96PC-1155, -1156 and -1157

In the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 (SAEF-2), the
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) team is mating the Mars Pathfinder
lander (lower element) with the backshell (suspended element) of the
protective aeroshell. In this view, the backshell is being positioned
above the lander, which is actually installed in the backshell by
raising it from below. Parachutes will be installed on the backshell,
and this assembly will be installed atop the heat shield \-- the
backshell and heat shield together comprise the Pathfinder's aeroshell.
When the lander descends through the Martian atmosphere the deployed
parachutes will help slow the lander down and then pull the backshell
away from it. Other upcoming activities in SAEF-2 include mating the
entry assembly of lander and aeroshell to the cruise stage and then
mating the fully assembled Pathfinder to its upper stage booster. The
spacecraft will then be transferred to Launch Complex 17B, where it will
be installed atop a Delta II expendable launch vehicle. Liftoff is
scheduled for Dec. 2 at the beginning of a 24-day launch period.

96PC-1161

In the Multi-Payload Processing Facility (MPPF), the two primary
payloads for Space Shuttle Mission STS-80 are being readied for transfer
to the launch pad. Here, workers prepare the Wake Shield Facility-3
(WSF-3) for lifting and installation in the Payload Canister
Transporter. The WSF-3 underwent preflight assembly and checkout in
NASA's Building AE on Cape Canaveral Air Station, and was then
transferred to the MPPF for installation in the canister. Already in the
canister is the other primary payload, the Orbiting and Retrievable Far
and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrograph-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-II
(ORFEUS-SPAS-II). The payloads will be taken to Launch Pad 39B to await
installation in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Columbia, due to
roll out to the pad on Oct. 16. Liftoff on the final Shuttle flight of
1996 is set for Nov. 8.

96PC-1163

In the Multi-Payload Processing Facility (MPPF), the two primary
payloads for Space Shuttle Mission STS-80 are being readied for transfer
to the launch pad. Here, workers are installing the Wake Shield
Facility-3 (WSF-3) in the Payload Canister Transporter. The WSF-3
underwent preflight assembly and checkout in NASA's Building AE on Cape
Canaveral Air Station, and was then transferred to the MPPF for
installation in the canister. Already in the canister is the other
primary payload, the Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme
Ultraviolet Spectrograph-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-II (ORFEUS-SPAS-II).
The payloads will be taken to Launch Pad 39B to await installation in
the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Columbia, due to roll out to the
pad on Oct. 16. Liftoff on the final Shuttle flight of 1996 is set for
Nov. 8.

96PC-1162

In the Multi-Payload Processing Facility (MPPF), the two primary
payloads for Space Shuttle Mission STS-80 are being readied for transfer
to the launch pad. Here, workers are installing the Orbiting and
Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrograph-Shuttle Pallet
Satellite-II (ORFEUS-SPAS-II) in the Payload Canister Transporter. Still
to be installed in the canister is the other primary payload, the Wake
Shield Facility-3 (WSF-3). The payloads will be taken to Launch Pad 39B
to await installation in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Columbia,
due to roll out to the pad on Oct. 16. Liftoff on the final Shuttle
flight of 1996 is set for Nov. 8.