andy Allen will attempt to make contact
with the crew of Atlantis on Launch Pad 39-B. STS-76 Commander Kevin
Chilton and the crew of the next Shuttle/Mir mission will be on board
Atlantis participating in a final dress rehearsal of their planned
March 21 launch.

Columbia continues to provide a stable platform for the continuing
scientific investigations being conducted in the United States
Microgravity Payload.

The JSC newsroom will close at 5 p.m. and will reopen at 6
a.m. Wednesday.