Mission Name: STS-79 (79)
  Atlantis (17)
  Pad 39-A (57)
  79th Shuttle Mission
  17th Flight OV-104
  Night Launch (15)
  4th Mir Docking
  Rollback (11,12)
  KSC Landing (32)
 NOTE: Click Here for Countdown Homepage
Crew:
  William F. Readdy (3), Commander
  Terrence W. Wilcutt (2), Pilot
  Thomas D. Akers (4), Mission Specialist
  John E. Blaha (5), Mission Specialist
  Jay Apt (4), Mission Specialist
  Carl E. Walz (3), Mission specialist
 Download:
  Shannon W. Lucid (5), Mission Specialist
Milestones:
 Flow A:
     OPF -- 4/15/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/15/1996)
     VAB -- 6/24/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/24/1996)
     PAD -- 7/01/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/01/1996)
 Flow B: (after rollback due to Hurricane Bertha and SRB problem)
     VAB -- 7/10/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/10/1996)
     OPF -- 8/03/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/05/1996)
     VAB -- 8/13/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/13/1996)
     PAD -- 8/20/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/20/1996)
     TCDT - 8/27/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/27/1996)
 Flow C: (after rollback due to Hurricane Fran)
     VAB -- 9/04/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/04/1996)
     PAD -- 9/05/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/05/1996)
     L-2 -- 9/14/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/14/1996)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Jul 1996)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Aug 1996)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Sep 1996)
Payload:
  Spacehab/Mir, IMAX, SAREX-II
Mission Objectives:
     The 4th rendezvous and docking with the Russian Mir space station
and the exchange of astronauts -- including the holder of the world
record for longest space flight ever by a U.S. astronaut -- will
highlight the flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Mission STS-79. This
is the fourth of nine planned missions to Mir between 1995 and 1998
and the first exchange of astronauts.  Astronaut Shannon W. Lucid, who
has been on Mir since late March, will be replaced on Mir by astronaut
John E. Blaha.  Blaha will spend more than four months on Mir.  He
will return to Earth on Space Shuttle Mission STS-81, scheduled for
launch in January 1997.
     STS-79 is the second Shuttle-Mir mission to carry a SPACEHAB
module on board, and the first to carry a double module. The forward
portion of the double module will house experiments conducted by the
crew before, during and after Atlantis is docked to the Russian space
station.  The aft portion of the double module primarily houses the
logistics equipment to be transferred to the Russian space station.
Logistics include food, clothing, experiment supplies, and spare
equipment for Mir.
Launch:
  Launch September 16, 1996. 4:54:49.048 am  Window was approximately
5 min.
    On Monday, September 16, 1996, the astronauts were awakened in the
crew quarters at midnight and after breakfast departed for the pad at
1:08am.  The countdown proceeded smoothly.  Liftoff was on time. MECO
occured ontime.  No OMS-1 burn required.  APU-2 shutdown slightly
early during ascent and is being investigated.
    On Saturday, September 14, 1996, activities were underway to
install time-critical experiments and other items designated for
late-stowage into the SPACEHAB Double Module in the payload bay.
Loading of fuels into the Space Shuttle external tank started at
approximately 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night.
 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/14/1996).
  The countdown for the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis began
on Friday, Sept. 13 around 12 am. (midnight) at the T-43 hour mark.
The KSC launch team is conducting the countdown from Firing Room 1
of the Launch Control Center (LCC).  The countdown includes
33 hours and 53 minutes of built-in hold time.
(Reference KSC Press Release 105-96).  Crew arrived at KSC around
midnight Sept 13 and RSS retract at 11am on Sept 15th.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/12/1996).
  At 5:21am EDT on September 4, 1996, Space Shuttle Atlantis was
rolled back to the VAB due to the possibility of high winds from
Hurricane Fran (Reference KSC Weather History 09/04/1996 1100).
Atlantis was securely back in the VAB by 11:30am. The next day on
September 5, the Space Shuttle Atlantis was returned to Pad 39A
following mission managers determination that the threat
of Hurricane Fran to central Florida had passed. First motion from
the Vehicle Assembly Building back to the pad occurred at about 2:51 a.m.
The vehicle was hard-down on the pad at about 8:30 a.m.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/05/1996).
  On Thursday, August 29, 1996, following the flight readiness review,
Space Shuttle managers set Sept 14 as the launch date for Atlantis.  However
officials were keeping a close eye on tropical storm activity in the
Atlantic and plans were being developed to rollback Atlantis to the VAB
if any storms turn toward the Kennedy Space Center.
(Reference KSC Press Release 101-96)
     During the meeting, solid rocket motor managers presented data on the
abnormal sooting discovered in the J-leg tip on the STS-78 solid rocket
motor field joints following Columbia's launch in June.  An analysis showed
that the most probable cause for the sooting was a new adhesive used in the
field joints for the first time on STS-78.  Managers decided to take a
conservative approach and replace the STS-79 motors with a new set using the
old adhesive material.  NASA managers said a thorough review of Atlantis'
new solid rocket motors verified their readiness for launch.
  On Tuesday, August 13, 1996, Atlantis was moved from
Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) bay 3 to the Vehicle Assembly Building
(VAB) with first motion occuring at about 10:45 a.m.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/13/1996).
  On Thursday, August 8, 1996, STS-79's external tank was demated from
STS-79's original set of SRBs.  A new set of SRB's has already been
stacked and destacking of the original SRB is expected to begin on
Monday. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/08/1996).
  On Friday, August 2, 1996, Atlantis was demated from the original set
of SRB's and transported to the OPF bay no. 3 at about 2 AM Saturday.
STS-79's original SRBs are scheduled to be used on mission STS-81 after
they are destacked, cleaned, inspected and restacked.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/05/1996).
  On Monday, July 29, 1996, Atlantis remained in the VAB while
stacking operations of the replacement set of SRB's continued in the
adjacent high bay.  Following a failed leak check on July 25, 1996 of
field joint between the right aft center and right forward center
segments of the replacement SRBs, the forward center segment was
destacked and cleaned. During inspections of the secondary O-rings, an
applicator brush bristle was found and is believed to be the reason
for the field joint leakage. New O-rings were installed and the
segment was restacked.  A leak check is being conducted today. If the
leak check is successful, booster stacking will be completed this week
and the external tank mated to the stack as early as Friday.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/29/1996)
  On Monday, July 15, 1996, NASA managers decided to destack and
replace Atlantis' Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) with a new set of
boosters.  Technicians disassembling the motors of Space Shuttle
mission STS-78 observed that hot gases had seeped into J-joints in the
field joints of the motors.  An investigation into the seepage
identified the most probable cause was the use of a new adhesive and
cleaning fluid.  These elements were changed in order to comply with
new Environmental Protection Agency regulations which reduce ozone
depleting substances.  The STS-79 booster set included the same
adhesive so a new SRB stack built using the older adhesive will
be used until the problem can be further analyzed.
(Reference NASA Press Release 96-138)
  On Tuesday, 7/9/96, Mission managers decided to roll back Atlantis from
Pad LC-39A to the VAB due to the projected storm track of Hurricane Bertha.
The shuttle has been rolled back from the launch pad due to
weather twice previously.  Columbia (STS-35) was rolled back in
October 1990 due to Tropical Storm Klaus and Endeavour (STS-69) was
rolled back in August 1995 due to Hurricane Erin.  This was the
11th rollback in the shuttles operational history.  The original
launch date of July 31, 1996 at 11:42pm EDT has been moved back to
sometime mid September.  Atlantis will be destacked from its
  Earlier in the week a rollback was also being considered in the
event repairs will be needed to the Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters
(SRB) following the discovery of hot gas penetration of rubber
insulation on the boosters for shuttle flight STS-78.
  On 7/1/96, Atlantis was rolled out from the VAB to Pad 39A with first
motion occurring at 10:20 p.m. on 6/30/96.  The vehicle was hard down on
the pad by 5 a.m.  A hot fire of the No. 3 Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) was
then performed and then the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) was rolled
into position around the orbiter. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/01/1996)
On 6/3/96,  in OPF Bay-1, work was completed to remove, replace and retest
six of Atlantis' reaction control system (RCS) thrusters.  All three
main engines are also installed.  In the VAB, the external tank will
be mated to the SRBs on 6/6/96. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/03/1996)
On 4/17/96, in OPF Bay-1, the ferry flight tail cone was removed.  On
4/18/96 the Spacehab-MIR double module was removed as well as the
Waste Containment System (WCS) and the Reaction Control System (RCS)
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/18/1996)
Orbit:
  Altitude:    196-245 statute miles
  Inclination:   51.6 degrees
  Orbits:  160
  Duration: 10 days,  3 hours, 19 minutes,  28seconds.
  Distance: 3.9 million miles
Hardware:
  SRB: BI-082 (before destacking), BI-083 (after destacking)
  SRM: 360T056A (Left), 360T056B (right)
  ET :  SN-82
  MLP :  MLP-1
  SSME-1: SN-2012
  SSME-2: SN-2031
  SSME-3: SN-2033
Landing:
  KSC September 26, 1996 at 8:13:20am EDT.   Runway 15.  A go was given
at 6:52am EDT for deorbit burn and the 3min 17sec burn occurred at 7:06am
EDT on orbit 160 at a mission elapsed time of 10days, 3 hours, 18 minutes.
Atlantis landed on KSC's 1st Opportunity landing track which followed the
eastern seaboard of Georgia and Florida.  Main Gear Touchdown was at
8:13:15 EDT (10days 3hr 18min 26sec),  Nose gear touchdown at 8:13:29 EDT
(10days 3hr 18min 40sec) and wheels stop at 8:14:17 EDT
(10days 3hr 19min 28sec).
 The two KSC landing opportunities on Thursday were 8:11 a.m. and 9:48
a.m. In the event a landing was not possible at KSC on Thursday due to
weather concerns, a landing could have been made at Edwards Air Force Base
(EAFB), CA.  Landing opportunities at Edwards on Thursday were at 9:40
a.m. and 11:16 a.m. EDT.  If managers decided to keep Atlantis in orbit
an additional day, two landing opportunities were also available at KSC and
two at Edwards on Friday. KSC Friday landing times were 8:46 a.m. and
10:22 a.m. EDT. EAFB Friday landing times were 10:15 a.m. and 11:51
a.m. EDT.  (Reference KSC Press Release 111-96)
Mission Highlights:
  STS-79 Flight Day 1 Highlights:
 On Monday, September 16, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #1
reports:
  The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on time at 3:54 a.m. CDT today,
beginning a planned 10 day mission in which Atlantis will dock with
the Russian Space Station Mir and retrieve U.S. astronaut Shannon
Lucid, ending her record-setting six month stay onboard Mir.
  Atlantis' six member crew includes veteran astronaut John Blaha, who
will replace Lucid on Mir and become the third of seven Americans who
will live and work as a researcher aboard Mir through 1998. Blaha will
spend about four months on board the space station.
  During a communications hook-up with Houston's Mission Control,
Lucid told ground controllers that she saw the launch from on board
Mir. At the time of the shuttle's launch, Mir was about 5,000 nautical
miles southwest of Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
  Following a normal ascent into space, Atlantis' auxiliary power unit
#2 experienced a premature shutdown about the time of main engine
cutoff.  Because of that situation, flight controllers considered an
option in which the shuttle would have docked with Mir a day
earlier. However, after further evaluation, the flight control team
notified the crew that they should press on toward the planned docking
time on Wednesday but that ground controllers would continue their
evaluation of the APU's health in regard to the duration of the docked
operations and the duration of the flight.
  Currently the planned docking would occur at 10:17 p.m. CDT on
Wednesday with undocking set for 8:31 p.m. Sept. 23. During docked
operations, Blaha would join the Mir crew, Lucid would join the
Atlantis crew, and astronauts will deliver food, water, clothing and
other supplies to Mir. Atlantis' crew also will bring back materials
gathered from science experiments that have been conducted on board
the Russian space station.
  The orbiter's payload bay doors were opened about 5:15 a.m. and
ground controllers gave the crew a go-ahead for on-orbit operations.
  Atlantis crew members, commanded by Bill Readdy, will begin their
sleep period at 8:54 a.m. today and will be awakened at 4:54
p.m. today.
 On Monday, September 16, 1996, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #2
reports:
  Astronauts on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis began their first
full day of orbit operations at 4:54 p.m. CDT today, awakening to the
song "Duke of Earl." The song, performed by Gene Chandler, was
uplinked in honor of Mission Specialist Carl Walz's 20th anniversary.
The song is one he performed for his wife, Pam, before they were
married while he was a member of an Ohio band called "The Blue Moons."
This is the second time Walz has spent his anniversary on orbit.
  One of the crew's first activities today will be an Orbiter
Maneuvering System engine burn to fine-tune the shuttle's approach to
the Mir Space Station. That burn is scheduled for about 10:45
p.m. CDT. Atlantis is in a 159 by 131 nautical mile orbit about 16,000
nautical miles away from Mir and closing at a rate of 575 miles each
orbit.
  Docking with Mir is planned for 10:17 p.m. CDT Wednesday. During
docked operations, Blaha will join the Mir crew and Lucid will join
the Atlantis crew. Before undocking at 8:31 p.m. Sept. 23, the
astronauts will deliver food, water, clothing and other supplies to
Mir, and pick up science experiment samples from Mir.
  Also on tap for the crew are the setup and activation of the double
Spacehab module in Atlantis' payload bay and several other
experiments. Included among those is the Active Rack Isolation System
designed to dampen vibrations on International Space Station
experiments. Apt and Walz will begin setting up ARIS about 9:30
p.m. CDT. The crew also will start readying packages for their
transfer to Mir.
  Flight controllers and mission managers continue to review data on
the unexpected shutdown of auxiliary power unit #2. Shuttle managers
decided to go forward with a Wednesday docking, but are still looking
at the APU's health in regard to the duration of the docked operations
and the mission. Atlantis has two healthy APUs.
  STS-79 Flight Day 2 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, September 17, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #3
reports:
  Atlantis' astronauts spent a busy night in orbit, activating the
double Spacehab module in the shuttle's payload bay, packing materials
and supplies and filling the first four containers of water which will
be delivered to the Mir Space Station after Wednesday night's docking.
  In preparation for the scheduled linkup, Commander Bill Readdy and
Pilot Terry Wilcutt conducted a rendezvous burn at 7:52 p.m. Central
time yesterday to refine Atlantis' approach to the orbiting space
complex.  Atlantis is currently closing in on Mir at a rate of 500
nautical miles every orbit.  The next rendezvous burn is scheduled for
about 7:30 this evening.  The crew also checked out lasers and laptop
computers that will be used for tomorrow night's rendezvous.
Mission Specialists Jay Apt and Carl Walz set up the Active Rack
Isolation System experiment in the Spacehab, a prototype of an
International Space Station payload system designed to eliminate
vibrations or disturbances caused by crew activity or engine firings.
The double-rack which houses ARIS also contains almost 400 pounds of
Russian food which is being used to simulate the weight and mass of a
scientific investigation for this first test.  ARIS will undergo a
second test run after the food has been removed and transferred to
Mir.
  Mission Specialist Tom Akers began packing up some of the items that
will be transferred from Atlantis to Mir while Pilot Terry Wilcutt
began filling the first four containers of water that will be moved to
Mir during docked operations.
  Atlantis' fourth docking with Mir is planned for Wednesday night at
about 10:13 p.m.  Central time.  During docked operations, Mission
Specialist John Blaha will join the Mir crew for the start of a four
month mission as the third U.S. astronaut to fly aboard the Russian
outpost. Astronaut Shannon Lucid will join Atlantis' crew for her
return trip to Earth to close out a six month research flight. Before
undocking at 8:31 p.m. Central time on September. 23, the astronauts
will transfer food, water, clothing and other supplies to Mir totaling
about 4,600 pounds, and will pick up science experiment samples from
Mir in excess of 2,100 pounds to return to scientists for analysis.
  The crew is scheduled to go to bed about 9 this morning and wake up
just before 5 this afternoon to begin the third day of the sixth
Shuttle mission of the year.
 On Tuesday, September 17, 1996, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #4
reports:
   Space Shuttle Atlantis' six astronauts awakened just before 5
p.m. this afternoon to continue a full slate of on-board experiments
and continue preparations for the Wednesday night rendezvous with
Russia's Mir space station. The crew was awakened with the song
"Rescue Me' by singer Fontella Bass.  Capcom Kay Hire called the
wakeup music "a message from Shannon," referring to U.S. astronaut
Dr. Shannon Lucid who has spent approximately six months aboard the
space station.
   Atlantis will dock with Mir about 10:17 p.m. CDT Wednesday and
begin the process of exchanging Lucid with her replacement, John
Blaha.  Atlantis' astronauts spent a busy flight day two in the early
hours of Tuesday, activating the double Spacehab module in the
shuttle's payload bay, packing materials and supplies and filling
containers of water which will be delivered to Mir.  Transfer
preparations will continue in this flight day to move the over 4,000
pounds of supplies and equipment.
   The crew is scheduled to conduct a video tour of the double
Spacehab module about 9:30 p.m. CDT today, time permitting.
  STS-79 Flight Day 3 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, September 18, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #5
reports:
  Atlantis' six astronauts wrapped up another busy day on orbit
activating experiments in the Spacehab module while attending to final
preparations for tonight's docking to the Mir Space Station. The crew
will move into its rendezvous timeline early this evening as the
Shuttle nears the Russian outpost.
  The crew is scheduled to go to sleep about 9 a.m. Central time and
will wake up about 4 p.m. for the final hours of rendezvous and
docking, which should occur about 10:13 tonight. The hatches between
the joined spacecraft are scheduled to be opened shortly after 12:30
AM Thursday morning. After initial safety briefings, U.S. astronauts
Shannon Lucid and John Blaha will officially trade places as Mir crew
members when their custom-fitted Soyuz capsule seat liners are
swapped. That activity will officially mark the point when Blaha will
become a Mir-22 flight engineer and Lucid will join the STS-79 crew as
a mission specialist, ending her six-month stay on the space station.
  Blaha will join Mir 22 Commander Valery Korzun and his flight engineer,
Alexander Kaleri, aboard Mir for the next four months. Blaha will be
replaced by astronaut Jerry Linenger on Atlantis' next visit scheduled
for early January 1997 on mission STS-81.
  While STS-79 Commander Bill Readdy and Pilot Terry Wilcutt conducted two
rendezvous burns today, other crew members worked in the Spacehab module
on science experiments.
  The Active Rack Isolation System, or ARIS, was tended to by Mission
Specialist Carl Walz, who performed a minor maintenance procedure on one
of ARIS' vibration-damping pushrods while Tom Akers worked with an
inventory management system using a bar code reader to more effectively
keep track of items that will be transferred back and forth between the
Shuttle and the Mir. Jay Apt continued work with a furnace which heats
to nearly 1,600 degrees centigrade to melt metal samples for study after
the flight.
  Apt also provided a television tour of the Spacehab, which is twice its
normal size for this flight to allow extra room for science experiments
and logistical items slated for transfer to Mir.
  Atlantis' current orbit is 184 by 158 statute miles, as it closes its
distance from the Mir by more than 500 miles with each revolution of the
Earth.
 On Wednesday, September 18, 1996, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #6
reports:
   All systems are "go" for Atlantis' to dock with Mir at 10:13 p.m. CDT
tonight, effecting the first exchange of American researchers on the
Russian Space Station.
   During the Mission Control-Houston planning shift, Flight Director
Bill Reeves shared status reports with Mission Control-Moscow Shift
Flight Director Viktor Shadrin. The two flight directors agreed that
both vehicles and crews are ready to begin the rendezvous.
   Atlantis' astronauts were awakened at 4 p.m. CDT to the song "Hold On
(I'm Coming)" performed by Sam and Dave. The crew then began moving
into its rendezvous timeline.
   At 5 p.m. Atlantis was approximately 400 nautical miles away from Mir
and closing on the space station at 335 nautical miles each orbit. A
reaction control system engine firing scheduled at 6 p.m. will begin
slowing Atlantis' approach. Another engine firing at 7:30 p.m. will
put Atlantis on an intercepting path that will place it 1,000 feet
below Mir at 8:54 p.m. CDT. Commander Bill Readdy and Pilot Terry
Wilcutt will then maneuver Atlantis to within 170 feet of Mir, where
the shuttle will stop to allow Mission Control Centers in Houston and
Moscow to evaluate their spacecrafts' systems. Readdy then will gently
move Atlantis to within 30 feet of the orbiting outpost, where he will
again stop and await a final "go" for docking.
   Atlantis and Mir will be over Moldavia in the Carpathian Mountains
region at the scheduled docking time.
   The hatches between the joined spacecraft are scheduled to be opened
shortly after 12:30 a.m.  CDT Thursday. After safety briefings for
each crew, U.S. Astronauts Shannon Lucid and John Blaha will trade
places as Mir crew members when their custom-fitted Soyuz capsule seat
liners are swapped. At that point, Blaha will begin calling Mir his
"home" spacecraft and Luid will join the STS-79 crew as a mission
specialist, ending her six-month stay on the space station.
   Blaha will join Mir 22 Commander Valery Korzun and his flight
engineer, Alexander Kaleri, aboard Mir for the next four months. His
replacement will be Astronaut Jerry Linenger, scheduled to arrive on
Atlantis' next visit scheduled for early January 1997 on mission
STS-81.
  STS-79 Flight Day 4 Highlights:
 On Thursday, September 19, 1996, 7:00 a.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #7
reports:
   Atlantis and the Mir Space Station are joined together for the fourth
time following an on-time docking at 10:13 Central time last night.
After two hours of pressure and leak checks, the hatches between the
two spacecraft were opened at 12:40 a.m. Central time and the two
crews greeted one another to begin five days of joint operations.
   The rendezvous and docking went flawlessly as Atlantis' Commander Bill
Readdy flew the orbiter manually through the final 2,000 feet.
Docking occurred within seconds of the pre-planned time and flight
controllers reported that only slight oscillations were felt through
the Orbiter Docking System as the two spacecraft locked
together. Within hours of the hatch opening, crew members John Blaha
and Shannon Lucid formally swapped places before going to bed with
Blaha becoming a member of the Mir-22 crew and Lucid joining the
STS-79 crew to wrap up 179 days as a member of the Mir station.
   The official time of the crew exchange was recorded at 6 a.m. Central
time, at the point which Blaha brought a custom-made Soyuz seatliner
over to the Mir from Atlantis for installation in the Russian
capsule. Blaha would return to Earth in the Soyuz in the event of a
contingency aboard the Mir which would require the crew to abandon the
complex.
   Blaha joins Mir 22 Commander Valery Korzun and Flight Engineer
Alexander Kaleri on Mir for the next four months.  He will be replaced
by Astronaut Jerry Linenger, scheduled to arrive on Atlantis' next
visit scheduled for early January 1997 on mission STS-81.
   Soon after the crew members completed their welcoming ceremony, they
went to work, hauling bags of water and other supplies from the
Shuttle's Spacehab module into the Mir. More than 4000 pounds of
equipment and logistical supplies will be transferred to the Mir
before Atlantis undocks from the space outpost next Monday night.
   Atlantis is scheduled to return home on September 26 with Lucid having
logged 188 days in orbit, a U.S.  endurance record and a record for
the longest single spaceflight by a woman.
 On Thursday, September 19, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #8
reports:
   The combined Atlantis and Mir Space Station crews will begin their
first full day of docked operations this evening following yesterday's
successful on-time docking and exchange of crew members Shannon Lucid
and John Blaha.
   Overnight, scientists on the ground continued work with the Active
Rack Isolation System in the Spacehab module, completing several
successful tests. The system is a prototype of a device that will be
used to dampen crew motion and engine firings to protect the
microgravity environment on the International Space Station.
   All nine astronauts and cosmonauts will begin their day with a joint
planning session.
   Atlantis Commander Bill Readdy and Mir Commander Valery Korzun will
oversee the continuing transfer of water bags and supplies from the
shuttle's Spacehab module into Mir. More than 4,000 pounds of
equipment and logistical supplies will be transferred to Mir, and some
2,000 pounds of experiment samples and equipment will be moved from
Mir to Atlantis for return to Earth.
   Mission Specialist Carl Walz will activate the Mechanics of Granular
Materials (MGM) experiment, which seeks to study what happens to
granular materials under low stress. The MGM research could lead to
improved selection and preparation of building sites in
earthquake-prone areas, and in the study of erosion, mining and
offshore engineering.
   Walz and Mission Specialist Jay Apt will remove the Biotechnology
Engineering Development Unit, a biotechnology sampling device, from
Spacehab and transfer it to Mir's Priroda module for use by Blaha
during his four-months of research aboard Mir. Later, Blaha and Mir
Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri will set up the experiment in
Priroda. Blaha and Kaleri also will transfer a Commercial Generic
Bioprocessing Apparatus to Priroda.
   At 5:14 a.m. CDT, Lucid and Blaha will participate in a 15-minute
interview with Good Morning America's Elizabeth Vargas. Throughout the
day, Lucid will continue the hand-over of her Mir responsibilities to
Blaha, who will serve as Mir 22 Flight Engineer 2 for four months.
   Walz and Kaleri will transfer an IMAX large-format camera from
Atlantis to Mir and set it up on the Spektr module. Film shot with the
IMAX camera will be used in an upcoming feature about the Phase 1
Program of shuttle-Mir dockings.
   Also today, during routine post-retrieval disassembly and inspection
of Atlantis' solid rocket boosters, a 5- inch long 7/16ths combination
wrench was found loose inside the forward skirt of the right SRB. A
contractor-led anomaly investigation team with NASA participation is
gathering further information regarding processing and close-out of
the forward skirt as well as additional inspection and analysis of the
flight hardware. However, the initial visual inspection did not reveal
any sign of physical damage, and the operation of the SRB was normal.
  STS-79 Flight Day 5 Highlights:
 On Friday, September 20, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #9
reports:
   The first full day of joint Shuttle/Mir operations began in earnest
overnight with the transfer of a biotechnology investigation and
logistical supplies from Atlantis to Mir.
   The Biotechnology System, an investigation that will study the
long-term development of cartilage cells in microgravity, was
transported to Mir early this morning.  During his planned four-month
stay on Mir, John Blaha will take weekly samples of the culture which
may provide researchers with information on engineering cartilage
cells for possible use in transplantation.
   Blaha and Shannon Lucid are conducting handover discussions concerning
the location and status of hardware and experiments he will use during
his tenure on Mir. They also took time out of their schedules to talk
with Good Morning America's Elizabeth Vargas in a brief interview
today.
   Prior to beginning the day's transfer activities, all nine astronauts
and cosmonauts participated in a joint planning session to outline the
day's schedule.  Atlantis Commander Bill Readdy and Mir Commander
Valery Korzun continue to oversee the transfer of water containers and
supplies from the shuttle's Spacehab module into Mir. More than 4,000
pounds of equipment and logistical supplies will be transferred to
Mir, and some 2,000 pounds of experiment samples and equipment will be
moved from Mir to Atlantis for return to Earth.
 On Friday, September 20, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #10
reports:
   Astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the combined shuttle/Mir spacecraft
will awaken at 8:54 p.m. CDT to begin their second full day of docked
operations that will include more cargo transfers and work with the
Active Rack Isolation System.
   The day's work again will begin with a planning session led by
Atlantis Commander Bill Readdy and Mir 22 Commander Valery Korzun and
involving all nine crew members. The crews are more than half finished
transferring supplies, hardware and experiment samples between the
spacecraft, but will continue those transfers throughout the day.
   After that is complete, Mission Specialist Carl Walz again will work
with the Mechanics of Granular Materials experiment in the double
Spacehab module while Mission Specialist Shannon Lucid gets a workout
on the Mir treadmill, continuing physical conditioning exercises
designed to prepare her body for the return to Earth's gravity after
six months in orbit. About the same time, Mir Flight Engineer 2 John
Blaha will begin biomedical tests that are part of his four-month
protocol aboard Mir
   Shortly after midnight, Mission Specialist Jay Apt will monitor the
ARIS experiment as Readdy and Korzun fire maneuvering jets on their
spacecraft to test the ability of the International Space Station
prototype experiment rack to dampen the resulting vibrations.
   Several hours later, Apt will conduct a photographic survey of Mir
from the shuttle's flight deck windows while Mission Specialist Tom
Akers shoots IMAX movie scenes of Readdy, Pilot Terry Wilcutt and
Korzun in the Spektr module. Later in the day, Akers and Korzun will
move the IMAX camera to the Priroda module.
   At 5:29 a.m., Readdy, Wilcutt, Akers, Lucid, Blaha, Korzun and Kaleri
will be interviewed by Russian journalists in the Mir core module. The
interview will not be broadcast on NASA Television.
  STS-79 Flight Day 6 Highlights:
 On Saturday, September 21, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #11
reports:
   Activities aboard Atlantis/Mir continue smoothly as the nine
astronauts and cosmonauts work in their second full day of docked
operations.
   Flight Day 6 began shortly after 9 p.m. central time Friday when
Atlantis' crew was awakened by Mission Control.  The continuing
transfer of logistical supplies and scientific hardware is proceeding
smoothly, with more than 85% of the total transfer items already moved
from Atlantis to the Mir.
   Early this morning, Mission Specialists Jay Apt and Carl Walz once
again worked with the Active Rack Isolation System experiment to
replace a broken pushrod.  With that complete, Apt monitored the ARIS
experiment as STS-79 Commander Bill Readdy and Mir 22 Commander Valery
Korzun fired small maneuvering jets on their spacecraft to test the
ability of ARIS to damp out any disturbances created by the firings.
Walz also is continuing his work with the Mechanics of Granular
Materials experiment in Atlantis' double Spacehab module.
   This morning, the astronauts used the large format IMAX camera to
conduct a photographic survey of Mir from the Shuttle's flight deck
windows while Mission Specialist Tom Akers shot IMAX movie scenes of
Readdy, Pilot Terry Wilcutt and Korzun in the Spektr module. Later in
the day, Akers and Korzun will move the IMAX camera to the Priroda
module.
   At 5:29 a.m., Readdy, Wilcutt, Akers, Lucid, Blaha, Korzun and Kaleri
participated in a Russian media interview from the Mir core module
with reporters in the Russian Mission Control Center.  The interview
was not broadcast on NASA Television.
 On Saturday, September 21, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #12
reports:
   Transfers of equipment and supplies from the Atlantis Spacehab module
to Mir will begin to ramp down today as the attention begins to shift
to the transfer of experiment samples and equipment from Mir to
Atlantis.  Yesterday, the crew reported it had moved 89 percent of the
items marked for transfer to Mir.
   The astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the combined shuttle/Mir
spacecraft will awaken at 8:54 p.m. CDT to begin their third full day
of docked operations. Atlantis Commander Bill Readdy and Mir 22
Commander Valery Korzun will start the day with a planning session
involving all nine crew members.
   Mission Specialist Shannon Lucid and newly arrived Mir Flight Engineer
2 John Blaha will continue their hand-over, the first in a succession
that will mark America's continued presence on the Russian space
station.  Mission Specialist Carl Walz will use the IMAX camera to
shoot scenes of Mission Specialists Jay Apt and Tom Akers working in
the Priroda module.  After that is complete, Korzun will set up the
IMAX camera in the Mir core module.
   Both Lucid and Korzun will get some exercise, the former on Mir's
treadmill and the latter on Mir's stationary bicycle. Mission
Specialist Tom Akers, Pilot Terry Wilcutt and Walz will take turns on
the exercise equipment later in the day.
   Walz will help Blaha and Korzun transfer the MIDAS superconductor
materials experiment from the Spacelab to Priroda.
   At 5:59 a.m., CNN will interview Readdy, Wilcutt, Lucid and Blaha.
  STS-79 Flight Day 7 Highlights:
 On Sunday, September 22, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #13
reports:
   STS-79 Commander Bill Readdy and Mission Specialist Jay Apt shared a
brief video tour of the Mir Space Station with flight controllers this
morning, taking a break from the transfer activities that have
occupied much of the astronauts' time during three days of docked
operations.
   Readdy and Apt floated through several of Mir's modules and back into
Atlantis' double Spacehab module during the tour pointing out the
numerous transfer items stowed on both spacecraft.  Transfer of
equipment and supplies continues to go smoothly on board Atlantis/Mir
with close to 90 percent of the transfer activity complete.
   The final powered transfer item, the Material in Devices as
Supercondctors (MIDAS), which will gather data on superconductor
materials over the next four months, was transferred to Mir early this
morning.  MIDAS is just one of the investigations that Mir 22 Flight
Engineer 2 John Blaha will support during his on-orbit stay.
   Shortly after 4:30 this morning Readdy and Mir Commander Valery Korzun
again pulsed small maneuvering jets on their spacecraft to test the
capability of the Active Rack Isolation System to damp out any
vibrations caused by those firings.  ARIS is designed to isolate micro
gravity payloads from disturbances caused by crew activity or jet
firings.  With that test complete, Mission Specialists Carl Walz and
Jay Apt will once again perform some troubleshooting on ARIS to
inspect and possibly repair a bent pushrod.
   Shortly after 6 a.m. central time today, Readdy, Pilot Terry Wilcutt,
Lucid and Blaha discussed their mission so far in an interview with
CNN's John Holliman.
 On Sunday, September 22, 1996, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #14
reports:
   The crews of Atlantis and Mir will begin the final full day of docked
operations tonight, wrapping up the transfer of experiment data,
equipment and supplies between the two spacecraft in preparation for
closing the hatch between the shuttle and station at the end of the
day.
   The shuttle crew will awaken at 8:54 p.m. CDT today for the eighth day
of the flight. Highlighting the final day of personal interaction with
the Mir crew will be a joint crew press conference and a farewell
ceremony. The press conference will begin at 2:44 a.m. CDT Monday and
feature all six shuttle crew members, now including homeward-bound
astronaut Shannon Lucid, as well as Mir 22 crew members Commander
Valery Korzun, Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri and astronaut John
Blaha, starting out on four months aboard the Russian station. The
astronauts and cosmonauts will field questions from reporters both in
the U.S and in Russia during the 50-minute session.
   Following the press conference, the crews will have a formal farewell
ceremony starting at 4:44 a.m. CDT Monday. The hatch between the two
spacecraft will then be sealed shut at 7:09 a.m. CDT Monday, although
the shuttle and station will spend another crew night attached to one
another before Atlantis undocks from Mir at 8:33 p.m. CDT Monday.
   The transfer of equipment and supplies back and forth between the
shuttle and Mir has gone well and 94 percent of the planned work
already has been completed. The transferred items include more than
1,800 pounds of water, created as a byproduct of electrical generation
aboard Atlantis and left with the Mir for use by the station. Still
more water will be transferred to the Mir tomorrow, with almost a ton
of water in total having been moved to the Mir by the time Atlantis
leaves.
  STS-79 Flight Day 8 Highlights:
 On Monday, September 23, 1996, 7:30 a.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #15
reports:
   The Atlantis and Mir crews bid one another an emotional farewell early
this morning and then closed the hatches between their two spacecraft
in preparation for this evening's undocking.
   Shortly before 5 a.m. central time today, the nine astronauts and
cosmonauts gathered in the Core Module of the Russian space station
for a formal goodbye.
   With the official ceremony complete, the crewmembers shared a final
meal together and exchanged private farewells as Shannon Lucid
prepared to return home in Atlantis and her replacement on Mir, John
Blaha, began a four month stay on the outpost.
   Shortly after 7 a.m. today, Mission Specialists Carl Walz and Jay Apt
and Mir 22 Commander Valery Korzun with assistance from Flight
Engineer 2 John Blaha, swung the hatches between their spacecraft
closed concluding five days of joint operations.  The vestibule
between Atlantis and Mir was depressurized and leak checks were
performed in readiness for undocking, which is planned at 8:33
p.m. today.
   Atlantis/Mir will remain linked during an abbreviated six-hour sleep
period for the crewmembers which begins at 12:54 p.m. today.  A
wake-up call from Mission Control is expected at 6:54 p.m. when the
crew quickly step into the undocking timeline.  Shortly after 10:30
p.m., Commander Bill Readdy will fire Atlantis' engines in a
separation burn to move away from Mir for the final time until
Atlantis' return to the station in January.
   The final day of joint operations began shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday
with the crews completing final transfer activities and verifying the
inventory lists of materials.  More than a ton of water was
transferred to Mir, along with logistical supplies, food and
scientific hardware.  Early this morning the combined crews also took
time to discuss their mission with reporters in the U.S. and Russia
during an in-flight crew news conference.
  STS-79 Flight Day 9 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, September 24, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #17
reports:
   Atlantis is flying solo once again after undocking from the Mir Space
Station at 8:33 p.m. central time yesterday to complete five days of
joint operations between the American astronauts and the Russian
cosmonauts.
   As Atlantis/Mir flew over the Ural Mountains of central Asia, the
docking hooks and latches that joined the vehicles together were
commanded open and Atlantis drifted slowly away from Mir. Pilot Terry
Wilcutt then initiated a tail-forward flyaround of the Russian outpost
at a radial distance of about 400 feet. After one and one-half
revolutions around Mir, Atlantis' jets were fired in a separation
maneuver to enable Atlantis to break away from Mir until it returns in
January for the fifth docking on the STS-81 mission.
   STS-79 Commander Bill Readdy told flight controllers in Houston it was
"kind of sad" to be leaving Mir behind. Astronaut Shannon Lucid,
leaving the complex that was her home for six months, bid a final
farewell to Mir 22 Commander Valery Korzun and Flight Engineer
Alexander Kaleri and U.S. astronaut John Blaha, who is beginning his
four-month mission on Mir. Blaha thanked Atlantis' astronauts for
helping him set up shop on the Mir for his lengthy research mission.
   On board Atlantis, the six-member crew is settling back into its
normal routine with a fairly light schedule for the remainder of the
day. After completing some housekeeping chores and experiment status
checks, the astronauts are enjoying four hours of off-duty time to
relax after a busy five days of activities aboard the Mir,
transferring tons of equipment, water and logistical supplies to the
Russian station and hauling over a ton of gear and experiments back to
the Shuttle.
   Early this morning as Atlantis flew over the United States, the crew
took time to talk with anchors for the CBS "Up to the Minute" network
news broadcast.
   The astronauts will begin a planned nine-hour sleep period just before
1 p.m. Central time today. Atlantis is in excellent condition,
circling the Earth every 90 minutes.
   During routine STS-79 postflight inspections of the Reusable Solid
Rocket Motors, contractor and NASA engineers observed erosion in the
right hand nozzle of a different nature than is typically observed in
the nozzles. Typically, about half of the carbon phenolic material
that lines the nozzle erodes during the flight of the motors. On
STS-79, the right hand nozzle had the typical erosion, but also had
several troughs eroded into the insulation which sloughed off an
additional three-eighths of an inch of insulation.
   The nozzle insulation varies in thickness --- 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches
along the nozzle surface. It is backed by a glass cloth phenolic and
metal. The nozzles are en route to the RSRM prime contractor facility
in Utah where they will be disassembled and thoroughly inspected. A
team of NASA and Thiokol engineers and managers has been formed to
determine the cause of the erosion.
 On Tuesday, September 24, 1996, 7:00 p.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #18
reports:
   The six astronauts aboard Atlantis completed a relaxed day of
operations and are in the midst of a 9-hour sleep period before
getting into a busy day readying their spacecraft for landing at the
Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday.
   The crew's deorbit preparation day will begin at 9:54 tonight with a
wakeup call from Mission Control. Early Wednesday morning they check
out the shuttle's aerodynamic control surfaces rudder, speed
brake, body flap and elevons that will be needed for Thursday's
re-entry and landing. Later in the day they will tryout a procedure
that will be used on the STS-81 mission next February using small
thrusters on the orbiter to re-boost the Hubble Space Telescope gently
into a higher orbit.
   Earlier Tuesday, astronauts Shannon Lucid and Carl Walz used the large
format IMAX camera to record Atlantis undocking and separation from
the Mir space station. Lucid also completed two exercise sessions to
condition herself for returning to Earth's gravity.
   At 4:24 a.m. CDT Wednesday astronauts Readdy and Lucid will be
interviewed by USA Network's "Sci-Fi" Channel, and at 6:24 a.m. the
Texas State Radio Network and Aviation Week & Space Technology
magazine will interview astronauts Wilcutt and Lucid.
   In Mission Control flight controllers and weather forecasters are
watching weather patterns closely at both the primary KSC landing site
and at the backup landing site at Edwards, California. In a briefing
for reporters early Tuesday, mission manager Lee Briscoe said weather
conditions currently appear favorable and the shuttle is in excellent
condition for Thursday's planned landing.
  STS-79 Flight Day 10 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, September 25, 1996, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #20
reports:
  The crew aboard Atlantis spent the day stowing equipment and
deactivating experiments in preparation for tomorrow's planned landing
at 7:13 a.m. central time at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
  All systems aboard the orbiter were checked out overnight in preparation
for landing day, including testing the flight control surfaces and
thruster jets that will be used to maneuver the spacecraft through the
atmosphere.
  The weather forecast in Florida appears to be favorable, with scattered
clouds and light winds forecast for the first of two landing
opportunities there. The second opportunity is forecast to have slightly
increasing winds. That second landing opportunity is at 8:49 a.m. There
are three landing opportunities available at the backup landing site at
California's Edwards Air Force Base, where landing support will be in
place, if needed. Because Atlantis is coming home with only two
operational auxiliary power units, more restrictive weather criteria
will be in effect. Crosswinds will be required to be 10 knots or less,
with ceilings above 10,000 feet and visibility greater than 7 miles.
  Atlantis' astronauts are scheduled to wakeup at 9:54 this evening to
begin final preparations for landing. With a landing tomorrow, the
astronauts are scheduled to return to Houston on Friday afternoon.
  STS-79 Flight Day 11 Highlights:
 On Thursday, September 26, 1996, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-79 MCC Status Report #21
reports:
  The Space Shuttle Atlantis glided into the Kennedy Space Center at
7:13 a.m. CDT today, marking the end of the fourth docking flight with
Mir and the end of Shannon Lucid's record setting 188 day stay on
board the Russian space station.
  Commander Bill Readdy and Pilot Terry Wilcutt fired Atlantis'
braking rockets at 6:06 a.m. CDT to enable the shuttle to drop out of
orbit for its hour-long slide back to Earth. Atlantis streaked across
the Pacific Ocean, western Canada, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan
and the Chicago area before gliding over Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee,
and the Carolinas then traveling into Florida and landing on runway
15. Atlantis originally had been slated to land on runway 33 but
mission managers changed the designated runway after reviewing winds
aloft.
  The two auxiliary power units on board Atlantis used to support the
landing performed well and as expected. Auxiliary power unit #2 which
had shutdown prematurely just after Atlantis launched on Sept. 16 was
not started to support landing.
  Following the landing, veteran space traveler Shannon Lucid began a
series of medical evaluations and data collection in support of her
historic, record breaking flight. Atlantis traveled about 3.9 million
miles during its 10 day flight. Because the landing occurred at the
end of the crew's work day, the six astronauts will remain in Florida
overnight and will return to Ellington Field in Houston in mid- to
late afternoon Friday.
<end of mission>
Mission Name: STS-80 (80)
  Columbia (21)
  Pad 39-B (38)
  80th Shuttle Mission
  21st Flight OV-102
  Longest Mission to date
 NOTE: Click Here for Countdown Homepage
Crew:
  Kenneth D. Cockrell (3), Mission Commander
  Kent V. Rominger (2), Pilot
  Tamara E. Jernigan (4), Mission Specialist
  Thomas D. Jones (3), Mission Specialist
  F. Story Musgrave (6), Mission Specialist
Milestones:
     OPF -- 7/07/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/07/1996)
     VAB -- 10/09/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/09/1996)
     PAD -- 10/16/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/16/1996)
     TCDT - 10/22/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/22/1996)
     FRR -- 11/11/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/11/1996)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Sep 1996)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Oct 1996)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Nov 1996)
Payload:
  ORFEUS-SPAS-02 (DARA ORFEUS-SPAS), WSF-3, NIH.R4, SEM, EDFT-05, CMIX, VIEW-CPL, BRIC, CCM-A
Mission Objectives:
   STS-80 marks the third flight of the WSF that flew on STS-60 and
STS-69 and the third flight to use the German-built Orbiting and
Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrograph-Shuttle Pallet
Satellite II (ORFEUS-SPAS II).  The ASTRO-SPAS program is a
cooperative endeavor between NASA and the German Space Agency, DARA.
Both satellites will be deployed and retrieved during the mission.
STS-80 is the seventh and last Space Shuttle mission of 1996, the 21st
flight of the orbiter Columbia and the 80th flight overall in NASA's
Space Shuttle program.  Columbia last flew on mission STS-78 in the
summer of this year.
  Other experiments on STS-80 are the Space Experiment Module (SEM),
The National Institutes of Health  NIH-R4 Experiment, a series of
bone cell experiments known as CCM-A (formerly called STL/NIH-C-6),
the Biological Research in Canister (BRIC-09) Experiment, the
Commercial MDA ITA Experiment (CMIX-5), the Visualization in an
Experimental Water Capillary pumped Loop (VIEW-CPL) Experiment
  ORFEUS-SPAS II, a free-flying satellite, will be deployed and
retrieved using the Space Shuttle Columbia's Remote Manipulator
System (RMS).  The goal of this astrophysics mission is to
investigate the rarely explored far- and extreme-ultraviolet
regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and study the very hot
and very cold matter in the universe.
  ORFEUS-SPAS II will be attempting a large number of observing
programs.  Among the many areas in which scientists hope to gain
new insights during this mission are the evolution of stars, the
structure of galaxies, and the nature of the interstellar medium,
and others.  Many of the objects they are planning to look at have
never before been observed in the far-ultraviolet.
  ASTRO-SPAS is a carrier designed for launch, deployment and
retrieval by the Space Shuttle.  Once deployed from the Shuttle's
RMS, ASTRO-SPAS will operate quasi-autonomously for 14 days in the
vicinity of  the Shuttle.  The carrier's inclination will be 28.4
degrees with an altitude of 218 statute miles.  After completion
of the free flight phase, the satellite will be retrieved by the
RMS, returned to the Shuttle cargo bay and returned to Earth.
  The one-meter diameter ORFEUS-Telescope with the Far Ultraviolet
(FUV) Spectrograph and the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Spectrograph
comprises the main payload.  A secondary, but highly
complementary, payload is the Interstellar Medium Absorption
Profile Spectrograph (IMAPS).  In addition to the astronomy
payloads, ORFEUS-SPAS II carries the Surface Effects Sample
Monitor (SESAM), the ATV Rendezvous Pre-Development Project (ARP),
and the Student Experiment on ASTRO-SPAS (SEAS).
 The free-flying Wake Shield Facility (WSF-3) will be
making its third flight into orbit.  The Facility is a 12-foot
diameter, free-flying stainless steel disk designed to generate an
"ultra-vacuum" environment in space in which to grow semiconductor
thin films for use in advanced electronics.  The STS-80 astronaut
crew will deploy and retrieve the WSF during the 16-day mission
using Columbia's "robot arm," or Remote Manipulator System.
Wake Shield is sponsored by the Space Processing Division in
NASA's Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications.
Wake Shield was designed, built and is operated by the Space
Vacuum Epitaxy Center at the University of Houston--a NASA
Commercial Space Center--in conjunction with its industrial
partner, Space Industries, Inc., also in Houston.
  Wake Shield has flown twice before.  The first flight on STS-60,
in 1994, although experiencing a hardware problem that resulted in
the vehicle remaining attached to the robot arm, proved the vacuum
wake concept, and realized the space epitaxy concept by growing
the first-ever crystalline semiconductor thin films in the vacuum
of space.
  Astronauts Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones will perform two six-
hour spacewalks during STS-80, one on Flight Day 10 and another on
Day 12, to evaluate equipment and procedures that will be used
during construction and maintenance of the International Space
Station.
  The spacewalks are the fifth in a continuing series of
Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) called the EVA Development Flight
Tests (EDFT). This flight test series of spacewalks is designed to
evaluate equipment and procedures planned for the station and to
build spacewalking experience in preparation for assembly of the
station.  Jernigan is designated Extravehicular Crewmember 1 (EV-
1) and will be distinguished by red bands worn on the legs of her
spacesuit.  Jones is designated EV-2.  Astronaut Story Musgrave
will serve as the Intravehicular (IV) crewmember, assisting
Jernigan and Jones from inside Columbia's crew cabin.  STS-80
Pilot Kent Rominger also will assist with the spacewalks,
controlling the robotic arm from inside the cabin.
  The astronauts also will evaluate a variety of work aids
and tools designed for use during station operations, including  a
Body Restraint Tether (BRT), a type of "third hand" stabilizing
bar for spacewalkers; a Multi-Use Tether (MUT), a type of
stabilizing tether similar to the BRT that can be anchored to
either round U.S. handrails or square Russian handrails; and a
power tool designed for the station.
 Space Experiment Module (SEM) is a NASA Goddard Space Flight
Center Shuttle Small Payloads Project education initiative that
provides increased educational access to space.  The program
targets kindergarten through university level participants.  SEM
stimulates and encourages direct student participation in the
creation, development, and flight of  zero-gravity and
microgravity experiments on the Space Shuttle.
The SEM system provides reusable modules for experiments within
a 5-cubic-foot Getaway Special Canister.  The system uses a
Goddard-provided internal support structure, battery, power
distribution system, data sampling and storage device and harness.
Experiments may be active (requiring power to run mechanisms) or
passive (having no mechanisms or requiring no power).  Customized
data sampling schemes are programmed before flight for each
experiment, and data reduction and processing are completed after
flight.
Launch:
  November 19, 1996 2:55:47 p.m EST.  Launch window was 2 hours
and 30 minutes.  Launch was held at T-31 seconds due to a
Launch Commit Criteria (LCC) violation at 2:52pm EST due to a slight
hydrogen leak in the AFT.  Per the LCC, the launch team held at the
T-31 second mark for 2 minutes and monitored the concentration of
hydrogen in the AFT. Values were at acceptable limits and the
CPROP console location of the launch team recommended to proceed.
Count resumed at 2:54pm EST with a T-0 at 2:55pm EST.
  On Tuesday, 11/19/96, the STS-80 crew wakeup was at 9:58am.
They then ate breakfast around 10:30am and departed to Launch
pad 39B around 11:38am.  By 1:05pm EST all crew members were
inside Columbia.  Crew communications checks were done at
1:25pm EST and the hatch was closed at 1:38pm EST.
  On Friday, November 13, 1996, launch controllers reset the
countdown clock from the T-11 hour mark to the built-in hold point
at the T-19 hour mark. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/15/1996)
and on Monday, November 18, the countdown clock resumed from
the T-19 hour hold point at 1am. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/18/1996)
  On Wednesday, November 13, 1996 the Mission Management Team
rescheduled the STS-80 launch from Friday November 15 to Tuesday
November 19, 1996 due to scheduling conflicts with the range.
  On Tuesday, November 12, 1996 the countdown for the launch of Space
Shuttle Columbia today began at 1 p.m. EST at the T-43 hour mark. The
KSC launch team is conducting the countdown for mission STS-80 from
Firing Room 3 of the Launch Control Center. The countdown contains 30
hours, 50 minutes of built-in hold time leading to the opening of the
launch window at 2:50 p.m. (EST) on Friday, Nov. 15.  The crew arrived
at 6:30pm on 11/11/96. The weather forcast for 11/15/96 shows an 80
percent chance that weather will violate launch criteria.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/12/1996)
 On 11/11/96, technicians performed leak checks on the freon line
that provides coolant to fuel cell No. 1.  A routine review of
the cooling system revealed the freon line's leak rate to be right
at the acceptable limit.  Managers decided to off load the freon
and then refill, taking several opportunities to analyze the system
in the process. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/11/1996)
 On 11/8/96, mission managers were assessing an issue regarding
Columbia's fuel cells.  A suspect technique used to assemble the
fuel cell's regulator diaphragm, which is internal to the cell,
is being reviewed. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/08/1996)
 On 11/4/96, the Mission Management Team decided to delay for about
a week the launch of Columbia.  This extra time will be used by
managers to fully understand the issue regarding the nozzle erosion
seen during the launch of STS-79.  Managers will meet early next
week to confirm a new launch date that will be no earlier than
November 15, 1996. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/04/1996)
 On 10/29/96, preparations were underway to complete loading
hypergolic fuel into Columbia's Reaction Control System (RCS). Fueling
was not completed due to the failure of a fuel pump at Pad LC39B. That
pump has been replaced and fueling is set to begin following ordnance
installation operations. The payload interface verification
test on ORFEUS-SPAS was completed and the interface verification test on
Wake Shield Facility was underway. The payload doors will be
closed for flight on Nov. 5.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/29/1996)
 On 10/20/96, Columbia's crew arrived at KSC for the Countdown
Demonstration Test (CDT) which lasts 2 days.  On 10/21/96, STS-80
payloads were installed into the payload bay and the orbiter mid-body
umbilical unit (OMBU) was mated to the orbiter and checked for leaks.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/22/1996)
 On 10/16/96, Columbia traveled the 4.2 mile journey to Pad 39B.  First
motion was at 4:21am and the Mobile Launcher Platform was hard-down
on the pad at about 10:30am EST.  APU No. 1 was hot fired for about
7 minutes on 10/17/96.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/17/1996)
The Rotating Service Structure was then retracted for one day
late Friday to allow the public to view Columbia during KSC's
Community Appreciation Day on Saturday 10/19/96.
(Reference KSC Press Release 99-96).
 On 10/11/96, the vertical payloads arrived at Pad 39B at about 2:31 a.m. and
the payload transport canister was lifted to the payload changeout room at
about 5:30am.  From there it was transfered into Columbia's cargo bay.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/11/1996)
 On 10/9/96, Columbia was rolled over to the VAB to be mated to
the External Tank (ET) in VAB High Bay 3.  The rollover was completed
by 1:30pm and hardmated to the external tank at 2:28pm on 10/11/96.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/10/1996)
 On 10/7/96, Columbia's windows No. 3 and No. 4 were replaced after
an engineering analysis suggested that windows with a high number
of flights could tend to fracture more easily.  One of the windows
had flown eight times and the other seven times.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/08/1996)
 On 10/3/96, closeouts of the orbiter's mid-body and aft engine
compartment were performed. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/07/1996)
 Installation of the 3 SSME's were completed on 8/19/96 and
Getaway Special (GAS) beams installed in the payload bay.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/19/1996)
 Operations to deservice the hypergolic system was completed on
7/22/96.  The fuel cells were checked and the flash evaporator system
flushed.  The remote manipulator system was installed into Columbia's
payload bay 7/25/96.  APU No. 1 was installed on 7/26/96.  Checks of
the Flash Evaporator System and General Purpose Computers took place
on July 29, 1996.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/29/1996)
Orbit:
  Altitude:    218 statute miles
  Inclination: 28.45
  Orbits: 279
  Duration: 17 days, 15 hours, 53 minutes, 18 seconds.
  Distance: Over 7 million statute miles
Hardware:
  SRB: BI-084
  SRM:
  ET :  SN-80
  MLP :
  SSME-1: SN-2032
  SSME-2: SN-2026
  SSME-3: SN-2029
Landing:
  KSC December 7, 1996 6:49:05 a.m. EST. Deorbit burn occured at 5:43
a.m. EST. Columbia landed on KSC's 1st Opportunity landing track.
Main Gear Touchdown was at 6:49:05 a.m. EST (17 days 15 hr 53 min 18
sec), nose gear touchdown was at 6:49:19 a.m. EST (17 days 15 hr 53 min 32
sec), and wheel stop was at 6:50:07 EST a.m. (17 days 15 hr 54 min 20 sec).
  Both landing opportunities for KSC on Friday, December 6, 1996 were
waved off due to low level fog. Edward's opportunities were waved off
due to high winds.
  The two landing opportunities for KSC on Thursday, December 5, 1996
were waved off due to cloudcover.
Mission Highlights:
  STS-80 Flight Day 1 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, November 19, 1996, 2:30 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #1
reports:
  The Space Shuttle Columbia returned to space for the 21st time, to
study stars, produce improved semiconductor films and practice
building the International Space Station.
  Columbia and its crew of five-Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot
Kent Rominger and Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan, Tom Jones and
Story Musgrave left Launch Pad 39B at 1:55 CST on a 16-day mission to
deploy and retrieve two satellites and conduct two space walks.
  Though weather, which delayed the mission by five days, was not a
factor, Columbia's departure was delayed about two minutes as
controllers monitored the hydrogen concentration in Columbia's aft
compartment. Once the hydrogen concentration reached an acceptable
level, controllers gave the go to launch and Columbia performed
flawlessly as it made its way above Earth's atmosphere
  Now on orbit, Columbia's crew will busy themselves with preparations
to deploy the German-built ORFEUS-SPAS II satellite. ORFEUS-SPAS will
investigate the far- and extreme- ultraviolet regions of the universe
giving scientists more information about the evolution of stars, the
nature of interstellar medium and the structure of galaxies. The
satellite's 14-day mission will begin at 8:53 p.m. tonight.
  Later this week, crew members will deploy the Wake Shield Facility
for three days of free-flying thin film growth operation, and next
week Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones will perform two
spacewalks. Columbia is set to return to Earth on Dec. 5.
  All system on-board the orbiter are performing as expected.
  STS-80 Flight Day 2 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, November 20, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-80 MCC Status Report #2
reports:
  The first major objective of STS-80 was completed near the end of
flight day one Tuesday with the deployment of the Orbiting Retrievable
Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (ORFEUS) on the reusable
Shuttle Pallet Satellite.  Release from Columbia's robot arm came at 8
hours 15 minutes mission elapsed time, about 10:11 p.m. CST.  Three
hours later, ground controllers observed the telescope door opening
and noted that the instrument appeared to be working properly,
beginning two weeks of gathering data on the origin and makeup of
stars.  The release was delayed for just over an hour from its
originally scheduled time due to longer than expected pre-deployment
checkout.
  Columbia's five-astronaut crew, Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot
Kent Rominger and Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan, Tom Jones and
Story Musgrave, were given a one-hour extension of their scheduled sleep
period today, following the longer flight day one. Crew wakeup is
planned for MET 20 hours, or 9:56 a.m. CST.
  Wednesday's activities include work with a variety of experiments
and adjustments to Columbia's orbit to set up for retrieval of the
ORFEUS SPAS in two weeks. Crew members will operate equipment
supporting the Orbiter Space Vision System for monitoring the position
and alignment of structures in space. Rominger will activate the
CMIX-5 experiment hardware conducting research in several areas
including diabetes treatment, tissue replacement and the growth of
crystals for research into breast cancer inhibitors. Rominger and
Jernigan are scheduled to activate the Visualization in an
Experimental Water Capillary Pumped Loop (VIEW-CPL) experiment
studying alternate methods for spacecraft thermal management.
  Tuesday's launch was the 21st for Columbia, oldest orbiter in the
fleet. The 16-day flight includes deployment and retrieval of two
satellites and two space walks to study tools and techniques for
building the International Space Station.
  Columbia is orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of
218 statute miles with all systems operating normally. Orbiter and
crew are scheduled to return to Earth Dec. 5.
 On Wednesday, November 20, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CDT, STS-80 MCC Status Report #3
reports:
 While Columbia leads the ORFEUS-SPAS spacecraft by about 25 nautical
miles, the five astronauts concentrated their attention on other
activities aboard the orbiter including testing the Space Vision
System, conducting a visual checkout of the Wake Shield Facility and
working with middeck experiments that will be conducted throughout the
16-day mission.
 The Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer
(ORFEUS), mounted on the reusable Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS) was
deployed on launch day and will remain a free flyer away from Columbia
for 14 days.  Throughout its two-week mission, the science satellite
will gather data on the origin and makeup of stars.  Columbia's
Commander Ken Cockrell and Pilot Kent Rominger will periodically fire
thruster jets on the orbiter to refine the distance between the two
spacecraft to maintain safe distances while other mission objectives
are performed, including deployment and retrieval of the Wake Shield
Facility.
  The Wake Shield is scheduled to be deployed Friday evening and
retrieved late Monday night.  The saucer-shaped spacecraft is flying
for the third time aboard the Shuttle and is designed to also fly free
of the orbiter's environment to conduct its primary mission to
create an ultravacuum in its wake to grow more perfect thin film
semiconductor materials that could be used in electronic circuits and
digital, analog, microwave and optical devices.
  The test of the Orbiter Space Vision System by Mission Specialists
Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones is designed to use the closed-circuit
television sysem on Columbia to monitor the position and alignment of
structures in space.  The OSVS also could be used to more precisely
move equipment around the payload bay and eventually on the
International Space Station when a direct view by crew members is not
possible.
  Other activities today include activation of the CMIX-5 experiment
hardware to conduct research in areas including diabetes treatment,
tissue replacement and the growth of crystals for research into breast
cancer inhibitors.  Mission Specialist Story Musgrave concentrated
early afternoon efforts on some of the samples in this experiment.
Rominger and Jernigan activated another experiment designed to study
alternate methods for spacecraft thermal management.
  The crew began its work day at 10 this morning to the Who's
"I can see for miles". The five astronauts are scheduled to
go to sleep just before 3 a.m. Thursday.
  Columbia is orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of
218 statute miles with all systems operating normally. Orbiter and
crew are scheduled to return to Earth Dec. 5.
  STS-80 Flight Day 3 Highlights:
 On Thursday, November 21, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-80 MCC Status Report #4
reports:
 While Columbia's astronauts sleep, scientists on the ground are
completing their setup of the ORFEUS-SPAS instruments and preparing to
begin observations with the free-flying spacecraft.
  Columbia is about 33 miles from the Orbiting Retrievable Far and
Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (ORFEUS), mounted on the reusable
Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS) and closing about half a mile each
time it circles the Earth following a pre-bedtime maneuver.  The next
maneuver, scheduled for 2:11 p.m. CST, will move Columbia to within 20
miles of ORFEUS-SPAS in hopes that radar data will provide a more
precise fix on the satellite to compute the next maneuver. The two
spacecraft will continue their orbital dance for 14 days before the
satellite and its cargo of information about the origin of stars is
berthed safely in the cargo bay and ready for return to Earth.
  Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Kent Rominger and Mission Specialists
Tammy Jernigan, Tom Jones and Story Musgrave went to bed just before 3
a.m. CST and will awaken at 10:56 a.m. The coming day's activities
will focus on checking out the Wake Shield Facility and preparing
Columbia's airlock and the space suits that will be worn by
Jernigan and Jones on their two space walks Nov. 28 and 30.
The Wake Shield is scheduled to be deployed Friday evening and
retrieved late Monday night. The saucer-shaped spacecraft will fly
free of the orbiter and ram its way through the extremely rare
atmosphere creating an ultravacuum that promotes the growth of near-
perfect thin film semiconductor materials.
Columbia is orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of 218
statute miles with all systems operating normally.
 On Thursday, November 21, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CDT, STS-80 MCC Status Report #5
reports:
 While the astronomy satellite they released Tuesday began its
scientific work, Columbia's astronauts turned their attention today
to preparations for the major activities still to come during their
two remaining weeks in space.
  Columbia reached a distance of about 32 miles from the ORFEUS-SPAS
satellite before firing its engines this afternoon to again begin
closing in on the spacecraft. In the early hours of Friday morning,
when the shuttle reaches about 17 miles from ORFEUS-SPAS, another
engine firing will again separate the shuttle from the
satellite. Columbia will then reach a point around 57 miles from
ORFEUS-SPAS by Friday evening when the crew releases a second
satellite, the Wake Shield Facility (WSF).
  In preparation for two spacewalks to be performed by Payload
Commander Tammy Jernigan and Mission Specialist Tom Jones later in the
flight, three spacesuits aboard Columbia were checked out
today. Jernigan, Jones and astronaut Story Musgrave inspected the
suits, finding everything in excellent condition for the upcoming
spacewalks, which will test techniques and equipment that may be used
for future construction of the International Space Station.
  Later this evening, Musgrave is scheduled to perform pre-deploy
checkouts of the WSF satellite, a spacecraft that will fly free from
the shuttle for three days to investigate the use of space as a vacuum
for creating advanced semiconductor materials. The WSF is planned to
be released from Columbia at about 7:11 p.m. CST Friday.
  Other experiments conducted by the crew today included the VIEW-CPL,
an investigation of capillary pumped loop equipment in weightlessness
designed by University of Maryland students. Such technology may one
day be used in cooling systems for future spacecraft, allowing fluids
to be pumped without the use of moving parts. Late this afternoon,
Commander Ken Cockrell and Pilot Kent Rominger spoke with the Fox News
Channel during a 10-minute interview, fielding general questions about
their flight and life on the shuttle.
  Columbia is in a 220 by 216 statute mile orbit. The crew will go to
sleep at 2:56 a.m. Friday and awaken at 10:56 a.m. Friday to begin Day
4 of STS-80.
  STS-80 Flight Day 4 Highlights:
 On Friday, November 22, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-80 MCC Status Report #6
reports:
 As crew members begin their fourth day of STS-80, all systems on
board Columbia are ready for the second satellite deployment of the
flight and the beginning of the Wake Shield Facility's third mission
in space.
  Astronaut Tom Jones is scheduled to release the Wake Shield Facility
at 7:11 p.m. CST this evening to begin three days of thin film
semiconductor wafer growth in an ultravacuum produced by its wake. A
television camera survey and systems checkout of the Wake Shield on
Thursday showed it to be in good health and ready to be deployed.
  The stainless steel satellite from the University of Houston Space
Vacuum Epitaxy Center will push aside the gas atoms that remain 220
miles above the Earth's surface so that scientists may produce
films 100 to 1,000 times better than those that can be grown on
Earth. These thin films of aluminum gallium arsenide could be used to
make the next generation of semiconductors for use in computer chips
and other advanced electronic devices.
  STS-80 Commander Ken Cockrell and Pilot Kent Rominger performed a
fifth maneuvering burn late Thursday to increase the distance between
Columbia and the ORFEUS-SPAS satellite and provide a safe margin for
the Wake Shield deployment. ORFEUS-SPAS was deployed on launch day for
14 days of extreme ultraviolet observations of stars and
galaxies. ORFEUS-SPAS is trailing Columbia by about 33 miles and that
distance is increasing by about three miles every orbit. The two
spacecraft will be about 50 miles apart when the Wake Shield is
released.
  Final preparations for the Wake Shield release will begin about 1
p.m. Friday, when Jones powers up the shuttle's Canadian-built
robot arm and grapples the satelllite. Shortly before 2 p.m, Payload
Commander Tammy Jernigan will power up the Orbiter Space Vision
System, which will be used to track precisely the Wake Shield's
location,.and Cockrell will place Columbia in a gravity gradient
attitude to minimize disturbances during the release. Jones will use
the robot arm to hold Wake Shield in position for a two-and-a-half
hour cleansing by atomic oxygen molecules before moving the arm to the
deploy position.
 On Friday, November 22, 1996, 3:00 p.m. EST, STS-80 Payload Status Report #03
reports: (ORFEUS-SPAS II Mission Status Report # 3)
  In the past 24 hours, all three ORFEUS-SPAS II science teams
at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida completed their final checkouts
and calibration of their instruments.  All instruments are functioning
extremely well with sensitivity at or near pre-flight expectations.
  Overall, scientific data quality is better than expected.
Each science team is being given an eight-hour shift to conduct
astrophysical observations.  NASA mission scientist Dr. Ronald Polidan
reports that the ORFEUS-SPAS II science mission has begun in earnest!
  The Interstellar Medium Absorption Profile Spectrograph
(IMAPS) being controlled by Princeton University scientists located at
the Kennedy Center began normal science observations in the past 24
hours. They have obtained data on four targets and IMAPS continues to
work exceptionally well.  Science team members indicate that the
instrument sensitivity is several times what it was on the first
flight in September 1993.
  The University of California at Berkeley Extreme Ultraviolet
(EUV) Spectrograph is also conducting its normal science program,
having obtained 25 science observations.  The instrument is operating
extremely well with sensitivity at or slightly above pre-launch
expectations.  Science operations are progressing well.
  The German Far Ultraviolet (Echelle) Spectrograph (FUV)
finished its checkout/calibration phase in the past 24 hours and has
begun normal science observations.  The instrument is functioning
extremely well with nine science observations having been obtained
thus far.
 On Friday, November 22, 1996, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-80 MCC Status Report #7
reports:
 Columbia's crew is poised to release the second satellite of shuttle
mission STS-80 -- the Wake Shield Facility -- at 7:06 p.m. CST.
  Astronaut Tom Jones unberthed the WSF satellite from its latched
position in the shuttle cargo bay on schedule today at 2:56 p.m. Jones
positioned the satellite over the left-hand edge of the cargo bay with
the WSF underside facing into the direction of travel. This position
allows atomic oxygen to &quot;cleanse&quot; the satellite's
underside in preparation for its experiment operations. WSF will
investigate using the ultra-pure vacuum of space to create advanced
semiconductor materials.
  The atomic oxygen cleaning is scheduled to last about two and a half
hours. At about 5:45 p.m. CST, Jones will maneuver Columbia's
mechanical arm to position the satellite over the opposite side of the
shuttle cargo bay, facing in the same direction it will during its
free flight. In this position, controllers will verify and calibrate
the operation of the WSF's attitude control system. For release,
Jones will position the satellite high above Columbia's payload
bay, with the underside of the WSF facing away from the direction of
travel. The release window that opens at 7:06 p.m. will be 41 minutes
long. Two backup opportunities to release the satellite exist this
evening as well.
  At the time WSF is released, the first satellite deployed by
Columbia, the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite, will be about 58 miles
behind the shuttle. During the time both satellites are flying free of
the shuttle, WSF will remain about 28 miles from ORFEUS-SPAS and about
23 miles from Columbia.
 On Friday, November 22, 1996, 8:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #8
reports:
 Columbia's crew released the Wake Shield Facility at 7:38
p.m. central as the two spacecraft flew about 200 miles above the
western Pacific on the 51st orbit of the STS-80 mission.
  Shortly after release from the shuttle's remote manipulator system,
or robot arm, the Wake Shield Facility's ground control team issued
a command to fire a tiny nitrogen thruster that produced about a tenth
of a pound of thrust to gently separate the spacecraft from Columbia.
The thruster fired for 19 minutes to eventually put the Wake Shield
about 20 to 30 miles away from the orbiter for three days of free
flight operations before its scheduled retrieval late Monday night.
  Science operations begin tomorrow morning about 8 o'clock with
the first investigations into thin film semiconductor growth occuring
in the wake of the saucer-shaped satellite as it produces an
ultravacuum to create advanced semiconductor materials.
  The Wake Shield was grappled by the shuttle's robot arm at 1:25
Friday afternoon.  It was then unlatched from the payload bay at 2:56
p.m.  After pointing the experiment side of the Wake Shield into the
direction of travel allowing atomic oxygen to "cleanse" the
satellite's underside in preparation for experiment operations the
satellite was maneuvered over the side of the shuttle payload bay
allowing controllers to verify and calibrate the operation of the Wake
Shield's attitude control system.
  At the time of release, Columbia and the Wake Shield were about 58
miles ahead of the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite deployed on launch
day Tuesday.  During the time both satellites are flying free of the
shuttle, Wake Shield will remain about 28 miles from ORFEUS-SPAS and
about 23 miles from Columbia.
  STS-80 Flight Day 5 Highlights:
 On Saturday, November 23, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #9
reports:
  With both of their free-flying satellites deployed, Columbia's
astronauts today will focus on maintaining formation and working with
in-cabin microgravity experiments.
  Following a successful NC7 maneuver overnight, Columbia is 70 miles in
front of the ORFEUS-SPAS ultraviolet telescope and pulling away by
about 4 miles each orbit. The Shuttle is 18 miles ahead of the Wake
Shield Facility and separating by 1.5 miles each revolution. The
saucer-shaped satellite is about 53 miles ahead of ORFEUS-SPAS and the
two are moving 1 mile closer to each other each time they orbit the
planet.
  Overnight, the Shuttle's payload bay cameras provided television
pictures of the two satellites trailing Columbia.
  The Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet
Spectrometer, riding its Shuttle Pallet Satellite, continues to make
observations of stars and galaxies. Wake Shield science operations are
to begin about 8 a.m. CST today. Scientists from the University of
Houston's Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center spent the night preparing
their spacecraft for its first STS-80 foray into thin film
semiconductor growth.
  Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Kent Rominger and Mission Specialists
Tammy Jernigan, Tom Jones and Story Musgrave are scheduled to awaken
at 11:56 a.m. CST. Cockrell and Rominger will kick off the next
maneuver to maintain the proper distance from its deployed payloads
about 2:30 p.m.
  Later in the day, Jernigan and Rominger will work with the
Visualization in an Experimental Water Capillary Pumped Loop
(VIEW-CAPL) experiment, Musgrave will be interviewed by CBS News (at
5:41 p.m. CST) and Cockrell will check on the rodents being used to
study the role of calcium in blood pressure regulation.
  Columbia and its satellites continue to orbit the earth at an
altitude of 220 miles.
 On Saturday, November 23, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #10
reports:
 Columbia continued to fly in orbital formation with two science
satellites Saturday as the crew turned its attention toward secondary
experiments inside the cabin.
  The shuttle now leads the Wake Shield Facility (WSF) spacecraft by
about 27 miles and the ORFEUS-SPAS by about 68 miles.  Commander Ken
Cockrell fired Columbia's steering jets briefly this afternoon to
maintain the distance between the orbiter and the two satellites, and
another such engine firing may be required around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
  Ground controllers for the Wake Shield have begun growing thin films
on the back side, or wake side of the satellite.  The first growth
began at 6:37 Saturday evening.  The film growths are of advanced thin
film semiconductor material using the prototype factory satellite.
The film growths will continue throughout the next several days while
the Wake Shield flies free of Columbia.  It is scheduled to be
retrieved and placed back in the payload bay late Monday night.
  Aboard the shuttle, Payload Commander Tammy Jernigan watched over
operations with the VIEW-CPL experiment, a study designed by students
at the University of Maryland.  The experiment tests capillary pumped
loop technology that one day may be used for more reliable spacecraft
cooling systems.  Also Saturday, Astronaut Story Musgrave took time
out from his work with Wake Shield for an interview with CBS News.
  The other satellite flying free from Columbia since launch day, the
ORFEUS-SPAS, continues science operations using three different
instruments -- the Interstellar Medium Absorption Profile Spectrograph
or IMAPS, the Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrograph or EUV, and the Far
Ultraviolet Spectrograph FUV.  Science observations by the three
instruments has now totaled more than 100 since the spacecraft was
deployed on launch day.  ORFEUS-SPAS is scheduled to be retrieved on
Dec. 3 and returned to Earth aboard Columbia.
   The crew will begin a sleep period at 4:56 a.m. CST Sunday and awaken
for Day 6 of STS-80 at 12:56 p.m. Sunday.  Columbia is in excellent
condition in a 220 by 215 statute mile orbit.
  STS-80 Flight Day 6 Highlights:
 On Sunday, November 24, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #11
reports:
  Columbia's two free-flying satellites continued their scientific
studies in orbit Sunday as they trail the shuttle 34 miles apart.
  Wake Shield Facility scientists report that the saucer-shaped
satellite, which is trailing Columbia by 26 miles, has completed its
first two growths of thin film semiconductor material and is into the
third of seven planned runs. The materials are being grown in an
ultravacuum 100 to 1,000 times better than any seen on Earth using a
technique that lays down atom by atom the elements aluminum, arsenic,
gallium, indium and berylium, in well-ordered wafers of high
purity. The Wake Shield is scheduled to be retrieved by Columbia's
astronauts using the shuttle's robot arm and will be placed back in
the payload bay late Monday night.
  The Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet
Spectrometer, or ORFEUS-SPAS satellite, has conducted 77 different
astronomical observations since being deployed on launch day. Among
the observations are several double stars that are of particular
interest to the astronomers using ORFEUS-SPAS' three telescopic
instruments. ORFEUS-SPAS, which is trailing Columbia by 60 miles, is
to be retrieved by Columbia's astronauts Dec. 3rd.
  Astronaut Tammy Jernigan reported that the VIEW-CAPL experiment,
designed by students at the University of Maryland, is working
well. The experiment tests capillary pumped loop technology that one
day may be used for more reliable spacecraft cooling systems.
  The crew also sent down television pictures of the flight deck,
using the downlink time to answer half a dozen questions posed via the
NASA Shuttle Web on the Internet.
  The crew went to bed at 4:56 a.m. Central time Sunday and will be
awakened for their sixth day of orbital activities at 12:56 p.m.
Columbia is in excellent condition in a 220 by 215 statute mile orbit.
 On Sunday, November 24, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #12
reports:
 Columbia's crew enjoyed a half-day off this afternoon as ground
controllers closely monitored the two satellites trailing the shuttle,
evaluating whether one satellite may need to be retrieved tonight, a
day earlier than first planned.
  The crew awakened at 12:56 p.m. CST today to news from Mission
Control that the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite may be closing in on
the Wake Shield Facility satellite slightly faster than originally
predicted.  The faster closing rate could dictate the need for a
rendezvous and retrieval of the satellite tonight.
  Currently, flight controllers are gathering additional tracking data
on each orbit.  They will decide if the situation requires an early
retrieval of the WSF by about 10 p.m.  If a retrieval is required
tonight, the shuttle would fire its engines at 9:58 p.m., when
Columbia is at a point about 15 nautical miles ahead of the WSF, to
set the stage for a rendezvous.  Then, at about 11:28 p.m., the
shuttle would reach a point about 8 nautical miles behind the WSF, and
it would fire its engines for the terminal initiation burn, setting a
direct course to intercept the satellite. The WSF would be captured
using the mechanical arm at 1:45 a.m. Monday.
  Meanwhile, the WSF already has completed five growths of thin film
semiconductor material, surpassing its major objectives for the
mission.  The satellite has a maximum capacity to grow a total of
seven films, but if it must be picked up by the shuttle tonight, it
may only complete six. Scientists with the satellite say it has
functioned extremely well and are delighted with the results obtained
thus far. If it is not retrieved until tomorrow, seven film growths
are expected to be completed.
  ORFEUS-SPAS continued to perform scientific observations overnight,
although its science work was interrupted for about five hours while
it was put in an orientation that encountered less resistance from the
sparse atmosphere in low orbit, thus slowing the rate it is closing on
the WSF.  At present, the ORFEUS-SPAS is again in a low-resistance
orientation that could temporarily interrupt observations.  This
orientation, or attitude, assists ground controllers with accurately
tracking the spacecraft's trajectory.  The astronomy satellite already
has made more than 100 observations since its release from Columbia
almost five days ago, and it is scheduled to continue flying free from
the shuttle, performing its astronomy work, for another nine days.
 On Sunday, November 24, 1996, 8:30 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #13
reports:
 Following extensive tracking analysis and predictions of the
ORFEUS-SPAS satellite's position in relation to the Wake Shield
Facility, STS-80 mission managers determined that the distances will
be well within the rendezvous margins at the time of Wake Shield
retrieval tomorrow night by Columbia.  The predicted distance of
ORFEUS-SPAS to the Wake Shield is now expected to be about 12 nautical
miles when the orbiter retrieves Wake Shield.
  The Wake Shield will be retrieved about 3 hours earlier than
originally planned Monday night and will have completed its planned
mission.  Because of the earlier retreival time, the crew was told to
plan for an earlier sleep period beginning at about 5 a.m. Monday and
a one hour earlier than planned wake up call at 12:56 p.m. central.
  The decision to have the Wake Shield remain a free flying satellite
came at 7:50 p.m. Sunday as the crew was winding up a half day of off
duty time.  The rest of the crew's day will focus on scientific
investigations of experiments inside the shuttle's cabin.
  The five astronauts aboard Columbia were told of the possibility of
the early rendezvous when they woke up early Sunday afternoon.  Flight
controllers had noticed that the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite might
have been closing in on the Wake Shield Facility slightly faster than
originally predicted.  ORFEUS-SPAS science work was interrupted early
this afternoon while it was put in an orientation that encountered
less resistance from the sparse atmosphere in low orbit, thus slowing
the rate it is closing on the WSF.  This orientation, or attitude,
assisted ground controllers with accurately tracking the spacecraft's
trajectory.  The astronomy satellite already has made more than 100
observations since its release from Columbia almost five days ago, and
it is scheduled to continue flying free from the shuttle, performing
its astronomy work, for another nine days.  Mission managers have not
yet determined when the ORFEUS instruments will continue observations.
  Meanwhile, the WSF already has completed five growths of thin film
semiconductor material, surpassing its major objectives for the
mission.  The satellite has a maximum capacity to grow a total of
seven films, which should be completed in the early morning hours
Monday.  Scientists with the satellite say it has functioned extremely
well and are delighted with the results obtained thus far.
  STS-80 Flight Day 7 Highlights:
 On Monday, November 25, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #14
reports:
 Columbia's crew will retrieve the Wake Shield Facility tonight,
completing a successful mission by the free-flying satellite, which
was able to grow all seven of its planned thin semi-conductor films
over a period of three days.
  Mission Specialist Tom Jones will use the shuttle's robot arm to
grapple the University of Houston-built satellite at 7:56 p.m. CST
Monday, two orbits earlier than had been originally planned.
Scientists report the satellite has performed well and say the
semiconductor films are of excellent quality.
  Mission managers had considered retrieving the Wake Shield a day
earlier than planned, but decided Sunday that its position in relation
to the ORFEUS-SPAS ultraviolet astronomy satellite would be well
within the rendezvous safety margins. Flight controllers had noticed
that ORFEUS-SPAS was closing in on the Wake Shield Facility slightly
faster than predicted and temporarily suspended ORFEUS-SPAS
observations so that it could be placed in a low-resistance attitude,
slowing the rate it was closing on the WSF.
  The five astronauts will awaken at 12:56 p.m. CST this afternoon to
begin preparations for the rendezvous.
  Columbia and its two trailing satellites are evenly spaced, with the
Wake Shield Facility about 19 miles behind Columbia and ORFEUS-SPAS
another 19 miles behind Wake Shield. The shuttle's next maneuver,
which will begin to close the distance to Wake Shield, is scheduled
for approximately 2:45 p.m. CST, and the terminal initiation burn is
scheduled for 5:45 p.m. CST. ORFEUS-SPAS is expected to be 15-16 miles
from Columbia when the Wake Shield is retrieved.
  ORFEUS-SPAS observations resumed at 4 a.m. CST. The satellite's
three instruments have been used to complete more than 100
observations since being released from Columbia almost five days
ago. Observations are scheduled to continue for another nine days.
  Columbia is orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 210 miles with all
of its systems operating in excellent shape.
 On Monday, November 25, 1996, 9:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #15
reports:
  Securing its precious cargo of advanced semiconductor materials for
awaiting scientists on Earth, Columbia today recaptured the Wake
Shield Facility, one of two science satellites that had been flying in
orbital formation with the shuttle.
  Commander Ken Cockrell flawlessly took the shuttle to within 35 feet
of the satellite and Astronaut Tom Jones latched the mechanical arm
onto the Wake Shield at about 8:01 p.m.  CST, as the shuttle flew 220
miles above South America. At the time Wake Shield was captured, the
ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite was continuing to study the origin and
makeup of stars 14 nautical miles away. During the rendezvous,
Columbia's closest approach to ORFEUS-SPAS was about six nautical
miles, exactly as had been predicted by flight controllers and well
within the shuttle limits. ORFEUS-SPAS will remain flying free from
Columbia for another week before it is recaptured.
  Wake Shield Facility scientists reported they completed seven thin
film growths of semiconductor materials, the maximum capability for
the satellite. The satellite performed almost flawlessly throughout
its free-flying mission, and it will be unberthed from Columbia again
tomorrow for further science activities attached to the end of the
shuttle's robotic arm.
  Columbia will fire its steering jets briefly at about 3 a.m. to
maintain formation with the ORFEUS-SPAS, moving out to a distance of
around 25 nautical miles from the satellite.  The crew will begin a
sleep period at 5:56 a.m. Tuesday and awaken for Day 8 of STS-80 at
1:56 p.m. Columbia is in a 221 by 214 statute mile orbit.
  STS-80 Flight Day 8 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, November 26, 1996, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #16
reports:
 The Space Shuttle Columbia continues to lead the ORFEUS-SPAS
ultraviolet telescope by 20 miles as the pair of spacecraft orbit the
Earth in tandem. The Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme
Ultraviolet Spectrometer is continuing its studies of the evolution of
stars, the structure of galaxies and the nature of the interstellar
medium.
  STS-80 Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Kent Rominger and Mission
Specialists Tammy Jernigan, Tom Jones and Story Musgrave began their
sleep shift at 5:56 a.m. after successfully retrieving the Wake Shield
Facility that night and will be awakened by Mission Control at 1:56
p.m. for their eighth day of work in orbit.
  Today's activities will focus on additional science investigations
with the Wake Shield Facility while it is attached to the shuttle's
robot arm. Jones will unberth the Wake Shield at 6:06 p.m. CST, and
return it to its resting place in the payload bay at 9:41 p.m. CST
after using its instruments to characterize the environment around the
shuttle.
  At the end of the day, the crew will begin preparation for two space
walks by depressurizing the shuttle's cabin from 14.7 pounds per
square inch to 10.2 pounds per square inch.  The first spacewalk by
Jernigan and Jones will begin Thanksgiving night.
 On Tuesday, November 26, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #17
reports:
 Following retrieval yesterday, the Wake Shield Facility satellite
will be powered up again today for futher experiment work.  Work
throughout the round of space manufacturing will be conducted with the
satellite attached to Columbia's robotic arm.
 Astronaut Tom Jones plans to use the arm to unberth the Wake Shield
from the payload bay at 6:06 p.m. CST for three hours and a half of
work with the Atomic Oxygen Processing experiment (AOProc).  The
satellite's wake side will be angled 45 degrees into Columbia's
direction of travel to investigate the use of atomic oxygen in low
orbit to produce aluminum oxide films.  The Wake Shield is expected to
be latched back into the payload bay at 9:41 p.m.
  Meanwhile, the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite, still trailing
Columbia by about 30 statute miles, is continuing to perform its
scientific observations.  Columbia is slowly closing in on the
satellite, but the shuttle is expected to reach no closer than 23
statute miles before again beginning to slowly separate.
  Early tomorrow morning, near the end of the work day, preparations
for two planned spacewalks will begin with the depressurization of the
shuttle's cabin from 14.7 pounds per square inch to 10.2 pounds per
square inch.  This reduces the amount of time Tammy Jernigan and Tom
Jones will have to prebreathe pure oxygen before beginning the
spacewalk.  The first spacewalk is scheduled to begin shortly after
eight p.m. Thanksgiving to evaluate assembly and maintenance
techniques that will be used for construction of the International
Space Station.
  Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Kent Rominger and Mission Specialist
Story Musgrave will be interviewed at 1:36 Wednesday morning by the
NBC Newschannel.  The crew will begin a sleep period at 6:56 a.m. and
awaken for Day 9 of STS-80 at 2:56 p.m.
Columbia is in excellent condition in a 221 by 214 statute mile
orbit, circling the Earth every 91 minutes.
  STS-80 Flight Day 9 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, November 27, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #18
reports:
 Following retrieval yesterday, the Wake Shield Facility satellite
will be powered up again today for futher experiment work.  Work
throughout the round of space manufacturing will be conducted with the
satellite attached to Columbia's robotic arm.
  Astronaut Tom Jones plans to use the arm to unberth the Wake Shield
from the payload bay at 6:06 p.m. CST for three hours and a half of
work with the Atomic Oxygen Processing experiment (AOProc).  The
satellite's wake side will be angled 45 degrees into Columbia's
direction of travel to investigate the use of atomic oxygen in low
orbit to produce aluminum oxide films.  The Wake Shield is expected to
be latched back into the payload bay at 9:41 p.m.
  Meanwhile, the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite, still trailing
Columbia by about 30 statute miles, is continuing to perform its
scientific observations.  Columbia is slowly closing in on the
satellite, but the shuttle is expected to reach no closer than 23
statute miles before again beginning to slowly separate.
  Early tomorrow morning, near the end of the work day, preparations
for two planned spacewalks will begin with the depressurization of the
shuttle's cabin from 14.7 pounds per square inch to 10.2 pounds per
square inch.  This reduces the amount of time Tammy Jernigan and Tom
Jones will have to prebreathe pure oxygen before beginning the
spacewalk.  The first spacewalk is scheduled to begin shortly after
eight p.m. Thanksgiving to evaluate assembly and maintenance
techniques that will be used for construction of the International
Space Station.
  Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Kent Rominger and Mission Specialist
Story Musgrave will be interviewed at 1:36 Wednesday morning by the
NBC Newschannel.  The crew will begin a sleep period at 6:56 a.m. and
awaken for Day 9 of STS-80 at 2:56 p.m.
Columbia is in excellent condition in a 221 by 214 statute mile
orbit, circling the Earth every 91 minutes.
 On Wednesday, November 27, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #19
reports:
 With final preparations for the first of two spacewalks on tap for
today, the STS-80 crew began the ninth day of its mission at
mid-afternoon.
  The Mission Control Center team woke the crew at 2:59 p.m. with
Thanksgiving eve greetings and the Arlo Guthrie tune, "Alice's
Restaurant"
  Once the crew completes its post-sleep activities, Mission
Specialists Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones will begin to check out the
tools they will be using for their spacewalk on Thursday
evening. Later today, the crew will prepare the shuttle's middeck for
the spacewalk as well.
  The first excursion by Jernigan and Jones into Columbia's cargo bay
is designed to test a telescoping crane which will be used during the
assembly of the International Space Station to haul large components
from module to module. On Thursday night, Jernigan and Jones will
utilize the crane to move a simulated space station battery or orbital
replacement unit (ORU), back and forth around the cargo bay. The
second spacewalk will be conducted Saturday night.
  Early Wednesday, Columbia's cabin pressure was reduced from 14.7
pounds per square inch to 10.2 pounds per square inch to help reduces
the amount of time Jernigan and Jones will have to pre-breathe pure
oxygen to purge their systems of nitrogen that could make them
susceptible to the bends while in their space suits.
  Meanwhile, the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite continues to trail
Columbia by about 43 nautical miles. The next firing of Columbia's
jets to maintain its distance from the German satellite will be
conducted early this evening.
  Columbia is in excellent condition in a 221 by 214 statute mile
orbit, circling the Earth every 91 minutes.
  STS-80 Flight Day 10 Highlights:
 On Thursday, November 28, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #20
reports:
 Columbia's five astronauts spent the day preparing for the first of
two planned spacewalks that will begin tonight and refined the
distance to the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite trailing the orbiter
by about 20 nautical miles.
  Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan, Tom Jones and Story Musgrave
conducted a thorough check of the tools that Jernigan and Jones will
be using for their spacewalk which is scheduled to start shortly after
8 p.m. central time.  The three astronauts also prepared the middeck
for the spacewalk.  The schedule calls for the airlock to be
depressurized beginning about 8:16 p.m., followed soon after by the
hatch opening to start the spacewalk.
  The first extravehicular activity is designed to test a telescoping
crane which will be used during the assembly of the International
Space Station to move large components from module to module.  The two
astronauts will use the crane to move a simulated space station
battery back and forth around the cargo bay.  The second spacewalk by
the two will be conducted Saturday night.
  Near the end of the crew's day -- about 3:15 this morning --
Commander Ken Cockrell and Pilot Kent Rominger fired the small
thruster jets onboard to refine Columbia's distance to the ORFEUS-SPAS
and to maintain that separation at about 20 nautical miles.  The three
instruments mounted on the small satellite continue to function well
and should have made more than 200 observations by the end of the day
Thursday.
  Crew sleep begins at 7 a.m. and ends with a wakeup call from Mission
Control at 2:56 p.m. today.
  Columbia's 21st voyage in space continues to be troublefree for the
oldest orbiter in the shuttle fleet.  The current altitude is about
220 statute miles, equating to an orbital period around the Earth of
one hour 31 minutes.
 On Thursday, November 28, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #21
reports:
 STS-80 Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones will have
their Thanksgiving dinners waiting for them tonight when they finish
the first of two space walks scheduled for the flight.
  Jernigan and Jones will depress Columbia's airlock at about 8:16
p.m. to begin a series of evaluations of equipment and procedures that
will be used during construction and maintenance of the International
Space Station. Tonight, the two spacewalkers will demonstrate and
evaluate a maintenance task simulating the change out of an ISS
battery. For this task, Jernigan and Jones will test a six-foot-tall,
telescoping crane designed for use in moving large Orbital Replacement
Units. The spacewalk is scheduled to be completed at 2:56 a.m. Friday.
  Following the spacewalk, the astronauts will celebrate their holiday
aboard Columbia with shelf-stable turkey dinners. The second spacewalk
of the mission is set for Saturday night.
  The crew was awakened at 2:56 p.m. today with the song &quot;Some
Guys Have All the Luck&quot; by Robert Palmer. They will go to sleep
at 7:56 a.m. Friday and awaken for Day 11 of STS-80 at 3:56
p.m. Friday.
  Columbia is performing as expected and is orbiting at an altitude of
about 220 statute miles.
  STS-80 Flight Day 11 Highlights:
 On Friday, November 29, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #22
reports:
 The planned spacewalk by astronauts Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones was
canceled late Thursday after the airlock outer hatch failed to open.
An engineering team spent all night and into this morning gathering
data to assist in determining a cause for the problem and what action
to take.
  The crew's schedule has been adjusted by one hour to preserve the
option for another spacewalk attempt tonight.  The shuttle mission
management team will meet late this morning to review the data
collected thus far and will determine what troubleshooting measures
are available and whether another spacewalk will be attempted tonight.
  Because the meeting occurs while the crew sleeps, Commander Ken
Cockrell, Pilot Kent Rominger and Mission Specialists Story Musgrave,
Jernigan and Jones will likely not find out what has been decided
until they wake up shortly before 3 p.m. central time.
  If the decision is made to attempt the spacewalk tonight, it would
begin about 8:15 p.m.
  A minor problem reading electrocardiogram data on Jones space suit
was determined to be a signal conditioner which would be replaced with
a spare should the spacewalk be rescheduled.  The problem in itself
would not have precluded the spacewalk from occurring last night.
  The ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite continues to operate as planned
some 20 nautical miles behind the orbiter.  A station-keeping engine
firing was not required this morning since the two spacecraft are
maintaining a stable operating distance from one another.  The next
planned rendezvous burn is set for about six o'clock this evening.
 On Friday, November 29, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #24
reports:
   As Columbia's astronauts began their 11th day in space, NASA
engineers and managers continued troubleshooting and analysis of the
balky shuttle hatch handle which forced a cancellation of the
spacewalk by Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones Thursday night.
  Throughout the day, teams of engineers conferred on possible options
to free up the hatch handle, which stops after about 30 degrees of
rotation, unable to release latches around the circumference of the
airlock hatch. Mission Operations Representative Jeff Bantle said the
analysis conducted so far indicates that the most likely suspect for
the problem could be a misalignment of the hatch against the airlock
seal.
  Engineers are examining possible procedures to assist in opening the
hatch that could include warming up the airlock hatch through a
reorientation of the shuttle; applying pressure against the airlock
seals; and having crewmembers apply force against the hatch while the
handle is rotated with the airlock depressurized. Still, however,
engineers have not as yet determined the exact nature of the problem
nor found a definitive solution.
  Shuttle managers will get an update from the engineers conducting
the analysis on Saturday morning and are expected to make a decision
at that time on whether any further spacewalks will be attempted
aboard Columbia.
  The astronauts were awakened at 2:56 p.m. Central time to the sound
of the song "Changes" by David Bowie, reflecting the modifications
being made to the flight plan because of the airlock hatch handle
problem. Throughout the night tonight and early Saturday morning, the
astronauts will assist in the engineering analysis of the hatch
problem in any ways that may be needed by ground controllers, make
preparations for a possible second spacewalk attempt, and have
exercise sessions, which are a standard activity on long shuttle
flights.
  Columbia is in a 222 by 211 statute mile orbit. The shuttle is
orbiting about 27 miles ahead of the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite,
which is in its 10th day of free-flying celestial observations.
  STS-80 Flight Day 12 Highlights:
 On Saturday, November 30, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #25
reports:
 Columbia's astronauts concluded their 11th day in space with
discussions about troubleshooting measures they may undertake this
afternoon to open a balky airlock hatch if the shuttle mission
management team decides this morning to proceed.
  The failure of the hatch to properly open caused the cancellation of
Thursday's planned spacewalk by Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan and
Tom Jones. Since that time, NASA engineers and managers have continued
to collect and analyze data on what may have caused the failure. The
leading candidate is a misalignment of the hatch against the airlock
seal. While this is the most likely reason for the problem, the
engineering team has been evaluating a number of possible causes.
  While discussions on the ground continued, Columbia was maneuvered
into an attitude that will keep sunlight on the hatch in hopes that
warming it will assist in any procedure attempted.
  The crew will be asleep when the mission management team meets and
will not be informed of the decision until Mission Control's wakeup
call at 2:56 p.m. today. If managers decide to proceed with
troubleshooting, the two astronauts would climb into their suits and
depressurize the airlock. If the hatch opens, they would proceed with
the spacewalk as originally planned.
  Early this morning, Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Kent Rominger and
Mission Specialists Story Musgrave, Jernigan and Jones talked to
fellow Astronaut John Blaha aboard the Russian Space Station Mir. The
conversation centered on each other's missions and well wishes for
safe, successful flights.
  Meanwhile, Columbia continues to lead the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy
satellite by a comfortable 20 nautical miles.  The satellite continues
in its observations of the origins and makeup of distant stars. The
satellite is scheduled to be retrieved by the crew on December 3 for
the return trip to Earth at the end of Columbia's mission.
 On Saturday, November 30, 1996, 10:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #26
reports:
   The STS-80 Mission Management Team concluded at its 8 a.m. meeting
today that around-the-clock analysis and testing so far has not
identified a most likely cause of a jammed hatch that has prevented
astronauts aboard the orbiter Columbia from conducting the first of
two planned space walks.
   The MMT, chaired by Loren Shriver, Shuttle Launch Integration
Manager, asked engineering analysis teams at JSC, the Kennedy Space
Center, and at Rockwell in Downey, Calif., to continue efforts to
identify the likely cause of the hatch problem and report back at 2
p.m. today.
  Investigations continue to center on possible problems with the
linkage and latch mechanisms located on the payload bay side of the
airlock hatch (called the "B" hatch) or with the gear actuator
mechanism driven by crew operated handles on either side of the hatch.
Analysis teams also are looking at the possibility of a small
misalignment of the hatch with respect to the orbiter structure which
might have resulted at installation or which could be caused by slight
deformation of the orbiter structure in space.
  A decision to proceed with a spacewalk today will hinge on progress
in the next few hours before the crew awakens at identifying a likely
cause of the problem and assuring that any corrective action attempted
will not adversely affect the safe operation and sealing of the hatch.
The crew wakeup is scheduled for 2:56 p.m. CST.
  NASA managers are viewing the hatch problem not only from the
perspective of completing the two space walks scheduled for the
flight, but also to develop a plan for opening the hatch in the
unlikely event that a contingency EVA becomes necessary, for example,
to close and latch the payload bay doors before entry.
  If additional time is required for analysis and testing of the
airlock hatch, a decision could be reached at the 2 p.m. MMT to defer
the EVA decision for another 24 hours and to look at dropping a second
EVA originally planned to follow two days after the initial EVA.
  An STS-80 mission status briefing is planned for 4 p.m. today at the
Johnson Space Center and on NASA Television.
 On Saturday, November 30, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #27
reports:
 After a day of extensive ground analysis and testing of a balky
airlock hatch on Columbia, STS-80 mission managers decided to cancel
the two spacewalks that had been planned for astronauts Tammy Jernigan
and Tom Jones.
  Spacecraft communicator Dominic Gorie relayed the news to Jernigan
and Jones as the crew was awakened at 2:56 p.m. Central time for the
astronauts' 12th day in space.
  After detailed engineering analysis, shuttle managers could not
conclusively identify the problem that was causing the hatch handle to
jam and not allowing the hatch to open. Since the exact nature of the
problem could not be determined, managers decided it would not be
prudent to attempt the two planned spacewalks and risk unecessary
damage to the hatch or seals.
  Mission Operations Representative Randy Stone said one possible
suspect for the airlock hatch failure could be a mechanical problem in
the hatch handle's gearbox, a problem that cannot be fixed in
orbit. Stone said shuttle program officials are considering the
possibility of rescheduling the spacewalks on a future flight. The
spacewalks were designed to test tools and to refine techniques for
the assembly of the International Space Station, which is scheduled to
begin in about a year.
  Although the planned spacewalks have been canceled, engineers are
continuing an analysis of the problem to be as prepared as possible in
the highly unlikely event a contingency spacewalk is needed later in
the flight.  Also, flight planning will minimize the use of mechanical
systems aboard Columbia which could require repair on such a
contingency spacewalk. With all other shuttle systems in excellent
shape, Columbia is scheduled to remain in orbit for the full 16 days
planned for STS-80, and managers will meet Monday to decide on a
possible extension of the flight to allow additional astronomical
observations by the German ORFEUS-SPAS satellite.
  Because of the cancelled spacewalks, the crew is spending a quiet
day in orbit, conducting secondary experiments and exercising. They
will go to sleep at 7:56 a.m. Sunday.
  Columbia is in a 223 by 212 statute mile orbit, leading the
ORFEUS-SPAS satellite by 27 miles.
  STS-80 Flight Day 13 Highlights:
 On Sunday, December 1, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #28
reports:
 Columbia's astronauts spent a relatively quiet day monitoring
experiments on board and carrying out two rendezvous burns to maintain
a stable distance from the free-flying ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy
satellite.
  Late yesterday afternoon, the crew was notified that the two planned
spacewalks for the mission were canceled following extensive ground
analysis and testing of the balky airlock hatch. Mission managers
could not conclusively identify the problem that was causing the hatch
to jam, and decided not to risk unnecessary damage to the hatch or
seals. The engineering analysis will continue even though the
spacewalks have been canceled in case a contingency spacewalk is
needed later in the flight.
  The spacewalks were designed to test tools and maintenance
procedures that would be used during and after the assembly of the
International Space Station, scheduled to begin one year from now.
  With all other shuttle systems in excellent shape, Columbia is
scheduled to remain in orbit for the full 16 days planned for STS-80,
and managers will meet Monday to decide on a possible extension of the
flight to allow for additional astronomical observations by the German
ORFEUS-SPAS satellite.
  The five astronauts will end a nine-hour sleep period with a wakeup
call from Mission Control at 4:56 p.m. central time to begin the
thirteenth flight day of the mission. The crew's sleep shift is moving
later to accommodate a morning landing on December 5.
  Columbia is in a 223 by 212 statute mile orbit, leading the
ORFEUS-SPAS satellite by 25 miles.
 On Sunday, December 1, 1996, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #29
reports:
 The STS-80 crew is waking up and getting started on its 13th day of
the mission, a day that will include some rest time, an opportunity to
talk with family members and a middeck test of a new tool to be used
for future spacewalks.
  Columbia's astronauts were awakened at 4:56 p.m. Central with the
song "Shooting Star" peformed by Bad Company. Following the post-sleep
period, the five Columbia astronauts will spend the first half of
their day off-duty. Off-duty time is scheduled periodically during
long duration shuttle missions to allow crew members to rest so that
they can maintain their busy work schedule throughout the
mission. During the off-duty time, several crew members will have the
opportunity to talk to family members on Earth in private family
conferences.
  In the second half of the day, Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan
and Tom Jones will test one of the tools they were to have used during
their spacewalks on the middeck of Columbia. The "pistol grip" power
tool is a new tool designed for use during the assembly and
maintenance of the International Space Station. Jernigan and Jones
will tighten and release bolts on the middeck floor, where the seats
are secured for launch and entry, to evaluate the tool's operation in
weightlessness.
  Crew members also will fire Columbia's steering jets twice during
the day to maintain the distance between the shuttle and the
ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite. ORFEUS-SPAS continues to perform well
and managers will meet Monday to decide on a possible extension of the
flight to allow for additional astronomical observations.
  Columbia's systems continue to perform as expected as it circles
Earth in a 223 by 212 statute mile orbit.
  STS-80 Flight Day 14 Highlights:
 On Monday, December 2, 1996, 6:30 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #31
reports:
   Scientists on the ground are delighted to have an extra day of work
with the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite while Colombia's crew enjoys
an extra day in space after shuttle managers today decided to extend
the shuttle flight to allow additional observations by the German
satellite.
  Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones will use the
shuttle's robot arm to grab the satellite from orbit at about 2:26
a.m. Central time Wednesday, a day later than originally
scheduled. They will berth it in the payload bay at about 7
a.m. Wednesday.
  The astronauts were awakened for the 14th day of the flight at 5:56
p.m. to the song "Stay" by Jackson Browne, reflecting the bonus day in
orbit granted to the crew. The astronauts will answer questions on the
status of their mission from reporters at the Johnson Space Center in
Houston and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a crew news
conference at 9:21 p.m.
  With the mission extension, Columbia is now scheduled to land at the
Kennedy Space Center just after 7 a.m. Central Friday to wrap up a
17-day flight. Columbia's systems continue to perform in excellent
fashion as it circles Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of 224
statute miles.
  STS-80 Flight Day 15 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, December 3, 1996, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #32
reports:
  Routine space operations were the order of business for Columbia's
five astronauts today as they monitored experiments and discussed the
mission during a news conference. Leading their astronomy spacecraft
by 20 nautical miles, the crewmembers again conducted small engine
firings to maintain that distance prior to the early Wednesday morning
retrieval of the satellite.
  With the extra day of science gathering by the ORFEUS-SPAS, retrieval
is now scheduled to occur at 2:09 a.m. central time following
rendezvous maneuvers by Commander Ken Cockrell and Pilot Kent Rominger
beginning a couple of hours after waking up at 6:26 p.m. today.
  Once grappled by the shuttle's robot arm, the satellite will be
maneuvered through a planned profile to allow data to be gathered in
support of the Orbiter Space Vision System, which uses the payload bay
cameras and a series of strategically placed 'dots' to provide
precise relative position, attitude, and rate cues in a concise
graphical and digital format. Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan, Tom
Jones and Story Musgrave will use these cues to perform robot arm
operations and/or proximity operations before berthing the satellite
in the payload bay at 6:39 a.m. Wednesday.
  Jernigan, Jones and Musgrave signed organ donor cards this morning to
help in increasing public awareness of the importance of organ
transplantation in saving lives. The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services reports that more than 50,000 Americans are on a
national waiting list to receive organs.
  Cockrell and Rominger sent a playful message in support of this
weekend's Army-Navy football game by saying "Go Navy, beat
Army." Cockrell is a captain in the Naval Reserve and Rominger is
Navy Commander. Mission Control's Bill McArthur, a fellow astronaut
and Army Colonel, responded to the downlink, "In your
dreams."
  The astronauts sleep shifting continues to move later each day in
preparation for Friday's planned landing at Kennedy Space Center in
Florida. Landing time for the first opportunity on December 6 is 7:02
a.m.
 On Tuesday, December 3, 1996, 7:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #33
reports:
  While STS-80 crew members get ready to retrieve the ORFEUS-SPAS
astronomy satellite tonight, the flight control team is watching the
weather in Florida and exploring options for bringing Columbia home.
  Shortly after the crew finishes its post-sleep period, Commander Ken
Cockrell and Pilot Kent Rominger will eventually bring Columbia to
within 35 feet of the satellite. Crew members will then capture the
ORFEUS-SPAS from its orbit using the shuttle's robotic arm at about
2:09 a.m. Central Wednesday.
  Once captured, the satellite will be maneuvered at the end of the arm
through a planned profile to allow data to be gathered in support of
the Orbiter Space Vision System. The Space Vision System evaluates the
use of payload bay television cameras and a series of strategically
placed markings to provide precise measurements that can assist the
operator of the robotic arm. Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan, Tom
Jones and Story Musgrave will use these cues to perform robot arm
operations and before berthing the satellite in the payload bay at
6:39 a.m. Wednesday.
  Interspersed with NASA Television's coverage of STS-80 will be launch
coverage of the Mars Pathfinder, planned for a 12:58 a.m. Wednesday
liftoff. Launch coverage on NASA TV begins at 11 p.m.
  Flight controllers are watching the weather at the Kennedy Space
Center in Florida as Columbia nears the end of its mission, and an
option to land on Thursday is being retained in the event the forecast
is unacceptable for a Friday or later landing. Any change in the plans
for a Friday landing will not be made before Wednesday morning at the
earliest.
  STS-80 crew members began their 15th day in space at 6:26 p.m. with
the song "Return to Sender" by Elvis Presley. Columbia's
systems continue to perform as expected in a 220-mile-high orbit.
  STS-80 Flight Day 16 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, December 4, 1996, 8:30 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #34
reports:
  Columbia's five astronauts were notified this morning that their
16-day mission would end as originally scheduled with a landing at
6:33 a.m. central time Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center.
  That news followed todays successful rendezvous and retrieval of the
ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy spacecraft, which completed its two-week
free-flight mission away from Columbia. The satellite was gently
captured by the shuttle's remote manipulator system, or robot arm, by
Mission Specialist Tammy Jernigan at 2:26 a.m.central time after
Commander Ken Cockrell and Pilot Kent Rominger maneuvered Columbia
within 35 feet of the satellite.  The retrieval occurred as the
orbiter approached Central America from the southwest on the 230th
orbit of the flight.
  The decision to plan for a Thursday landing came at the conclusion of
this morning's Mission Management Team meeting and reflected the less
than favorable weather predictions for a Friday landing at both the
Kennedy Space Center in Florida and at Edwards Air Force Base in
California. In addition to the 6:33 a.m. opportunity, there is one
additional opportunity to KSC at 8:10 a.m., and one to Edwards at 9:38
a.m.
  About 3:30 a.m. today, one of Columbia's three navigation units was
taken offline due to an apparent failure in the attitude platform
electronics. The failure of Inertial Measurement Unit 1 has no effect
on Columbia's mission duration or reentry activities, with the
remaining two IMUs performing well.
  Following the capture of ORFEUS-SPAS, the satellite was maneuvered
through a planned profile to allow data to be gathered in support of
the Orbiter Space Vision System experiment.  OSVS is designed to
evaluate the use of onboard television cameras and a series of
strategically placed targets to provide the astronauts with precise
measurements during retrieval activities.  Jernigan, along with fellow
Mission Specialists Tom Jones and Story Musgrave used these cues to
perform about four hours of robot arm operations with ORFEUS-SPAS
prior to locking the satellite in the payload bay at 7:14 a.m.
  The STS-80 crew wraps up its last planned full day in space at 10:30
a.m. and will wake up at 6:26 p.m. to begin final preparations for
their return trip home.  Those preparations include checking the
orbiter's flight control and reaction control systems for their
readiness to support the entry and landing.
 On Wednesday, December 4, 1996, 5:00 p.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #35
reports:
  Columbia's astronauts will wake up to begin what could be their final
day of the mission as flight controllers in Houston keep an eye on
weather systems in Florida.
  Commander Ken Cockrell and his crew will awaken at 6:29 p.m. CST,
starting the 16th day of the mission. After the post-sleep period,
Cockrell and Pilot Kent Rominger will test the orbiter's control
surfaces and steering jets to ensure that they can support landing
operations. Other crew members will deactivate the last experiments on
the middeck of the orbiter and pack their equipment for the return
home.
  Should weather in Florida look as if it can support landing, crew
members will begin their deorbit preparations around 1:30 a.m. early
Thursday morning. Cockrell would then fire the Orbital Manuevering
System engines at 5:27 a.m. to bring Columbia home to the Kennedy
Space Center at 6:33 a.m. CST.  In addition to the first opportunity,
there is one additional opportunity to KSC at 8:10 a.m., and one to
Edwards at 9:38 a.m.
  Columbia's systems are ready to support landing operations. Earlier
today, one of the orbiter's three navigation units was taken offline
due to an apparent failure in the attitude platform electronics. The
failure of Inertial Measurement Unit 1 has no effect on Columbia's
mission duration or reentry activities, with the remaining two IMUs
performing well.
  STS-80 Flight Day 17 Highlights:
 On Thursday, December 5, 1996, 8:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #36
reports:
  Columbia's astronauts will spend another 24 hours in orbit after low
cloud ceilings in the vicinity of the landing site caused a wave-off
of today's landing opportunities to the Kennedy Space Center.
  The Spaceflight Meteorology Group tracked the progress of a bank of
low clouds throughout the morning and finally made a &quot;no go&quot;
call on weather conditions on both landing opportunities this morning
as clouds continued to move toward the Shuttle Landing Facility. With
a more optimistic weather forecast for Friday, Entry Flight Director
Wayne Hale opted to forgo a landing opportunity at Edwards Air Force
Base in California this morning and try for a Friday landing in
Florida.
  Tomorrow's forecast at KSC indicates that the cloud layer will clear
out behind a cold front that should pass through the area overnight,
leaving clear and dry weather in its wake.  Weather at the back-up
site in California are expected to be marginal with low clouds the
primary concern.
  Columbia's five astronauts will begin a planned 8 1/2 hour sleep
period at 11:56 a.m. central today, waking up at 8:26 p.m. to prepare
for their return to Earth.  There are two landing opportunities to KSC
tomorrow.  The first opportunity would see a deorbit burn at 5:55
a.m. central with landing at 7:01 a.m., followed by an opportunity one
revolution later with a deorbit burn at 7:32 a.m. and landing at 8:38
a.m., concluding a voyage of about 6.7 million miles.  There are also
two opportunities for landing at Edwards Air Force Base, with a
deorbit burn at 7:26 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. landing, and again at 9:01
a.m. for a 10:06 a.m. landing.
  STS-80 Flight Day 18 Highlights:
 On Friday, December 6, 1996, 8:00 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #37
reports:
  A second extra day in space was granted to the five astronauts aboard
Columbia when fog prevented a landing at Florida's Kennedy Space
Center and high winds on the Mojave Desert meant that Edwards Air
Force Base also was not available today.  Saturday's landing
opportunities are 5:50 and 7:26 a.m. central time at KSC and 8:54
a.m. on the west coast.  The deorbit burn for each landing attempt
would occur about one hour prior to landing.
  With the extra day, Columbia's 21st mission in space also will become
the longest in shuttle program history.  The mission duration record
of 16 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes falls at 11:43 this morning when the
crew surpasses the mark set on Columbia's last mission -- STS-78 in
June and July.  The last mission to have landing waved off for two
days due to weather was STS-57 aboard Endeavour in June 1993.
  Weather forecasters predict conditions at both KSC and Edwards are
expected to improve for tomorrow's landing attempts with a chance for
some ground fog in Florida and only light winds expected in
California.  Consumables on board can support as much as five more
days in space if required.
  Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Kent Rominger and Mission Specialists
Tammy Jernigan, Tom Jones and Story Musgrave will begin a planned 8
hour sleep period at 12:26 p.m. and receive a wake up call from
Mission Control at 8:26 tonight to once again prepare for their return
to Earth.
  STS-80 Flight Day 19 Highlights:
 On Saturday, December 7, 1996, 6:30 a.m. CST, STS-80 MCC Status Report #38
reports:
  NASA's final Shuttle mission of 1996 concluded early this morning as
Space Shuttle Columbia glided to a 5:49 a.m. central time landing at
the Kennedy Space Center.  The landing brought to an end a
record-setting 18-day, seven million mile journey.
  Weather which had caused two landing waveoffs the past two days was
not a player in today's landing decision.  A cold front which passed
through the KSC area last night produced clear skies for Columbia's
return home.
  The STS-80 mission is the longest Shuttle mission ever flown by NASA.
The previous mark of 16 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes set in July by the
STS-78 crew, was eclipsed late yesterday morning.  The official
mission duration for STS-80 is 17 days, 15 hours, 53 minutes.
  Following post-landing safing of orbiter systems and removal of time
critical experiments, Columbia will be towed from the Shuttle Landing
Facility to the orbiter processing facility.  About six hours after
landing, Commander Ken Cockrell and any available crew members will
participate in a post-landing press conference from KSC.
  A decision on when Columbia's crew will return to Ellington Field will
be made later this morning.
<end of mission>
Mission Name: STS-81 (81)
  Atlantis (18)
  Pad 39-B (39)
  81st Shuttle Mission
  18th Flight OV-104
  5th Mir docking
  Night Launch (16)
  KSC Landing (34)
 NOTE: Click Here for Countdown Homepage
Crew:
  Michael A. Baker (4), Mission Commander
  Brent W. Jett (2), Jr, Pilot
  John M. Grunsfeld (2), Mission Specialist
  Marsha S. Ivins (4), Mission Specialist
  Peter J.K. Wisoff (3), Mission Specialist
  Jerry M. Linenger (2), Mission Specialist
 download from Mir
   John E. Blaha (5)
  NOTE: Jerry M. Linenger (Mir 22-23 / STS-81) will stay aboard Mir until
        being replaced by C. Michael Foale.  He will return on STS-84.
Milestones:
     OPF-3 - 9/26/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 09/26/1996)
     VAB -- 12/05/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 12/05/1996)
     PAD -- 12/10/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 12/09/1996)
    TCDT -- 12/17/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 12/17/1996)
     FRR -- 01/06/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 01/07/1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Nov 1996)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Dec 1996)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Jan 1997)
Payload:
  Mir-Docking/5, SpaceHab-DM, SAREX-II, KIDSAT, TVIS, Biorack, CREAM, OSVS, MSX
Mission Objectives:
     STS-81 is the fifth of nine planned missions to Mir and the
second one involving an exchange of U.S. astronauts.  Astronaut
John Blaha, who has been on Mir since September 19, 1996, will be
replaced by astronaut Jerry Linenger.  Linenger will spend more
than four months on Mir.  He will return to Earth on Space Shuttle
Mission STS-84, scheduled for launch in May 1997.
   Atlantis will carry the SPACEHAB double module providing
additional middeck locker space for secondary experiments.  During the
five days of docked operations with Mir, the crews will transfer water
and supplies from one spacecraft to the other.  A spacewalk by
Linenger and one of his Russian cosmonaut crewmates will be after
Atlantis departs.
     The STS-81 mission also will include several experiments in
the fields of advanced technology, Earth sciences, fundamental
biology,  human life sciences, microgravity, and space sciences.
Data also will supply insight for the planning and development of
the International Space Station, Earth-based sciences of human and
biological processes, and the advancement of commercial
technology.
     STS-81 will involve the transfer of 5,975 pounds of logistics
to and from the Mir,  the largest transfer of items to date.
During the docked phase, 1,400 pounds of water, 1,137.7 pounds of
U.S. science equipment, 2,206.1 pounds of Russian logistics along
with 268.2 pounds of miscellaneous material will be transferred to
Mir.  Returning to Earth aboard Atlantis will be 1,256.6 pounds of
U.S. science material, 891.8 pounds of Russian logistics and 214.6
pounds of miscellaneous material.
Launch:
  Launch 1/12/97 4:27:23.042 am EST.  The launch window was 7-10
minutes.  The exact launch time was announced about 90 minutes prior
to launch following final computation of the location of the Mir Space
Station.  The RSRM propellant mean bulk temperature (PMBT) was
62 degrees F at liftoff.  The Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB's) were
successfully seperated from the External Tank (ET) at T+125.723sec.
Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) cutoff occured at 511.8 sec.
  On 1/10/97, Pad 39-B was cleared to load the onboard cryogenic
tanks and reactant loading was completed on schedule by mid-morning.
The launch team evaluated a problem with the hazardous gas
detection system on the Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP).  The system,
used to detect the levels of gaseous oxygen, hydrogen, helium and
argon on the shuttle was giving erratic data.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/10/1997)
  On 1/7/97, ordnance operations and pressurization of the
Reaction Control System (RCS) were completed.  Final stowage of
experiments in the Spacehab were underway.  The STS-81 crew arrived
at the Shuttle Landing Facility at 10p.m. on 1/8/97 and the
countdown clock picked up at the T-43 hour mark on schedule on
Thursday, 1/9/97 at 7 a.m. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/09/1997)
  On 1/3/97, All Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) functional tests
were complete.  The payload bay doors were open and payload operation
close-outs continued.  Functional tests on Atlantis's C-hatch (EVA hatch)
were completed and the hatch closed for flight.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/03/1997)
  On 12/17/96, The STS-81 crew successfully completed the Terminal
Countdown Demonstration Test and returned to their homes in Houston.
Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) calibrations were also completed and
the pad was closed for normal access as work began on the loading of
hypergolic propellants into Atlantis.  Once the pad is opened again,
efforts will resume to complete the installation and functional checks
of the newly reworked airlock hatch actuators that failed on STS-80.
All actuators will be installed by 12/21/96 and functional checks
completed by 12/24/96. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 12/18/1996)
 On 11/22/96, the new replacement fuel cell No. 2 has been installed
and interface connections and testing will be conducted 11/23/96.  The
payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed as early as Monday
night. External tank and solid rocket booster close-outs continue in
the Vehicle Assembly Building.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/22/1996)
 On 11/20/96, removal of fuel cell No. 1 was complete. Due to concerns
with marginal pH levels, managers have decided to remove and replace
fuel cell No. 2, as well.  Today, managers are determining if this
work can be done with the Spacehab tunnel adapter in place or if the
tunnel must be removed.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/20/1996)
 On 10/11/96, APU installation was complete. Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS)
pod functional checkout and fuel cell voltage tests were in work.  Close
outs continued on the mated left aft and left forward center segments of
STS-81's SRB stack in VAB hi-bay 1. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/11/1996)
Orbit:
  Altitude:    184 statute miles
  Inclination: 51.60
  Orbits:  160
  Duration: 10 days, 4 hours, 56 minutes,  30 seconds.
  Distance:  4.1 Million statute miles
Hardware:
  SRB: BI-082
  SRM: 360T054A(Left),360T054B(Right)
  ET :  ET-83
  MLP : MLP-2
  SSME-1: SN-2041 (Block I)
  SSME-2: SN-2034 (Phase II)
  SSME-3: SN-2042 (Block I)
Landing:
  KSC 1/22/97 9:23am EST.  Landing at KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF)
Runway 33.  Main gear touchdown at 9:22:44 EST (MET 10days 4hr 55min 21sec).
Nose gear touchdown at 9:22:55 (MET 10days 4hours 55min 32sec) and
Wheel Stop at 9:23:50. (MET 10days 4hours 56min 30sec).
 There were two landing opportunities for Atlantis on 1/22/97 at the
Kennedy Space Center. KSC's 1st opportunity would have required a
deorbit burn at 5:42 a.m. CST with a landing at a 6:47 a.m. landing on
runway 3-3 but that opportunity was waived off due to weather. KSC's
2nd opportunity was selected and a 3.5 min deorbit burn occured at
8:17am EST on orbit 160.
Mission Highlights:
  STS-81 Flight Day 1 Highlights:
 On Sunday, January 12, 1997, 4:30 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #1
reports:
  NASA's first Shuttle mission of 1997 began this morning with launch of
Atlantis on Mission STS-81.  Launch came at the opening of the
available launch window at 3:27 a.m. CST.
  At the time of launch, Mir was traveling over the Galapagos Islands
about 2400 n.m. southwest of the Kennedy Space Center.  About 25
minutes after launch, the Mir 22 crew were notified of Atlantis's
launch and were able to view a video uplink of the event.
  Over the next few days, Atlantis will perform a series of
maneuvering burns as it catches up to the orbiting Russian facility.
Docking of Atlantis and Mir will take place on the fourth flight day
of the mission, Tuesday, January 14th at 9:53 p.m. CST.
  During five days of joint docked operations, 5,975 pounds of science
equipment, logistics and water will be transferred between the two
spacecraft.  NASA Astronaut John Blaha, who has been aboard Mir since
mid-September will transfer over to Atlantis and will be coming home
after a 117 day stay aboard the station and 128 days in space.  STS-81
crewmember Jerry Linenger will take Blaha's place on Mir and will
serve as a station researcher until Atlantis again docks with the
station in May.
  The STS-81 crew are scheduled to begin an 8 hour sleep period this
morning at 8:27 a.m. CST.  Atlantis's crew will be awaken at 4:27
p.m. CST this evening to begin their first full day in space.
 On Sunday, January 12, 1997, 6:30 p.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #2
reports:
  Atlantis' six astronauts began their first full day on orbit, waking
at 4:27 p.m. CST today after an eight-hour sleep period following
Sunday's on-time launch at 3:27 a.m.
  Over the next few days, a series of maneuvering burns will be
performed to allow Atlantis to catch up with the orbiting Russian
space station on this fifth Shuttle-Mir docking flight.  Atlantis
currently trails Mir by 6,000 nautical miles, closing at the rate of
about 600 miles with every orbit. Shortly after 7 p.m. today,
Commander Mike Baker and Pilot Brent Jett will fire the right orbital
maneuvering system engine in an 8 foot per second burn, slowing
Atlantis' closure rate to about 580 miles per orbit. Docking of
Atlantis and Mir is scheduled for Flight Day 4, Tuesday, January 14th
at 9:53 p.m. CST.
  Baker and Jett also will calibrate the Shuttle's on-board navigation
systems and check out the tools they will use during the rendezvous
and docking. Mission Specialists Jeff Wisoff, John Grunsfeld, Marsha
Ivins and Jerry Linenger will continue their work activating all
systems and experiments aboard Atlantis and the double Spacehab
module.  The crew members also will exercise on a stationary bicycle
and begin filling the water containers with drinking water that will
be transferred to Mir.
  Atlantis is in a 214 by 345 mile orbit, circling the planet every 90
minutes, with all systems working well.
  STS-81 Flight Day 2 Highlights:
 On Monday, January 13, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #3
reports:
  Atlantis' six astronauts spent their first full day on orbit by
activating many of the experiments on board and preparing for
tomorrow's docking with Russia's Mir Space Station.
  While the orbiter continues to close in on Mir, payload work involved
activating a radiation monitor in addition to the Biorack multipurpose
facility designed to investigate the effects of microgravity and
radiation on plant, tissue, cell and fungus growth.  Mission
Specialists Jeff Wisoff and John Grunsfeld spent much of their work
day setting up and performing initial experiment work in the
experiment's glovebox.
  Pilot Brent Jett tested laptop computers and laser range finders that
will be utilized throughout tomorrow's rendezvous and docking
activities.  While Commander Mike Baker flies the final approach to
Mir, Jett and other crew members will assist by providing range and
range rate data.
  Also in preparation for the transfer activities after docking, Mission
Specialist Marsha Ivins stored about 300 pounds of water in three bags
that will be transferred into storage tanks aboard Mir.  At leat 1,400
pounds of water is expected to be transferred for use by the
cosmonauts during the five days of docked operations.
  The docking is scheduled for 9:53 Tuesday night central time, followed
an hour and a half later by the hatch opening and welcome ceremony.
Soon after the hatches are opened between the two spacecraft, Mission
Specialist Jerry Linenger will exchange places on Mir with John Blaha
who is currently serving as a flight engineer on the Mir-22 crew.
Following the crew swap, Linenger becomes a member of the Mir-22 crew
and Blaha officially becomes a mission specialist aboard Atlantis.
  As of 5 a.m. today, Atlantis was at a phase angle of exactly 180
degrees to the Mir Space Station, meaning the two were an equal
distance in front of, or behind, one another, depending on the
perspective.  That distance was about 8,500 statute miles.
  The astronauts will be awakened at 4:27 this afternoon to begin the
third day of the mission.
 On Monday, January 13, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #4
reports:
 Atlantis and its six-member crew continue to close on Russia's Mir
space station with docking set for 9:53 p.m. CST Tuesday.
  As of 6 p.m., Atlantis was trailing Mir at a distance of 6,300 miles
and catching up at a rate of 570 miles each orbit. Commander Mike
Baker and Pilot Brent Jett will fire Atlantis' reaction control system
jets at 8:40 p.m. CST to fine-tune the Shuttle's approach to Mir.  In
preparation for the docking, the crew has checked out the laptop
computers and laser range finders they will use throughout the
rendezvous and docking activities.  Hatch opening and welcome
ceremonies should begin an hour and a half after docking.
  Today, Mission Specialists Jeff Wisoff, John Grunsfeld and Jerry Linenger
will spend a significant part of their day working with the
on-board treadmill, which is designed for use in the Russian Service
Module of the International Space Station. These tests will evaluate
the restraint system, motorization, running surface stability, and
effectiveness in reducing disturbances to the microgravity environment
during exercise. Three astronauts will perform 30-minute evaluations
as part of their normal daily exercise.  Mission Specialist Marsha
Ivins will work with experiments in the double Spacehab module, in
particular those associated with the Biorack experiment facility
  The crew began its second full day on orbit to the sounds of "It
Keeps You Runnin" by the Doobie Brothers in honor of their upcoming
work with the Treadmill Vibration Isolation and Stabilization System
(TVIS).
  Mission Specialist Jerry Linenger will exchange places on Mir with
John Blaha, joining the Mir-22 crew and working with Commander Valery
Korzun and Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri.  His four-month stay on
Mir will see the arrival of Mir 23 Commander Vasily Tsibiliev, Flight
Engineer Alexander Lazutkin and Cosmonaut Researcher Reinhold Ewald,
and the departure of Korzun, Kaleri and Ewald.
  Baker and Linenger will be interviewed by the Cable News Network at
5 a.m. Tuesday.
  STS-81 Flight Day 3 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, January 14, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #5
reports:
  Atlantis' astronauts continued their chase of the Mir Space Station
and closed in for a docking with the Russian outpost tonight as they
wrapped up their third day of orbital operations.
  With Atlantis narrowing the gap between itself and the Mir, the
astronauts spent most of their workday completing preparations for the
rendezvous and linkup of the two spacecraft, which is scheduled for
9:53 p.m. tonight.  Pilot Brent Jett finished the checkout of
navigation tools which will be used during the rendezvous and joined
John Grunsfeld to install a camera in the Orbiter Docking System to
provide television views of the docking target on the Mir for
Commander Mike Baker to use as he flys Atlantis to its docking from
the Shuttle's aft flight deck control panel.
  Jeff Wisoff and Grunsfeld then extended the outer ring of the Orbiter
Docking System to verify its health and place it in the proper
configuration for its contact and capture of the docking mechanism on
the docking port attached to the Mir.
  Last night, Wisoff, Marsha Ivins and Jerry Linenger spent several
hours assembling a device called TVIS, the Treadmill Vibration
Isolation and Stabilization System, which is an experiment for the
International Space Station program designed to minimize vibrations
caused by crew exercise.  Minimizing or eliminating vibration is
critical to maintaining a quiet environment during processing activity
of sensitive experiments.
  The crew will wake up at 3:37 this afternoon to begin the final
rendezvous activities leading toward the docking tonight.  About an
hour and a half after docking, the hatches between the two spacecraft
will be opened and the five days of docked operations will begin,
including the crew exchange of Linenger with John Blaha and the
transfer of nearly 6,000 pounds of water, experiments and logistical
items.
  Baker and Linenger talked about the rendezvous and docking as well as
life aboard Mir in an interview with CNN prior to going to be this
morning.
  Atlantis is closing in on Mir at a rate of about 310 nautical miles
every orbit.  That closing rate will place the orbiter behind the
station at about 8 miles at the time of the terminal initiation burn
tonight at 7:14 setting the stage for the final approach and docking.
 On Tuesday, January 14, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #6
reports:
   STS-81 Commander Mike Baker's first words to Mission Control this
morning were"Good morning, Houston - 500 miles to go."
  Baker and the rest of the crew - Pilot Brent Jett and Mission
Specialists Jeff Wisoff, John Grunsfeld, Marsha Ivins and Jerry
Linenger - immediately began working on the final preparations for
rendezvous and docking with the Russian Mir Space Station, conducting
a waste water dump, preparing the Spacehab module and hatches for the
link-up, and readying items that will be transferred to Mir for the
journey through the permanent docking adapter tunnel.
  The crew was awakened at 3:38 p.m. CST Tuesday with the
song "Hitchin' a Ride" by Vanity Fare, in honor of both Linenger and
John Blaha. Linenger is hitching a ride aboard Atlantis to the Russian
space station and a four-month stay, and Blaha will be hitching a ride
back to Earth after a four-month stay on Mir.
  Docking remains scheduled for 9:53 p.m. CST tonight. The crew's next
maneuver in support of the rendezvous will be a jet firing at 5:40
p.m. The terminal initiation burn that begins the final approach phase
is scheduled for 7:14 p.m. CST. Atlantis is closing in on Mir at a
rate of about 310 nautical miles every orbit and will be about 8 miles
behind the station at the time of the terminal initiation burn.
  Yesterday, the crew finished the checkout of navigation tools that
will be used during the rendezvous, set up a camera in the Orbiter
Docking System to provide television views of the Mir docking target
for Baker to use at the shuttle's aft flight deck control panel, and
extending the outer ring of the Orbiter Docking System.
  The two spacecraft will be about 210 miles above and southeast of
Moscow at the time of docking. About an hour and a half after docking,
the hatches between the two spacecraft will be opened and the five
days of docked operations will begin, including the crew exchange of
Linenger with Blaha and the transfer of nearly 6,000 pounds of water,
experiments and logistical items.
  STS-81 Flight Day 4 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, January 15, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #7
reports:
  Astronaut Jerry Linenger became the fourth American to occupy a
position on the Russian Space Station Mir early this morning following
the docking of Atlantis to the Russian outpost late Tuesday.  Linenger
officially traded places with Astronaut John Blaha at 3:45 this
morning when their form-fitted Soyuz seat liners were swapped in the
small spacecraft that is used for return to Earth.
  Commander Mike Baker and Pilot Brent Jett guided Atlantis to the fifth
linkup with Mir at 9:55 p.m. Tuesday at a point 210 nautical miles
above the Earth southeast of Moscow, culminating a three-day
rendezvous which began with the shuttle's launch early Sunday morning.
  Two hours after docking, the hatches between Atlantis and Mir were
opened at 11:57 p.m. CST, and Baker and Mir 22 Commander Valery Korzun
shared a hug to mark the start of five days of joint operations
between the two crews.  During the docked phase of the mission, nearly
three tons of food, water and supplies will be transferred between the
two spacecraft.
  After an informal welcoming ceremony in the Mir's core module, the
crewmembers conducted a safety briefing and went right to work,
hauling top priority resupply items into the Russian station.
  The nine crewmembers were upbeat as they began their joint work, Blaha
saying."we're truly in the space station business." He completed 118
days as a Mir crewmember, which began with his arrival on the Russian
station on September 19th as part of Atlantis' STS-79 crew.
  The astronauts and cosmonauts will begin a nine hour sleep period
later this morning at 10:27 a.m. and will be awakened at 7:27
p.m. tonight to begin their first full day of joint docked operations
and transfer work.
 On Wednesday, January 15, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #8
reports:
  Astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis and Space
Station Mir enjoyed an extended sleep period today as the spacecraft
continued to orbit the Earth in tandem at an altitude of 240 miles.
  The Atlantis crew, which now consists of Commander Mike Baker, Pilot
Brent Jett and Mission Specialists Jeff Wisoff, John Grunsfeld, Marsha
Ivins and new addition John Blaha was allowed 9 hours to rest up after
Tuesday's busy rendezvous and docking activities.  The Mir crew, which
now consists of Commander Valery Korzun, Alexander Kaleri and
astronaut Jerry Linenger, got 9 1\2 hours of sleep.
  Linenger is beginning a four-month stay on Mir, and Blaha is ending
his 118 day tour of duty, returning to Earth aboard Atlantis.
  The astronauts will be awakened at 7:27 p.m. tonight to begin their
first full day of joint docked operations and transfer work. More than
6,000 pounds of supplies, experiment equipment and samples will be
exchanged during five days of docked operations. The crews already
have made progress in the transfers, moving critical items immediately
after Tuesday's 9:55 p.m. CST docking.
  STS-81 Flight Day 5 Highlights:
 On Thursday, January 16, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #9
reports:
  The nine astronauts and cosmonauts of the Atlantis-Mir space complex
pressed ahead this morning with the transfer of food, water and
supplies to each other's spacecraft in the second day of joint
operations of the STS-81 mission.
  With both spacecraft in excellent shape, the nine crewmembers floated
back and forth between Atlantis and the Mir, hauling bags of water,
satchels of logistical supplies and experiment hardware. The supplies
and hardware will be used by cosmonauts and U.S.  astronaut Jerry
Linenger during his four months of scientific research aboard the Mir.
  Linenger, who officially became a Mir crewmember early Wednesday,
spent more than two hours with his precedessor on the Russian space
station, John Blaha, who helped familiarize Linenger with his new home
during a handover period. A handover period will be conducted each
night during the docked phase of the mission.
  As their workday began late Wednesday, the crewmembers had already
exchanged almost half of all of the items earmarked for transfer
during this fifth Shuttle-Mir docking flight.  In all, about three
tons of supplies will have been exchanged by the time Atlantis undocks
from the Mir Sunday night.
  Crew members are scheduled to go to sleep about 11:30 this morning and
wake up at 7:27 p.m. today.
 On Thursday, January 16, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #10
reports:
  As the nine astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the Atlantis-Mir complex
slept today, scientists on the ground took advantage of television
cameras in Atlantis' payload bay to perform a detailed inspection of
Mir's exterior.
  The television survey is designed to provide designers of the
International Space Station and other spacecraft information on the
effects of years of exposure to the low-Earth orbit
environment. Scientists and engineers will use this data to better
understand the effects of orbital debris, micrometeoroid and atomic
oxygen on the various materials and coatings used on the 10-year-old
Russian station and to choose the best methods of protecting space
complexes and vehicles of the future.
  When astronauts awaken at 7:27 p.m. today, they will focus their
efforts on the continued exchange of items intended to supply the Mir
22 crew and its science investigations or to return to Earth aboard
Atlantis. Some 6,000 pounds of supplies will have been exchanged by
the time Atlantis undocks Sunday night from Mir. Inside the double
Spacehab module in Atlantis' payload bay, nine of 11 investigations
have begun and three Biorack experiments have been completed.
  Scheduled aboard Mir today are data collection with the Mir
Structural Dynamics Experiment (MiSDE) and Space Acceleration
Measurement System (SAMS) air quality sampling during docked
operations, a daily check of the Biotechnology System (BTS) and
replacement of the growth media in the Cartilage in Space (CART)
experiment.
  The linked spacecraft continue to orbit the Earth at an altitude of
approximately 250 miles, with all systems in excellent working
condition.
  STS-81 Flight Day 6 Highlights:
 On Friday, January 17, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #11
reports:
  Atlantis' astronauts and the cosmonauts of the Mir Space Station
continued to transfer hundreds of pounds of food, water and supplies
between each other's spacecraft today in the third day of joint docked
operations for the nine crewmembers.
  More than two days after Atlantis and the Mir linked together in
orbit, astronaut Marsha Ivins worked with Pilot Brent Jett and Mir 22
Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri to haul more bags of water to the
Russian complex and additional logistical supplies for U.S. astronaut
Jerry Linenger's four-month research flight aboard Mir.  Earlier this
morning, flight controllers reported that more than 1000 pounds of
water had been transferred to the Mir's water tanks.
  Linenger spent several hours continuing to familiarize himself with
his new orbital home, unpacking experiment hardware and helping
astronaut John Blaha transfer biomedical samples and other experiment
results back to Atlantis for Blaha's trip back to Earth with his
shuttle crewmates next week. Blaha is wrapping up his own four-month
tour of duty in space.
  Commander Mike Baker joined Jett this morning in firing Atlantis'
small vernier jet thrusters in an experiment to gather engineering
data for the International Space Station. The jet firings were part of
a structural dynamics test to collect information on the integrity of
the mate between two orbiting space vehicles and the effect of the
firings on the Mir's solar arrays.
  Blaha and Linenger neared the end of their workday by stowing wheat
plants grown in the Mir's Greenhouse experiment for their return to
Earth. New seeds have been planted in the Greenhouse for cultivation
and harvesting during Linenger's stay aboard the Mir.
Several astronauts and cosmonauts will be interviewed by a pair of
Detroit radio stations shortly after 7:30 a.m. with the nine
crewmembers scheduled to begin their sleep period about four hours
later.  Crew wakeup is scheduled for 7:27 p.m.
  The Atlantis-Mir space complex is orbiting the Earth at an altitude of
240 statute miles with no major systems problems reported.
 On Friday, January 17, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #12
reports:
  Astronauts and cosmonauts on board the Atlantis-Mir space station
complex so far have completed 86 percent of the planned transfer of
items, moving almost 6,000 pounds of supplies, experiment equipment
and samples between the two vehicles, and another 1,100 pounds of
water for use on the Mir space station after Atlantis undocks.
  The joint crew will continue the transfer efforts when it awakens at
7:27 p.m. CST today to begin the third full day of docked operations.
   Commander Mike Baker and Pilot Brent Jett today will power down a
number of non-essential electrical systems aboard Atlantis in an
effort to reduce consumption of the liquid hydrogen and oxygen stores
and allow for the possibility of a one-day extension of the
flight. Mission managers will meet in Houston on Saturday to consider
the option of adding another day of post-undocking operations for the
Atlantis crew.
  The possibility of an extension began being discussed Friday after
scientists associated with the Treadmill Vibration Isolation and
Stabilization System (TVIS) discovered that the data collected Jan. 13
had not been stored on its laptop computer. The treadmill is designed
for use in the Russian Service Module of the International Space
Station. The tests are designed to evaluate the restraint system,
motorization, running surface stability, and effectiveness in reducing
disturbances to the microgravity environment during exercise.
  Early Friday, one of three inertial measurement units which provide
navigation information to the shuttles general purpose computers was
placed in standby mode after its readings showed significant
drifting. The IMU will be brought out of standby for use during
Atlantis' landing.
  In addition to continuing the transfer of items to and from the
Russian space station, the joint crew will continue work with
experiments on Mir and in the double Spacehab module in Atlantis
payload bay.
  The Atlantis-Mir space complex is orbiting the Earth at an altitude
of 240 statute miles.
  STS-81 Flight Day 7 Highlights:
 On Saturday, January 18, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #13
reports:
 Atlantis' astronauts and the cosmonauts of the Russian Space Station
Mir continued to transfer hundreds of pounds of water, supplies, and
logistical items to each other's spacecraft this morning as
consideration was given to extending the flight by one day to try to
reclaim lost data from an experiment for the International Space
Station program.
  More than 1,300 pounds of water have now been transferred from
Atlantis to the Mir to resupply the Russian outpost, along with
equipment which will be used by astronaut Jerry Linenger during his
four-month research mission.
  A bioprocessing device and an experiment used to grow cartilage
cells during astronaut John Blaha's four month stay on the Mir were
transferred to Atlantis early today for the trip back to Earth.
  Linenger spent most of the day collecting water samples from the Mir
for analysis back on Earth and Blaha continued to exercise on a
treadmill on the Mir to stay in shape for his return to Earth next
week and a readaptation to gravity after four months of
weightlessness.
  NASA managers will meet this morning to consider options to recoup
lost data from the Treadmill Vibration Isolation System (TVIS)
experiment.  The treadmill device was used by three astronauts early
Tuesday to collect data on how vibrations imparted by crew exercise
may be reduced or eliminated on the International Space Station.
Those vibrations could disturb delicate microgravity experiments on
the new space complex, whose assembly is scheduled to begin late this
year.  The loss of data was traced to a faulty laptop computer
attached to the treadmill device.
  Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the Mir Space Station at 8:15
p.m. Sunday, leaving Linenger behind on the Mir to begin his four
months of scientific studies.  In preparation for his mission aboard
Mir, which includes the first spacewalk by an astronaut as part of a
Mir crew, Linenger videotaped the path he and Mir-23 Commander Vasily
Tsibliev will follow throughout that spacewalk scheduled for March.
The two will review the tape before the spacewalk once Tsibliev and
Mir-23 Flight Engineer Alexander Lazutkin arrive on Feb. 12.  The
taping is being conducted now to take advantage of the unique
perspective the shuttle's windows provide of the station.
  Crew sleep is scheduled for 11:30 this morning with wakeup planned at
7:27 tonight.
 On Saturday, January 18, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #14
reports:
 As flight controllers prepare to awaken the nine astronauts and
cosmonauts of the orbiting Atlantis-Mir complex for their final full
day of docked operations, a decision on whether to extend the STS-81
mission has been delayed.
  NASA managers met Saturday morning to consider adding a day
following undocking to regain lost data from a treadmill experiment,
but decided to wait until Monday to make a final decision. Schedulers
are adding a second assembly, exercise session and tear-down of the
Treadmill Vibration Isolation System (TVIS) to the timeline, but
managers won't commit to the extra day until it is known whether the
data gathering can be completed in the existing 10-day flight plan.
  The treadmill device was used by three astronauts early Tuesday to
collect data on how vibrations imparted by crew exercise may be
reduced or eliminated on the International Space Station. The loss of
data was traced to a faulty component of the laptop computer attached
to the treadmill device.
  Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the Mir Space Station at 8:15
p.m. CST Sunday, leaving astronaut Jerry Linenger behind for four
months of scientific studies. John Blaha, now a member of the STS-81
crew, will return to Earth aboard Atlantis after four months of
research on Mir. Commander Mike Baker and pilot Brent Jett will guide
Atlantis in a fly-around of the Russian station after the vehicles
separate.
  Mission specialist Marsha Ivins continues to oversee the transfer of
hundreds of pounds of water, supplies, and equipment between the two
spacecraft.  By the end of flight day seven early Saturday, 93 percent
of items had been transferred.  More than 1,400 pounds of water have
been carried from Atlantis to resupply the Russian outpost.
  Baker, Jett, Blaha, Ivins and mission specialists Jeff Wisoff and
John Grunsfeld are scheduled to awaken at 7:27 tonight. All the
U.S. and Russian crew members will participate in a joint news
conference from orbit at 1:27 a.m. CST Sunday, followed at 3:27
a.m. by a farewell ceremony.  Hatches between the two craft will close
about 6:30 a.m.
  STS-81 Flight Day 8 Highlights:
 On Sunday, January 19, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #15
reports:
  With all of their joint transfer activities complete, Atlantis'
astronauts and the cosmonauts of the Mir Space Station bid farewell to
one another following five days of docked operations in which more
than three tons of food, water and supplies were moved back and forth
between the two spacecraft.
   Commander Mike Baker, Pilot Brent Jett and Mission Specialists Jeff
Wisoff, John Grunsfeld, Marsha Ivins and John Blaha said goodbye to
Mir 22 Commander Valery Korzun, Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri and
the newest Mir crewmember, astronaut Jerry Linenger.  The hatches on
the two spacecraft were closed at 6:46 a.m. after completing a review
of all of the items transferred since the two vehicles docked Tuesday
night.  Among the transfer items were about 1,600 pounds of water for
use by the Mir crew over the next few months.
  Prior to hatch closure, the astronauts and cosmonauts conducted a
formal farewell ceremony in the Mir Core Module after fielding
questions from Russian and U.S. reporters in a joint news conference.
   Following final pressure checks to the docking systems on the
Shuttle and the Mir, Atlantis will undock from the Mir tonight at
8:15.  Jett will conduct a flyaround inspection of the Mir as Atlantis
flies in a tail-forward attitude at a distance of about 400 feet.  A
final firing of Atlantis' maneuvering jets about two hours later will
enable Atlantis to separate from Mir for the final time until the
orbiter's return in May with astronaut Mike Foale, who will replace
Linenger aboard the Russian outpost.
  The nine crewmembers are scheduled to begin an abbreviated sleep
period at 11:30 this morning and will be awakened at 5:27 this
afternoon to begin final preparations for undocking.
 On Sunday, January 19, 1997, 5:30 p.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #16
reports:
  The crews of the docked Atlantis-Mir complex were awakened at 5:27
p.m. CST to the song,."So Long, Farewell," from the musical "The Sound
of Music"; and quickly began making final preparations for
undocking, scheduled for 8:15 p.m. CST.
  Commander Mike Baker, pilot Brent Jett and mission specialists Jeff
Wisoff, John Grunsfeld and Marsha Ivins will be joined by John Blaha
on their return to Earth. After four months aboard the Russian
outpost, Blaha said farewell to Mir 22 Commander Valery Korzun, Flight
Engineer Alexander Kaleri and the newest Mir crewmember, astronaut
Jerry Linenger, when the hatches on the two spacecraft closed at 6:46
a.m. today.
  Atlantis will conduct a fly-around inspection of Mir after it undocks,
flying in a tail-forward attitude at a distance of about 400
feet. Atlantis' maneuvering jets will be fired about two hours later,
separating the multipurpose space truck from Mir. Alantis will return
on the sixth Shuttle-Mir docking flight in May with Linenger's
replacement, British-born astronaut Mike Foale.
  After the undocking and flyaround are complete, the Atlantis
astronauts will once again set up the Treadmill Vibration Isolation
System (TVIS) to test its ability to keep astronaut exercise sessions
from disturbing sensitive experiments on the International Space
Station. Mission managers are keeping open the option of a mission
extension day if required to glean all necessary data from the TVIS
test. The crew has not been able to recover data from a previous test
on Tuesday.
  At 6:24 a.m. CST Monday, crew members will participate in an interview
by the Internet magazine."Mungo Park," in which reporters will forward
questions posed by on-line participants. A wealth of shuttle
information can also be found on the NASA Shuttle Web at
http://shuttle.nasa.gov.
The Atlantis-Mir complex continues to orbit the Earth at an altitude
of 240 miles.
  STS-81 Flight Day 9 Highlights:
 On Monday, January 20, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #17
reports:
  Atlantis and the Mir Space Station are flying on their own this
morning after undocking from one another last night, ending five days
of joint operations in which more than three tons of food, water and
logistical supplies were transferred between the two spacecraft.
  Atlantis and Mir undocked at 8:15 p.m. CST last night over Central
Russia, southeast of Moscow.  Atlantis' astronauts left Jerry Linenger
behind on Mir to begin four months of scientific research, and picked
up astronaut John Blaha, who is wrapping up his four month mission
which began last September.
  After Atlantis separated from Mir, Pilot Brent Jett initiated a
two-revolution flyaround of the Russian complex at a distance of about
560 feet.  At 10:00 p.m., Jett fired maneuvering jets to separate
Atlantis from Mir for the final time until May, when the shuttle will
return on STS-84 to deliver astronaut Mike Foale to the outpost as
Linenger's replacement.
  With the undocking complete, the astronauts began reassembling a
treadmill device in Atlantis' middeck. The treadmill is designed to
reduce or eliminate vibrations from crew exercise which could one day
compromise the integrity of microgravity experiments on board the
International Space Station.  Technical glitches last week resulted in
lost data which prompted engineers to reschedule the experiment.
  Commander Mike Baker, Blaha and Jett took turns exercising on the
Treadmill Vibration Isolation System before it was disassembled for
the remainder of the flight.  Payload controllers confirmed they
received valuable data from the experiment on ground computers.
  Based on the successful retrieval of that data, it is unlikely that
Atlantis' mission will be extended beyond the planned end of mission
Wednesday.  An orbit adjust burn is scheduled this morning before the
crew goes to sleep. The burn is designed to protect daylight landing
opportunities at both the prime landing site at the Kennedy Space
Center and the backup location at Edwards Air Force Base in case the
mission was extended two days or more for weather reasons.
  The six astronauts are scheduled to wake up at 8:27 p.m. to check all
orbiter systems in anticipation of Wednesday's landing.
 On Monday, January 20, 1997, 6:30 p.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #18
reports:
  With the exchange of two crew members and more than three tons of
food, water, equipment and experiment samples complete, the main
objectives of Atlantis' international cooperation mission have been
achieved and the astronauts aboard the space shuttle are turning their
attentions toward packing up for the return home.
  Mission specialist John Blaha will return to Earth Wednesday after
four months aboard the Russian the Mir Space Station , while fellow
astronaut Jerry Linenger will remain on Mir for another four months of
research. Their respective orbital homes are now 1,000 miles apart and
the distance is growing by almost 150 miles each orbit.
  Before turning in for an extended nine-hour sleep period, Atlantis
commander Mike Baker and pilot Brent Jett adjusted the shuttle's orbit
to protect daylight landing opportunities at the prime landing site at
the Kennedy Space Center and the backup location at Edwards Air Force
Base in case weather conditions force an extension of the mission.
  Baker, Jett, Blaha and mission specialists John Grunsfeld, Jeff Wisoff
and Marsha Ivins are scheduled to wake at 8:27 p.m. CST, then at 11:30
p.m. conduct a check of the aerodynamic control surfaces that will be
used to guide the shuttle in Earth's atmosphere, and at 12:30 a.m. CST
Tuesday hot fire the reaction control system thrusters that steer the
vehicle outside the atmosphere.
  Aside from exercise sessions for all six crew members, the rest of the
day will be devoted to packing up and securing equipment for the ride
home.
  STS-81 Flight Day 10 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, January 21, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #19
reports:
  Atlantis' astronauts are readying for their planned return to Earth
tomorrow, having tested the Shuttle's key flight control systems for
entry and landing.
  Commander Mike Baker and Pilot Brent Jett activated one of Atlantis'
three hydraulic power units last night, successfully exercising the
Shuttle's aerosurfaces. Baker and Jett then fired Atlantis' steering
jets in a routine prelanding checkout. One of the steering jets
failed, but there are redundant systems and the failed jet will not
impact a safe landing.
  The astronauts also tested a medical restraint system in the Spacehab
module, placing two crewmembers in the device. The device may be used
on the International Space Station to move an ill or injured astronaut
from one module to another.
  Crew members then began to stow items away in their crew cabin before
the scheduled deactivation of Spacehab systems and associated
hardware. Cabin stowage is expected to be completed before the crew's
sleep period begins early this afternoon.
  On the eve of his return to Earth after four months in orbit, Blaha
discussed his research flight on the Russian Space Station Mir with
four engineers in a Johnson Space Center test chamber. The engineers
are involved in a 60-day analysis of regenerative life support
systems. Such support systems may be used in future spacecraft
involved in interplanetary travel. Before sleep Blaha will install a
special seat in the middeck where he will sit for landing to make his
readaptation to Earth's gravity more comfortable. A landing tomorrow
will culminate in 128 days in space for Blaha, 118 of which he spent
on Mir.
  Aboard Mir, U.S. astronaut Jerry Linenger unpacked his gear,
acclimating himself to his new orbital home. He'll start his
scientific experiments in earnest later this week.
  There are two landing opportunities for Atlantis tomorrow at the
Kennedy Space Center. The first involves a deorbit burn at 5:42
a.m. CST which will enable Atlantis to drop out of orbit for a 6:47
a.m. landing on runway 3-3. A backup opportunity also is available 90
minutes later. Edwards Air Force Base in California is not expected to
be called up for landing support on Wednesday.
  The early weather forecast calls for mostly favorable conditions for a
KSC landing with scattered and broken clouds predicted and possible
patchy ground fog.
  Atlantis is orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 217 statute
miles. The astronauts' sleep period begins at 12:27 p.m. They will be
awakened at 9:27 p.m. to begin landing preparations.
  STS-81 Flight Day 11 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, January 22, 1997, 9:30 a.m. CST, STS-81 MCC Status Report #20
reports:
  NASA's first Shuttle mission of 1997 came to an end early this morning
when Atlantis landed at Kennedy Space Center to conclude Shuttle
Mission STS-81.  The shuttle touched down on KSC's runway 33 at 8:23
a.m. at the end of a 10 day, 3.8 million mile journey.  Atlantis'
return home was delayed one orbit while the flight control team
evaluated dynamic weather in the vicinity KSC.
  The STS-81 flight was the fifth in a series of joint missions between
the U.S. Space Shuttle and the Russian Space Station Mir and the
second one involving an exchange of U.S. astronauts.  Shortly after
docking, STS-81 crewmember Jerry Linenger transferred over to the
station, becoming a member of the Mir 22 crew.  Linenger replaced
astronaut John Blaha, who had been aboard the orbiting facility since
mid-September.  Blaha spent a total of 128 days in space, 118 of them
as a Mir crewmember.  Linenger will live and work on Mir until he is
replaced by astronaut Mike Foale when Atlantis once again docks to the
station in May on Mission STS-84.
  About an hour after landing, the STS-81 crew moved from Atlantis into
the Crew Transport Vehicle (CTV).  The crew will then be transported
to the Operations and Checkout building at KSC where they will be
reunited with their families.  Once the crew is out of the vehicle,
technicians can begin removing time critical payloads from the
SPACEHAB module.
  Later today, Atlantis will be towed off the runway and into the
Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) at KSC.  Following standard
post-flight deservicing work, Atlantis will be prepared for the sixth
Shuttle-Mir mission on STS-84.
  The STS-31 crew will remain overnight at Kennedy Space Center.  They
are scheduled to depart KSC tomorrow morning around 12 noon CST and
arrive back in Houston at Ellington Air Field around 3:00 p.m. CST.
  The next Shuttle flight scheduled to be conducted is Discovery on
Mission STS-82, the second servicing mission to the Hubble Space
Telescope.  The current STS-82 target launch date is February 11.
NASA managers will set the official launch date at a flight readiness
review meeting at KSC on January 30.
<end of mission>
Mission Name: STS-82 (82)
  Discovery (22)
  Pad 39-A (59)
  82nd Shuttle Mission
  22th Flight OV-103
  Night Launch (17)
  KSC Landing
  9th Night Landing
 NOTE: Click Here for Countdown Homepage
Crew:
  Kenneth D. Bowersox (4), - Commander
  Scott J. Horowitz (2), Pilot
  Mark C. Lee (4), Mission Specialist
  Steven A. Hawley (4), Mission Specialist
  Gregory J. Harbaugh (4), Mission Specialist
  Steven L. Smith (2), Mission Specialist
  Joseph R. Tanner (2), Mission Specialist
Milestones:
     OPF -- 06/30/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/01/1996)
     VAB -- 01/11/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/09/1997)
     PAD -- 01/17/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/17/1997)
    TCDT -- 01/22/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/22/1997)
     FRR -- 01/30/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/30/1997)
  LAUNCH -- 02/11/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/11/1997)
Payload:
  Hubble Servicing Mission 2
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Jan 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Feb 1997)
Mission Objectives:
  Service the Hubble Space Telescope.  The STS-82 mission is the
second in a series of planned servicing missions to the orbiting
Hubble Space Telescope (HST).  HST was placed in orbit on April 24,
1990 by the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-31.  The first servicing
mission was done by Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-61. Work performed
on the telescope will significantly upgrade the scientific
capabilities of the HST and keep the telescope functioning smoothly
until the next scheduled servicing missions in 1999 and 2002.
  Starting on the third day of the mission, the seven-member crew will
conduct at least four spacewalks (also called Extravehicular
Activities or EVAs) to remove two older instruments and install two
new astronomy instruments, as well as other servicing tasks.  The two
older instruments being replaced are the Goddard High Resolution
Spectrometer and the Faint Object Spectrograph.  Replacing these
instruments are the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) and
the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS).
HST's current complement of science instruments includes two cameras,
two spectrographs, and fine guidance sensors.
  In addition to installing the new instruments, astronauts will
replace other existing hardware with upgrades and spares.  Hubble will
get a refurbished Fine Guidance Sensor, an optical device that is used
on HST to provide pointing information for the spacecraft and is used
as a scientific instrument for astrometric science.  The Solid State
Recorder (SSR) will replace one of HST's current reel-to-reel tape
recorders.  The SSR provides much more flexibility than a reel-to-reel
recorder and can store ten times more data.  One of Hubble's four
Reaction Wheel Assemblies (RWA) will be replaced with a refurbished
spare. The RWA is part of Hubble's Pointing Control Subsystem.  The
RWAs use spin momentum to move the telescope into position.  The
wheels also maintain the spacecraft in a stable position.  The wheel
axes are oriented so that the telescope can provide science with only
three wheels operating, if required.
Launch:
  Launch February 11, 1997 3:55:17 am.  Window was 65 minutes.
The exact window was announced a few hours before launch and adjusted
at the T-9 minute mark based on the final computation of the location
of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).  In Firing Room 3, of the
Launch Control Center (LCC), a final poll of the launch team and the
Mission Management Team was conducted and the countdown clock picked
up at the T-9 minute mark at 3:47am EST.  The Orbiter Access Arm (OAA)
was retracted at T-7 minute 21 seconds (3:50am EST) and a go was
given for APU prestart at 3:50am EST.  The APU's were started at the
T-5 minute mark and the flight crew reported 3 good APU's.  Discovery's
aero surfaces were sequenced and the three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME's)
were moved into launch position.  Launch occured exactly on schedule.
Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB's) were seperated at 2 minutes 2 seconds with
Discovery at an altitude 35nm and a distance of 40 miles from launch site.
  The launch countdown was conducted with minimal problems.  Loading
of the cryogenic reactants into the external tank began at 8:30
p.m. EST on February 10, 1997. Tanking was delayed about 1 1/2 hours
in order to send a contingency team into the Mobile Launcher Platform
(MLP) at the pad to assess the integrity of the gaseous nitrogen purge
system. This was done as part of the troubleshooting effort to
understand why unusually high concentrations of oxygen were appearing
in the orbiter's payload bay.  Once the team cleared the pad, tanking
commenced. The high readings of oxygen in the orbiter's midbody and
payload bay had stabilized but engineers continued to monitor them as
the countdown proceeded.  Tanking started about 1.5 hours late and
engineers determined the excess oxygen in the payload bay was due to
trapped gas in the honeycomb structures of the payload bay. An earlier
concern with fuel cell No. 3 was cleared and the fuel cell was
operating properly. An additional check of the fuel cell's pH level
was taken at about T-3 hours before launch as a final confirmation.
  The seven members of the STS-82 crew were awakened at 7:30 tonight
and departed the Operations and Checkout Building for the pad at about
12:31am.  Milestones for launch day (Reference KSC Press Release
20-97) start the day with close-out preparations in the white room and
the checking of cockpit switch configurations.  Then at about 1:01
a.m. EST, the Flight crew begins entry into the orbiter and the
atronauts perform air-to-ground voice checks with Launch Control and
Mission Control.  At about 2:26 a.m., Discovery's crew hatch should
close and the Eastern Range begins final network open loop command
checks.  Then the hatch is sealed and cabin leak checks performed.
Then white room is closed-out and the Close-out crew moves to fallback
area.
 At L-1 day, Air Force weather forecasters indicated a 30 percent
probability of weather prohibiting launch on Tuesday. By launch day
that estimate was changed to 20 percent. A disturbance developing over
the South Central U.S. is expected to possibly increase cloudiness
through Monday. At launch time, the only concerns are for low and mid
level clouds. At launch time, the temperature at the pad is expected
to be about 56 degrees; relative humidity about 86 percent; clouds
scattered at 2,500 feet and 14,000 feet and broken at 25,000 feet; pad
winds from the northwest at 12-18 knots.
   On Sunday, Febuary 9, 1997, Pad 39A was cleared early in the
morning to load the onboard cryogenic tanks with liquid hydrogen and
liquid oxygen reactants. Reactant loading was completed and off-load of
several hundred pounds of the cryogenics not required for this mission
continued through most of the day. The reactants provide electricity
for the orbiter and crew while in space and drinking water as a
by-product for the 10-day mission. At about 10 a.m. on 2/10/97, checks
of the fuel cells were done to evaluate the pH content of the water
by-product. Also, engineers evaluated higher than allowable oxygen
readings in the orbiter's midbody following cryogenic loading
today.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/09/1997)
   On Thursday, February 6, 1997, during aft close-out operations,
cycle tests on two aft engine compartment vent doors revealed an
intermittent failure of the doors to operate properly. Troubleshooting
of this problem concluded that the power drive unit (PDU) for the vent
doors had a bad circuit.  Managers this afternoon decided to replace
the PDU. The additional work will delay aft close-outs but should
not impact launch on Tuesday. The aft doors are now scheduled to be
installed Saturday night. The countdown remains on schedule to begin
at 4 a.m. on February 8, 1997.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/07/1997)
  The seven STS-82 crew members arrived at KSC on Friday, Feb. 7, at
7:30am.  The launch countdown will begin at the T-43 hour mark at 4
a.m. EST Saturday, Feb. 8. Launch is currently targeted for 3:56
a.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the opening of a 65-minute launch
window.  (Reference KSC Press Release 20-97)
  On 2/4/97, cryogenic servicing of the Near Infrared Camera and
Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) continued and the payload
end-to-end test began. Aft engine compartment close-outs continued and
the aft doors scheduled to be installed on Saturday (2/8/97). The crew
is scheduled to arrive at KSC Friday morning (2/7/97) and the
countdown is set to begin Saturday.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/04/1997)
  On 1/31/97, during the Flight Readiness Review (FRR) in the
mission briefing room of the Operations and Checkout Building (O&C) at
KSC, the mission management team selected February 11, 1997 as the
official launch date for STS-82. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/31/1997)
  On 1/29/97, payloads were installed into the orbiter's payload
bay and space suits used for the mission were installed into the
orbiters airlock.  This weekend, workers will remove and replace
the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) nozzle plugs from the SRBs at the pad.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/29/1997)
  On 1/17/97, Discovery began its journey from the VAB to the launch
pad shortly after 7 a.m.  Rollout was stopped at approximately 8:25
a.m.  after engineers heard a "load band" and noticed that a crack had
developed on deck plating of MLP-1.  The 24-foot long "Y"-shaped crack
is on the surface of the MLP and runs from near the left hand SRB
flame hole toward the near corner of the MLP.  Structural engineers
have determined the integrity of the MLP has not been compromised and
Discovery's trip to the launch pad resumed shortly after noon EST.
(Reference KSC Press Release 13-97)
  On 12/18/96, work on the airlock hatch actuators continued.  The
Ku-band deployable assembly (DA) will be removed and replaced with
the DA from Columbia.  A retest of the antenna is scheduled
for 12/19/96 and the payload bay doors will be closed for the
holidays on 12/20/96.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/18/1996)
  The left hand orbital maneuvering system pod was installed on
11/16/96 and interface verification testing will begin 11/21/96. Fuel
cell No. 1 will be removed and replaced on Friday. Stacking of the
solid Vehicle Assembly Building.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 11/20/1996)
 On 11/4/96, the orbiter docking system was stowed for flight and
the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) #2 wiring work was completed.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/11/1996)
Orbit:
  Altitude:    360 statute miles
  Inclination: 28.45
  Orbits:  149
  Duration: 9 days, 23 hours, 38 minutes,  09 seconds.
  Distance:  miles
Hardware:
  SRB: BI-085
  SRM:
  ET :  SN-81
  MLP : MLP-1
  SSME-1: SN-2037
  SSME-2: SN-2040
  SSME-3: SN-2038
Landing:
  KSC 2/21/97 3:32 am EST.  Landing at KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF)
Runway 33. Main gear touchdown at 3:32:26 am EST (MET 9days 23hr 37min 09sec).
Nose gear touchdown at 3:32:37 am EST (MET 9days 23hours 37min 20sec) and
Wheel Stop at 3:33:26 am EST (MET 9days 23hours 38min 09sec).
  The first deorbit opportunity was on orbit 148 with an engine firing
at 11:38 p.m. CST followed by landing at 12:50 a.m. CST. This landing
opportunity was waived off due to cloud formation at the runway. (Reference KSC Weather History 02/21/1996 0000).
KSC's 2nd opportunity was selected and a 3.5 min deorbit burn occured at
2:21 am EST on orbit 149.
Mission Highlights:
  STS-82 Flight Day 1 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, February 11, 1997, 4:00 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #1
reports:
  Right on time, Discovery and its seven astronauts lifted off from the
Kennedy Space Center to begin their chase to rendezvous with and
retrieve the Hubble Space Telescope for its second on-orbit servicing.
  Commander Ken Bowersox, Pilot Scott Horowitz and Mission Specialists
Joe Tanner, Steve Hawley, Greg Harbaugh, Mark Lee and Steve Smith
rocketed away from Launch Pad 39-A at 2:55 A.M. Central time, arcing
out over the Atlantic Ocean as the 12-ton Telescope soared over
Central Africa at an altitude of about 320 statute miles. Eight and a
half minutes later, Discovery reached orbit, returning to the Shuttle
fleet for the first time since the summer of 1995 when it was shipped
to California for a lengthy maintenance period.
  Later this morning, the astronauts plan to conduct the first of
several rendezvous burns of the Shuttle's maneuvering jets to begin to
close in on Hubble, which is scheduled to be retrieved by Discovery's
robot arm early Thursday morning. Lee, Smith, Harbaugh and Tanner,
working in teams, will then conduct four spacewalks to replace two of
Hubble's key scientific instruments and to install other upgraded
components.
  The astronauts are scheduled to begin an eight-hour sleep period at
10:26 A.M. Central time and will be awakened just before 6:30 this
evening to begin their second day in orbit in which they will checkout
Discovery's robot arm and the spacesuits which will be worn during the
four servicing spacewalks.
 On Tuesday, February 11, 1997, 7:00 p.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #2
reports:
  The STS-82 astronauts will spend the second day of the mission
preparing Discovery, their tools and even their own bodies for the
upcoming servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope.
  The crew's first activity tonight, after the post-sleep period, will
be to decrease the atmospheric pressure within the crew cabin to 10.2
psi. This slightly lower cabin pressure will help spacewalkers Mark
Lee, Steve Smith, Greg Harbaugh and Joe Tanner maintain the higher
level of oxygen in their bloodstream necessary to safely operate in
the even lower pressure of their spacesuits. It also will eliminate
the need for the spacewalkers."pre-breath" pure oxygen for several
hours.
  About the same time, Mission Specialist Steve Hawley will check out
the robot arm that he will use to snare the telescope from orbit early
Thursday morning. He will then use the arm to perform a survey of the
equipment in the payload bay that will be used during the spacewalks.
  Around midnight tonight, crew members will begin checking out the
tools they will use during the telescope servicing activities, and
preparing the airlock for the first the four extravehicular
activities. They will then inspect the tools needed for the rendezvous
itself. Astronauts will close out the day with a check of their
spacesuits.
  The crew began its day at 6:25 p.m. with the song."Magic Carpet Ride"
by Steppenwolf.
  At the time of crew wake up, Discovery was about 3,100 n.m. behind the
telescope and was closing at a rate of 305 n.m. per orbit. The HST
control team will shortly begin to shut down the telescope's systems
to prepare it for the servicing mission. Capture of the telescope is
currently expected at 1:50 a.m. Thursday morning with the first
spacewalk taking place late that night. All systems on both spacecraft
are performing as expected.
  STS-82 Flight Day 2 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, February 12, 1997, 6:30 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #3
reports:
  Discovery's seven astronauts spent their first full day on orbit
preparing for tomorrow's retrieval of the Hubble Space Telescope by
checking out the Shuttle's robot arm, surveying the payload bay
worksites and testing the spacesuits that will be used for the four
planned spacewalks beginning Thursday night.
  Using the Shuttle's 50-foot remote manipulator system, Mission
Specialist Steve Hawley conducted a survey of the payload bay while
putting the arm through its paces to verify it's health in support the
capture of the telescope, which is scheduled at 1:50 A.M.  Central
time tomorrow.
  The crew cabin's atmospheric pressure was lowered to reduce the
amount of time required to prebreathe oxygen prior to the spacewalks
to be conducted by Mark Lee, Steve Smith, Greg Harbaugh and Joe
Tanner. Those spacewalks are scheduled to occur on consecutive nights
beginning Thursday at about 10:20 p.m.
  To prepare for the spacewalks, the astronauts assembled on the
middeck to checkout all of the tools they will use while servicing the
telescope. They successfully tested the spacesuits they will wear
while working around and in Hubble in the open cargo bay.
  Commander Ken Bowersox and Pilot Scott Horowitz conducted additional
rendezvous maneuvers this morning, designed to adjust Discovery's
closing rate on the telescope so the Shuttle will arrive about 2400
feet below Hubble an hour before its scheduled retrieval in the
morning. At 6 A.M., Discovery was less than a thousand miles behind
the telescope and closing at the preplanned rate.
  The astronauts are scheduled to begin an eight hour sleep period at
about 9:30 this morning and will receive a wakeup call from Mission
Control at 5:25 this afternoon to begin rendezvous activities.
  Discovery continues to orbit the Earth at an altitude of 360 statute
miles will all of this systems in excellent shape.
 On Wednesday, February 12, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #4
reports:
 With its aperture door closed and antennas secure, the Hubble Space
Telescope is standing by to be plucked from its orbit for servicing by
the STS-82 crew.
  Tonight, Commander Ken Bowersox and Pilot Scott Horowitz will
perform the final series of thruster firings to bring the Space
Shuttle Discovery within robot arm's reach of the orbiting
telescope. The maneuver that signals the final stage of the
rendezvous, known as the Terminal Initiation or."TI burn," will occur
shortly after midnight in Houston. Then, as the orbiter approaches,
Bowersox will control firing of the steering jets to make sure they do
not contaminate the sensitive HST instruments.
  When Discovery and HST are close enough, Mission Specialist Steve
Hawley will use the orbiter's robot arm to gently capture the
telescope and pull it to its work platform in the payload bay. Grapple
is scheduled for 2:15 a.m. CST and berthing will occur at
approximately 3 a.m. Astronauts will then use the cameras on the robot
arm and in the payload bay to give Hubble's ground control team a
chance to inspect the exterior of the telescope for the first time
since the first servicing mission in 1993.
  The tools and systems needed for the rendezvous operations and the
four six-hour spacewalks were checked by crew members during the
second day of the mission. All systems are ready to support the
servicing operations.
  The first of the spacewalks is set to begin at about 10:20
p.m. Thursday night with astronauts Mark Lee and Steve Smith serving
as the EVA crew members. Lee and Smith will perform the first and
third spacewalks while astronauts Greg Harbaugh and Joe Tanner perform
the second and fourth.
  The crew will start the third day of the mission at 5:25 p.m. CST as
Discovery moves 60 n.m. closer to HST every time it orbits the Earth.
  STS-82 Flight Day 3 Highlights:
 On Thursday, February 13, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #5
reports:
  Discovery's astronauts successfully retrieved the Hubble Space
Telescope this morning, plucking the 12-ton observatory out of its
orbit and berthed it on a special work platform at the rear of the
Shuttle's cargo bay for the start of four spacewalks tonight to
install new scientific instruments and upgraded engineering
components.
  Mission Specialist Steve Hawley, who first deployed the telescope
during the STS-31 mission in 1990, used Discovery's robot arm to
grapple Hubble at 2:34 A.M. Central time as the Shuttle and the
telescope flew off the West coast of Mexico at an altitude of 370
statute miles.
  "You should have seen the expression on Dr. Stevie's face," said
Commander Ken Bowersox with the telescope firmly in the grasp of the
robot arm.."It looked like he just shook hands with an old friend."
  The retrieval of the 43-foot long telescope culminated a textbook
rendezvous executed by Bowersox, who manually guided Discovery to
within 35 feet of Hubble, enabling Hawley to extend the robot arm for
its capture of the astronomical observatory. Bowersox served as pilot
on the first Hubble servicing mission in December 1993.
  Less than a half hour later, Hawley lowered Hubble onto the Flight
Support System berthing platform in Discovery's cargo bay, where it
was latched in placed for its servicing. A remote controlled umbilical
was mated to Hubble to provide electrical power for the telescope
until it is deployed again next week.
  Hawley then maneuvered the robot arm slowly around the telescope to
provide close up views of Hubble for payload controllers at the Space
Telescope Operations Control Center at the Goddard Space Flight
Center, who are in charge of Hubble science operations. They reported
that the telescope appeared to be in excellent condition, almost seven
years into its scientific tour of duty on orbit.
  Hubble's retrieval sets the stage for the first of four planned
spacewalks tonight by Payload Commander Mark Lee and Mission
Specialist Steve Smith, who will spend six hours in the cargo bay
removing the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph and replacing it
with the new Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and swapping out the
Faint Object Spectrograph with the more sophisticated Near Infrared
Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer, which will offer Hubble its
first infrared view of the universe.
  The spacewalk is timelined to begin around 10:20 P.M. Central time
tonight, but could begin up to 45 minutes earlier if work runs ahead
of schedule.
  The astronauts will begin an eight-hour sleep period at 9:25 this
morning and will be awakened at 5:25 this afternoon to begin spacewalk
preparations.
  Discovery and the Hubble Space Telescope are orbiting at an altitude
of 370 statute miles with all of the Shuttle's systems operating in
excellent shape.
 On Thursday, February 13, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #6
reports:
 Two of Discovery's astronauts are getting ready to venture into the
payload bay this evening to perform the first of four spacewalks
designed to service and upgrade the scientific capabilities of the
Hubble Space Telescope.
  Beginning between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m., STS-82 Payload Commander Mark
Lee and Mission Specialist Steve Smith will spend six hours removing
the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph, replacing it with the new
Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, and swapping out the Faint
Object Spectrograph with the more sophisticated Near Infrared Camera
and Multi-Object Spectrometer.
  The procedure for both change-outs calls for Smith, who will be
riding the end of the robot arm, to individually extract the old
instruments and temporarily stow them on the side of the payload
bay. He will then extract each new instrument from its carrier for
insertion into the place vacated by the old instrument. Throughout the
procedure, Lee, recognizable by the red stripes on the arms and legs
of his spacesuit, will assist while tethered to the shuttle. Each
changeout is scheduled to take about two hours. The spacewalk is
scheduled to begin around 10:20 P.M. CST, but could begin up to 45
minutes earlier if preparations run ahead of schedule.
  The STIS is a two-dimensional imaging spectrograph that spans
ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared wavelengths. The detailed
information received from the instrument will give scientists
information about the composition and other physical properties of
celestial objects. The NICMOS, which also observes light in the near
infrared spectrum, will provide views of objects too distant for
research by current HST instruments, and will give scientists a means
to study objects created at the beginning of the universe.
  As Discovery and the Hubble Space Telescope orbited at an altitude
of 370 statute miles, the crew began its fourth day of the mission at
5:30 p.m. with the song."Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors. They awoke
to find all of the Shuttle's systems still operating in excellent
condition.
  STS-82 Flight Day 4 Highlights:
 On Friday, February 14, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #7
reports:
  Astronauts Mark Lee and Steve Smith worked throughout the night in the
cargo bay of the Shuttle Discovery, conducting a spacewalk lasting six
hours and 42 minutes to upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope, which now
contains new science instruments for an expanded view of the universe.
  The first spacewalk of the second servicing mission of the Telescope
began at 10:34 p.m.  Central time Thursday night when Lee and Smith
switched their spacesuits over to battery power. The spacewalk was
slightly delayed to enable ground controllers to assess the unexpected
movement of one of Hubble's solar arrays, which slewed from a
horizontal to a vertical position as Discovery's airlock was
depressurized. The motion was created by an apparent gust of air from
the airlock, but caused no damage to the array which was repositioned
horizontally.
  Once outside, Lee and Smith went right to work, opening the aft shroud
doors on Hubble to remove the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph and
the Faint Object Spectrograph.  The telephone-booth sized instruments
slid out of their compartments and were replaced by two brand new
instruments, the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and the Near
Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer.  STIS was installed in
Hubble shortly before 1 a.m. Central time, followed almost two hours
later by the NICMOS. Payload controllers send commands to check the
health of the two instruments, which were declared alive and well and
ready for calibration over the next several weeks. The aft shroud
doors were finally closed as Lee and Smith stowed the old science gear
in protective containers for the trip back to Earth. With their work
successfully completed, Lee and Smith returned to Discovery's airlock
at 5:17 this morning to wrap up the first of four planned excursions
into the Shuttle's cargo bay.
  The two new instruments will increase Hubble's scientific
capabilities.  The STIS will take light gathered by the telescope and
separate it into spectral components so that the composition,
temperature, motion, and other chemical and physical properties of
astronomical objects can be measured.  NICMOS will allow Hubble to
take infrared observations of the universe, giving astronomers the
capability to view cosmic objects in non-visible light.
  Discovery's crew will begin an 8 hour sleep period at 9:25 a.m. CST
this morning before being awakened at 5:25 p.m. Upcoming on Flight Day
5 will be the second spacewalk of the mission by astronauts Greg
Harbaugh and Joe Tanner who will replace several engineering
components in Hubble.
  Discovery and the Hubble Space Telescope continue to orbit the Earth
every 90 minutes at an altitude of 370 statute miles with all of the
Shuttle's systems still operating in excellent condition.
 On Friday, February 14, 1997, 5:30 p.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #8
reports:
  Astronauts Greg Harbaugh and Joe Tanner will have their chance to
venture into Discovery's payload bay this evening when they perform a
spacewalk to replace several engineering components in the Hubble
Space Telescope.
  Harbaugh and Tanner are scheduled to change out a malfunctioning
Fine Guidance Sensor and an Engineering/Science Tape Recorder. The FGS
is able to accurately point the telescope to its targets and is
capable of measuring the motion of stars with great accuracy. The
astronauts also will install an Optics Control Electronics Enhancement
Kit which will further increase the capability of the FGS.
  For most of the spacewalk, Tanner, wearing a spacesuit with diagonal
red markings around the legs, will be riding on the end of the robot
arm. Harbaugh, wearing a suit with broken red lines around the legs
and arms, will be able to move more freely around the payload bay. The
six-hour spacewalk is scheduled to begin between 9:30-10:30 p.m. CST.
  Also today, engineers successfully performed the verification tests
for the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and the Near Infrared
Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer.  STIS and NICMOS were installed
early this morning by astronauts Mark Lee and Steve Smith.
  Discovery's crew received a Valentines Day greeting from their wives
at 5:25 p.m. today in form of the wake-up song."Higher Love" by Steve
Winwood. Discovery and the Hubble Space Telescope continue to orbit
the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of 370 statute miles with
all of the Shuttle's systems still operating in excellent condition.
  STS-82 Flight Day 5 Highlights:
 On Saturday, February 15, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #9
reports:
  Early this morning, astronauts Greg Harbaugh and Joe Tanner completed
a 7 hour, 27 minute spacewalk in the cargo bay of the Shuttle
Discovery to replace and install several new engineering components in
the Hubble Space Telescope.
  After being awakened late Friday afternoon, Harbaugh and Tanner
completed the checkout of their spacesuits well ahead of schedul,
allowing them to start the second spacewalk of the flight at 9:25
p.m. Central time, almost one hour ahead of schedule.
  Harbaugh and Tanner went right to work, replacing a degraded Fine
Guidance Sensor and a failed Engineering and Science Tape Recorder
with new spares. Payload controllers verified that the new Fine
Guidance Sensor and the new tape recorder were healthy and ready to
support the telescope's scientific efforts.  The astronauts also
installed a new unit known as the Optical Control Electronics
Enhancement Kit, which will further increase the capability of the new
Fine Guidance Sensor.
  During the spacewalk, the astronauts and flight controllers took note
of cracking and wear incurred by thermal insulation which protects
several areas of the telescope.  The part of the telescope which is in
the direction of travel and always exposed to the sun has experienced
slight cracks and delamination during almost seven years of time on
orbit.  Flight controllers and Hubble project managers are evaluating
whether some repair work might be performed to certain portions of the
telescope's insulation during the final spacewalks of the flight.
  As Harbaugh and Tanner neared the end of their work in the cargo
bay, Discovery's small maneuvering jets were fired for about 20
minutes to gently raise Hubble's altitude by about 1.8 nautical miles.
The reboost effort by Commander Ken Bowersox and Pilot Scott Horowitz
will be performed again near the end of the final two spacewalks and
should raise Hubble's altitude by a total of about five nautical
miles. Harbaugh and Tanner returned to Discovery's airlock at 4:52
A.M., with more than 14 hours of spacewalk servicing time having been
logged during the first two excursions in the Shuttle's cargo bay.
  The astronauts will begin an eight-hour sleep period at 9:25 this
morning and will be awakened at 5:25 this afternoon for the third
spacewalk by Mark Lee and Steve Smith. They will replace an ailing
Data Interface Unit, swap out another science and engineering tape
recorder for a new solid state recorder and will replace a faulty
Reaction Wheel Assembly for a new unit to help steer the telescope to
its targets.
  Discovery and the Hubble Space Telescope continue to orbit the Earth
every 90 minutes at an altitude of approximately 370 statute miles
with all of the Shuttle's systems still operating in excellent
condition.
 On Saturday, February 15, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #10
reports:
 With two spacewalks complete, the STS-82 crew has met the minimum
success criteria for the second Hubble Space Telescope servicing
mission, but still has plenty of work left to do.
  Tonight, astronauts Mark Lee and Steve Smith will leave the crew
cabin for their second spacewalk of the flight. Lee and Smith are
scheduled to install a new Data Interface Unit in HST and swap out a
science and engineering tape recorder with a new solid state
recorder. Unlike the older reel-to-reel recorder, the new digital
recorder has no reels, no tape or moving parts to wear out and
unlimited lifetime. Data is digitally stored in computer-like memory
chips until HST's operators at the Goddard Space Flight Center play it
back. Lee and Smith also will replace a Reaction Wheel Assembly that
failed late last year with a new unit to help steer the telescope to
its targets.
  The Hubble Space Telescope was designed for on-orbit servicing with
three maintenance scenarios in mind. They are incorporating
technological advances into the science instruments as was done with
the installation of the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and the
Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer, replacing items
such as the tape recorders and reaction wheels which normally degrade
over time; and correcting random equipment failures or malfunctions.
  If there is time during the spacewalk, Lee and Smith may perform
some simple operations to assist engineers in planning for the
possibility of performing some repairs to the aging thermal covering
of the telescope. Controllers and astronauts have noticed areas on the
telescope where the insulation is peeling. The tasks include bringing
materials that could be used for the repair back into the crew cabin,
assessing how brittle the insulation is and testing how well Kapton
tape adheres to the insulation.
  The spacewalk is officially scheduled to begin at 10:20 p.m., but
for the first two EVAs, crew members completed their preparations
early so that they were ready to begin between 9 and 9:30 p.m.
  Also during the sixth day of the mission, Commander Ken Bowersox and
Pilot Scott Horowitz will fire the small steering jets in the next
phase of the effort to reboost the telescope. The first reboost burn
raised Hubble's altitude by about 1.8 nautical miles, and a second
unplanned burn, which was required to move Discovery a safe distance
from some orbital debris, raised the orbit another half mile. Overall,
flight controllers plan to raise HST's orbit about 7 statute miles.
  STS-82 Flight Day 6 Highlights:
 On Sunday, February 16, 1997, 8:30 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #11
reports:
  Mission managers decided this morning to add a fifth spacewalk to
Discovery's flight to refurbish the Hubble Space Telescope to allow
flight controllers and the astronauts time to repair tattered thermal
insulation on the12-ton observatory. The decision came after
astronauts Mark Lee and Steve Smith completed a 7 hour 11 minute
spacewalk to replace various components on the telescope.
  The revised plan calls for Greg Harbaugh and Joe Tanner to conduct the
fourth spacewalk of the flight tonight to replace a Solar Array Drive
Electronics package and to replace covers on Hubble's magnetometers
near the top of the telescope. They will also repair ripped thermal
insulation on the light shield of Hubble below the areas where the
magnetometers are located. On Monday night, Lee and Smith will venture
into Discovery's cargo bay again to repair additional thermal
insulation which has degraded on three key equipment bays near the
middle of the telescope.
  Hubble's redeployment will be shifted one day from Tuesday to
Wednesday with Discovery's landing at the Kennedy Space Center still
planned for early Friday morning before dawn.
  The third spacewalk began at 8:53 p.m. Central time Saturday
evening. Lee and Smith removed and replaced a Data Interface Unit
which provides command and data interfaces between Hubble's data
management system and other subsystems.  They also replaced an old
reel-to-reel style Engineering and Science Tape Recorder with a new
digital Solid State Recorder (SSR) that will allow simultaneous
recording and playback of data
  The final task for Lee and Smith was the changeout of one of four
Reaction Wheel Assembly units that use spin momentum to move the
telescope toward a target and maintain it in a stable position. All of
the new components are reported to be in excellent condition.
  Discovery's small maneuvering jets were then fired for about 20
minutes to gently raise Hubble's altitude. The reboost maneuver by
Commander Ken Bowersox and Pilot Scott Horowitz was the third in the
past two days. Lee and Smith returned to Discovery's airlock at 4:04
A.M., with 21 hours 20 minutes of spacewalk servicing time having been
logged during the first three excursions in the Shuttle's cargo bay.
  The astronauts will begin an eight hour sleep period at 9:25 a.m. this
morning and will receive a wake up call at 5:25 p.m. to begin the
seventh day of the mission.
  Discovery and the Hubble Space Telescope continue to orbit the Earth
every 90 minutes at an altitude of 374 statute miles with all of the
Shuttle's systems still operating in flawless condition.
 On Sunday, February 16, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #12
reports:
  The STS-82 astronauts will be adding some insulation repair work to
their plans for tonight and tomorrow following a decision earlier
today to conduct a fifth spacewalk during the Hubble Space Telescope
servicing mission.
  Since HST has been in the Discovery's payload bay, several
separations in the external insulation on the observatory have been
noted. HST managers are concerned that the separated areas could trap
light and cause localized heating, damaging Hubble's sensitive
systems. Consequently, mission managers decided to add a fifth
spacewalk Monday night to give astronauts time to repair the
insulation.
  Before the repair work begins tonight, astronauts Greg Harbaugh and
Joe Tanner will complete the scheduled work on the telescope.
Harbaugh and Tanner will first replace a Solar Array Drive Electronics
package. Then the HST flight control team will command the telescope
to redeploy the booms carrying its high gain antennas. The telescope
will then be turned and tilted slightly to give the spacewalkers
access to the top portions of the telescope where Harbaugh and Tanner
will replace covers over several magnetometers. While at the top of
the telescope, they also will place patches made of insulation
material over the tears in the telescope's light shield. The entire
spacewalk is expected to take about six hours and will begin between 9
and 10 p.m. Central time tonight.
  On Monday night, astronauts Mark Lee and Steve Smith will go into
Discovery's payload bay again to repair thermal insulation which has
degraded on three key equipment bays near the middle of the telescope.
  Because of the additional spacewalk, the final firing of the
steering jets to raise Hubble's altitude has been moved from the end
of tonight's EVA to the end of tomorrow's EVA, and Hubble's
redeployment has been shifted one day from Tuesday to
Wednesday. Discovery's landing at the Kennedy Space Center still
remains on track for early Friday morning.
  STS-82 Flight Day 7 Highlights:
 On Monday, February 17, 1997, 5:30 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #13
reports:
  Following the completion of a 6 hour, 34 minute spacewalk by
astronauts Greg Harbaugh and Joe Tanner early this morning, the
replacement and installation of all the science and engineering
components for the Hubble Space Telescope have been completed.
  Harbaugh and Tanner began their second spacewalk and the fourth of
the mission by emerging from Discovery's airlock at 9:45 p.m. Central
time Sunday night.  Their first task was the replacement of a Solar
Array Drive Electronics package which is used to control the
positioning of Hubble's solar arrays.  Harbaugh and Tanner next
ventured to the top of the telescope where they replaced covers over
Hubble's magnetometers, which are used to sense the telescope's
position in relation to the Earth through data acquired from the
Earth's magnetic field.  The spacewalking astronauts then placed
thermal blankets of multi-layer material over two areas of degraded
insulation around the light shield portion of the telescope just below
the top of the astronomical observatory. The astronauts had trained
for the repair work before the flight in the event such repairs would
be needed.
  While Harbaugh and Tanner were finishing up their work in the
payload bay, Pilot Scott Horowitz and Payload Commander Mark Lee were
busy on Discovery's middeck fabricating additional thermal insulation
blankets that will be installed on the telescope during a fifth
spacewalk planned for late tonight.  The additional spacewalk by Lee
and spacewalking teammate Steve Smith was incorporated into the
mission timeline to shore up weathered insulation covering three
equipment bays along the top of the Support Systems Module section of
Hubble housing key data processing, electronics and scientific
instrument telemetry packages. The fifth spacewalk is expected to last
around four hours.
  Harbaugh and Tanner returned to Discovery's airlock at 4:19
a.m. this morning, bringing the total spacewalking time for the
mission to 27 hours and 54 minutes over the past four days.
  Because of the additional spacewalk, the final firing of the
steering jets to reboost Hubble to its deployment altitude will occur
at the end of the final spacewalk tomorrow morning with the deployment
of Hubble now set for 12:41 A.M. Central time Wednesday
morning. Discovery's landing at the Kennedy Space Center is scheduled
for the predawn hours Friday morning.
  The crew will begin an eight-hour sleep period at 9:25 a.m. this
morning and will be awakened at 5:25 p.m. to begin preparations for
the final spacewalk of the second Hubble Space Telescope servicing
mission.
  Discovery continues to orbit the Earth in excellent condition at an
altitude of 374 statute miles.
 On Monday, February 17, 1997, 5:30 p.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #14
reports:
  With all scheduled telescope work completed, two astronauts will go
into the payload bay of Discovery one more time tonight to install
extra protection over some aging insulation on the Hubble Space
Telescope.
  Mission specialists Mark Lee and Steve Smith are expected to spend
about four hours working to add several thermal insulation blankets to
the three areas along the top of the Support Systems Module section of
Hubble housing key data processing, electronics and scientific
instrument telemetry packages. Specifically, the work will be done on
bay 7, which holds electronics and mechanisms for the solar arrays;
bay 8, which contains pointing electronics and a Retrieval Mode Gyro
Assembly; and bay 10, which houses the Science Instrument Control and
Data Handling Subsystems.
  Mission managers added the fifth space walk to the flight plan on
Saturday because of Hubble managers' concerns about several
separations in the external insulation on the observatory. Hubble
managers were concerned that the separated areas could trap light and
cause localized heating, damaging Hubble's sensitive systems.
  Because of the additional extravehicular activity, the final firing
of the steering jets to reboost Hubble to its deployment altitude (333
by 320 nautical miles) will occur at the end of tonight's
spacewalk. Deployment of Hubble is now set for 12:41 a.m. CST
Wednesday morning.
  All the instruments installed by the STS-82 crew during the first
four spacewalks have been checked by the HST controllers and all
verification tests look good. The final check outs will take place
once Hubble is again flying on its own.
  STS-82 Flight Day 8 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, February 18, 1997, 6:30 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #15
reports:
  Early this morning, astronauts Mark Lee and Steve Smith completed a 5
hour, 17 minute spacewalk - the fifth spacewalk conducted over the
past five days - to complete the servicing and refurbishment of the
Hubble Space Telescope.
  During their final excursion in Discovery's cargo bay, Lee and Smith
attached several thermal insulation blankets to three equipment
compartments at the top of the Support Systems Module section of
Hubble which contain key data processing, electronics and scientific
instrument telemetry packages.  Following the completion of that work,
Lee and Smith briefly returned to the airlock while flight controllers
evaluated a possible glitch with one of four Reaction Wheel Assembly
units in Hubble used to maneuver the telescope for its scientific
observations. After determining that further analysis of the Reaction
Wheel Assembly would be required, the astronauts were directed to
close out their spacewalk and reentered the airlock for the final time
at 2:32 A.M. Central time. A spare Reaction Wheel Assembly was
available aboard Discovery for a swapout during an additional
spacewalk had it been necessary, but a few hours later, after further
analysis, payload controllers reported that the Reaction Wheel
Assembly was in excellent shape and operating at the proper speed.
  With all of the servicing tasks complete, Commander Ken Bowersox and
Pilot Scott Horowitz fired small maneuvering jets on Discovery to
complete the reboost of the Hubble Space Telescope, raising its orbit
an additional three nautical miles. Hubble will be redeployed early
tomorrow morning at 12:41 A.M. Central time at an altitude of about
335 by 321 nautical miles, an increase of about 8 nautical miles from
the point at which it was retrieved last week.
  In all, a total of 33 hours and 11 minutes were logged during the five
spacewalks to service and refurbish Hubble, about two hours shy of the
time recorded during the five spacewalks for the first servicing
mission more than three years ago.
  The crew will begin an extended nine hour sleep period at 8:25
a.m. this morning.  After they are awakened at 5:25 p.m. this
afternoon, the astronauts will begin preparations for the deployment
of the Hubble Space Telescope by robot arm operator Steve Hawley, who
will release the astronomical observatory for the start of the
calibration of its newly installed instruments and the resumption of
scientific operations in a few weeks.
 On Tuesday, February 18, 1997, 6:30 p.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #16
reports:
  With an array of new instruments installed, the Hubble Space
Telescope is ready to continue its 15-year mission to look deeply into
the universe, once it is released from Space Shuttle Discovery later
tonight.
  Astronaut Steve Hawley will use the robot arm to once again grapple
the telescope and lift it from its work platform. While it is still on
the robot arm, controllers at the Goddard Space Flight Center will
send commands to open the large aperture door at the end of the
telescope. Hawley then will send the telescope back to work, releasing
it at about 12:41 a.m. CST in a 335 by 321 nautical mile orbit. After
the telescope is released, Commander Ken Bowersox will move Discovery
slowly away from the observatory, being careful not to disturb the
delicate solar arrays.
  Hubble goes back to work with two new science instruments, updated
guidance systems, a state of the art recorder and several new patches
of thermal insulation. In all, 33 hours and 11 minutes were logged
during the five spacewalks to service and refurbish
Hubble. Calibration of the newly installed instruments and the
resumption of scientific operations will begin over the next few
weeks.
  The crew began its ninth day of the mission to the wake-up
music,."That Thing You Do," by the Wonders. Discovery's systems are
still operating in excellent condition as it orbits the Earth every 90
minutes.
  STS-82 Flight Day 9 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, February 19, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #17
reports:
  Discovery's astronauts bid farewell to the Hubble Space Telescope
early this morning as they placed the orbiting observatory back into
its own orbit to continue its investigation of the far reaches of the
universe.
  Mission Specialist Steve Hawley, who first deployed Hubble during the
STS-31 mission on April 25th, 1990, again used the Shuttle's robot arm
to gently release the telescope at 12:41 a.m. Central time.  At the
time of deployment, the Shuttle was at an altitude of 334 nautical
miles over the southwest coast of Africa.  Hubble is now operating at
the highest altitude it has ever flown, a 335 by 321 nautical mile
orbit.
  Within minutes after Hubble was set free, Commander Ken Bowersox and
Pilot Scott Horowitz fired jet thrusters to begin Discovery's
seperation from the telescope. Shortly after deployment, payload
controllers reported that the telescope had resumed standard
operations and was processing commands from the ground through the
Tracking Data Relay Satellite system.  Over the next several weeks,
calibrations of the newly installed instruments will be made as Hubble
resumes its scientific efforts, equipped with two new science
instruments, updated guidance systems and a state of the art data
recorder. The first images and data from the newly installed
scientific components, the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and
the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer, may be
acquired from Hubble in about eight to ten weeks.
  A few hours after Hubble's deployment, the crew received a
congratulatory phone call from NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin.  The
four spacewalking crewmembers also answered questions from several
news networks regarding their work over the past week to upgrade the
telescope.
  Discovery's crew will begin an nine hour sleep period at 8:25 this
morning and will be awakened at 5:25 this afternoon to begin routine
prelanding checks of Discovery's flight control systems and reaction
control system jets. Discovery is scheduled to return to the Kennedy
Space Center early Friday morning, with landing scheduled at 12:48
a.m. Central time.
  STS-82 Flight Day 10 Highlights:
 On Thursday, February 20, 1997, 6:30 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #19
reports:
  With Discovery's flight control systems checked out and ready to
support the Shuttle's return to Earth, the seven astronauts stowed
their cabin and prepared for tomorrow's planned landing at the Kennedy
Space Center.  Landing is scheduled for 12:50 a.m. Central time with a
backup opportunity an hour and a half later at 2:32 a.m.  The weather
forecast reflects a slight chance of rain over the water at the time
of landing at the Florida spaceport.
  Before wrapping up what is expected to be their final day in orbit,
the astronauts held a press conference to discuss the flight, which
saw a record-tying five spacewalks conducted to service the Hubble
Space Telescope for the second time.
  Commander Ken Bowersox and Pilot Scott Horowitz tested the orbiter's
aerodynamic surfaces that will be used once Discovery reenters the
Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. The traditional hot-fire
test of Discovery's steering jets was not required since 31 of the 38
jets were fired during the time the Hubble Space Telescope was housed
in the Shuttle's cargo bay. The remaining jets will either be fired
during normal operations tonight or will be tested during deorbit
preparations.
  The crew is scheduled to go to bed at 8:25 this morning and wake up
at 4:25 this afternoon.  If all goes as planned, Discovery's payload
bay doors will be closed at about 9 p.m. with a final go-no decision
for the first KSC landing opportunity expected at about 11:15
p.m. There are two landing opportunities at both KSC and the backup
landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
  Discovery is currently orbiting at an altitude of 365 statute miles
following an orbital adjustment maneuver to set the Shuttle up for its
landing opportunities late tonight. All of Discovery'' systems are in
excellent condition.
 On Thursday, February 20, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #20
reports:
  With a successful mission behind them, the STS-82 crew is getting set
to return home to the Kennedy Space Center in the early morning hours
Friday.  Landing is planned for 12:50 a.m. CST with backup
opportunities on succeeding orbits.
  The crew began its final day in space by sending morning greetings
to the Mission Control team in the form of the song."Sloop John B." by
the Beach Boys. The control team in return told the crew it was time
to &quot;get your motor running&quot; with the song &quot;Born To Be
Wild&quot; by Steppenwolf.
  Once the crew has completed its post-sleep activities, astronauts
will begin preparations for tonight's deorbit and landing
opportunities. The first deorbit opportunity is on orbit 148 with an
engine firing at 11:38 p.m. CST followed by landing at 12:50
a.m. Landing on the second opportunity would occur at 2:32 a.m. There
are landing opportunities at the backup landing site at Edwards Air
Force Base, California, at 2:23 and 4:04 a.m. Central time.
  According to forecasters, the weather conditions in Florida look
promising, but there is a slight chance off-shore showers.
  If all goes as planned, Discovery's payload bay doors will be closed
at about 9 p.m. with a final go-no go decision for the first KSC
landing opportunity expected at about 11:15 p.m..
  Discovery is currently orbiting at an altitude of 365 statute miles
with all systems in excellent condition.
  STS-82 Flight Day 11 Highlights:
 On Friday, February 21, 1997, 3:00 a.m. CST, STS-82 MCC Status Report #21
reports:
  Commander Ken Bowersox and Pilot Scott Horowitz guided the Shuttle
Discovery to a night landing at the Kennedy Space Center in the
predawn darkness this morning, setting the orbiter down at 2:32
a.m. Central time to wrap up a 4.1 million mile mission to refurbish
the Hubble Space Telescope.  It was the ninth night landing in Shuttle
program history, the fourth at the Florida spaceport.
  After the first landing opportunity of the day at the Kennedy Space
Center was waved off because of low clouds over the Shuttle Landing
Facility, the weather cleared and the green light was given to permit
the seven astronauts to return home.  The landing was the sixth
straight at the Kennedy Space Center and the 13th in the last 14
flights.
  Discovery swooped out of the nighttime darkness and landed at the
3-mile long landing strip at KSC, which had additional illumination
available through the recent installation of 52 halogen lights
positioned every 200 feet down the centerline of the runway.
  Left in orbit was the 12-ton Hubble Space Telescope, equipped with two
new scientific instruments and other upgraded engineering hardware for
enhanced performance until another crew of astronauts returns to the
observatory in late 1999 for its third servicing.  Hubble is expected
to resume scientific observations in several weeks after its new
equipment is calibrated.
  Discovery's astronauts are expected to return to Ellington Field in
Houston for a welcome home ceremony at about Noon Central time.
Please check with the JSC newsroom at 483-5111 after 9 a.m. for
further information.
<end of mission>
Mission Name: STS-83 (83)
  Columbia (22)
  Pad 39-A (60)
  83rd Shuttle Mission
  22nd Flight OV-102
  KSC Landing (36)
  Spacelab(14)
 NOTE: Click Here for Countdown Homepage
Crew:
  James D. Halsell (3), Mission Commander
  Susan L. Still (1), Pilot
  Janice E. Voss (3), Payload Commander
  Donald A. Thomas (3), Mission Specialist
  Michael L. Gernhardt (2), Mission Specialist
  Roger Crouch (1), Payload Specialist
  Greg Linteris (1), Payload Specialist
Milestones:
   OPF-1 -- 12/07/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 12/07/1996)
     VAB -- 03/05/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/05/1997)
     PAD -- 03/11/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/11/1997)
    TCDT -- 03/13/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/13/1997)
Payload:
  MSL-1,SAREX
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Feb 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Mar 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Apr 1997)
Mission Objectives:
  The primary payload on STS-83 is the Microgravity Science Laboratory
(MSL-1).  MSL-1 is a collection of microgravity experiments housed inside
a European Spacelab Long Module (LM).  It builds on the cooperative and
scientific foundation of the International Microgravity Laboratory missions
(IML-1 on STS-42 and IML-2 on STS-65), the United States Microgravity Laboratory
missions (USML-1 on STS-50 and USML-2 on STS-73), the Japanese Spacelab mission
(Spacelab-J on STS-47), the Spacelab Life and Microgravity Science Mission
(LMS on STS-78) and the German Spacelab missions (D-1 on STS 61-A and D-2 on STS-55).
  MSL-1 features 19 materials science investigations in 4 major
facilities.  These facilities are the Large Isothermal Furnace, the
EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to the Space Station (EXPRESS)
Rack, the Electromagnetic Containerless Processing Facility (TEMPUS)
and the Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures (CSLM) facility, the
Droplet Combustion Experiment (DCE) and the Combustion Module-1 Facility.
Additional technology experiments will also be performed in
the Middeck Glovebox (MGBX) developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center
(MSFC) and the High-Packed Digital Television (HI-PAC DTV)
system will be used to provide multi-channel real-time analog science
video.
  The Large Isothermal Furnace was developed by the Japanese Space Agency
(NASDA) for the STS-47 Spacelab-J mission and was also flown on
STS-65 IML-2 mission. It will house
the Measurement of Diffusion Coefficient by Shear Cell Method Experiment,
the Diffusion of Liquid Metals and Alloys Experiment,
the Diffusion in Liquid Led-Tin-Telluride Experiment,
the Impurity Diffusion in Ionic Melts Experiment,
the Liquid Phase Sintering II Experiment (LIF), and
the Diffusion Processes in Molten Semiconductors Experiment (DPIMS).
  The Combustion Module-1 (CM-1) facility from the NASA Lewis Research Center
houses experiments on Laminar Soot Processes Experiment and the Structure of
Flame Balls at Low Lewis-number Experiment (SOFTBALL).
  The Droplet Combustion Experiment (DCE) is designed to investigate the
fundamental combustion aspects of single, isolated droplets under different
pressures and ambient oxygen concentrations for a range of droplet sizes
varying between 2 and 5mm.  The DCE apparatus is integrated into a single
width MSL-1 Spacelab rack in the cargo bay.
  The EXPRESS rack replaces a Spacelab Double rack and special hardware
will provide the same structural and resource connections the rack will
have on the Space Station.  It will house the Physics of Hard Spheres (PHaSE)
experiment and the Astro/PGBA Experiment.
  The Electromagnetic Containerless Processing Facility (TEMPUS) is used
for the Experiments on Nucleation in Different Flow Regimes,
Thermophysical Properities of Advanced Materials in the Undercooled
Liquid State Experiment, Measurements of the Surface Tension of Liquid
and Undercooled Metallic Alloys by Oscillating Drop Technique
Experiment, Alloy Undercooling Experiments, the Study of the
Morphological Stability of Growing Dendrites by Comparative Dendrite
Velocity Measuremetns on Pure Ni and Dilute Ni-C Alloy in the Earth
and Space Laboratory Experiment, the Undercooled Melts of Alloys with
Polytetrahedral Short-Range Order Experiment, the Thermal Expansion of
Glass Forming Metallic Alloys in the Undercooled State Experiment, the
AC Calorimetry and Thermophysical Properties of Bulk Glass-Forming
Metallic Liquids experiment and the Measurement of Surface Tension and
Viscosity of Undercooled Liquid Metals experiment.
  There will also be experiments on measuring microgravity.  They
include the Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS),
the Microgravity Measurement Assembly (MMA),
the Quasi-Steady Acceleration Measurement System and
the Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE).
  The Middeck Glovebox (MGBX) facility will support the Bubble and
Drop Nonlinear Dynamics (BDND) Experiment, the Study of the Fundamental
Operation of a Capillary-driven Heat Transfer (CHT) Device in Microgravity
Experiment, the Internal Flows in a Free Drop (IFFD) experiment and
the Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion experiment (FSDC-2).
Launch:
  Launch April 4, 1997 2:20:32.074 pm EST. Launch window was
2 hours 30 min.
  At 1:32pm EST, the countdown clock came out of the hold at the T-20
minute mark and the OMS/RCS crossfeed valves and MPS Helium system
were configured for flight. The GPC computers were dumped and their
contents verified to be in flight configuration. At 1:41pm EST, the
countdown clock entered the hold at the T-9 minute mark.  The hold at
T-9 minutes will be extended to give the white room crew additional
time to clear the pad due to the need to replace a seal on the crew
hatch and perform the cabin leak test.   At 1:53pm EST the white room
crew cleared the pad.  At 2:05pm EST, the close out crew made it back
to the launch control center area and the launch team was polled to
determine if all stations were ready to come out of the T-9 minute
hold.  All stations except position SPE gave a clear to launch.  The
only concern was an excess concentration of O2 in the shuttle midbody.
The gaseous purge was modified and the concentrations decreased.  At
2:11pm the launch team was polled again and there were no constraints
to launch.  The count picked back up at T-9 minute mark at 2:12pm.
The sound supression water system was armed at 2:20pm at the T-1
minute mark with a T-0 at 2:21pm EST.  SRB seperation at 2:23pm 43
miles east of KSC.  SSME Cutoff at 2:30pm EST with Columbia traveling
at 15,500mph and 720 miles east of KSC.  External Tank separation
occured at 2:30pm EST.
  At the T-3 hour mark, the launch final inspection team was at the
pad doing a final walkdown.  The inspection team is at the launch pad
for about 2 hours and looks for any ice buildup on the external tank
and any debris that could impact the orbiter at liftoff. The white
room crew began their initial preparations with an estimated
hatch closure time of 12:30pm.  The flight crew ate breakfast in
the crew quarters of the Operations and Checkout Building and at
10:30am EST, they donned their flight suits.  The countdown
clock came out of the T-3 hour hold at 10:40am EST and the
crew departing for Launch Pad 39-A at 10:42am.
  The countdown resumed at 2 a.m. Thursday at the T-19 hour mark
following a 24-hour postponement of launch necessary to add additional
insulation to water coolant lines in the payload bay.  Launch is set
for 2 p.m. EST Friday, April 4, at the opening of a 2 1/2 hour
window. Air Force weather forecasters are currently indicating only a
10 percent probability of weather prohibiting launch of Columbia on
April 4. The only concern is for a slight chance of rain showers
generated by sea breezes.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/3/97)
  The countdown began at the T-43 hour mark at 2 pm on Monday, March
31, 1997 with a planned launch date of Thursday, April 3, 1997 at
2:01pm. (Reference KSC Press Release 54-97).  However, the clock was
held at the T-19 Hour mark on Tuesday April 1, 1997 and a new T-0 was
set for Friday, April 4, 1997 at 2:00pm EST.  The Mission Management
Team briefly considered but decided against an option to move the
launch time forward approximately 1 hour to 1:07pm EST.  The move
forward in launch time would have allowed more daylight at the Banjul
TAL site and help with concerns about delamination of a backup antenna
system at Banjul.
  On Tuesday, April 1, 1997 the decision was made to slip the launch
one day, after managers determined that a water coolant line in the
orbiter's payload bay was not properly insulated. Additional
insulation was required to prevent this line from possibly freezing
during Columbia's 16 days in space.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/1/97)
  On Tuesday, 3/25/97, the loading of hypergolic propellants into
the orbiters Reaction Control System (RCS) was completed and ordnance
installation conducted. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/25/1997)
  On Thursday, 3/20/97, following completion of the Flight Readiness
Review, NASA managers set April 3, 1997, as the official launch date
for NASA's Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) mission.
Donald A. Thomas, who suffered a broken ankle following a routine training
exercise on Jan. 29, has officially been cleared to fly as planned.
(Reference KSC Press Release 49-97)
  On Thursday, 3/13/97, The STS-83 Terminal Countdown Demonstration
Test (TCDT) was conducted at KSC. The TCDT is held prior to each Space
Shuttle flight providing the crew of each mission opportunities to
participate in simulated countdown activities.  Overnight, inspections
were made of the low pressure fuel turbo pumps on the three Space
Shuttle main engines. The pump on engine No. 1 was found to have
unacceptable rotor blades and the decision was made to remove and
replace this pump. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/13/1997)
  On 3/11/97, Rollout of Space Shuttle Columbia from the Vehicle
Assembly Building to Pad 39A began at 6:32 a.m. The crawler
transporter was positioned under the mobile launcher platform (MLP)
with the Shuttle mounted on top and final preparations were made for
the 3.4 mile move to the pad.  Once at the pad, workers prepared to
hot fire auxiliary power unit No. 2. The Rotating Service Structure
was then placed around the vehicle Wednesday morning.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/11/1997)
  On 3/10/97, Columbia's roll out to Pad 39A was delayed 24-hours due
to a liquid oxygen T-0 umbilical carrier plate alignment problem
encountered during operations to mate Columbia with the external tank
Friday/Saturday.  Also, the liquid hydrogen tail service mast required
minor repairs. Because of these issues, the Shuttle interface
verification test was delayed from Saturday to Sunday, 3/9/1997,
delaying roll out Tuesday. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/10/1997)
  On 3/5/97, Columbia moved to the VAB shortly after noon. Inserts
necessary to secure an umbilical flow liner in the orbiter's 17-inch
disconnect area were installed overnight. Power-up was not required
and close-outs of the umbilical were complete. The orbiter was placed
on the orbiter transporter in the early morning on 3/5/97 and the
landing gear retracted.  Once in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB),
Columbia was lifted to the vertical position and hard mated to the
External Tank (ET) and Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB's) in VAB High Bay
No. 1. on 3/6/97. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/05/1997)
  On 2/27/97, preparations continue to roll Columbia to the VAB.
Final close-outs of the body-flap cove area are complete and the aft
engine compartment doors will be installed on Sunday, 3/2/97.
Integrated hydraulic checks of the aerosurfaces and other orbiter
systems will be completed tonight. On Monday, the orbiter will
be weighed and the center of gravity checks made. Early Tuesday, the
vehicle will be mated to the orbiter transporter. First motion is
expected to occur Tuesday afternoon. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/27/1997)
  On 2/26/97, the strong backs have been removed from the payload bay doors
as preparations continue to roll Columbia to the VAB early next week. Final
repairs to minor corrosion in the body-flap cove area are complete and
close-outs are expected to be finished later today. Integrated hydraulic
checks of the aerosurfaces and other orbiter systems will begin tonight.
Aft engine compartment close-outs are also scheduled to be finished this
weekend. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/26/1997)
  On 2/17/97, during scheduled modifications to existing lines in OPF
bay 2's hypergolic fuel system, monomethyl hydrazine (the liquid fuel
used in the orbiter's reaction control system) unexpectedly spilled
out onto two technicians doing the work. Other workers were also
treated for possible inhalation. All treated for either exposure or
possible inhalation were later released with no apparent serious
injuries. OPF bay 2, OPF bay 1 and the OPF Annex were evacuated at the
time of the spill. All but bay 2 was reopened about three hours after
the incident.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/18/1997)
  On 2/14/97, The spacelab transfer tunnel has been installed and an
interface verification test is scheduled for next week. Also, the
right hand Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pod has been installed and
cross-feed connections are complete. The crew of mission STS-83 arrived
for the Crew Equipment and Interface Test (CEIT) on 2/15/97. They spent
the time inspecting the orbiter and the spacelab which was installed
into the payload bay on Feb. 1. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/13/1997)
  On 1/30/97, the external tank was mated to the Solid Rocket Boosters
in the VAB.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/30/1997)
Orbit:
  Altitude:  184 statute miles
  Inclination: 28.45
  Orbits: 63
  Duration: 3 days,  23 hours, 13 minutes, 38 seconds.
  Distance:  1.5 million miles
Hardware:
  SRB: BI-086
  SRM:
  ET :  SN-84
  MLP :
  SSME-1: SN-2012
  SSME-2: SN-2109
  SSME-3: SN-2019
Landing:
   KSC 4/8/1997 2:33 pm EDT. Landing at KSC Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) Runway 15.
Main gear touchdown at 2:33:11 pm EDT (MET 3days 23hr 12min 39sec). Nose gear
touchdown at 2:33:23 pm EDT (MET 3days 23hours 12min 51sec) and Wheel Stop at
2:34:10 pm EDT (MET 3days 23hours 13min 38sec).  Originally the mission
was scheduled to last 15 days,  16 hours, 29 minutes.
   The first deorbit opportunity was on orbit 63 with an engine firing at 2:31 pm EDT.31 pm EDT.
   Landing was originally scheduled for KSC April 19 at 7:30am EDT but
the mission was cut short due to problems with Columbia's Fuel Cell #2.
The MSL-1 payload will refly on STS-94 slated for July 1997.
Mission Highlights:
  STS-83 Flight Day 1 Highlights:
 On Friday, April 4, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CST, STS-83 MCC Status Report #1
reports:
  The shuttle Columbia, carrying seven astronauts on board, blasted off
at 1:21 p.m. Central time from the Kennedy Space Center for the start
of a 16-day Spacelab microgravity research mission.
  Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan Still, Mission Specialists Janice
Voss, Mike Gernhardt and Don Thomas and Payload Specialists Roger
Crouch and Greg Linteris blasted off into the mid-afternoon Florida
skies en route to an orbit about 170 statute miles above the
Earth. The crew will spend more than two weeks studying the behavior
of metals, materials and fluids in the absence of gravity and the
properties of combustion. The astronauts will be split into two teams
to conduct that work on a round-the-clock basis in the pressurized
Spacelab science module in Columbia's cargo bay.
  After the astronauts opened up Columbia's cargo bay, Voss and Crouch
began to activate Spacelab and experiment systems before entering the
Spacelab about 2 and a half hours into the mission. The Red team,
consisting of Halsell, Still, Thomas and Linteris, began a 7-hour
sleep period at 5 p.m. They'll be will be awakened at midnight to pick
up experiment work from Blue team members Voss, Crouch and Gernhardt,
who are scheduled to begin a full 8-hour sleep period at 1:21
a.m. Saturday.
 On Friday, April 4, 1997, 6:00 p.m. EST, STS-83 Payload Status Report #01
reports: (MET 0/04:39)
  This afternoon's picture-perfect launch of Space Shuttle Columbia
began a 16-day joint effort by the United States and 23 other
countries to explore a variety of scientific mysteries.
  Just before 6 p.m. CST this evening, Payload Commander Dr.  Janice
Voss and Payload Specialist Dr. Roger K. Crouch floated into the
Spacelab module aboard Columbia and began setting up their orbiting
research laboratory.
  "Everything's going great" said Mission Manager Teresa Vanhooser
from the Spacelab Mission Operations Control Center at the Marshall
Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.  "We've planned and practiced
for this mission for a long time and it's wonderful to see it coming
together so well."
    Mission Scientist Dr. Mike Robinson of the Marshall Center said,
"We're tremendously excited about the opportunities that await us.  We
can't wait to get down to business -- the business of fundamental
scientific research in space."
  Over the next 12 hours, working with the science control team at
Marshall, Columbia's crew will begin their research by initiating
the protein crystal growth experiments, and firing up the onboard
furnace that uses electromagnetic force to suspend and mix various
samples of molten metals and alloys.  They will also start recording
how small disturbances aboard the Shuttle's laboratory affect the
experiments conducted onboard.
  This mission, Microgravity Science Laboratory 1, is primarily
dedicated to 33 experiments being conducted in the low-gravity
environment of space.  These investigations concentrate on unraveling
mysteries in three main areas: protein crystals, combustion and the
study of metals and alloys.  Also, this mission will test some of the
hardware, facilities and procedures that will be used on the
International Space Station.
  The unique benefit of research in microgravity is that important
scientific processes normally masked by gravity can be studied and
experiments which are impossible to conduct on the ground become
feasible.
  A major thrust of this mission's overall scientific effort is in
the area of protein crystal growth.  Grown in space, proteins ranging
from insulin to HIV-Reverse-Transcriptase have been produced as
larger, purer and new, never-before-seen crystal structures.  Only by
obtaining the highest possible quality of crystals can scientists
achieve the ultimate goal of this research -- determining the
three-dimensional structure or blueprint of the proteins.  By
unlocking the structural details, scientists can better understand how
they fit into the overall biology of the human body.
  Protein crystal growth is a recurring Space Shuttle experiment
because there are over 300,000 proteins in the human body and
scientists know the structure of less than 1 percent of them.
  The three Protein Crystal Growth Experiments on this mission will
attempt to grow a record number of nearly 1,500 protein crystal
samples.
  Knowledge from these studies will help to address the social costs
of illnesses and diseases -- now estimated at $900 billion annually
just in the United States.  These include cancer, diabetes,
alcoholism, Alzheimer's and AIDS.  Proteins associated with all of
these illnesses either have been studied in space or continue to be
part of ongoing experiments.
  Other experiments to be conducted aboard Columbia involve combustion
science -- the study of burning.  These are designed to help
researchers gain an understanding of the characteristics of fuels and
fires, which can lead to increased efficiency and reduced emissions in
internal combustion engines.
 In the United States, the yearly expenditure on crude oil is
estimated by the American Petroleum Institute as nearly $200 billion.
A mere 1 percent increase in fuel efficiency -- for instance,
improving a car's gas mileage from 25 mpg to 25.25 mpg - - would
translate into an overall savings for the United States of nearly 100
million barrels of oil a year, or roughly $5.5 million per day.
  In another category of experiments, scientists will study the mixing
of constituents in molten metals and alloys and the "undercooling" of
these mixed metals.  Undercooling followed by rapid freezing or
solidification is the process by which snowflakes are made.  A drop of
liquid can be cooled to a temperature below its normal freezing point,
yet still remain liquid.  The freezing process, when it occurs for
these undercooled liquids, is very rapid. When these metals solidify,
unique materials result that cannot be made or studied in any other
way.  Understanding the undercooling mixing process could lead to
better aircraft, car and truck engines, stronger construction
materials, as well as better foundry methods.  This research could
also lead to better welding, casting and soldering techniques.
  STS-83 Flight Day 2 Highlights:
 On Saturday, April 5, 1997, 6:30 a.m. CST, STS-83 MCC Status Report #2
reports:
  The red team members of STS-83, Commander Jim Halsell and Pilot
Susan Still along with Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload
Specialist Greg Linteris have been busy continuing the payload
activation process begun by their blue team counterparts as the
research efforts of the first Microgravity Science Laboratory-1
(MSL-1) mission get into full swing.
  The STS-83 crew will spend more than two weeks studying the
properties of combustion and the behavior of metals, materials and
fluids in the absence of gravity.  The astronauts are split into red
and blue teams, each working a 12-hour shift, to allow
around-the-clock operations in the pressurized Spacelab science module
in Columbia's cargo bay.
  After being awakened just before midnight, Halsell and Still set up
the bicycle ergometer in the Shuttle's middeck area.  Each of the
STS-83 crewmembers will use the bicycle for exercise during the
flight.  Thomas activated the Large Isothermal Furnace (LIF)
experiment and the Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the
International Space Station (EXPRESS) rack while Linteris continued
the activation of Protein Crystal Growth experiments.
  Remaining activities in the red team's day will include the setup
and checkout of the Wireless Data Acquisition System (WDAS)
experiment.  This is a proof of concept payload that uses wireless RF
signals to relay data from temperature sensors in the payload bay and
spacelab module.  Analysis of future Space Station operation
requirements indicate that there may be a requirement for real time
monitoring of temperature readings in various parts of the station and
a system such as the WDAS could meet that need.
  Columbia's blue team of astronauts is scheduled to be awakened at
9:21 a.m. CST this morning to begin Flight Day 2 activities.  Columbia
continues to circle the Earth in a 187 x 184 s.m. orbit, completing
one full revolution of the Earth every 90 minutes.  Voss and Crouch
will conduct an interview with two television stations in the Rockford
Illinois area at 5:46 p.m. this afternoon.  Voss is a native of
Rockford.
 On Saturday, April 5, 1997, 6:00 a.m. EST, STS-83 Payload Status Report #02
reports: (MET 0/16:39)
  Overnight, the crew of the Microgravity Science Laboratory mission
continued to power on facilities in the Spacelab and began some of the
more than 30 experiments to be conducted during the 16-day mission.
  Yesterday evening, Mission Specialist Dr. Janice Voss activated the
High-Packed Digital Television to give scientists on Earth the ability
to view multiple channels of live video from the Spacelab.  This
technology allows scientists on the ground to monitor their
experiments, change parameters and improve the quality and quantity of
scientific information gathered during the mission.
  Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch activated one protein crystal
growth experiment late yesterday. Voss later activated a second
experiment. The goal of these studies -- the Protein Crystallization
Apparatus for Microgravity and the Hand-Held Diffusion Test Cell -- is
to grow high-quality protein crystals which may be used to help
determine the three-dimensional structure and function of proteins in
the human body. Findings from this and other protein crystal growth
studies may lead to the development of new, more effective drugs to
fight diseases such as cancer, diabetes, alcoholism, AIDS and
Alzheimer's.
  All four acceleration measurement systems are now operating,
following activation of the Quasi-Steady and Space Acceleration
Measurement Systems by Voss last night. These systems work together to
detect and record the slight, unavoidable disturbances in the
near-zero gravity environment of the Spacelab. Science teams rely on
this information -- downlinked in near-real-time -- to determine the
effect of the disturbances on experiments.
  Before retiring for the day, Crouch configured the TEMPUS facility
for operations. This electromagnetic containerless processing furnace
will be used to study the undercooling and rapid solidification of
metals and alloys. Undercooling occurs when a solid is melted into a
liquid then cooled below its normal freezing point without
solidifying. "When the metal or alloy is solidified, it occurs very
rapidly, forming new types of materials we cannot manufacture or study
in any other way" said Jan Rogers, TEMPUS project scientist.
  A better understanding of this process may lead to improved welding,
casting and soldering techniques, and in turn, better products
manufactured using these processes.
  Voss and Crouch handed off to Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas
and Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris around midnight. One of
the first orders of business for the oncoming crew was activating
another protein growth experiment -- the Vapor Diffusion
Apparatus. Flown on earlier missions, this device has helped
scientists define procedures and mixtures for efficient growth of
protein crystals in space. During this mission, researchers will
continue to study protein crystal mixtures to further enhance crystal
growth.
  Early this morning Thomas activated the Large Isothermal Furnace.
This facility will be used to study the diffusion of liquid metals --
the process by which liquid metals mix without stirring -- similar to
how a drop of food coloring disperses in a glass of water. This
process cannot be adequately studied on Earth because of fluid
movement caused by gravity.
  Thomas powered on the EXPRESS (Expedite the Processing of
Experiments to the Space Station) rack, an experiment support facility
designed to simplify and speed the process of housing, transporting,
installing and operating experiments planned for the International
Space Station.
  Following activation of the facility, Thomas initiated the Physics
of Hard Spheres Experiment to examine the changes which occur as
substances go from the liquid to the solid state and vice versa --
processes fundamental to materials processing. This research will
provide a better understanding of these transitional phases and may
result in improved techniques for processing materials on Earth.
  Ahead, Linteris will set up the Combustion Module to begin a study
of the properties of soot; and Thomas will begin a study in the Large
Isothermal Furnace to measure the fundamental variables which regulate
the diffusion of impurities in molten salts. Crouch and Voss will
assume science operations aboard the Shuttle around mid-day. Crouch
will power up the Middeck Glovebox facility for an experiment to study
the manipulation of fluid drops in low- gravity. Voss will configure
the Droplet Combustion Apparatus for a study of burning fuel droplets.
  STS-83 Flight Day 3 Highlights:
 On Sunday, April 6, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-83 Payload Status Report #03
reports: (MET 1/16:39)
  After nearly two full days in space, the crew of the Microgravity
Science Laboratory mission has successfully activated all Spacelab
facilities and, along with science teams on the ground, is getting
down to the primary business of the mission -- to conduct fundamental
scientific research in space.
  Startup difficulties with one of the combustion experiments aboard
Space Shuttle Columbia were successfully resolved Saturday afternoon
and all research facilities are now fully operational.
  Working with Alternate Payload Specialist Dr. Paul Ronney at the
Spacelab Mission Operations Control Center in Huntsville, Ala.,
Payload Commander Dr.  Janice Voss changed a cable configuration. This
procedure resolved a communications glitch between a laptop computer
and the Combustion Module.  The module is a facility used to perform
experiments and to test combustion hardware and experiment methods on
Spacelab.
  Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris then activated the Laminar
Soot Processes experiment in the facility. This study, headed by
Dr. Gerard Faeth of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, is
collecting information on flame shape, the type and amount of soot
produced under various conditions and the temperature of soot
components. Carbon monoxide emissions associated with soot are the
primary source of fatalities in unwanted fires. Information gathered
from the study may lead to a better understanding of how to contain
unwanted fires and limit the number of fatalities from carbon monoxide
emissions.
  Twenty-three hours into the mission, just after noon Saturday, Voss
and Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch of the mission's Blue Team
assumed science operations aboard the Shuttle.
  Late Saturday afternoon, Voss configured the Droplet Combustion
Apparatus for a study of burning fuel droplets. The study is gathering
information on burning rates of flames, flame structures and
conditions when a flame is extinguished.
  A major amount of the energy produced around the world comes from
burning fuels, said Dr. Vedha Nayagam, project scientist for the
Droplet Combustion Experiment, from NASA Lewis Research Center in
Cleveland, Ohio.  By studying burning fuel droplets in space and
comparing the results to theoretical models, we can learn about the
chemistry of these fuels. This will help us to burn these fuels more
efficiently and minimize pollutants.
  Crouch began his shift Saturday afternoon by powering up the Middeck
Glovebox facility to begin a fluid physics study which examines
non-contact and remote manipulation techniques for controlling the
position and motion of liquids in low-gravity. Results of this study
may find application in improving many important processes used by
chemical manufacturing industries on Earth, including the petroleum
technology, cosmetics and food sciences industries.
  Just prior to the end of the Blue Team's shift -- around 2:30
a.m. CDT Sunday -- Crouch completed the first of two runs of a study
being conducted in the Large Isothermal Furnace. This investigation is
a study of the diffusion of impurities in molten salts. Diffusion is
the process by which liquid metals mix without stirring -- similar to
how the smell of baking bread, for instance, spreads from the oven
throughout the house. This process cannot be adequately studied on
Earth because of fluid movement caused by gravity.
  The goal of the experiment is to determine the diffusion coefficient
of the sample -- a fundamental quantity which describes the diffusion
process. The study, headed by Dr. Tsutomu Yamamura of Tohoku
University in Sendai, Japan, is designed to reveal ideal conditions
for electrolysis of molten salts. Electrolysis is the use of an
electrical current to break down a dissolved substance into its
constituent components. Results may also benefit basic science and
engineering processes on Earth.
  Early this morning, when Red Team crew members began their 12-hour
shift, Mission Specialist Don Thomas initiated the first of two
studies in the Large Isothermal Furnace to test a specially designed
experiment cartridge. This cartridge will be used to conduct two of
the metallic alloy diffusion studies planned for later in the mission.
  Ahead, Thomas will continue the diffusion study in the furnace;
Linteris will continue the soot study in the Combustion Module; and
Thomas will continue the fluid drop study in the Glovebox. Prior to
handing over to the Blue Team, Thomas will transfer the plant growth
experiment in the Shuttle's Middeck to the EXPRESS rack. Voss and
Crouch will assume science operations aboard the Shuttle around
mid-day and continue fluid drop, droplet combustion and soot studies.
  While maintaining their primary focus on proceeding with normal
planned science operations, the experiment teams are also assessing
their options if Columbia's Fuel Cell #2 situation should impact
mission duration.
 On Sunday, April 6, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-83 MCC Status Report #4
reports:
 Science activities associated with the Microgravity Science
Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) payload are proceeding as planned while the
flight team in Houston continues to monitor the performance of one of
the shuttle's three fuel cell power units.
  The issue with fuel cell number 2 is a degradation in one portion of
the fuel cell.  There are three fuel cells on board Columbia, each
containing three stacks made up of two banks of 16 cells each.  In one
stack of fuel cell 2, the difference in output voltage between the two
banks of cells has been increasing.
  Late last evening, the shuttle's electrical power configuration was
adjusted to reduce the demands on fuel cell number 2.  Since the power
reconfiguration, the behavior of fuel cell number 2 has stabilized.
Flight controllers have decided to leave the shuttle's power systems
in their current condition while they monitor and evaluate trends.
  The Mission Management Team with hold a meeting at 8 a.m. CDT this
morning to assess the status of the fuel cell and the options
available for future flight operations. Shuttle managers will report
on the results of the meeting in a press briefing at 10 a.m. CDT.
 On Sunday, April 6, 1997, 12:00 p.m. CST, STS-83 MCC Status Report #5
reports:
 Space shuttle managers today decided to cut short the STS-83
Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 mission because of problems with one
of the shuttle's three fuel cell power generation units.
   In a meeting that concluded at 9 a.m. CDT, NASA's Mission
Management Team (MMT) decided to order the early return due to data
received on fuel cell number 2, which has exhibited evidence of
internal voltage degradation since launch.  To ensure the safety of
the crew and Columbia, mission managers decided to reduce power demand
on the degraded cell and to isolate it from the other two fuel cells,
which are performing normally.  Meanwhile, flight controllers and
engineers on the ground are continuing analysis of fuel cell data in
order to decide whether to shut down the defective unit or to leave it
operating at minimum output in a standby mode.
  Columbia is now scheduled to land at 1:35 p.m. CDT Tuesday at
Kennedy Space Center. There is no concern for crew safety.
  The shuttle has three fuel cells, which use a reaction of liquid
hydrogen and liquid oxygen to generate electricity and produce
drinking water. Although one fuel cell produces enough electricity to
conduct on-orbit and landing operations, shuttle flight rules require
that all three be functioning well to ensure the safety of the crew
and provide sufficient backup capability for the highly dynamic
reentry and landing periods.
  Spacecraft Communicator Chris Hadfield informed the crew of the
decision at 9:21 a.m. CDT, saying: "The MMT had all players in on
the meeting right through from the factory.  The consensus is they
just do not understand the behavior of fuel cell 2. Even though your
efforts have done a good job toward stabilizing the problem, it's
significantly out of family. So, we'll shorten the mission"
  Commander Jim Halsell replied, "That's certainly a disappointment
but we know you guys put your best effort forward and you're doing the
right thing. We appreciate all the work that's gone into that"
  The early landing, which is only the third of the shuttle program
behind STS-2 in November 1981 and STS-44 in November 1991, means that
scientists will not be able to perform the majority of the research
planned for the MSL-1 mission. Columbia continues to circle the Earth
in a 188 x 183 statute mile orbit every 90 minutes with all of its
other systems operating normally.
 On Sunday, April 6, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-83 Payload Status Report #04
reports: (MET 2/03:39)
  Microgravity Science Laboratory researchers at Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala., are working to take maximum advantage of
the remaining hours before Space Shuttle Columbia's return to Earth
Tuesday. A malfunction in the Shuttle's number two fuel cell will end
the mission much earlier than the planned return on April 20.  Though
disappointed because of the need to cut the mission short, Mission
Manager Teresa Vanhooser at the Marshall Center said that the Spacelab
science control team was working with the crew members aboard Columbia
to reduce experiment run times and to realign the mission's schedule
to maximize the scientific return.  Researchers hope to get as many
science experiments completed as possible in the short time remaining.
  Despite this condensed time period, researchers have been able to
record a first in the Combustion Module.
  We've hit a homerun -- it's the first truly steady non-buoyant flame
that's been observed by anybody anywhere on Earth, said Combustion
Scientist Dr. Gerard Faeth from the University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor. While describing results from the Laminar Soot Processes
experiment, he stated that scientists have gotten their first glimpse
of the concentration and structure of soot from a fire burning in
microgravity. It's a real first and the pictures we saw today will
probably find their way into textbooks of the future, said Faeth.
  Much of the energy from fire is expelled in the soot it
produces. Researchers are gaining a better understanding of the role
soot plays in combustion and how it is produced by different
fuels. Soot has a lot of negative attributes and that's why we're
concerned about it. It's a pollutant, said Faeth. It is harmful to
public health.  It is the major source of difficulties of unwanted
fires in homes. Soot has carbon monoxide associated with it, which is
toxic and in that role soot is responsible for the deaths of about
4,000 people a year in the United States, and it's responsible for
fire injuries of about 25,000.
  Working in concert with science teams on the ground at the Marshall
Center, Columbia crew members Dr. Gregory Linteris and Dr. Don Thomas
continued experiments in TEMPUS, a German acronym for the
electromagnetic levitation furnace facility. These investigations were
pushed up in the timeline, according to William Hoffmeister, assistant
TEMPUS investigator at Marshall Center. The team was able to activate,
observe and complete an experiment run by melting a zirconium metal
sample and levitating it in the facility. This experiment, led by
Vanderbilt University Professor Robert Bayuzick, is studying the
relationship between internal flows in liquids and the amount of
undercooling that can be tolerated before solidification occurs. To
understand this experiment, Bayuzick said, imagine if you cooled a
glass of distilled water. The temperature could go below freezing
without the water actually becoming ice. That is undercooling.
However, if the glass were tapped or disturbed, then the water would
freeze very quickly. This process may have many benefits to
industry. New, enhanced properties in never-before-seen materials
could become possible.
  Thomas continued work in the middeck Glovebox as he conducted the
experiment called Internal Flows in a Free Drop. Tracer particles
inside the drop gave scientists the ability to map the internal flows
taking place as the drop was manipulated by sound waves. Understanding
the flows of fluids has far reaching applications for scientists in
the areas of weather prediction and ocean flows. Acoustic positioning
using this containerless technique is important to industries such as
chemical manufacturing, petroleum, cosmetics and food sciences.
  Later Thomas also set up the Large Isothermal Furnace for the Liquid
Phase Sintering experiment. This investigation tests theories on how
liquefied materials form a mixture without reaching the melting point
of the new alloy combination.
  Pilot Susan Still monitored the cooling samples from the earlier
Large Isothermal Furnace experiments. These dealt with the diffusion
of different types of metals.  Diffusion is a process where two
compounds mix -- much like how a droplet of food coloring will slowly
mix into a glass of water. After Columbia's return, researchers
will cut the column of lead-tin-telluride into segments to study how
uniform the various components mixed during sample cooling.
  Before the end of his shift, Linteris continued work in the
combustion module, performing the Droplet Combustion Experiment. The
purpose of this experiment is to collect information on the burning
rates of flames, flame structures and conditions when extinguishing a
flame. With improved understanding of droplet combustion, the results
of this experiment could lead to cleaner and safer ways to burn fossil
fuels, and more efficient methods of generating heat and power on
Earth.
  The experiment, Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures investigation
was moved up in the schedule as well. This experiment may help
researchers develop improved manufacturing processes and stronger
alloys. Because the coarsening experiment was moved up, it was decided
that the Astro/Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus would remain
stowed in the middeck compartment.
  Meanwhile, protein crystal growth experiments continue unattended as
planned.
  During this shift, researchers also dealt with a temporary
malfunction of the Experiment Control Systems Computer. This computer
oversees all the experiments aboard Spacelab. Commander Jim Halsell
Jr. ran trouble shooting steps to remedy the problem. Science
experiments continued after only a short interruption.
 On Sunday, April 6, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-83 MCC Status Report #07
reports: ()
  This afternoon, Columbia's crew shut down one of three
electricity-generating fuel cells that had been experiencing problems
since shortly after launch and made plans for ending the STS-83
mission on Tuesday, 12 days early, following a decision by shuttle
managers this morning to shorten the flight.
  Science activities are continuing inside the Microgravity Science
Lab-1 today, however, with the two remaining fuel cells operating
normally and supplying electricity for the lab experiments and for
Columbia's systems. The laboratory module is not planned to be
deactivated until late Monday evening as the crew readies for the
Tuesday return to Earth. Fuel cell 2, as the problem cell is
designated, was shut down by the crew at about 2:30 p.m. CDT
today. After the fuel cell was shut down, the crew also powered down
several pieces of non-critical equipment aboard Columbia to provide
additional power for the experiment work.
  Columbia's Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan Still and Mission
Specialist Don Thomas will answer questions from media at JSC, the
Kennedy Space Center, Fl., and the Marshall Space Flight Center,
Huntsville, Al., in a 20-minute press conference planned for 8:31
a.m. CDT Monday.
  The three shuttle fuel cells generate electricity by combining
liquid hydrogen and oxygen and creating, as a byproduct,
water. Although only one operational fuel cell can provide sufficient
electricity to safely conduct Columbia's orbital and landing
operations, shuttle managers decided to end the mission early due to
the loss of the failed fuel cell as a backup to the two currently
operating cells.  The loss of the fuel cell also reduces the amount of
power available for experiments.
  Later this afternoon, flight controllers noted an apparent problem
with one of two Pulse Code Master Modulation Units (PCMMUs) on
Columbia as the crew was working with a computer that controls
experiments in the Spacelab module. The two PCMMUs serve as relay
stations to transmit data and telemetry from a variety of sources on
board to the ground and to the Columbia's five flight control
computers. The crew switched to the second PCMMU and have not
experienced further problems, and flight controllers are continuing to
analyze the trouble. The problem did not interrupt the ongoing science
operations. Columbia is now scheduled to land at 1:35 p.m. CDT Tuesday
at Kennedy Space Center.
  STS-83 Flight Day 4 Highlights:
 On Monday, April 7, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-83 Payload Status Report #05
reports: (MET 02/16:39)
  Spacelab crew members and science teams at Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala., worked steadily through the night to
complete as much science as possible in the remaining hours of the
mission. Due to a malfunction in the Space Shuttle's number two fuel
cell, Columbia is now scheduled for landing Tuesday afternoon.
  The abbreviated mission came as a disappointment to participating
scientists.  The atmosphere, however, was also marked by bright spots,
such as the excitement of one science team which recorded a
"first" in combustion research.  Payload Commander Dr. Janice
Voss completed several runs of the Droplet Combustion Experiment last
night. "Six burns were successful and for the first time, we're
burning free droplets" said Principal Investigator Dr. Forman
Williams of the University of California at San Diego.
  The experiment is collecting information on burning rates of flames,
flame structures and conditions under which flames are
extinguished. "We can't get this kind of information from
ground-based experiments" said Williams. "We have burned at two
different atmospheres of oxygen concentration and calculated the
burning times of free fuel droplets at each."
  Combustion of fuel droplets is an important element in heating
furnaces for materials processing, heating homes and businesses, and
producing energy in gas turbines and gasoline-powered
engines. Findings from this investigation are providing researchers
with a better understanding of the combustion process and may lead to
cleaner and safer ways to burn fossil fuels as well as more efficient
methods of generating heat and power on Earth.
  The Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures experiment continued to run
in the Middeck Glovebox facility. This investigation, led by Dr. Peter
Voorhees of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., is studying
coarsening in metal mixtures at very high temperatures. During
coarsening, small particles shrink by losing atoms to larger
particles, resulting in a lack of uniform particle distribution. This
weakens the material and shortens its life-span.
  "Because of our small size and power usage we've been able to
continue experiment runs, completing four runs with good success"
said John Caruso, project manager for the experiment, with NASA's
Lewis Research Center. "From the engineering data we've
received, we expect to get satisfactory science. We expect the samples
will show uniform particle distribution."
  Findings from this research may lead to improved manufacturing
processes and stronger, longer-lasting materials.
  Early Sunday evening, Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch began a
study of the Structure of Flame Balls at Low Lewis-number, called
SOFBALL, in the Combustion Module. The study is designed to determine
under what conditions a stable flame ball can exist and if heat loss
is responsible in some way for the stabilization of the flame ball
during burning.
  "The two completed runs were successful beyond my wildest dreams"
said Principal Investigator Dr. Paul Ronney of the University of
Southern California in Los Angeles. During the first experiment, a
mixture of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon-dioxide burned in the facility
for the entire 500-second limit. This result is significant because
"these are the weakest flames ever burned -- lowest temperature,
weakest, most diluted mixtures" explained Ronney. "These mixtures will
not burn in Earth's gravity."
  "We have known that burning weaker mixtures increases efficiency"
said Ronney, "but not much is known about the burning limits of
these mixtures." Findings from this experiment will also provide
researchers with a better understanding of the combustion process and
will help to improve theoretical models. "Combustion models give
different results for these types of flames" said Ronney.  "This
is an acid test to show which, if any, current combustion modules
should be used."
  The Experiment Control Systems Computer, which relays
ground-commands to the experiment facilities, malfunctioned. The
Spacelab crew performed a procedure to disconnect the computer from
the master timing unit, allowing the computer and experiments to go to
internal timing sources.
  In the electromagnetic containerless processing facility, called
TEMPUS, two experiment runs ended early when the undercooled,
levitated samples came in contact with the wall. Undercooling refers
to a liquid being cooled to a temperature below its normal freezing
point yet remaining in a liquid state -- like cooling a glass of
distilled water on Earth. However, if the glass is tapped or
disturbed, ice begins to form quickly -- just as the samples began to
solidify when they hit the wall. Another study of undercooled
materials was initiated in the facility. This experiment, which
measures the specific heat of undercooled metallic melts, is examining
how metallic glass forms in zirconium-based alloys.
  Before ending his shift early this morning, Crouch began another run
of the Liquid Phase Sintering experiment in the Large Isothermal
Furnace. This experiment is investigating how liquid metals form a
mixture without reaching the melting point of the formed metallic
alloy. Information gathered will provide researchers with a better
understanding of liquid phase sintering in low-gravity and comparisons
of findings to theoretical predictions, should improve theoretical
models. The principal investigator for the study is Dr. Randall German
of Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa.
  Dr. Donald Thomas and Dr. Gregory Linteris assumed science
operations aboard the Shuttle early this morning. Thomas completed
another run of the Liquid Phase Sintering experiment in the Large
Isothermal Furnace before beginning to deactivate protein crystal
growth experiments.
  After completion of another run of the Droplet Combustion
Experiment, Linteris began reconfiguring the Droplet Combustion
Apparatus for return to Earth.
  Ahead, crew members will continue to deactivate experiment
facilities in preparation for the Shuttle's journey home.
 On Monday, April 7, 1997, 7:30 a.m. CST, STS-83 MCC Status Report #7
reports:
  Microgravity research aboard the Shuttle Columbia neared an end this
morning as the astronauts prepared to check out the Shuttle's
flight control systems that will be used during tomorrow's landing
at the Kennedy Space Center
  Commander Jim Halsell and Pilot Susan Still will check out
Columbia's aerosurfaces which are used to control the Shuttle after
it reenters the Earth's atmosphere and will test fire the ship's
maneuvering jets used to steer the Shuttle while it is in space.  The
tests will be completed before Red team crew members Halsell, Still,
Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg Linteris go
to bed for what is expected to be their final sleep period on orbit.
  Blue team crew members Janice Voss, Mike Gernhardt and Roger Crouch
will finish up science activities this afternoon and will deactivate
Spacelab systems in the pressurized research module shortly after 9
p.m. tonight.
  With Columbia's mission having been cut short because of a
voltage problem with fuel cell number 2, which was shut down and safed
yesterday, the astronauts will spend part of the day stowing their
crew cabin for their return to Earth tomorrow. All of Columbia's
other systems are functioning in excellent condition, including the
two remaining fuel cells which are carrying the load of electrical
production for the orbiter and the Spacelab.
  Columbia and its crew are scheduled to return home tomorrow
afternoon.  The deorbit burn to drop Columbia out of orbit is
scheduled for 12:35 p.m. Central time.  Landing at Kennedy Space
Center's Shuttle landing facility would take place one hour later
at 1:35 p.m. with additional opportunities available on subsequent
orbits to their KSC or the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force
Base, California.
 On Monday, April 7, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CST, STS-83 MCC Status Report #8
reports:
  Columbia's seven astronauts spent what should be their last full day
on orbit preparing to close down science operations and ready their
vehicle for a Tuesday landing at the Kennedy Space Center.
  This morning, mission commander Jim Halsell and pilot Susan Still
conducted a routine pre-entry check of Columbia's flight control
systems and performed a hot fire test of the reaction control system
jets.  One jet, designated F3F, failed off during the test, but does
not affect reentry plans since redundant jets perform the same
function as the failed jet.
  Halsell and Still, together with their Red Team partners Don Thomas
and Greg Linteris, participated in a crew news conference talking with
media in Houston, Florida and Alabama.  The crew remarked that while
the short mission was a disappointment to them, they feel significant
science had been accomplished in the few days of Spacelab operations.
  On the ground, flight controllers continue to manage electrical
power loads on the spacecraft.  They also performed troubleshooting
procedures on an experiment control computer for the Spacelab module
and on the minus-Y startracker, part of the Shuttle's navigation
system.  One of two startrackers, the minus-Y unit showed indications
that it was not communicating properly with other components and,
after troubleshooting procedures were run, was considered failed.
There is no impact to the mission since the remaining minus-Z
startracker continues to perform well and the startrackers are
designed to work independently of one another to provide information
to Columbia's Inertial Measurement Units.
  Columbia and its crew are scheduled to return to the Kennedy Space
Center on Tuesday afternoon.  The deorbit burn to drop Columbia out of
orbit is scheduled for 12:31 p.m. Central time.  Landing at Kennedy
Space Center's Shuttle landing facility would take place one hour
later at 1:33 p.m. with additional opportunities available on
subsequent orbits to either KSC or the backup landing site at Edwards
Air Force Base, California.  Weather appears acceptable at both sites,
although crosswinds will be near normal limits.
  STS-83 Flight Day 5 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, April 8, 1997, 7:30 a.m. CST, STS-83 MCC Status Report #9
reports:
Science work aboard Columbia has been completed and the Spacelab
module has been deactivated as the seven astronauts prepare for their
return to Earth later today.
  Overnight, Blue team crewmembers, Janice Voss, Mike Gernhardt and
Roger Crouch shut down equipment and experiments being carried in the
pressurized Spacelab module and the laboratory was deactivated just
before midnight.  The Red team astronauts, Commander Jim Halsell,
Pilot Susan Still, Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload
Specialist Greg Linteris were awakened at 1:21 a.m. Central time.
After a quick handover with their blue team counterparts, the red team
began stowing equipment that was used during the flight in preparation
for the Shuttles return to Earth.  Voss, Gernhardt and Crouch began an
abbreviated 6 hour sleep period. Once they were awakened, the
astronauts began deorbit preparations for their anticipated landing
later today at the Kennedy Space Center.
  Columbia's deorbit burn is planned for 12:31 p.m. Central time for a
KSC landing at the 3 mile long landing strip at the Florida spaceport
one hour later at 1:33 p.m., although the backup landing site at
California's Edwards Air Force Base could be used on the same orbit if
the weather in Florida does not cooperate. Currently, conditions at
KSC are expected to be favorable for landing.  Backup landing
opportunities exists on both coasts on subseqent orbits, if needed. A
3 minute firing of the twin orbital maneuvering system engines
will reduce Columbia's velocity enough to allow the Shuttle to drop
out of orbit and begin the journey home.  About 30 minutes after the
deorbit burn, Columbia will begin to encounter the first traces of
Earth's atmosphere at an altitude of 4 00,000 feet as it travels west
of Hawaii.
  No significant changes are planned in the management of Shuttle
systems for entry and landing.  Due to the loss of fuel cell two,
flight controllers plan to have some of the Shuttle's navigation
equipment po wered off for the early portion of entry as the flight
rules call for.  Those systems will be activated about 20 minutes
before landing.
 On Tuesday, April 8, 1997, 2:00 p.m. CST, STS-83 MCC Status Report #10
reports:
  Commander Jim Halsell and Pilot Susan Still guided Columbia to a
smooth landing at the Kennedy Space Center this afternoon, bringing
the curtailed Microgravity Sciences Laboratory-1 flight to a safe
conclusion.
  Riding home on the power of two electricity-producing fuel cells,
Columbia settled down on the 3-mile long landing strip at the Shuttle
landing facility on runway 3-3 at 1:33 p.m. Central time to complete
its shortened 1.5 million mile mission.
  Halsell, Still, Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission Specialists
Mike Gernhardt and Don Thomas and Payload Specialists Roger Crouch and
Greg Linteris closed Columbia's cargo bay doors in orbit shortly
before 10 this morning in preparation for landing, while the Entry
team of flight controllers, led by Flight Director Linda Ham kept
close tabs on winds at both the prime landing site at the Kennedy
Space Center and the backup landing site at California's Edwards Air
Force Base. Finally, with the crosswinds at KSC settling down, Ham
gave the astronauts the green light for the deorbit burn to the
Florida spaceport to bring this third shuttle mission of the year to a
close.
The seven crew members will spend the night at the Kennedy Space
Center for reunions with their families before returning to
Ellington Field in Houston tomorrow at about Noon Central time for
debriefings with JSC officials.
<end of mission>
Mission Name: STS-84 (84)
  Atlantis (19)
  Pad 39-A (61)
  84th Shuttle Mission
  19th Flight OV-104
  Night Launch (18)
   6th Mir docking
  KSC Landing(37)
 NOTE: Click Here for Countdown Homepage
Crew:
  Charles J. Precourt (3), Mission Commander
  Eileen M. Collins (2), Pilot
  C. Michael Foale (4), Mission Specialist
  Carlos I. Noriega (1),  Mission Specialist
  Edward T. Lu, (1),  Mission Specialist
  Jean-Francois Clervoy (2), (ESA) Mission Specialist
  Elena V. Kondakova (2), (RSA) Mission Specialist
 Download from Mir
  Jerry M. Linenger
  NOTE: C. Michael Foale will will stay aboard Mir,  replacing
  Jerry M. Linenger who will have arrived on Mir from STS-81.
Milestones:
   OPF-3 -- 1/22/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/22/1997)
     VAB -- 4/19/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/21/1997)
     PAD -- 4/24/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/25/1997)
    TCDT -- 4/28/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/28/1997)
     FRR -- 4/30/97 (Reference KSC Press Release 70-97)
Payload:
  Mir-Docking/6, SpaceHab-DM, LME, SAMS, CGEL
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Mar 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Apr 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status May 1997)
Mission Objectives:
   The STS-84 mission is the 6th Shuttle/Mir docking mission and is
part of the NASA/Mir program which consists of nine Shuttle-Mir
dockings and seven long duration flights of U.S. astronauts aboard the
Russian space station.  The shuttle previously Mir missions were
 STS-71, STS-74, STS-76, STS-79 and STS-81. The U.S. astronauts will
launch and land on a Shuttle and serve as Mir crew members while the
Mir cosmonauts use their traditional Soyuz vehicle for launch and
landing. This series of missions will expand U.S. research on Mir by
providing resupply materials for experiments to be performed aboard
the station as well as returning experiment samples and data to Earth.
     STS-84 will involve the transfer of 7,314 pounds of water
and logistics to and from the Mir.  During the docked phase,
1,025 pounds of water, 844.9 pounds of U.S. science equipment,
2,576.4 pounds of Russian logistics along with 392.7 pounds of
miscellaneous material will be transferred to Mir. Returning to
Earth aboard Atlantis will be 897.4 pounds of U.S. science
material, 1,171.2 pounds of Russian logistics, 30 pounds of ESA
material and 376.4 pounds of miscellaneous material.
Launch:
  Launch May 15,1997 4:07:48.62 am EST.  Launch window was 7 minutes.
The exact time of launch was determined about 90 minutes before
liftoff based on the location of the Mir space station.  KSC Weather
on launch day was excellent (Reference KSC Weather History 05/15/1997 0400).
Mir docking should occur at a Mission Elapsed Time (MET) of
1day 18hr 31min or 10:39EDT 5/16/97 Friday.
  On 5/15/97 the countdown continued on schedule. The crew ate breakfast
at 11:15pm in the crew quarters of the Operations and Checkout Building
and suited up around midnight.  They then departed for Pad 39A at
12:30am.  By 1:30am EDT, the final crew member, Carlos I. Noriega
entered the orbiter and communications checks were performed
with all crew members started at around 1:42am EDT and was complete
by 2:13am EDT.  The hatch closure was started at 2:28am EDT and
completed at 2:39am at the T-38 minute mark.  At 2:57am EST, the
countdown entered the T-20 minute and holding mark and exited the hold
at 3:07am EST.  At T-10 minute and counting (3:16am EST), just before
the 40 minute hold at the T-9 minute mark, the closeout crew cleared the
white room and departed the PAD 39A 195ft level.  At 3:56am NASA Test Director
(NTD) John Guidi polled the launch team in Firing Room 3 and Launch Director
Jim Harrington polled the Mission Management Team.  There were no constraints
to launch.  The countdown came out of the T-9 Minute Hold at 3:59am EDT.
The Orbiter Access Arm (OAA) was retracted at 4:00am and APU activation
was at 4:03am.  At 4:04am, the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) range saftey
receivers were armed.  The three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME's)
were then gimbled in a final test before launch.  AT 4:05am EDT, the
gaseous Oxygen vent hood was retracted and at T-2 minute mark and
counting the flight crew as directed to close and lock their visors.
Auto sequence started at 4:07am and launch occured at the start
of the launch window. SRB Separation occured at 4:10am EDT.  Main engine
cutoff occured at T+9min at 4:16am EDT.
   At 10 a.m. on the day before launch (Wednesday, 5/14/97),
the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) was moved into its park position.
The Mission Management Team met at 6pm to discuss launch weather and other
technical issues.  Loading of the External Tank cryogenic propellants
began at 7pm.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 5/14/1997)
  On 5/12/97, at the pad, aft engine compartment close-outs and final
inspections were completed on Saturday. Cryogenic reactants will be
loaded into the power reactant storage distribution system on board
Atlantis beginning at about 7 p.m. tonight. Loading operations will be
complete by 3 a.m. Tuesday. Weather forecasters currently indicate
only a 20 percent chance of weather violations on launch day. The only
concern at this time is for low cloud ceilings. There is no concern
for weather prohibiting tanking operations, scheduled to begin on
Wednesday at about 6:15 p.m. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 5/12/1997)
  On 5/11/97, the STS-84 crew arrived at KSC at 10 pm EST (about 30
minutes ahead of schedule) and NASA began the countdown on May 11 at
11 p.m. at the T-43 hour mark. The KSC launch team is conducting the
countdown from Firing Room 3 of the Launch Control Center (LCC). The
countdown includes 34 hours and seven minutes of built-in hold time
leading to the opening of the launch window at about 4:07 a.m. (EDT)
on May 15.  In order to accommodate the short window necessary to
rendezvous and dock with Mir, some changes have been made to the
standard launch countdown. Most significant is the addition of an
extra 30 minutes to the normal 10 minute built-in hold at T-9
minutes. Tanking is scheduled to begin at about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday,
May 14.  (Reference KSC Press Release 74-97)
  On 5/7/97, STS-84 ordnance installation and connection was completed.
Close-out activities continue in Atlantis' aft compartment. The
battery and cable that provide power to an accelerometer on the right
SRB have been replaced and closed-out.  Hypergolic propellant
pressurization is in work.  Testing of the orbiter's global
positioning and inertial navigation systems will occur today and
tomorrow.  The payload interface verification test is complete.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 5/07/1997)
  Over the weekend of May 3-4, technicians completed final installation
of fabricated parts to securely fasten the "pyro can" assemblies in
Atlantis' aft compartment. Work to close-out the orbiter's aft
compartment was in progress.  Spacehab tunnel mating activities
and leak checks were complete and good. The payload interface
verification test was on 5/5/97. The countdown begins on 5/11/97.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 5/05/1997)
 The STS-84 crew arrived at KSC on Sunday 4/27/97 to participate in
the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT).  TCDT is scheduled
to end at 11 a.m. Tuesday with the crew in the orbiter at the pad and
with a simulated main engine cutoff. Atlantis' engine flight readiness
test was completed over the weekend and the "pyro can" assembly plates
were successfully fit checked with additional fabricated clamps on
Saturday.  Helium signature tests and installation of the Spacehab
payload into Atlantis' cargo bay were performed
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/28/1997)
  Atlantis began its roll out to Pad 39A at about 2:30am arrived at
Pad 39A Thursday, 4/25/97 at about 8:30 a.m. At about 9:30 p.m.,
auxiliary power unit No.  3 was hot fired. The rotating service
structure was moved into position at about 9 a.m. Friday 4/25/97. The
engine flight readiness test was Saturday 4/26/97, and helium
signature tests were on Monday 4/28/97.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/25/1997)
  The Space Shuttle Atlantis rolled over to the VAB on Saturday, April
19, at about 5:30 p.m. and was hard mated to the external tank Sunday
afternoon.  Mating close-outs were in work on 4/21/97. Design and
fabrication of the clamps that will help securely fasten the "pyro
can" and base plate assemblies is in work. The Russian manufactured
oxygen generator, which Atlantis will carry to the Mir space station,
was installed in the Spacehab module over the weekend.  The payload
canister, housing Spacehab, will be transported to Pad 39A Monday
night 4/21/97 and transferred to the pad's payload change-out room
early Tuesday morning. Atlantis is scheduled to be rolled out to Pad
39A on Friday 4/25/97. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/21/1997)
  On 4/18/97, inspections of the bolt holes on two "pyro cans" in
Atlantis' aft compartment indicate possible deformation in the bolt
holes of the plate assembly on the right hand orbiter/external tank
attachment point. Shuttle managers decided to use three additional bolts
and a fabricated clamp for added strength to securely fasten each of
the two "pyro cans" and plate assemblies in addition to the original
two bolts, three new bolts will be placed into existent holes in each
assembly plate.  Technicians reinstalled the "pyro cans" on 4/17/97
and the additional work on the assembly will be performed at the
pad. Atlantis should roll over to the VAB at about 4 p.m. on Saturday
and be hard mated to the external tank by late Sunday.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/18/1997)
  On 4/15/97, managers delayed the rollover of Atlantis to the VAB in
order to complete work on the nose landing gear strut. While the
orbiter was being lowered, during weight and center of gravity checks,
the strut retracted and demonstrated lower than normal pressure. The
strut was repressurized and leak checks are complete and good.
Shuttle managers are also discussing the possibility of conducting
inspections of "pyro can" bolts in Atlantis' aft compartment. The
bolts, which hold an exterior covering for the pyrotechnic device that
separates the orbiter from the external tank, had shown signs of
slight elongation after a previous flight of the Space Shuttle
Discovery (OV-103). A determination to conduct the inspection could
delay Atlantis' roll over to the VAB by two days.
 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/15/1997)
  On 3/28/97, New thruster seals were installed in Atlantis' aft
Reaction Control System (RCS). The forward Reaction Control System is
scheduled to be returned to the OPF this weekend and reinstalled on
the orbiter later. Close-outs of the orbiter's midbody continued
and Main Propulsion System (MPS) vacuum line leak checks were performed.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/28/1997)
 On 3/25/97, The forward reaction control system was removed from
Atlantis to allow for additional checks of the thruster seal
savers. X-rays of the FRCS will continue today. Securing of main
engine No. 3 also continues. In the VAB, the external tank was mated
to the solid rocket boosters 3/24/97.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/25/1997)
 On 3/5/97, The forward reaction control system was mechanically
installed on the orbiter overnight. Electrical connections continued
and the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME's) will be installed
beginning 3/6/97. Engine No. 1 has already been delivered to the OPF
in preparation for this work. Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pod
close-outs and mid-body close-outs continue in work.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/05/1997)
 On 2/27/97, The European Proximity Sensor (EPS) payload has been
installed and the interface verification test is now in work. A
functional check of the airlock hatches is also underway. Preparations
continue for Space Shuttle main engine installation and forward
reaction control system installation next week. Stacking of the solid
rocket boosters in the Vehicle Assembly Building is complete and joint
close-outs are underway. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/27/1997)
 On 2/26/97,  Decay checks on the Power Reactant and Storage Distribution System
(PRSDS) and close-outs of the Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) continue. The
European Proximity Sensor (EPS) payload has been installed and the
Interface Verification Test (IVT) is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
Stacking of the solid rocket boosters in the Vehicle Assembly Building
also continues. Mate of the external tank to the solid rocket boosters
is now scheduled for March 24. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/26/1997)
 On 2/18/97, Securing of APU No. 3 and work to hook-up the fuel line
was completed. A leak and functional test of the newly installed APU
was then performed. Also, the main landing gear's right inboard brakes
were removed and replaced. The Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pod
functional checks were performed on 2/18/97 and 2/19/97.  Stacking of
the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB's) in the VAB resumed following repairs
to the fine control mechanism (hydraset) on the crane.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/18/1997)
 On 2/14/97, removal of the left hand pod will not be required
(removal was considered due to concerns with the engine actuator
controller) and work is underway to complete the Orbital Maneuvering System
(OMS) functional checks.  Stacking of the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB's) has
been delayed several days due to problems with a fine control
mechanism (hydraset) for the crane. Work is being rescheduled to least
impact external tank/solid rocket booster mating operations. Workers
hope to resume booster stacking operations on Monday (2/17/97).
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/14/1997)
  On 2/13/97, functional checks of the orbital maneuvering system were
performed. Removal of the FRCS was completed last weekend. Auxiliary
power Unit (APU) No. 3 has been replaced and securing of the new APU
is in work today. Stacking of the solid rocket boosters for mission
STS-84 was underway in the VAB. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/13/1997)
Orbit:
  Altitude: 184 statute miles
  Inclination: 51.6
  Orbits: 145
  Duration: 9 days, 5 hours, 20 minutes, 47 seconds.
  Distance:  miles
Hardware:
  SRB: BI-087
  SRM:
  ET :  SN-85
  MLP : MLP-2
  SSME-1: SN-2032
  SSME-2: SN-2031
  SSME-3: SN-2029
Landing:
  KSC May 24 9:27:44 am EDT.  Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33.
Main Gear touchdown at 9:27:44 am EDT (MET 9days 5hr 19min 56sec).  Nose
Gear Touchdown at 9:27:52 am (MET 9days 5hr 20min 4sec) and Wheel Stop
at 9:28:35 am (MET 9days 5hr 20min 47sec).
  At 8:19am EDT, the STS-84 crew was given a go for the deorbit burn
of 3 min 7 sec on the second KSC landing opportunity for 5/24/97. The
burn occured at 8:24am EDT. This allowed Atlantis to enter the
atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean and travel in a northwest to
southeast path toward the Kennedy Space Center.  Sonic booms heard
3min 20seconds before landing.
  The first landing opportunity was waived off due to low cloud cover over
the KSC SLF (Reference KSC Weather History 05/24/1997 0700).  This would
have required a deorbit burn at 6:47am EDT with a touchdown at about
7:52 a.m.  The backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, California
was not being considered for a Saturday homecoming.  Sunday had two KSC
landing opportunities at 8:29 a.m. and 10:05 a.m.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 5/23/1997)
  The deorbit burn will last 3 minutes, 14 seconds, and will take
place 220 n.m. over the southern portion of the Indian Ocean.  The
deorbit burn will slow Atlantis down enough to allow the Shuttle to
fall back into the Earth's atmosphere.  About 30 minutes after the
burn, Atlantis will begin to feel the effects of Earth's atmosphere as
it travels north of Hawaii over the Pacific Ocean at an altitude of
400,000 feet.  Atlantis will travel in a northwest to southeast path
across the United States as it makes its approach into the area around
the Kennedy Space Center.  Touchdown of Atlantis at Kennedy Space
Center's Shuttle Landing Facility is planned for 6:52 a.m. CDT.
  Weather forecasters predict a possibility of showers near the
landing strip at KSC but generally favorable conditions for both
landing opportunities.  Deorbit preparations will begin just before 2
a.m. Saturday followed an hour later by closing of Atlantis' payload
bay doors.  The astronauts are scheduled to don their launch and entry
suits shortly after 4 a.m. and strap into their seats about 5 a.m.
Entry Flight Director Wayne Hale is expected to poll the flight
control team for the final decision for the deorbit burn 20 minutes
prior to the planned firing of Atlantis' orbital maneuvering system
engines at 5:47 a.m.  (Reference STS-84 MCC Status Report #18)
Mission Highlights:
  STS-84 Flight Day 1 Highlights:
 On Thursday, May 15, 1997, 5:00 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #1
reports:
  The Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off precisely on schedule at 3:08
a.m. CDT today after a smooth and uneventful countdown.  The ascent
phase was completely nominal, as were the early phases of on-orbit
operations.  Forty-five minutes after launch, the vehicle's Orbital
Maneuvering System engines were fired to circularize Atlantis' orbit
at 185 statute miles.  Payload bay door opening followed shortly
thereafter.
  At the time of launch, the Russian space station, Mir, was
approximately 11,500 miles west of Australia.  It was approximately
one hour after launch that the Russian control center was able to
advise the Mir crew of the successful launch of Atlantis.  Jerry
Linenger, the U.S. astronaut member of the Mir crew, responded to the
news with the exclamation,."That's great!"
  After configuring Atlantis for on-orbit operations, the crew will
begin an eight-hour sleep period shortly after 8 a.m. CDT.  Atlantis
will continue its pursuit of Mir throughout today and tomorrow,
culminating with rendezvous and docking with Mir at 9:34 p.m. CDT
Friday.
 On Thursday, May 15, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #2
reports:
  The STS-84 crew were awakened this afternoon to begin their
first full day in space as Atlantis continued its pursuit of the Mir
space station.  At the time of wake up, the Shuttle was approximately
5,800 nautical miles away from the orbiting Russian facility, closing
at a rate of approximately 350 n.m. every orbit.
  In a salute to the on-time start and smooth operation so far in
the flight, Mission Control chose Those Magnificent Men and Their
Flying Machines played by The American Military Band as the wake up
music to begin the STS-84 crew's second day in space.
  The main focus of flight day two will be the checkout of the
docking system and support equipment that will be used during tomorrow
night's rendezvous and docking with Mir.
  Among the docking preparation activities this evening and early
tomorrow morning, will be the installation of the center line camera
in the Orbiter Docking System.  That device will provide Commander
Precourt additional insight as he makes the final approach to the
station.  The crew also will extend the capture ring on the docking
system to verify it is healthy and ready to support mate operations,
test the hand-held laser device used for range and closure rates with
the Mir and set up the laptop computers which provide rendezvous data.
  In addition to preparing for the docking with Mir, the crew will
also begin activities with Biorack - the main science payload aboard
Atlantis.  Biorack is a multi-purpose unit that provides temperature
controlled environments, centrifuges for simulating gravity and a
protected workspace for specimen handling.  Investigations in the
Biorack facility include studies on plant growth, changes in several
generations of a single-celled organism grown during the flight,
changes in the components of white blood cells in a weightless
environment and monitoring the radiation environment in the spacecraft
  Early tomorrow morning, the crew will conduct an interview with
the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).  That interview is planned
to take place at 2:48 a.m. CDT.
  The STS-84 crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 8:08 a.m. tomorrow
morning.  Following an eight hour sleep period, they will be awakened
at 3:08 p.m. tomorrow afternoon to begin the final portion of the
rendezvous with Mir.  Docking of the two spacecraft is targeted for
9:34 p.m. CDT tomorrow evening.
  Atlantis continues to orbit the Earth every 90 minutes at an
altitude of 185 x 166 statute miles with all of the Shuttle's systems
operating in excellent condition.
  STS-84 Flight Day 2 Highlights:
 On Friday, May 16, 1997, 5:00 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #3
reports:
  Atlantis continues to close on the Mir Space Station in anticipation
of tonight's sixth linkup between the Shuttle and the Russian space
complex.
  Preparations for the docking are nearly complete as Atlantis' seven
astronauts worked throughout the overnight hours to check out the
rendezvous tools that will be used during the final phase of the
approach to Mir. This morning, Commander Charlie Precourt and Pilot
Eileen Collins fired Atlantis' jets in another in a series of burns to
refine the Shuttle's path to the Mir.
  Overnight, Collins and Mission Specialists Carlos Noriega and
Jean-Francois Clervoy successfully checked out the programs and laser
range hardware that will be used throughout the rendezvous.  The crew
also extended the capture ring on the Orbiter Docking System to verify
it is healthy and ready to support mating operations following contact
between the two vehicles.  And, Precourt and Ed Lu setup a camera in
the Orbiter Docking System which will be used tonight as an extra
visual aid to help Precourt precisely guide Atlantis to its meeting
with the Mir. Docking remains scheduled for 9:34 p.m. Central time
tonight.
  Clervoy, Lu and Russian cosmonaut Elena Kondakova spent several hours
throughout the night in the Spacehab module at the rear of Atlantis'
cargo bay working with the Biorack, a facility housing almost a dozen
experiments. The crew also took time this morning to discuss astronaut
 Mike Foale's four-month mission on the Mir during an interview with
the British Broadcasting Corporation.
  The astronauts are scheduled to go to sleep at 8:08 a.m. Following
an abbreviated seven-hour sleep period, they will be awakened at 3:08
p.m. to begin the terminal phase of the two-day chase to catch the
Mir. They will move quickly into their rendezvous timeline late this
afternoon as Noriega sets up the rendezvous tools on the flight deck,
while Precourt and Collins power up backup systems on Atlantis to
support docking operations.
 On Friday, May 16, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #4
reports:
 With the distance between Atlantis and Mir growing ever shorter,
crews aboard both vehicles are busy with preparations for this
evening's docking of the two vehicles.
  STS-84 Commander Charlie Precourt and the rest of his crew -
Pilot Eileen Collins, Mission Specialists Jean-Francois Clervoy,
 Carlos Noriega, Ed Lu, Elena Kondakova, and Mike Foale are busy
with final preparations for tonight's docking with the orbiting
Russian facility.
  The crew was awakened at 3:03 p.m. CDT this afternoon with the
song."Hold On, I'm Coming," by Sam and Dave, done in honor of the
pending exchange of U.S. astronaut Jerry Linenger aboard the Mir with
STS-84 astronaut Mike Foale.
  Docking remains scheduled for 9:34 p.m. CDT tonight. The terminal
initiation burn that begins the final approach phase is scheduled for
6:53 p.m. CDT. Atlantis has been closing in on Mir at a rate of about
270 nautical miles every orbit and will be about 8 miles behind the
station at the time of the terminal initiation burn.
  Yesterday, the crew finished the checkout of navigation tools that
will be used during the rendezvous, set up a camera in the Orbiter
Docking System to provide television views of the Mir docking target
for Precourt, and extended the outer ring of the Orbiter Docking
System.
  An on-time docking at 9:34 p.m. would place the two spacecraft at
42.5N, 15.3E traveling over the Adriatic Sea.. One orbit later, the
hatches between the two spacecraft will be opened and the planned five
days of docked operations will begin, including the crew exchange
of Foale and Linenger and the transfer of over 7,000 pounds of water,
experiments and logistical items between the two spacecraft.
  STS-84 Flight Day 3 Highlights:
 On Saturday, May 17, 1997, 5:00 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #5
reports:
 Space Shuttle Atlantis and Space Station Mir joined together for the
sixth time last night with a flawless docking which occurred at 9:33
p.m. Central time over the Adriatic Sea.  Ten astronauts and
cosmonauts greeted one another and then began the business of
transferring about 7,000 pounds of food, water, experiments and other
supplies to each other's spacecraft..
  Commander Charlie Precourt guided Atlantis to its docking with the
Mir to cap off a 42-hour chase which began with the Shuttle's launch,
and less than two hours later, at 11:25 p.m., the hatches between the
two space vehicles swung open. Precourt greeted Mir 23 Commander
Vasily Tsibliev and, after embraces and handshakes, the crew members
made their way into the Mir Core Module for a brief welcoming
ceremony. During the ceremony, the Shuttle crew gave Tsibliev and
Flight Engineer Alexander Lazutkin baseball caps emblazoned with the
STS-84 crew insignia as well as the traditional Russian offering of
bread, tea and salt. Then, the ten astronauts and cosmonauts got down
to business, first conducting a joint safety briefing to familiarize
themselves with each other's craft.
  Among the first 'items' to be transferred to the station was
U.S. astronaut Mike Foale, who swapped places with Jerry Linenger to
maintain a permanent American presence in space which now has
stretched to 14 months.  The transfer of Foale's custom-made Soyuz
capsule seatliner marked the official start of Foale's tour of
duty. At the same time, Linenger became a Shuttle crew member once
again, having spent 123 days as a Mir crew member following his
arrival on the Russian outpost in January.  Linenger will have spent
just over 132 days in space if Atlantis lands next Saturday as is
currently scheduled.
  Foale will be a member of both the Mir-23 and Mir-24 crews until he
is relieved by astronaut Wendy Lawrence on Atlantis' next visit to the
Mir in late September.
  Running ahead of schedule, the astronauts also reported the
successful transfer of a new."Elektron" oxygen-generating unit from
Atlantis' Spacehab module to the Kvant-1 module on the Mir. That unit
is being installed as a backup to the operational Elektron in the
Kvant-2 module to augment the Mir's oxygen generation capability.
  Atlantis' astronauts will begin an extended 10-hour sleep period at
10:08 a.m. Central time this morning.  They will be awakened at 8:08
p.m. to continue their joint work with their Russian counterparts and
Foale, highlighted by the transfer of a new Elektron oxygen generating
unit from Atlantis' Spacehab module to the Mir, where it will be
installed by Tsibliev and Flight Engineer Alexander Lazutkin early
Sunday morning. The new unit, which will reside in the Kvant-1 module
to be used as a backup to the Elektron unit operating in the Kvant-2
module, will be activated for a few minutes Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, Foale and Linenger will continue a series of handover
briefings to acquaint Foale with his home for the next four months.
 On Saturday, May 17, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #6
reports:
 The crews aboard the joint Shuttle-Mir complex are scheduled to be
awakened this evening at 8:08 p.m. CDT to begin their second day of
docked operations.
  Earlier today at 9:15 a.m. CDT, the exchange of NASA astronauts
serving aboard Mir took place as STS-84 crew member Mike Foale
officially became a member of the Mir 23 crew.  NASA astronaut Jerry
Linenger, who served aboard Mir for 123 days, is now a member of
STS-84 Commander Charlie Precourt's crew, serving as Mission
Specialist.
  After they get through post-sleep activities, the STS-84 and Mir 23
crews will continue the transfer of items between the two spacecraft.
Precourt and Pilot Eileen Collins will conduct a photo survey of the
Mir station.  Mission Specialist Jean-Francois Clervoy will continue
work with Biorack - the primary science payload being carried in the
Spacehab module. Elena Kondakova also will work with some Biorack
experiments and will take environmental samples before helping with
Mir transfer activities. Carlos Noriega will perform a check of some
experiments being carried in the middeck and Ed Lu will activate a
radiation monitor experiment.  Foale and Linenger will continue their
handover discussions to help Foale prepare for his 4  month stay
aboard Mir.
  Early tomorrow morning, Precourt and Mir 23 Commander Vasily
Tsibliev will answer qustions from CBS Correspondent Bill Harwood.
That interview is scheduled to take place at 5:48 a.m. CDT.
  Systems onboard the Atlantis-Mir complex continue to work normally
as it circles the Earth every 92 minutes at an altitude of 248 x 234
statute miles.
  STS-84 Flight Day 4 Highlights:
 On Sunday, May 18, 1997, 6:30 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #7
reports:
 The ten astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the Atlantis-Mir complex
spent their first full day of work together conducting science
investigations and transferring equipment from one spacecraft to the
other.
  The Spacehab double module at the rear of Atlantis' payload bay was
the focus of activity today as crew members conducted science
experiments in the Biorack facility and transferred items to and from
the Mir Space Station.
  Shuttle Commander Charlie Precourt and Pilot Eileen Collins
conducted several photo surveys of the Mir station and Mission
Specialists Jean-Francois Clervoy and Elena Kondakova worked with
Biorack - the primary science payload on board.  Kondakova also
performed some environmental air sampling before helping with Mir
transfer activities.  Carlos Noriega checked the progress of some
experiments being carried in the middeck and Ed Lu activated a
radiation monitor experiment.  The newest Mir 23 crew member, Mike
Foale, joined his new crewmates, Commander Vasily Tsibliev and Flight
Engineer Alexander Lazutkin in familiarizing himself with his orbital
home for the next four months. Foale also joined his predecessor on
Mir, Jerry Linenger, to discuss life and work aboard Mir and the
current status of Mir systems. Linenger spent his day transferring
many of the experiments he conducted during his tour of duty on Mir
back to Atlantis for their return to Earth.
  In an interview with CBS News, Precourt and Tsibliev praised the
sixth joint docking mission between the U.S. and Russia, indicating it
is serving as a worthwhile exercise to prepare for the assembly of the
International Space Station. Precourt also said the Mir appears to be
in good condition despite recent systems problems, and said Mir will
be a perfectly safe home for Foale for his stay on orbit.
  The new Elektron oxygen-generating unit, which was transferred to
the Mir from Atlantis early Saturday, will not be tested during the
docked phase of the flight. The 300-pound system will be installed in
the Kvant-1 module after the mission and will be tested after a
leaking cooling loop in Kvant-1 is fixed. The new unit will serve as a
backup to another unit currently operating in Kvant-2 as the primary
source of oxygen production for the Mir.
  The ten astronauts and cosmonauts will begin their sleep periods at
12:08 p.m. Central time today. Atlantis' seven crew members will be
awakened at 8:08 p.m., while the Mir 23 crew members will receive
their wakeup call from Russian flight controllers an hour later.
  The Atlantis/Mir complex continues to circle the Earth at an
altitude of 210 nautical miles with all systems in both spacecraft
operating normally.
 On Sunday, May 18, 1997, 7:30 p.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #8
reports:
  As they get ready to begin their third day of docked operations, the
crews aboard the Atlantis-Mir complex are well into the transfer
activities planned for the STS-84 mission.
  The crew will receive its wake up call to begin Flight Day 5 at 8:08
p.m. CDT this evening and the Mir-23 crew will be awakened about an
hour later to start its day.  The main focus this evening and early
tomorrow morning will be the continuing effort to transport science
equipment, logistics and water between the two spacecraft.  As of the
start of tonight's activities, approximately 58 % of the planned
transfer work has already been accomplished.
  Work planned for this evening includes Commander Charlie Precourt
and Pilot Eileen Collins setting up equipment to take environmental
air samples.  They'll also work with the Cosmic Radiation Effects and
Activation Monitor (CREAM) which has made multiple Shuttle
flights. Crew members will install a CREAM detector package at each of
four stations as early in the flight as possible and then stow them as
late as possible before the end of the flight.  Mission Specialist
Jean-Francois Clervoy will continue his work with the Biorack system
and a plant experiment before helping with transfer activities.
Carlos Noriega's transfer efforts will include moving a Protein
Crystal Growth dewar system from Mir to Atlantis for return to Earth.
Ed Lu will conduct a photo survey of the Mir station while Elena
Kondakova moves hot and cold water samples from Mir to Atlantis and
continues her work with Biorack experiments.
  Mike Foale and Jerry Linenger will continue their handover
discussions as Foale prepares for his upcoming 4 month stay on
Mir. Foale will serve aboard the Russian facility until he is replaced
by astronaut Wendy Lawrence when Atlantis again docks to Mir in
September on Mission STS-86.
  At 2:07 a.m. CDT Monday morning, Precourt will downlink a
congratulatory message to the 4th Air Expeditionary Wing in
celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force. Later at
6:26 a.m. CDT, Precourt, along with Collins, Lu, Foale, Linenger and
Mir 23 Commander Vasily Tsibliev will conduct an interview with C-SPAN
anchor Brian Lamb and answer viewer call-in questions.
  Everything continues to go well as the Atlantis-Mir complex circles
the Earth every 92 minutes at an altitude of 248 x 234 statute miles.
  STS-84 Flight Day 5 Highlights:
 On Monday, May 19, 1997, 5:00 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #9
reports:
  The ten astronauts and cosmonauts of the Atlantis-Mir space complex
continued their work through the overnight hours, transferring water,
hardware and logistical supplies to and from each other's spacecraft
in the third day of joint operations between the Shuttle and the
Russian Space Station crewmembers.
  While that work continued, European Space Agency astronaut
Jean-Francois Clervoy and Russian Space Agency cosmonaut Elena
Kondakova, both Atlantis Mission Specialists, continued work in the
Spacehab module at the rear of the Shuttle's cargo bay, conducting
experiments in the Biorack facility. Kondakova also collected both
cold and hot water samples from the Mir's water system to return to
Earth to be analyzed for their purity.
  As planned, the newest member of the Mir 23 crew, Mike Foale, and
astronaut Jerry Linenger continued their handover activities to
prepare Foale for his 4 month stay on Mir.  Foale will serve aboard
the Russian outpost until he is replaced by astronaut Wendy Lawrence
during Atlantis' next visit to Mir in September.
  Atlantis' seven crew members were awakened Sunday night to begin
their fifth day of work on orbit by the French National Anthem,."La
Marseillaise," before starting the transfer activities, which are
already ahead of schedule with more than 50 percent of the total items
to be delivered to and from the Mir having been moved to their final
locations.
  Working in tandem, Commander Charlie Precourt and Pilot Eileen
Collins set up equipment to take environmental air samples and also
installed a radiation detection monitor Effects and Activation Monitor
at each of four locations in the Mir.
  While Clervoy and Kondakova conducted scientific work in the
Spacehab module, Carlos Noriega relocated a Protein Crystal Growth
dewar system from Mir to Atlantis for return to Earth while Ed Lu
conducted a photo survey of the Mir station
  Earlier today, Precourt downlinked a videotape of an international
meal conducted by the ten crew members of the Atlantis-Mir complex
shortly after their docking and sent a congratulatory message to the
Air Force's 4th Air Expeditionary Wing in celebration of the 50th
anniversary of the military service and the completion of wing's tour
of duty in Qatar in the Middle East.
  Several crew members took time out this morning to answer questions
from viewers of the C-SPAN cable television network, discussing the
progress of the mission and the condition of the Mir Space Station.
 Atlantis and Mir continue to orbit the Earth every 90 minutes at an
altitude of 213 nautical miles with all systems functioning normally.
  The crewmembers are scheduled to begin a sleep period at 12:08
p.m. Central time. Atlantis' crew will be awakened at 8:08 p.m. this
evening, with the Mir crewmembers receiving their wakeup call one hour
later.
 On Monday, May 19, 1997, 5:30 p.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #10
reports:
  The STS-84 crew will begin Flight Day 6 activities at 8:08 p.m. CDT
this evening when they receive a wake up call from Mission
Control-Houston.  The Mir 23crews's wake up alarm on the Russian
station will sound about one hour later.
  Now more than 67 hours into docked operations, the crews aboard the
Atlantis-Mir complex are nearing the completion of their transfer
activities for the STS-84 mission.  The crews will begin their fourth
day of docked operations with 76% of transfer operations complete with
188 of 249 items having already been moved between the two vehicles.
More than 87% of the resupply items for the Mir station are already
onboard.  For the items coming back on Atlantis, 59% of the U.S. items
and 71% of the Russia items are already stowed for the return to
Earth.
  In addition to continuing their transfer efforts and working with
the Biorack, activities this evening will include tests with the Mir
Structural Dynamics Experiment (MiSDE).  This experiment will gather
structural dynamics data on the Mir-Atlantis mated configuration by
firing maneuvering thrusters on either the Shuttle or Mir.  For
tonight's data collection, only Atlantis' thrusters will be used.
  The two crews will take a break from their transfer activities and
science work to conduct an interview with the Cable News Network (CNN)
early tomorrow morning.  The CNN event will take place just after 7
a.m. CDT Tuesday morning.
  The Atlantis-Mir complex continues to circle the Earth every 92
minutes at an altitude of 248 x 234 statute miles.
  STS-84 Flight Day 6 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, May 20, 1997, 6:30 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #11
reports:
  The fourth day of docked operations between Space Shuttle Atlantis
and the Mir Space Station was highlighted by the continuing transfer
of water, experiments and logistical supplies between the two
spacecraft.
  The ten crewmembers worked in relative silence throughout the night
and the overnight hours to remain ahead of the timeline for the
exchange of about 3 tons of items earmarked for use by U.S. astronaut
Mike Foale during his four month stay on the Mir and those designated
for return to Earth for researchers and officials of the Russian Space
Agency.
  Atlantis' seven crew members were awakened last night by flight
controllers to the sound of the Peruvian national anthem in honor of
Mission Specialist Carlos Noriega to begin another day of transfer
work.
  About 190 of 249 items have already been hauled between the two
vehicles by the astronauts and cosmonauts.  More than 87 percent of
the resupply items for the Mir Space Station are already onboard.
Fifty nine percent of the U.S. items and 71 percent of the Russian
items have been stowed in the Spacehab module in the rear of Atlantis'
cargo bay for their return to Earth.  Nearly 700 pounds of water have
been collected and delivered to the Russian outpost in 7 bags with 2
additional 100-pound bags scheduled for delivery today.  A total of 10
bags of water totaling 1,000 pounds are expected to be delivered to
Mir before the hatches are closed between the two craft tomorrow
morning.
  U.S. and Russian flight control teams continue to refine procedures
which may be used for the dumping of about 600 pounds of condensate
water from the Mir through Atlantis' waste water dump nozzles
tomorrow. The condensate has been collected in special containers on
the Mir and Russian officials expressed interest in removing the
condensate from the station to free up room on the Mir. A final
decision on implementing the procedure is expected to be made this
morning by NASA's Mission Management Team.
  Foale, the newest member of the Mir 23 crew, continues to be briefed
by departing U.S. astronaut Jerry Linenger on life and work on the
Russian station as they continue their handover activities to prepare
Foale for his long duration mission. on Mir.  Foale will serve aboard
the complex until he is replaced by astronaut Wendy Lawrence during
Atlantis' next visit to Mir in September.
  In addition to continuing their transfer efforts, Commander Charlie
Precourt and Pilot Eileen Collins fired Atlantis' jet thrusters
several times to collect data for the Mir Structural Dynamics
Experiment, which is designed to characterize the effect of such
firings on a space station's solar arrays and mechanical integrity.
  With their joint docked operations heading into the homestretch, the
ten crew members are scheduled to go to sleep at 12:08 p.m. Central
time this afternoon. Atlantis' astronauts will be awakened at 8:08
p.m. to begin the seventh day of their mission. The Mir 23 cosmonauts
will be awakened one hour later.
  The Atlantis-Mir space complex continues to orbit the Earth every 90
minutes at an altitude of 213 nautical miles with all systems
operating normally.
 On Tuesday, May 20, 1997, 7:00 p.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #12
reports:
 The crews aboard the Atlantis-Mir complex will begin their final full
day of joint docked operations this evening as they finish up transfer
operations and prepare for tomorrow night's undocking.
  Mission Control will wake the seven person crew aboard Atlantis at
8:08 p.m. CDT this evening to begin Flight Day 7 activities.  The
three members of the Mir-23 crew will start their day about one hour
later.
  At the Mission Management Team meeting earlier today, NASA officials
decided to not proceed with a request made by Russian space officials
to dump about 600 pounds of Mir condensate water through Atlantis'
waste water dump nozzles. Since the procedures to perform this work
were not completely defined and not wanting to over subscribe the
Shuttle crew on their last day of docked operations, NASA managers
decided to decline the request.
  As they wrap up their transfer activities early tomorrow morning,
STS-84 Commander Charlie Precourt, and Mir-23 Commandeer Vasily
Tsibliev along with some of their crewmembers will conduct a tour of
the Mir station about at 12:30 a.m.
  When they complete the movement of equipment between the two
vehicles, the two crews will review inventory lists to insure that all
items have been transferred.  Former Mir resident Jerry Linenger and
the newest member of the Mir-23 crew, Mike Foale, also will complete
their handover discussions.
  With their transfer work behind him, the Atlantis and Mir crews will
hold a joint news conference, answering questions from news media in
the United States, Europe and Russia.  The crew news conference is
planned for 5:28 a.m. CDT on Wednesday.
  During the conference, STS-84 Commander Precourt, Mir 23 Commander
Tsibliev along with former Mir resident Jerry Linenger and the new
member of the Mir 23 crew, Mike Foale, will hold an informal farewell
ceremony.  Precourt and Tsibliev will then shake hands one last time
and the hatches between the two vehicles will be closed.
  The Atlantis crew will then install the centerline camera in the
Orbiter Docking System for use during tomorrow night's undocking.
Precourt and his crew will also review the undocking procedures before
turning in for a slightly abbreviated 7 hour sleep period.
  When they wake up Wednesday evening, the STS-84 crew will
immediately begin final undocking activities.  About two hours after
wake up, Atlantis will separate from the Mir ending more than 120
hours of docked operations.
  STS-84 Flight Day 7 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, May 21, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #13
reports:
  The ten astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the Atlantis-Mir space
complex said their final farewells and closed the hatches on their two
spacecraft this morning, wrapping up five days of joint operations in
which about 7,000 pounds of supplies, experiments and water were
transferred between the two vehicles, as well as astronaut Mike Foale,
who swapped places with Jerry Linenger for the start of a four-month
research mission on the Russian outpost.
  The final handshakes by Commanders Charlie Precourt and Vasily
Tsibliev came moments before the hatches between Atlantis and Mir
swung shut at 7:43 a.m. Central time, leaving Foale behind on the
Russian outpost to begin his tour of duty along with Tsibliev and
Flight Engineer Alexander Lazutkin.
  The final farewells and hatch closure set the stage for the undocking
of Atlantis from the Mir tonight at 8:04 p.m. Central time, which will
complete the sixth docking flight between the U.S. and Russia. Plans
called for Atlantis to back away below Mir to a distance of 3300 feet
to test a European Space Agency sensor device designed to compute
range and range rate data for ESA resupply vehicle dockings
contemplated for the new International Space Station in the next
decade.
  There will be no flyaround of the Mir by Atlantis after undocking
tonight as has been the case in previous missions to allow for the ESA
sensor studies. The laws of orbital mechanics will allow Atlantis to
separate from Mir naturally without additional jet thruster firings.
  Overnight, Linenger and Foale took viewers of NASA Television on a
comprehensive tour of the Mir Space Station, displaying all of the
station's modules and points of interest, including the locations of
experiment activity and an area near the spot outside the Kvant-1
module where a brief fire broke out in February due to the failure of
an oxygen-generating canister.
  The ten crew members also fielded questions from reporters in the
U.S. and Europe during a joint crew news conference in the Mir Core
Module. They discussed the results of their mission and prospects for
continuing U.S-Russian space cooperation in the future.
  Atlantis' astronauts began their workday shortly after 8
p.m. Tuesday night when Mission Control played the Russian National
Anthem - called."Patriotic Song" - in honor of cosmonaut and Mission
Specialist Elena Kondakova.  The two crews on Atlantis and Mir, now
seperated by closed hatches, will turn in at 11:08 Central time this
morning for abbreviated sleep periods. The seven astronauts will be
awakened at 6:08 p.m. to prepare for undocking, one hour after the Mir
23 cosmonauts are awakened by Russian flight controllers.
  Atlantis and Mir continue to fly smoothly on in an orbit about 220
miles above the Earth, circling the planet every 90 minutes. All
systems on both spacecraft continue to function normally.
 On Wednesday, May 21, 1997, 6:30 p.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #14
reports:
 Docked operations between the Atlantis and Mir will conclude this
evening when the Shuttle undocks at approximately 8:04 p.m. CDT to
conclude the joint work conducted during this sixth Shuttle-Mir
mission.
  The crew aboard Atlantis were awakened at 6:08 p.m. to begin Flight
Day 8.  The wake up music this evening was."Triste et Bleu" by French
singer Michele Jonasz which was requested by Mission Specialist
Jean-Francois Clervoy.
  The crew are now in their post-sleep period and will shortly begin
final preparations for tonight's undocking.
  Once Atlantis is ready to undock from Mir, the initial separation
will be performed by springs that will gently push the shuttle away
from the docking module. Both the Mir and Atlantis will be in a mode
called."free drift" during the undocking.  During &quot;free
drift&quot; the steering jets of each spacecraft are shut off to avoid
any inadvertent firings.
  Once the docking mechanism's springs have pushed Atlantis away to a
distance of about two feet from Mir, where the docking devices will be
clear of one another, Atlantis' steering jets will be turned back on
and fired in the Low-Z mode to begin slowly moving away from Mir.
   For the STS-84 mission, Atlantis will continue away from Mir until
it reaches a distance of approximately 3,000 feet below the Mir where
it will stop to test a European laser docking sensor.  Unlike previous
Shuttle-Mir flights, there will be no fly-around of the station for
photo documentation.  When Atlantis reaches the 3,000 foot distance,
instead of firing jet thrusters to perform a separation maneuver, the
Shuttle will depend on the natural forces of one spacecraft being in a
lower orbit than another which will cause the Shuttle to move ahead of
the Mir.
  Early tomorrow morning at 7:44 a.m., Mission Specialist
Jean-Francois Clervoy and his Atlantis crewmates will conduct an
interactive event with students gathered at the Arianspace launch
center in Kourou, French Guiana and a French radio network in Paris,
France.
  About 30 minutes later at 8:14 a.m., Carlos Noriega, who was born in
Lima, Peru, will receive a VIP phone call from Peruvian President
Albert Fujimori and the U.S. Ambassador to Peru, Dennis Jett.  Noriega
will also answer questions from the CBS Telenoticias organization in
Miami.
  STS-84 Flight Day 8 Highlights:
 On Thursday, May 22, 1997, 1 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #15
reports:
 Bidding one another goodbye and."dasvedanya," Atlantis' seven
astronauts and Mir's three cosmonauts ended five days of joint
operations Wednesday night when the Shuttle undocked from the Space
Station at 8:04 p.m. high above the Ukraine, east of the capital of
Kiev.
  Atlantis' undocking from Mir was modified from previous joint
missions in that a flyaround of the station for photographic purposes
was not conducted.
  Instead, Pilot Eileen Collins guided Atlantis below the Mir after
the two spacecraft completed their physical seperation, stopping three
times at distances of 90, 300 and 1,500 feet to collect data from a
European sensor device designed to assist future rendezvous' of a
proposed European Space Agency resupply vehicle with the International
Space Station.  Once that was completed, the shuttle took advantage of
natural orbital mechanics to drift beneath and out in front of Mir as
it faded from view.
  As a final farewell shortly after undocking, Atlantis' astronauts
sang."The Cosmonauts' Song" to Mir-23 crew members Vasily Tsibliev,
Alexander Lazutkin and astronaut Mike Foale, who is beginning his
four-month research mission on Mir. Foale and his new crewmates played
music as Atlantis departed following the joint phase of the flight.
  In all, 7,537 pounds of water and supplies was transferred between
Atlantis and the Mir during the five days of joint activity between
the crew members.  3,870 pounds of supplies was delivered to the Mir,
while items totaling 2,630 pounds were moved to Atlantis for the trip
back to Earth.  More than a thousand pounds of water was delivered to
the Mir for use by the cosmonauts.
  Following undocking, science work continued as Mission Specialist
Elena Kondakova worked with plant experiments in the Biorack facility.
  Jerry Linenger, in the homestretch of his four month stay on orbit,
continued a daily regime of exercise on a treadmill installed on the
Shuttle's middeck floor.  Commander Charlie Precourt acted as an
observer, collecting data on the treadmill's operation.
  With the major objectives of their mission now complete, the
astronauts will begin an eight hour sleep period about noon and will
receive a wake up call from Mission Control shortly after 8
p.m. tonight to begin the routine pre-landing checkout of Atlantis'
systems for its planned return to Earth Saturday morning at the
Kennedy Space Center.
 On Thursday, May 22, 1997, 6:30 p.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #16
reports:
  With the exchange of two crew members and more than three tons of
food, water, equipment and experiment samples complete, the main
objectives of the STS-84 mission have been achieved and the astronauts
aboard the Atlantis are turning their attention toward packing up for
the return home.
  Mission Specialist Jerry Linenger will return to Earth on Saturday
after 122 days aboard the Mir Space Station, while fellow astronaut
Mike Foale will remain on the orbiting Rusian facility for four and a
half months of research.  Atlantis and Mir are now just over 3,000
nautical miles apart and the distance is growing by about 23 n.m. each
orbit.
  Commander Charlie Precourt and his crew are scheduled to wake at
8:08 p.m. CDT this evening to begin what should be their final full
day in space.  Their activities this evening and early tomorrow will
include stowing experiments and equipment and checking out orbiter
systems used during the deorbit, entry and landing phases of the
flight.
  Precourt, along with Pilot Eileen Collins and Mission Specialist
Carlos Noriega will perform a test of the Reaction Control System
(RCS) jets that are used to maneuver the Shuttle in space.  They will
also check the Shuttle's flight control systems to verify the various
aerosurface hardware - the elevons, rudder and speed brake used to
steer the Shuttle once it is back in Earth's atmosphere - are in good
working order.
  Several crew members will help with the final stowage of Mir
transfer items in the Spacehab and general cabin stowage in the
middeck and will participate in an educational video being shot
onboard.  Elena Kondakova will stow the VHF radio gear that was used
for ship-to-ship communications with Mir.  Jean-Francois Clervoy and
Kondakova will be responsible for teardown of Spacehab hardware in
preparation for entry and landing.  Ed Lu and Kondakova will stow
Atlantis' KU-band communications antenna, and Jerry Linenger, who has
been in space since mid-January, will get a final exercise period in
before his return to Earth.
  Precourt, Collins, Kondakova and Linenger will pause from their
return preparations early tomorrow morning to participate in an
interview with the NBC."Today" Show and Connus Communications.  The
two interviews are scheduled for 4:38 a.m. CDT on Friday.
  Atlantis and the STS-84 crew are scheduled to return to Kennedy
Space Center on Saturday morning.  The deorbit burn is planned for
5:51 a.m. CDT with a landing a little over an hour later at 6:53
a.m. CDT at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility.  The long
range weather forecast shows good weather for Atlantis' return the
Florida spaceport.
  STS-84 Flight Day 9 Highlights:
 On Friday, May 23, 1997, 6:30 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #17
reports:
  Atlantis is set to conclude its voyage in space at 6:52 a.m. Central
time tomorrow at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, following this
morning's checkout of systems that will be used during reentry and
landing.  Weather forecasters predict a possibility of showers near
the landing strip at KSC but generally favorable conditions for both
landing opportunities. The backup landing site at Edwards Air Force
Base, California is not being considered for a Saturday homecoming.
  Commander Charlie Precourt, Pilot Eileen Collins and Mission
Specialist Carlos Noriega spent the morning testing Atlantis' flight
control surfaces and thruster jets to ensure they are ready to support
the Shuttle's high speed return to Earth.
  The astronauts' final day on orbit was also devoted to stowing
equipment and finishing experiment work in the Spacehab module in the
cargo bay. The crew will go to bed later today at 12:08 p.m. Central
time for an extended nine-hour sleep period which will end with a
wakeup call from Mission Control at 9:08 this evening.
  Deorbit preparations will begin just before 2 a.m. Saturday followed
an hour later by closing of Atlantis' payload bay doors.  The
astronauts are scheduled to don their launch and entry suits shortly
after 4 a.m. and strap into their seats about 5 a.m.  Entry Flight
Director Wayne Hale is expected to poll the flight control team for
the final decision for the deorbit burn 20 minutes prior to the
planned firing of Atlantis' orbital maneuvering system engines at 5:47
a.m.
  In addition to 2,600 pounds of items being brought back from the Mir
Space Station, Atlantis is ferrying home astronaut Jerry Linenger, who
is returning to Earth after 122 days on the Mir. If Atlantis lands as
planned Saturday, Linenger will have logged 132 days in space on this
flight, the second longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut
behind the record 188-day stay in orbit by Shannon Lucid last year.
Linenger's replacement on the Mir, Mike Foale, began his work in
earnest today with experiment data collection and housekeeping chores
along with his two Russian crewmates.
 On Friday, May 23, 1997, 9:15 p.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #18
reports:
  The STS-84 crew aboard Atlantis are busy with final stowage of
experiments and equipment in preparation for return to Earth early
tomorrow morning while the flight team in Mission Control continues to
assess the weather forecast for the landing site on Saturday.
  The current weather forecast for Saturday has several issues.  The
prime threat against an Atlantis homecoming on Saturday, is the chance
of rain showers within 30 n.m. of Kennedy Space Center.  There is also
a concern with broken cloud cover that might be over the Florida
landing site tomorrow.  The alternate landing site at Edwards Air
Force Base in California is not being called up for support on
Saturday.
  This evening's wake up call to Atlantis' came at 9:08 p.m.
Continuing a theme observed in STS-84 wake up calls, today's musical
selection was."The Star Spangled Banner".  Mission Control, in a
salute to the international nature of the STS-84 flight and makeup of
the crew, on various mornings has played the national anthems of
Russia, France, Great Britain, Peru and the United States.
  If everything goes as planned, deorbit preparations will begin just
before 2 a.m. tomorrow morning followed an hour later by the closing
of Atlantis' payload bay doors.  The astronauts are scheduled to don
their launch and entry suits shortly after 4 a.m. and strap into their
seats about 5 a.m.  Entry Flight Director Wayne Hale is expected to
poll the flight control team for the final decision for the deorbit
burn 20 minutes prior to the planned firing of Atlantis' orbital
maneuvering system engines at 5:47 a.m.
  The deorbit burn will last 3 minutes, 14 seconds, and will take
place 220 n.m. over the southern portion of the Indian Ocean.  The
deorbit burn will slow Atlantis down enough to allow the Shuttle to
fall back into the Earth's atmosphere.  About 30 minutes after the
burn, Atlantis will begin to feel the effects of Earth's atmosphere as
it travels north of Hawaii over the Pacific Ocean at an altitude of
400,000 feet.
  Atlantis will travel in a northwest to southeast path across the
United States as it makes its approach into the area around the
Kennedy Space Center.  Touchdown of Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center's
Shuttle Landing Facility is planned for 6:52 a.m. CDT.
  Should the weather prevent the crew from utilizing the first landing
opportunity, a second one is available one orbit later.  The second
opportunity would call for a deorbit burn at 7:22 a.m. CDT and a
landing at KSC at 8:28 a.m. CDT.
  Following landing, the STS-84 crew will remain at KSC overnight and
will return to Houston on Sunday morning.
  STS-84 Flight Day 10 Highlights:
 On Saturday, May 24, 1997, 9:00 a.m. CDT, STS-84 MCC Status Report #19
reports:
  The Shuttle Atlantis, carrying seven astronauts including Jerry
Linenger, glided to a delayed, but smooth landing this morning at the
Kennedy Space Center to wrap the sixth docking mission to the Russian
Mir Space Station and the delivery of astronaut Mike Foale for the
start of his four month tour of duty.
  It was the eighth straight Shuttle landing at the Florida spaceport.
  After passing up the first landing opportunity of the day because of
clouds over KSC, Commander Charlie Precourt and Pilot Eileen Collins
guided Atlantis to a textbook touchdown at 8:28 a.m. Central time on
runway 33 to wrap up a 3.6 million mile mission to bring Linenger
home after 132 days in space. Linenger's voyage, which began with his
launch to the Mir in January, was the second longest single
spaceflight in U.S. history.
  Thick clouds prevented Atlantis from coming home on the first chance
for landing, but the skies cleared in time one orbit later, and
Precourt fired the ship's braking rockets, enabling Atlantis to drop
out of orbit for its high speed return to Earth. Atlantis passed over
the Northwest U.S., the Plains states and the Southeast before
entering Florida air space for its homecoming.
  The astronauts were scheduled to return to their crew quarters about
an hour after landing, where Linenger was to begin extensive medical
tests as part of his post-flight rehabilitation to readapt to the
effects of gravity following his long stint in orbit.
  Atlantis' astronauts will remain at the Kennedy Space Center tonight
to relax before returning to Houston Sunday afternoon to a homecoming
at Ellington Field.
<End of mission>
Mission Name: STS-94 (85)
  Columbia (23)
  Pad 39-A (62)
  85th Shuttle Mission
  23nd Flight OV-102
  KSC Landing (38)
  Spacelab(15)
 NOTE: Click Here for Countdown Homepage
Crew:
  James D. Halsell (4), Mission Commander
  Susan L. Still (2), Pilot
  Janice E. Voss (4), Payload Commander
  Donald A. Thomas (4), Mission Specialist
  Michael L. Gernhardt (3), Mission Specialist
  Roger Crouch (2), Payload Specialist
  Greg Linteris (2), Payload Specialist
Milestones:
 Flow A -
   OPF-1 -- 12/07/96 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 12/07/1996)
     VAB -- 03/05/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/05/1997)
     PAD -- 03/11/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/11/1997)
    TCDT -- 03/13/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/13/1997)
  Launch -- 04/04/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/04/1997)
 Flow B -
   OPF-1 -- 04/09/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 04/09/1997)
     VAB -- 06/04/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 06/05/1997)
     PAD -- 06/11/97 (Estimated)
    TCDT --
Payload:
  MSL-1,SAREX
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Mar 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Apr 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status May 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Jun 1997)
Mission Objectives:
  This is a reflight of the STS-83 Microgravity Science Laboratory
(MSL-1) mission.  MSL-1 was originally launched on April 4, 1997
at 2:20pm EST and was intended to be on orbit for 15 days, 16 hours.
The mission was cut short due to a problem with Fuel Cell #2 and
Columbia landed on 4/8/97 after 3 days 23 hours.
  MSL-1 is a collection of microgravity experiments housed inside
a European Spacelab Long Module (LM).  It builds on the cooperative and
scientific foundation of the International Microgravity Laboratory missions
(IML-1 on STS-42 and IML-2 on STS-65), the United States Microgravity Laboratory
missions (USML-1 on STS-50 and USML-2 on STS-73), the Japanese Spacelab mission
(Spacelab-J on STS-47), the Spacelab Life and Microgravity Science Mission
(LMS on STS-78) and the German Spacelab missions (D-1 on STS 61-A and D-2 on STS-55).
  MSL-1 features 19 materials science investigations in 4 major
facilities.  These facilities are the Large Isothermal Furnace, the
EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to the Space Station (EXPRESS)
Rack, the Electromagnetic Containerless Processing Facility (TEMPUS)
and the Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures (CSLM) facility, the
Droplet Combustion Experiment (DCE) and the Combustion Module-1 Facility.
Additional technology experiments will also be performed in
the Middeck Glovebox (MGBX) developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center
(MSFC) and the High-Packed Digital Television (HI-PAC DTV)
system will be used to provide multi-channel real-time analog science
video.
  The Large Isothermal Furnace was developed by the Japanese Space Agency
(NASDA) for the STS-47 Spacelab-J mission and was also flown on
STS-65 IML-2 mission. It will house
the Measurement of Diffusion Coefficient by Shear Cell Method Experiment,
the Diffusion of Liquid Metals and Alloys Experiment,
the Diffusion in Liquid Led-Tin-Telluride Experiment,
the Impurity Diffusion in Ionic Melts Experiment,
the Liquid Phase Sintering II Experiment (LIF), and
the Diffusion Processes in Molten Semiconductors Experiment (DPIMS).
  The Combustion Module-1 (CM-1) facility from the NASA Lewis Research Center
houses experiments on Laminar Soot Processes Experiment and the Structure of
Flame Balls at Low Lewis-number Experiment (SOFTBALL).
  The Droplet Combustion Experiment (DCE) is designed to investigate the
fundamental combustion aspects of single, isolated droplets under different
pressures and ambient oxygen concentrations for a range of droplet sizes
varying between 2 and 5mm.  The DCE apparatus is integrated into a single
width MSL-1 Spacelab rack in the cargo bay.
  The EXPRESS rack replaces a Spacelab Double rack and special hardware
will provide the same structural and resource connections the rack will
have on the Space Station.  It will house the Physics of Hard Spheres (PHaSE)
experiment and the Astro/PGBA Experiment.
  The Electromagnetic Containerless Processing Facility (TEMPUS) is used
for the Experiments on Nucleation in Different Flow Regimes,
Thermophysical Properities of Advanced Materials in the Undercooled
Liquid State Experiment, Measurements of the Surface Tension of Liquid
and Undercooled Metallic Alloys by Oscillating Drop Technique
Experiment, Alloy Undercooling Experiments, the Study of the
Morphological Stability of Growing Dendrites by Comparative Dendrite
Velocity Measuremetns on Pure Ni and Dilute Ni-C Alloy in the Earth
and Space Laboratory Experiment, the Undercooled Melts of Alloys with
Polytetrahedral Short-Range Order Experiment, the Thermal Expansion of
Glass Forming Metallic Alloys in the Undercooled State Experiment, the
AC Calorimetry and Thermophysical Properties of Bulk Glass-Forming
Metallic Liquids experiment and the Measurement of Surface Tension and
Viscosity of Undercooled Liquid Metals experiment.
  There will also be experiments on measuring microgravity.  They
include the Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS),
the Microgravity Measurement Assembly (MMA),
the Quasi-Steady Acceleration Measurement System and
the Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE).
  The Middeck Glovebox (MGBX) facility will support the Bubble and
Drop Nonlinear Dynamics (BDND) Experiment, the Study of the Fundamental
Operation of a Capillary-driven Heat Transfer (CHT) Device in Microgravity
Experiment, the Internal Flows in a Free Drop (IFFD) experiment and
the Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion experiment (FSDC-2).
Launch:
  Launch July 1, 1997 2:02:02 pm EDT.  Launch window was 2 hours 30 min.
  On July 1, 1997 at 10:30am, the astronauts departed the O&C building
for Launch Pad 39-A and arrived at 10:48am. USAF Weather forcasters
and meteorologists with the Spaceflight Meteorology Group (SMG) at the
Johnson Space Center in Houston closely tracked KSC's weather.
(Reference KSC Weather History 07/01/1997 1400).
  The crew communications checks were performed at 12:17pm EST and the
white room was given the go for to leave the flight deck and prepare
for hatch closure.  Countdown clock picked up at T-20 minute mark and
counting at 13:20pm EST and the close out crew departed LC-39A.  At
13:31 the countdown clock entered the hold at the T-9 minute mark.
The only concern was a launch commit criteria violation for RTLS
weather due to a patch of bad weather to the southwest.  The
mission management team decided to extend the hold at the T-9 minute mark
to give time for the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) to take a closer
look at the weather systems. At 12:52:07 all teams were given a go for
launch and the count came out of the T-5 minute mark at 13:53:00.  The
gaseous Oxygen vent hood was retracted at T-2 minutes 57 seconds and
counting.  The crew was given the go to close and lock visors and T-0
occured at 14:02:02 EDT.  SRB separation at 2 min 15 seconds and 31
miles downrange.  SSME cutoff at 14:10:44 EDT.  ET separation at
14:11:13 EDT.
  Previously, on Monday, 6/30/97, hoping to preempt expected afternoon
thunderstorms, NASA managers had decided to move in the launch time
for Columbia by 47 minutes.  The 2 1/2 hour launch window was at
2:37pm EST but was rescheduled to open at 1:50 p.m.  The decision to
launch early removed one end of mission daylight landing opportunity
at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, but still allowed two daylight landing
opportunities at KSC.  The Rotating Service Structure was retracted to
the launch position at about 8:30 p.m. and loading of the external tank
with cryogenic propellants began at about 4:47 a.m. on July 1, 1997.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/30/1997).
  Loading of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled
to begin at about 5:45 a.m. Tuesday.  The astronauts will depart the
crew quarters for the launch pad at 11:17 a.m. and begin boarding
Columbia about a half hour later. The hatch will be closed and sealed
at 1:07 p.m., leading to launch at 2:37 p.m. Air Force weather
forecasters are currently indicating a 90 percent probability of
weather prohibiting launch of Columbia on July 1. The concern is for
thunderstorms and associated rain, wind and lightning. Given the
possibility of severe weather during Tuesday's launch attempt,
managers may elect to postpone the opening of the launch window by up
to two hours. If this option is selected, the decision will be reached
by late Monday afternoon. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/29/1997).
  On Sunday, the launch pad was closed for a checkout of the firing
chain and the Space Shuttle onboard ordnance systems. This was
followed by the loading of cryogenic reactants into the onboard fuel
cell storage tanks located beneath the payload bay. The fuel cells
generate power for Columbia and the Microgravity Science Laboratory
during the 16-day mission. The reactant loading started on schedule at
11 a.m. and because of the extended duration of the mission, it took
approximately 12 hours to complete instead of the usual eight hours.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/29/1997).
  On Saturday, 6/28/97, the countdown for the launch of Space Shuttle
Columbia and the reflight of the Microgravity Science Laboratory began
on schedule today at 3 p.m. EDT. The STS-94 astronauts arrived at the
Shuttle Landing Facility in their T-38 jet trainers at 12:25 p.m.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/28/1997).
  On Wednesday, 6/25/97, at the launch pad, ordnance installation was
completed and testing of the pyrotechnic initiator controllers was
underway.  Work to close-out Columbia's aft compartment picked-up
and continues through Friday.  Installation of the fabricated
"pyro can" assemblies at the orbiter's external tank attach points
continued. Launch countdown preparations also continue with hypergolic
propellant pressurization in work.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/25/1997)
  On Friday, 6/20/97, loading of storable hypergolic propellants
aboard Columbia continued. Tile installation work on the forward
reaction control system was completed, with all 36 tiles bonded to the
vehicle. Bond verification checks will begin after the loading of
hypergolic propellants. In Columbia's aft compartment, work to install
the fabricated "pyro can" assemblies at the orbiter's external tank
attach points concludes Saturday.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/20/1997)
  On Thursday, 6/19/97, following the STS-94 Flight Readiness Review,
NASA managers announced July 1 as the official launch date for
Columbia's reflight of the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 mission.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/19/1997)
  On Tuesday, 6/17/97, work to connect the orbiter's mid-body
umbilical unit, used to load cryogenic reactants aboard the orbiter
was completed and tile work on the forward reaction control system
continued.  Of the 36 tiles slated for replacement at the pad, 28 had
been installed. The helium signature leak test was in work and
loading of the storable hypergolic propellants aboard Columbia was
scheduled for Thursday.  Repair work to wiring in avionics bay No. 4
continues through Wednesday.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/17/1997)
  On Friday, 6/13/97 The main engine flight readiness test was successfully
completed.  Work continued to replace 36 Thermal Protection System tiles
on Columbia's forward Reaction Control System.  Shuttle technicians
raised the concern of possible cracked tiles during routine inspections
of the FRCS.   Evaluations of the FRCS tiles on the entire Shuttle
fleet helped engineers decide to replace the tiles with stronger ones.
Preparations began for the hypergolic propellant loading and repair work to
wiring in avionics bay No. 4 resumed. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/13/1997)
  On Tuesday, 6/10/97, in the VAB, Columbia is mated to the external
tank and mating close-outs were in work.  Rework on spliced wires in
the Shuttle's avionics bay were underway and electrical evaluations of
a controller check-out unit for auxiliary power unit No. 2 were also
in work. NASA's plan to eventually use a super lightweight external
fuel tank requires modification to an orbiter's tail service mast.
Columbia's tail service mast underwent retraction tests over the
weekend to assist engineers in that effort.  Over the weekend,
additional thermal protection tiles were removed from the orbiter's
forward reaction control system. More than 30 suspect tiles have been
removed because of cracks seen during recent inspections.  Evaluations
of the FRCS tiles on the other orbiters have resulted in the removal
of several tiles from orbiters Discovery and Atlantis.  Stronger tiles
will replace those that were removed from each orbiter and the
majority of Columbia's tile replacement work will be done at the pad.
Managers are working on a plan to complete the tile work in time for
the July 1 launch date. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/10/1997)
  On Monday, 6/2/97, Columbia's payload bay doors were closed for
flight and the following day technician wrapped up close-out work in
the orbiter's aft compartment and performed some tile work on nose of
the vehicle.  Preparations were in work for the orbiter's move to the
Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) targeted for 6/4/97 at about 11
a.m. The external tank and solid rocket boosters await Columbia in VAB
high bay 1 for a hard mate to be completed on Thursday, 6/5/97. Once
in the VAB, wiring work will continue in the Shuttle's avionics bay 4
and electrical check-outs of an auxiliary power unit will pick-up.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/03/1997)
 On 5/29/97, inspections of Columbia's forward Reaction Control System
(RCS) revealed cracks in several thermal protective tiles in that
vicinity. Work to replace those tiles will be performed at the pad and
have no impact on the roll out schedule.  Due to additional wiring
work in Columbia's cargo bay, close-outs continue in the orbiter's
mid-body.  The spacelab transfer tunnel is now scheduled for installation
Friday 5/30/97 and Columbia's roll to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB)
will likely occur on June 5. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 5/30/1997)
 On 5/23/97, ammonia servicing was complete. Heat shield installation
continues through the night and the 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.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 5/23/1997)
  On 5/20/97, heat shield installation continued as well as work to
connect Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) fuel lines. Over the weekend,
technicians noted a frayed pyrotechnic cable in the orbiter's cargo
bay. Work continues in the orbiter's midbody to repair a frayed
pyrotechnic cable. The Spacelab transfer tunnel will be installed on
Friday. Payload technicians are troubleshooting a remote acquisition
unit on Spacelab today. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 5/20/1997)
  On 4/25/97, On Friday, Shuttle managers officially announced that
Columbia would refly the shortened STS-83 mission in early July.  For
planning purposes, the reflight mission was internally called STS-83R
but now has the official designation STS-94.  Replacement of two
thrusters on Columbia's forward reaction control system (FRCS) was
completed.  Electrical hook-up work continues on the FRCS in the
Hypergol Maintenance Facility. The FRCS should return to the OPF in
early May to be reinstalled on the orbiter. Postflight work on
Columbia's auxiliary power units continues through Tuesday, 4/29/97.
Spacelab reservicing activities also continue.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/28/1997)
  On 4/25/97, thruster replacement work continued on Columbia's
forward Reaction Control System (RCS) in the Hypergol Maintenace Facility.
The forward RCS should return to the OPF in early May to be reinstalled
on the orbiter. Postflight work on Columbia's Auxiliary Power Units
(APU's) continues through Tuesday. Spacelab reservicing activities also
continue.  STS-83R booster stacking operations continue in the
Vehicle Assembly Building. Right forward center segment mating
activities are in work today.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/25/1997)
 On 4/17/97, fuel cell No. 1 leak checks will conducted. Preparations
continue for main engine removal on Friday 4/18/97 and Saturday
4/19/97. Forward reaction control system functional tests were
completed 4/16/97 and FRCS removal is scheduled for 4/18/97. Removal
of the Spacelab tunnel is in work and Spacelab reservicing will begin.
In the VAB, the booster segments originally intended for use on STS-85
are being stacked for use on STS-83R. Work to mate the left forward
center segment to the left aft center segment is scheduled for 4/17/97.
The left forward segment should arrive in the VAB as well.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 4/17/1997)
Orbit:
  Altitude:  184 statute miles
  Inclination: 28.45
  Orbits: 251
  Duration: 15 days,  16 hours, 46 minutes,  seconds.
  Distance:  6.2 million miles
Hardware:
  SRB:
  SRM:
  ET :  ET-87
  MLP : MLP-1
  SSME-1: SN-2037
  SSME-2: SN-2034
  SSME-3: SN-2033
Landing:
   KSC 7/17/1997 6:47am EDT. Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33.  Main
Gear Touchdown: 15days 16hours 44min 34sec (6:46:34am EDT), Nose Wheel
Touchdown: 15days 16hours 44min 45sec (6:46:45am EDT). Wheel Stop:
15days 16hours 45min 29sec (6:47:29am EDT).
  A go was given for the deorbit burn at 5:38am EST on orbit 250 with
at landing on orbit 251.  The 3min 1sec burn at 05:43 provided a delta
change in velocity of 298.7 ft/sec.  This burn placed Columbia in a
163x12nm orbit and allowed the vehicle to drop out of orbit 4,300
miles from landing site.  Weather at the landing strip had a visibility
of 8 miles 2 knot winds with a temperature of 72 degrees and 98 percent
relative humidity. (Reference KSC Weather History 07/17/1997 0600).
  Weather was expected to be favorable for both landing opportunities,
although the first still had a slight chance of some pre-dawn ground fog
developing that would not dissipate in time of the decision to land.  As the
sun heats the atmosphere, the ground fog dissipates rather quickly
presenting more favorable weather.  Had a second opportunity been needed,
landing would have been at 8:22 a.m. EST. Columbia's next mission is STS-87.
(Reference STS-94 MCC Status Report #30)
Mission Highlights:
  STS-94 Flight Day 1 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, July 1, 1997, 2:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #1
reports:
  The Shuttle Columbia, carrying seven astronauts, blasted off from
Launch Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center to return to orbit to
complete a microgravity science mission cut short in April by a fuel
cell problem.
  Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan Still, Mission Specialists Janice
Voss, Mike Gernhardt and Don Thomas and Payload Specialists Roger
Crouch and Greg Linteris lifted off at 1:02 p.m.  Central time, just
12 minutes behind schedule to enable forecasters to make a final check
of clouds near the launch site.
  Once Columbia's cargo bay doors are opened about an hour and a half
into the flight, Voss, who is the payload commander, and Crouch, will
begin to activate Spacelab systems in advance of their entrance into
the pressurized Spacelab module in Columbias payload bay. At about
that same time, Halsell, Still, Thomas and Linteris, who comprise the
Red team, will begin an abbreviated seven hour sleep period. Blue team
crewmember Gernhardt will join Voss and Crouch in the activation of
Spacelab experiments and Shuttle systems for the planned 16-day
mission.  The seven astronauts will operate in two shifts, working
around the clock, to maximize the science return from the flight.
  With Columbias launch, the Shuttle is now expected to return to
Earth on July 17 at around 5:30 a.m. Central time.
 On Tuesday, July 1, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #01
reports:
  The Microgravity Science Laboratory Mission - 1, bridging the gap
between today's Spacelab and tomorrow's International Space Station,
is under way after a smooth launch at 1:02 p.m. CDT today. Originally
scheduled to launch at 1:37 p.m., the launch time was moved forward
earlier this week to avoid possible summer afternoon thunderstorms.
  STS-94 marks the reflight of the Microgravity Science Laboratory
mission which was cut short in April because of a problem with one of
the Shuttles three fuel cells. "We are ready," said Teresa
Vanhooser, mission manager at Marshall Space Flight Center in
Huntsville, Ala. "The science teams got just enough during the first
flight to whet their appetites, and we are looking forward to the
complete 16 days of the STS-94 mission."
  The reflight offers science teams an advantage. "We were ahead on
the score board but got rained out after the second inning," said
Mission Scientist Dr. Mike Robinson. "We know these experiments work,
but that's as far as we got. It's now time to finish the job, to
complete the data."
  After reaching an altitude of 160 nautical miles above Earth, where
Space Shuttle Columbia will orbit for the next 16 days, members of the
crew began work immediately to set up the Spacelab. A versatile
research laboratory inside the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle, the
Spacelab will serve as the astronauts' workspace for the next
two-plus weeks.
  Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss and Payload Specialist Dr. Roger
Crouch floated into the Spacelab late this afternoon and began
preparing to activate the 33 microgravity science experiments carried
aboard the orbiter.
  For Crouch, the first order of business was to set up the Combustion
Module and the EXPRESS rack. The Combustion Module will be used to
conduct two experiments during the mission -- a study of the
properties of soot and a flame ball investigation.
  Combustion is an important energy-producing process. Furnaces for
processing materials, home heating, gasoline-powered engines and gas
turbine-generated power all rely on combustion. Findings from these
investigations conducted in the Combustion Module will provide
researchers with a better understanding of the combustion process and
may lead to improvements in combustion engines, increasing fuel
efficiency and reducing emissions. Results may also lead to
improvements in fire safety, benefiting mining, chemical manufacturing
and aerospace industries.
  A new, key component on the Microgravity Science Laboratory mission
is the innovative EXPRESS Rack, which stands for 'EXpedite the
Processing of Experiments to the Space Station.' It is designed for
quick and easy installation of hardware and experiments on Space
Station. Aboard Columbia, the EXPRESS Rack replaces a Spacelab double
rack and houses two experiments -- the Physics of Hard Spheres
Experiment and the Astro/Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus
experiment. These studies will check the design, development and
adaptation of the EXPRESS Rack hardware.
  Over the next 12 hours, working with science teams on the ground at
Marshall, crew members will continue to prepare the Spacelab and begin
initiating experiments.
  Voss will activate the High-Packed Digital Television system to give
scientists on Earth the ability to view multiple channels of live
video from the Spacelab. This technology allows scientists on the
ground to monitor their experiments, change parameters and improve the
quality and quantity of scientific information gathered during the
mission.
  The Protein Crystal Growth experiments will be activated
overnight. Proteins are essential components of all living cells and
serve many different functions. The weightlessness environment of the
Spacelab allows scientists to grow near-perfect crystals, necessary to
determine the exact structure and function of a protein. On Earth,
gravity henders the formation of perfect crystals. Knowledge from
these studies may lead to the development of more effective drugs to
treat diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's and AIDS.
  Voss will begin activation of four microgravity measurement systems
to measure slight yet unavoidable disturbances in the microgravity
environment of the Spacelab. Science teams rely on this information --
downlinked in near-real-time -- to determine the effect of the
disturbances on experiments.
  Crouch will configure the TEMPUS facility for operations. This
electromagnetic containerless processing facility will be used to
study the undercooling and rapid solidification of metals and
alloys. Undercooling occurs when a solid is melted into a liquid then
cooled below its normal freezing point without solidifying. "When a
metal or alloy is solidified, it occurs very rapidly, forming new
types of materials we cannot manufacture or study in any other way,"
said Dr. Jan Rogers, TEMPUS project scientist with Marshall Space
Flight Center.
  Later, Voss and Crouch will hand over science operations to Mission
Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas and Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory
Linteris.
  The Large Isothermal Furnace will be activated overnight. This
facility will be used to study the diffusion of liquid metals -- the
process by which liquid metals mix without stirring -- similar to how
a drop of food coloring disperses in a glass of water. This process
cannot be adequately studied on Earth because of fluid movement caused
by gravity.
  STS-94 Flight Day 2 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, July 2, 1997, 6:30 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #2
reports:
  The red team of STS-94, Commander Jim Halsell and Pilot Susan Still
along with Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg
Linteris have been busy continuing the payload activation process
begun by their blue team counterparts as the research efforts of the
Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) mission get into full swing.
  The STS-94 crew will spend more than two weeks studying the
properties of combustion and the behavior of metals, materials and
fluids in the absence of gravity.  The astronauts are split into two
teams working 12-hour shifts to provide around-the-clock operations in
the pressurized Spacelab science module.
  Shortly after waking up just before midnight, Halsell and Still set
up the bicycle ergometer in the Shuttles middeck area.  Each of the
STS-94 crewmembers will use the bicycle for exercise during the
flight.  Thomas activated the Large Isothermal Furnace (LIF)
experiment and the Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the
International Space Station (EXPRESS) rack while Linteris continued
the activation of Protein Crystal Growth experiments.
  Remaining activities in the red teams day will include the setup and
checkout of the Wireless Data Acquisition System (WDAS) experiment.
This is a proof of concept payload that uses wireless RF signals to
relay data from temperature sensors in the payload bay and Spacelab
module.  Analysis of future Space Station operation requirements
indicate that there may be a need for real time monitoring of
temperature readings in various parts of the station and a system such
as the WDAS could meet that need.
  Columbias blue team of astronauts, Janice Voss the payload
commander, Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist
Roger Crouch will wake up shortly after 9 this morning to begin its
second day of work in space.
  The blue team will conduct an interview beginning at 5:17 this
afternoon with the Fox News Channel to discuss the reflight of
Columbia and a second chance at accomplishing the MSL science goals.
 On Wednesday, July 2, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #02
reports:
  Overnight, Columbia's crew continued to transform the Spacelab into
an operational, sophisticated multi-use research laboratory by
activating Microgravity Science Laboratory Mission - 1's experiment
facilities .  The space-borne laboratory, with a work area
approximately 18 feet by 7 feet, houses most of the 25 primary
experiments, four glovebox investigations and four accelerometer
studies aboard Columbia.
  On the ground, mission scientists are using lessons learned from
STS-83 to get the most out of the reflight opportunity.  "Experience
gained from our first flight has allowed us to make changes in our
plans and procedures in order to perform this scientific research more
effectively," said Dr. Patton Downey, assistant mission scientist.
  In the Spacelab, the blue shift science crew members -- Payload
Commander Dr. Janice Voss and Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch --
spent much of their shift readying experiment facilities and
activating protein crystal growth and accelerometer experiments.
  In the middeck, Crouch activated the Protein Crystallization
Apparatus for Microgravity -- one of three protein crystal growth
experiments slated for MSL-1.  The microgravity environment of space
allows researchers to grow larger and more perfect specimens.  Once
back on Earth, scientists perform X-ray diffraction studies on the
specimens to determine their structures.  Better understanding of a
proteins structure could allow scientists to design more effective
drugs to treat diseases such as cancer, diabetes, alcoholism, AIDS and
Alzheimers.  The Protein Crystallization Apparatus for Microgravity
experiment is led by Dr. Daniel Carter of New Century Pharmaceuticals
in Huntsville, Ala.
  The four microgravity measurement systems have been activated to
begin monitoring any slight disturbances in the weightlessness
environment aboard Columbia.  The Orbital Acceleration Research
Experiment, which began its operations at launch, will measure very
low frequency accelerations in the Shuttle's payload bay.  On orbit,
Microgravity Measurement Assembly sensor heads -- which will be used
to monitor the microgravity environment inside Spacelab -- have been
installed into areas of the Spacelab where gravity-sensitive
investigations are located.
  Voss installed and activated the Space Acceleration Measurement
System sensors which will be used to monitor accelerations near the
Large Isothermal Furnace and the Glovebox.  She also installed the
Quasi-Steady Acceleration Measurement System's optical disk that will
be used to record very low frequency and residual accelerations in one
of Spacelab's racks.  NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland,
Ohio manages all of the acceleration measurement experiments.
  Voss completed her first shift by mounting and activating the
Protein Crystal Growth experiment using Hand-Held Diffusion Test Cells
in the Spacelab.  She also set up video equipment to monitor the
experiment.  The experiments principal investigator, Dr. Alex
McPherson of the University of California in Riverside, Calif., hopes
to use data from this experiment to refine cell design and optimize
growth procedures and conditions for future Protein Crystal Growth
experiments.
  Dr. Roger Crouch prepared the electromagnetic containerless
processing facility or TEMPUS, for operations.  Developed by the
German Space Agency, TEMPUS allows scientists on the ground to process
metallic samples in a containerless microgravity environment.  A metal
alloy sample -- about a third of an inch in diameter -- will be
suspended in a free space within a set of coils, melted and then
resolidified.  Video cameras and heat sensors will analyze how the
specimens change shape -- yielding basic information about the
materials' properties that are masked by gravity on Earth.
Information gained from the samples to be processed in the TEMPUS
facility could lead to improved welding, casting and soldering
techniques on Earth.
  After crew handover near midnight, the red shift consisting of
Mission Specialists Dr. Michael Gernhardt and Dr. Donald Thomas and
Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris continued to activate
experiment facilities aboard Spacelab.
  First, Thomas activated the Large Isothermal Furnace.  The
vacuum-heating furnace is designed to heat large samples uniformly.
It has a maximum temperature of 2,912 F and can cool a sample rapidly
through the use of a helium purge.  The research team will command the
heating and cooling processes from the ground so they can make
real-time changes to enhance science operations.
  Scientists are using this facility to study a familiar process --
diffusion.  This is the process that for instance, helps carry the
smell of baked bread from the oven throughout the house, or allows
food coloring to disperse through a glass of water without
stirring. This process is also very important in the study of metals
and alloys, and on the ground.  However, the diffusion process can be
masked by fluid motions arising from the effects of gravity.
Knowledge gained from unmasking the process in the microgravity
environment could improve materials processing on Earth.
  In the early morning hours, Linteris activated MSL's third and
final protein crystal growth experiment -- the Second Generation Vapor
Diffusion Apparatus.  The experiment is led by Dr. Larry Delucas of
the Center for Macromolecular Crystallography at the University of
Alabama in Birmingham.
  Later, Thomas readied the EXPRESS Rack for science operations by
connecting the power cable, configuring the water loop, opening the
water control valve and turning on the facility.  He then activated
the Physics of Hard Spheres experiment that will take place in the
EXPRESS Rack.  Headed up by Dr. Paul Chaikin of Princeton University
in New Jersey; the experiment will examine the changes which occur
during the transition of a substance from liquid to solid and solid to
liquid.  Results of the experiment could improve the design of
metallic alloys and processing techniques.
  Ahead, Linteris will begin a study of the properties of soot in the
Combustion Module-1, and Thomas will begin a study in the Large
Isothermal Furnace to measure the fundamental variables which regulate
the diffusion of impurities in molten salts.
 On Wednesday, July 2, 1997, 5:30 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #3
reports:
  The three blue team astronauts, Payload Commander Janice Voss,
Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch,
are studying the behavior of flame balls and soot as the Microgravity
Science Laboratory mission is in its first full day on orbit.
  These experiments will provide researchers with an improved
understanding of the combustion process and may lead to improvements
in combustion engines, increasing fuel efficiency and reducing
emissions.
  The seven-member crew will spend more than two weeks studying the
properties of combustion and the behavior of metals, materials and
fluids in the absence of gravity.  The astronauts are working 12-hour
shifts in two teams, providing around-the-clock support for science
operations.
  This morning, just before 7 a.m. central time, Mission Specialist
Don Thomas told the flight control team in Houston that he and his Red
Team crew mates, Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan Still and Payload
Specialist Greg Linteris, could see the Mir spacecraft some 60 miles
distant from Columbia.
  Also this morning, Still performed some troubleshooting activities
with the Wireless Data Acquisition System (WDAS) experiment when it
experienced difficulty in communicating with its payload support
computer.  This is a proof of concept payload that uses wireless RF
signals to relay data from temperature sensors in the payload bay and
Spacelab module.
  The Red Team began a planned eight-hour sleep period shortly after
3:30 p.m. today.
  Voss, Gernhardt and Crouch also discussed the reflight of Columbia
and their science-gathering activities in an interview with the Fox
News Channel shortly after 5 p.m. today.
  The next STS-94 status report will be issued about 6 a.m. central
time Thursday.
 On Wednesday, July 2, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #03
reports:
  After just 36 hours in orbit, the crew of the Microgravity Science
Laboratory mission, along with science teams on the ground, have
successfully activated Spacelabs experiment facilities and are
getting down to the primary business of the mission -- to conduct
fundamental scientific research in space.
  "Everything is where it should be and we're excited about bringing
experiments to a definitive conclusion on this mission," said Mission
Scientist Dr. Mike Robinson with Marshall Space Flight Center in
Huntsville, Ala.
  This morning, Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas initiated the
first of two runs of a diffusion of liquid metals study being
conducted in the Large Isothermal Furnace. Diffusion is the process by
which liquid metals mix without stirring -- similar to how the smell
of baking bread, for instance, spreads from the oven throughout the
house. This process cannot be adequately studied on Earth because of
fluid movement caused by gravity.
  The investigation is a study of the diffusion of impurities in
molten salts. The experiment is aimed at determining the diffusion
coefficient -- a fundamental quantity which describes the diffusion
process -- of the sample. As the first sample began processing,
researchers on the ground detected unexpected readings from the
sample's temperature sensor and decided to replace it with a backup
sample of the same make-up. Processing of the backup sample has been
under way since late this afternoon.
  This study, headed by Dr. Tsutomu Yamamura of Tohoku University in
Sendai, Japan, is designed to reveal ideal conditions for electrolysis
of molten salts. Electrolysis is the use of an electrical current to
break down a dissolved substance into its constituent
components. Findings may also benefit basic science and engineering
processes on Earth.
  The blue shift -- Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss and Payload
Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch -- began their 12-hour shift at noon
today.
  Voss ignited the first flame of the mission's combustion science
experiments this afternoon to begin a study of the properties of
soot. This investigation is collecting information on flame shape, the
type and amount of soot produced under various conditions and the
temperature of soot components.
  Researchers say the first flight of the Microgravity Science
Laboratory in April gave them a first look at how these soot particles
form and allowed them to enhance the experiment for this flight. They
are excited about the scientific possibilities this mission will
bring.
  "Soot is responsible for 4,000 deaths in unwanted fires and 15,000 to
60,000 deaths each year as a pollutant," said principal investigator
Dr. Gerard Faeth, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
  Information gathered from this study may lead to a better
understanding of how to contain unwanted fires and limit the number of
fatalities from carbon monoxide emissions.
  Crouch readied the TEMPUS facility this afternoon for
operations. This electromagnetic containerless processing facility
will be used to conduct studies of the undercooling and rapid
solidification of metals and alloys. Undercooling occurs when a solid
is melted into a liquid then cooled below its normal freezing point
without solidifying. Gravitys requirement for a container and its
influence on fluid flows make it nearly impossible to conduct these
studies on Earth. Findings from this research may improve ground-based
techniques processing materials and in turn improve materials and
produce.
  Crouch then checked out the Middeck Glovebox facility in preparation
for a fluid physics study set to begin later this evening. The
experiment will examine non-contact and remote manipulation techniques
for controlling the position and motion of liquids in
low-gravity. Results of the study may find application in improving
many important processes used by chemical manufacturing industries on
Earth, including the petroleum technology, cosmetics and food sciences
industries.
  Also ahead, Voss will set up the Droplet Combustion Apparatus for a
study of burning fuel droplets. The study is gathering information on
burning rates of flames, flame structures and conditions under which
flames are extinguished. Results of the investigation will provide
researchers with a better understanding of the combustion process and
may lead to cleaner, safer ways to burn fossil fuels as well as more
efficient methods of generating heat and power on Earth.
  STS-94 Flight Day 3 Highlights:
 On Thursday, July 3, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #4
reports:
  Experiments and activities associated with the Microgravity Science
Laboratory payload being carried aboard Columbia are in full swing as
the STS-94 crew continue its around-the-clock science investigations.
  Commander Jim Halsell and Pilot Susan Still along with Mission
Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg Linteris, woke up
just before midnight to begin their third day of work in space as the
missions Red Team.
  Activities so far on Flight Day 3 have included Halsell conducting
video documentation of some of the MSL experiments and spent some time
using the Portable In-Flight Landing Operations Trainer (PILOT)
system.  PILOT consists of a laptop computer and joystick system that
allow the commander and pilot to practice approaches and landings to
Kennedy Space Center to maintain proficiency during long spaceflights.
Thomas spent the first part of his day working with the glovebox unit
and the Internal Flows in a Free Drop experiment.  Linteris has been
working with the Combustion Module and the Laminar Soot Process
experiment.
  The Red Team's afternoon activities will include work with the
Expediting the Processing to the Space Station (EXPRESS) rack
facility.  The EXPRESS unit is designed for quick and easy
installation of experiment and facility hardware on orbit and has the
same structural and resource connections that racks on the
International Space Station will have.  An evaluation of transfer
capabilities will be performed by Still and Thomas as they transfer
the unit from the Shuttle's middeck area to the Spacelab module.
  The Blue Team astronauts, Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission
Specialist Mike Gerhnardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch are
scheduled to be awakened just after 10 this morning.  After a brief
handover with their Red Team co-workers, Voss, Gernhardt and Crouch
will take over science operations in the Spacelab.
 On Thursday, July 3, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #04
reports:
  Overnight, the crew of the Microgravity Science Laboratory aboard
Space Shuttle Columbia activated the final experiment facility and
began additional experiments, among the more than 30 investigations to
be conducted during the 16-day mission.
  Wednesday evening, Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss activated the
Droplet Combustion Apparatus -- an enclosed chamber that will support
an experiment studying the combustion of fuel droplets.  She performed
a full check out of the experiment's hardware and set up a VCR and
camcorder that will record and bring video of the experiment to the
ground-based research team.
  By studying droplet combustion in the near-weightlessness
environment of Earth orbit, scientists hope to collect information on
burning rates of flames, flame structures and conditions of flame
extinction.  Detailed knowledge of how fuel droplets burn is an
important factor in the design and improvement of furnaces for
material processing, heating homes and businesses, producing power by
gas turbines as well as combustion of gasoline in vehicle engines.
  "A major amount of the energy produced around the world comes
from burning fuels," said Dr. Vedha Nayagam, project scientist
for the Droplet Combustion Experiment, from the NASA Lewis Research
Center in Cleveland, Ohio.  "By studying burning fuel droplets in
space and comparing the results to theoretical models, we can learn
about the chemistry of these fuels.  This will help us to burn these
fuels more efficiently and minimize pollutants."
  After the Electromagnetic Containerless Processing Facility -- known
by its German acronym, TEMPUS -- completed a 20 hour pumping-down
process to establish a vacuum within the facility's chamber, Payload
Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch powered on the facility and performed a
complete checkout of the hardware.  Using ground-based computer
commanding, the TEMPUS experiment team worked through the night and
into the early morning hours to get the facility into the right
condition to begin processing samples.
  "TEMPUS researchers whose samples were processed during the minimum
duration flight in April learned how their samples performed in the
microgravity environment of space.  Using this knowledge, they were
able to fine-tune their experiments for this flight," said Dr. Jan
Rogers, TEMPUS project scientist with Marshall Space Flight Center.
  During an experiment run to process a sample of Zirconium, the
facility's temperature control apparatus did not work as expected.
Troubleshooting efforts are underway.
  Before beginning his daily exercise period, Crouch installed a
camera and VCR to document an experiment called Internal Flows in a
Free Drop, which was conducted later in the multi-purpose Glovebox
facility.  He also configured the experiment's computer and conducted
a calibration run.
  Handover to the red shift science team occurred at 1 a.m. CDT.  The
red shift crew consists of Mission Specialists Dr. Donald Thomas,
Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot, Susan Still and Payload Specialist
Dr. Gregory Linteris.  The seven-member crew is split into two shifts
so that scientific work can continue around the clock, maximizing use
of the precious time in orbit..
  After completing his daily exercise period, Thomas conducted the
Internal Flows in a Free Drop experiment in the Glovebox.  He deployed
free single liquid drops of varying sizes and then positioned the
spinning drops using sound waves or acoustic manipulation.  Tracer
particles inside the drops give scientists the ability to map the
internal flows taking place as the drops are manipulated by sound
waves.
  Acoustic positioning is an important technique used in the
containerless processing of materials.  This investigation, led by
Dr. Satwindar S. Sadhal of the University of Southern California in
Los Angeles, will allow researchers to assess the potential for a
containerless, non-contact mixing method that could lead to
improvements in chemical manufacturing, petroleum technology,
cosmetics and food sciences.
  At 4:15 a.m. CDT, the first order of business for Payload Specialist
Linteris was to prepare the Combustion Module -1 for a second
fire-related experiment in the Laminar Soot Processes investigation.
The module, developed by the Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, will
test hardware and experiment techniques to be used on the
International Space Station -- demonstrating its ability to
accommodate a variety of combustion experiments.
  Linteris performed a propane-fueled soot experiment.  This run of
the soot experiment had a lower chamber pressure, an increased flow of
fuel and a longer burning time than the first run, conducted Wednesday
afternoon.  It produced a "beautiful and steady flame," according to
Linteris.
  "We will use the first few experiment runs to set parameters for
the remaining runs.  The crew did an outstanding job of setting and
running the two tests.  Determining the settings for future runs will
improve the efficiency of the experiment operations which are designed
to determine under what conditions soot is produced by flames and what
the composition of soot is," said Dr. Gerard Faeth of the University
of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
  Later, Linteris initiated a sample in the Large Isothermal Furnace
to test a specially designed experiment cartridge that will be used to
conduct two of the metallic alloy diffusion studies.  The studies will
use the shear cell method to determine the rate of diffusion.
  The shear cell method involves two column samples of different
concentrations of chemical dopants, or very dilute alloys.  The
columns are melted, then rotated into contact with each other for a
specific period of time.  The resulting single column is sheared into
segments and cooled. Measurements are made post-flight to determine
concentration of the dopants in the segments.  From these
measurements, the rate of diffusion is calculated.
  Using the shear cell method, this study may also reveal the rate of
diffusion of tin and lead-tin-telluride.  Findings could lead to a
better understanding of the diffusion process and improved metal
alloys and products.  The experiments lead scientist is Dr. Shinichi
Yoda of the National Space Development Agency of Japan in Tsukuba,
Japan.
  Ahead, Linteris will perform a shear cell rotation of the sample
processing in the Large Isothermal Furnace and will conduct a third
run of the soot experiment in the Combustion Module -1.  Thomas will
transfer the ASTRO/Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus from the
Shuttle's Middeck to the EXPRESS Rack.
 On Thursday, July 3, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #5
reports:
  Science activities continue at a brisk pace aboard Columbia as the
crew supports more than 30 investigations focusing on plant and
crystal growth and the behavior of flame in a microgravity
environment.
  Today, Commander Jim Halsell conducted video documentation of some
of the MSL experiments, including transfer of Astro-PGBA by Pilot
Susan Still and Mission Specialist Don Thomas. Thomas also spent part
of his day working with the glovebox unit and the Internal Flows in a
Free Drop experiment. Payload Specialist Greg Linteris worked with the
Combustion Module and the Laminar Soot Process experiment.
  Earlier today, ground controllers assisted the crew in removing an
extension tool used to bolt a plant growth experiment into the Express
Rack located in theSpacelab module. The extension tool, essentially a
long-handled allen wrench, became stuck to a bolt located at the
corner of a locker space as they installed the Astro-PGBA
experiment. Crew members used a pry bar and pliers to nudge the tool
loose. Astro-PGBA was installed in the Express Rack after being moved
from its stowage location on Columbia landing.
  Following a handover of responsibilities shortly after noon, the Blue
Team astronauts, Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission Specialist
Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch continued
around-the-clock support of science activity. Their work today will
focus primarily on combustion investigations.  Voss worked with ground
controllers mid-way through the blue team shift to re-start the
Experiment Computer Operating System (ECOS) which went down briefly. A
20-minute procedure brought the ECOS back on line.
  The seven astronauts sent an early July 4th greeting to the nation
today. Voss and Gernhardt also took time to discuss their science
activities with students in Victorville, California.
 On Thursday, July 3, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #05
reports: (MET 02/4:58)
  Aboard Space Shuttle Columbia this morning Mission Specialist
Dr. Donald Thomas transferred the plant growth experiment from the
Shuttle's middeck to the EXPRESS Rack, a facility designed for quick
and easy installation of hardware and experiments on Space
Station. The plant growth experiment is one of two Microgravity
Science Laboratory studies that will check the design, development and
adaptation of the EXPRESS Rack.
  Called the ASTRO/Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus, the plant
growth experiment is studying the effect of space on certain types of
plants. The investigation examines the production of lignin, essential
for the formation and joining of woody cell walls in plants; the
production of secondary metabolites, essential for generating energy
needed to sustain vital life processes; and changes which occur in the
sugars and starches of vegetable plants.
  Researchers are interested in determining if these plant processes
are interrelated and how they might be manipulated to improve plant
growth and production on Earth. Findings may also verify evidence that
plants grown in microgravity require less metabolic energy to produce
lignin, permitting greater production of secondary metabolites, a
source of many medicinal drugs. Secondary metabolites may also be used
to attract, repel or poison insects.
  Plants being studied aboard Space Shuttle Columbia, include
Artemisia annua, a species of sage native to Southeast Asia and a
source of the antimalarial drug artemisinin; Catharanthus roseus,
which produces vinca alkaloids, used in chemotherapy treatment of
cancer; Pinus taeda, or loblolly pine, used widely in the paper and
lumber industries; and Spinacia oleracea, a variety of spinach.
  Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris performed a shear cell
rotation of the sample processing in the Large Isothermal
Furnace. This procedure is part of a study which tests a specially
designed shear cell cartridge to determine the diffusion coefficient
-- a fundamental quantity which describes the diffusion process -- of
tin.
  The shear cell method involves two column samples, one pure sample
and one sample with an additive. The columns are melted, then rotated
into contact with each other for a specific period of time. The
resulting single column is sheared into segments and cooled for
post-flight analysis.  "Outward signs of a good experiment are
duration and steadiness of temperature -- the environment -- and the
completeness of each rotation", said Richard Dewitt, senior project
engineer with NASA's Lewis Research Center. "Today's experiment was
right on the money".
  These investigations are providing researchers with a better
understanding of the diffusion process and may lead to improved
techniques for processing metallic alloys on Earth and in turn better
products.
  Linteris completed a second successful run today of a propane-fueled
soot study to investigate the properties of soot. "We are burning
fuels at different atmospheres because soot is very sensitive to
pressure. The higher the pressure the more soot produced", said
Dr. Gerard Faeth of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
  Later in the day another test run was completed using Ethylene
fuel. "Different fuel types also make a big difference", explained
Faeth. "Natural gas, for instance, tends to make little soot. And it
is widely used in the U.S., so it is of interest to us. Propane
produces more soot, and Ethylene, used in diesel engines, produces
even more".
  Information from this study may lead to a better understanding of
how to contain unwanted fires and limit the number of fatalities from
carbon monoxide emissions.
  Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss and Payload Specialist Dr.  Roger
Crouch assumed science operations just after noon today.
  Voss began a series of small droplet runs this afternoon to study a
burning fuel droplet of heptane, part of the Droplet Combustion
Experiment. The investigation is collecting information on burning
rates of flames, flame structures and conditions under which flames
are extinguished. Findings from this study will provide researchers
with a better understanding of the combustion process and may lead to
cleaner and safer ways to burn fossil fuels as well as more efficient
methods of generating heat and power on Earth.
  Crouch initiated a run of the Liquid Phase Sintering experiment in
the Large Isothermal Furnace. During the experiment samples of
tungsten, nickel and iron and tungsten, nickel and copper are heated
to 1,500 degrees Celsius. When heated, nickel, iron and copper will
melt to create solid- liquid mixtures. "Sintering is thermal heating
that causes particles to bond together," said Dr. Randall German with
Pennsylvania State University. "On Earth, sintering distorts the
material. We are trying to learn the rules of why things distort on
Earth. And we are".
  Late this afternoon, Crouch conducted a fluid physics experiment in
Middeck Glovebox facility. The Internal Flows in Free Drop experiment
examines techniques for controlling the position and motion of liquids
in low-gravity. Results may find application in improving many
important processes used by chemical manufacturing industries on
Earth, including the petroleum technology, cosmetics and food sciences
industries. The study is lead by Dr. S.S. Sadhal of the University of
Southern California in Los Angeles.
  The computer system aboard the Shuttle which sends commands to
experiment facilities had to be rebooted twice this afternoon after it
locked up. The crew was able to reboot the system with no impact to
science.
  The TEMPUS team believes it has now resolved a problem experienced
earlier this morning involving a temperature controller used to melt
material samples. The team is continuing to troubleshoot a problem
with one of the two video cameras used to record data from the
experiment. As a result of trouble shooting efforts, one of the
planned experiment runs has been delayed.
  Ahead, Crouch will complete another test of the soot experiment in
the Combustion Module. Voss will continue with the Droplet Combustion
Experiment. Voss will exchange the sample in the Large Isothermal
Furnace and conduct another run of the Liquid Phase Sintering
experiment.
  STS-94 Flight Day 4 Highlights:
 On Friday, July 4, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #6
reports:
  Having settled into a comfortable pace in their on orbit home,
Columbia are continuing their around-the-clock efforts with the
experiments being flown as part of the Microgravity Science Laboratory
payload. With no significant Shuttle system issues being worked, the
crew has been able to devote all of its efforts toward the science
objectives of the STS-94 flight.
  Red team crew members, Commander Jim Halsell along with Pilot Susan
Still, Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg
Linteris, have been busy with their fourth day of in-flight activities
since being awakened just before midnight.
  Halsell has been performing status checks and video documentation of
some experiments. Still has been overseeing orbiter systems including
the transfer of software files through the Orbiter Communication
Adapter (OCA) system. Thomas's attention today has been with the
Glovebox facility and the Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion
experiment while Linteris has been working with the Droplet Combustion
Experiment.
  Later this morning, as they are winding up their work day, Halsell,
Still and Thomas will conduct an interview with the Cable News Network
(CNN) at 11:32 a.m. CDT.
  The Blue Team astronauts, Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission
Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch are
scheduled to be awakened just after 11 a.m. this morning. After a
brief handover with their Red Team co-workers, Voss, Gernhardt and
Crouch will assume responsibilities for the MSL science operations in
the Spacelab.
  While Columbia's crew continue their science efforts aboard the
Shuttle, the three person crew aboard the Russian space station Mir
are busy preparing for the arrival of the next Progress resupply
vehicle. The Progress launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazahkstan is targeted for late this evening at 11:11 p.m. CDT. An
on-time launch of Progress would happen with Columbia located at 27
degrees South latitude and 69 degrees East longitude, flying above the
Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.
 On Friday, July 4, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #06
reports: (MET 02/16:58)
  Through the evening and into the morning on Friday, Space Shuttle
crew members and ground controllers worked together to complete a
variety of experiments and resolve some of the challenges associated
with keeping a complex science payload up and running.  The
Microgravity Science Laboratory consists of more than 30 experiments
in the primary areas of combustion, biotechnology, materials science
and fluid physics.
  "Great teamwork by the orbiter crew and science teams on the ground
has worked around some anomalies enabling us to collect very valuable
science data" said Dr. Patton Downey, assistant mission scientist.
  Aboard Columbia, runs of the Droplet Combustion Experiment were
slightly delayed while troubleshooting teams investigated a suspected
correlation between three brief malfunctions of the computer which
oversees all the experiments aboard Spacelab.  Within minutes of each
malfunction, the crew was able to reboot the computer with no impact
to science.
  Meanwhile, Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss performed another run
of the soot experiment in the Combustion Module - 1 that had
originally been slated for Payload Specialist Dr.  Roger Crouch.
Shifting the schedule allowed Crouch to perform the Internal Flows in
a Free Drop experiment that had been scheduled for a later time.
  Crouch began the experiment in which free drops of liquid are
deployed and manipulated in the Glovebox using sound waves.  Attempts
to deploy the drops were, however, unsuccessful.  The science team on
the ground suspects that a change in the alignment of the liquid
injector may have been the cause of the unsuccessful drop deployment
and is troubleshooting the problem.
  Before the end of his shift, Crouch performed a sample exchange in
the Large Isothermal Furnace, initiating the second run of the Liquid
Phase Sintering experiment, which is led by Dr. Randall German of
Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa.
  In industry, the liquid phase sintering process is used to form very
hard and dense solids -- which, in turn, are used to manufacture
products such as cutting tools, car transmission gears and radiation
shields.  The sintering process involves heating metal or ceramic
powders.  Under high pressure and temperature, the powder grains
liquefy and bond to form strong shapes, such as tools.  On Earth,
gravity affects the dispersal of the powders and causes the resulting
solid to be less uniform.  Investigators hope to better understand
this process and develop techniques that can be used to lower costs of
production and create even better sintered materials.
  In the electromagnetic processing facility known as TEMPUS, an
experiment to further the understanding of the fundamentals of
undercooling and formation of metallic glass was initiated around
10:00 p.m. (CDT) Thursday.  The facility uses a combination of an
electromagnetic field and the microgravity environment to suspend
metal alloys in a free space within a set of coils.  Within the coils,
the suspended alloy may be melted and resolidified in an ultra- pure
environment.  The sample of zirconium-nickel was cycled through two
stable melting and solidification runs, then became molten and
contacted the side of the sample container, adhering there.  The
experiment run was then terminated and the sample was removed.
  "Before the sample stuck to the coils, we were able to get some good
data", said the principal investigator, Dr. Hans Fecht of the
Technical University in Berlin, Germany.  The experiment team is
evaluating data concerning the unexpected contact and sticking.  The
next TEMPUS experiment run is scheduled for later this afternoon.
  Before the handover from the on-board blue shift science crew to the
red shift, teams on the ground determined that the apparent cause of
earlier glitches with the Experiment Control Computer System was data
transmission from the Droplet Combustion Experiment.  Transmission of
this data was disabled and the droplet combustion team -- commanding
the experiment from the ground -- resumed the combustion investigation
which resulted in several "good burns", according to researchers.
  Voss and Crouch handed off to Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas
and Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris around 1:00 a.m. (CDT).
  After his daily planning session, Payload Specialist Dr. Greg
Linteris began the first of several runs of the Droplet Combustion
Experiment.  The experiment takes place in a specially designed
enclosed chamber in which single droplets of heptane fuel can be
burned in an atmosphere composed of a mixture of helium and oxygen.
The droplet is formed by injecting heptane through two injectors on
opposite sides of the test platform within the chamber.  Once the drop
is formed, the injectors are retracted and the drop is then ignited by
two hot-wire igniters that are brought near the droplet from opposite
sides.  The burning droplets observed and recorded using video cameras
and high-resolution photographs.  The investigators will study these
recordings to obtain data about the physical and chemical processes
that take place in droplet combustion, including conditions under
which the flames extinguish, the chemistry of the combustion reaction,
and the production of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and soot
particles.
   "We can't get this information from ground-based experiments", said
principal investigator Dr. Forman Williams of the University of
California at San Diego.  "For the first time, we're burning free fuel
droplets".  Findings' from this investigation are providing
researchers with a better understanding of the combustion process and
may lead to cleaner and safer ways to burn fossil fuels as well as
more efficient methods of generating heat and power on Earth.
  Around 3:45 a.m. (CDT) Friday, Thomas set up another combustion
study led by Williams --the Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion
investigation.  During the experiment, single large droplets of fuel
are ignited to study how fuel burns and test a new technique of
droplet deployment using thin fiber material.
  To burn large fuel droplets -- even in the near-weightless
environment of space -- it is necessary to have a support mechanism
for the drops of fuel.  Otherwise the burning drop may move around,
hit the walls of the container or move out of the camera's field of
view.
  The Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion experiment allows combustion
investigators to study the burning of fuels -- such as n-heptane,
n-decane, methanol, ethanol, methanol/water mixtures and
heptane/hexadecane mixtures -- in droplets as large as nearly
one-quarter-inch diameter.  Additionally, the experiment will shed
light on the role that convection plays in burning by introducing a
controlled air- flow into the flame environment during the experiment.
  As the red shift crew continues its 12-hour duty day, Thomas and
Linteris will perform further combustion studies aboard Columbia --
including runs of the Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion Experiment
and the Droplet Combustion Experiment.
 On Friday, July 4, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #7
reports:
  Columbia's astronauts issued a special greeting today, wishing the
United States a happy birthday on this July 4th holiday as they
orbited 185 miles over the surface of the Earth.
  That greeting came at the end of an interview with the Cable News
Network late this morning.  In that interview, Commander Jim Halsell,
Pilot Susan Still, Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission Specialist
Don Thomas and Payload Specialists Greg Linteris and Roger Crouch
discussed the pace of the scientific investigations being conducted on
board.
  The Blue team crew members, Voss, Crouch and Mission Specialist Mike
Gernhardt will continue around-the-clock support of more than 30
investigations to study flame behavior and combustion in microgravity,
as well as plant and crystal growth.
  Shortly after the Blue team awoke at 11 a.m. central time, the
flight control team in Houston sent its own holiday greetings playing
Kate Smiths "God Bless America" to the seven-member crew. Mission
Control also notified the crew of the Mars Pathfinder landing at 12:06
p.m. central time today.  Commander Jim Halsell responded to the
information saying the successful landing and upcoming activities were
"very exciting." The Shuttle Mission Control team transmitted
"congratulations and continued success on your most important
endeavor" to their counterparts at JPL.
  The Red team began an eight-hour sleep period shortly after 3
p.m. and will awaken just after 11 p.m. central time today to once
again assume responsibility for orbiter and science operations.
  While Columbia's crew continue its science efforts aboard the
Shuttle, the three person crew aboard the Russian space station Mir
are busy preparing for the arrival of the next Progress resupply
vehicle.  The Progress launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakstan is targeted for late today at 11:11 p.m. CDT.  An on-time
launch of Progress would happen with Columbia located at 27 degrees
south latitude, 69 degrees east longitude, flying above the Indian
Ocean, east of Madagascar.
  STS-94 Flight Day 5 Highlights:
 On Saturday, July 5, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #8
reports:
  Almost 100 hours into their flight, Columbia's astronauts
continue their around-the-clock science efforts while a Russian
resupply vehicle is making its way towards the Mir space station.
  Red team crew members Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan Still,
Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg Linteris
have been busy with another day of in-flight activities since being
awakened just before midnight.
  Like their previous duty day, Halsell has been performing status
checks and video documentation of some experiments while Still has
been overseeing orbiter systems.  Later today Halsell is scheduled to
have two communication sessions with school children using the Shuttle
Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) system.  Thomas' efforts today
have been with the Large Isothermal Furnace facility and the Glovebox
unit while Linteris has continued his work with the Droplet Combustion
Experiment.
  About the same time as the Red team was waking up, a Russian
Progress resupply vehicle was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at
11:11 p.m. CDT last evening.  A few minutes later, flight controllers
in the Russian mission control center confirmed the vehicle had
achieved orbit insertion.  The Progress vehicle is scheduled to dock
with the Mir space station on Monday, July 7, at 12:58 a.m. CDT.  A
Mir status briefing from the Johnson Space Center is scheduled today
at 9 a.m. CDT.
  The Red team will begin an eight-hour sleep period just after 3
p.m. today and will be awakened just after 11 p.m. central time to
once again assume responsibility for orbiter and science operations.
  Columbia's systems continue to operate properly, providing a stable
platform for microgravity science operations as the Shuttle circles
the Earth every 90 minutes
 On Saturday, July 5, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #07
reports: (MET 03/14:58)
  As America celebrated the country's birthday, the crew of
Microgravity Science Laboratory -1 mission set off its own special
fireworks.  For the past 24 hours, combustion experiments aboard
Columbia have been the main focus of science activity in the Spacelab.
  Yesterday, three series of burning fuel droplet runs were completed
in the Droplet Combustion Apparatus.  Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory
Linteris completed one series Friday morning and then another during
his next shift -- early Saturday.  Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss
completed one series run Friday afternoon.
  During the experiment a heptane fuel droplet is burned in an
atmosphere of helium and oxygen.  The droplet is formed and deployed
in the apparatus.  Igniter wires are touched to the sides of the
droplet then retracted to create a free burning droplet.
  "We look at the flame location, the diameter of the droplet and soot
production", explained lead scientist Dr. Forman Williams of the
University of California at San Diego.  "Droplet burning occurs in
spray combustion, such as in diesel engines, and is relevant to power
production and the burning of fossil fuels".
  Yesterday and early this morning, crew members worked in Middeck
Glovebox to conduct the Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion experiment,
also led by Williams.  The experiment studies the burning process of
single, large fuel droplets.  Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas
completed a series of tests yesterday morning burning methanol and
ethanol fuel droplets.  Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch completed
a series of tests last night burning droplets of a mixture of methanol
and water.
  A thin fiber is used to position the large fuel droplets in the
viewing area.  Once the drops are ignited, researchers measure
characteristics, such as burning rates, flame positions and the
diameters of the droplets at the time the flames are extinguished.
The study also investigates how the burning process is influenced by
convection, or the transfer of heat caused by motion in the air.
Results from this study may lead to increased fuel efficiency and a
reduction in air pollutants on Earth.
  In the Combustion Module --1, two runs the Laminar Soot Processes
experiment were completed Friday.  Linteris completed one test just
before noon and Voss completed another last night.  Both studied the
burning of an ethylene-fueled flame.  The soot investigation is
gathering information on flame shape, the type and amount of soot
produced under various conditions and the temperature of soot
components.
  As principal investigator Dr. Gerard Faeth of the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor explains, it would be very difficult to conduct
this experiment on Earth.  "Imagine a campfire" said Faeth, "the
yellow color of the fire is soot. But the fire is burning very fast
and sparks are shooting out in all directions.  Obviously, not the
ideal environment for studying soot".
  Findings from this investigation may lead to a better understanding
of how to contain unwanted fires and limit the number of fatalities
from carbon monoxide emissions.
  Before the end of his shift yesterday at noon, Thomas completed a
disk change-out of the Quasi-Steady and Space Acceleration Measurement
system.  The system is one of four on board the Shuttle which detects
and records the small, yet unavoidable disturbances in the near-zero
gravity environment of the Spacelab.  Science teams rely on the
information, down-linked in near-real-time, to determine the effect of
the disturbances on experiments.
  Late Friday afternoon, Crouch activated an experiment in the
electromagnetic containerless processing facility, called TEMPUS.
"We've had a very successful experiment run, collecting a wide variety
of data on the properties of our sample and its ability to freeze or
solidify.  This is important to our understanding of theoretical
models of liquid crystallization and to processing metallic-glass
materials", said principle investigator Dr.  W.I. Johnson of the
California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif.
  The TEMPUS investigation is designed to measure the thermophysical
properties -- heat capacity, thermal conductivity, nucleation rates,
surface tension, viscosity and thermal expansion -- of glass-forming
metallic alloys.  Findings from the experiment using a
zirconium-titanium alloy may improve ground-based techniques for
processing materials and in turn improve materials and products.
  Later, Crouch removed a sample run of the Liquid Phase Sintering
Experiment from the Large Isothermal Furnace and initiated the next
run of this investigation.  During the experiment, compressed powders
of tungsten, nickel, iron, tungsten, nickel and copper are heated to
1,500 degrees Celsius.  When heated, the nickel, iron and copper melt
but the tungsten does not.  This forms a solid-liquid mixture.
Researchers are using these mixtures to study the sintering process,
or how these particles bond when heated.
  "On Earth, these mixtures settle out and sintering results in a
distorted material", explained lead scientist Dr. Randall German of
Pennsylvania State University in University Park.  "How to make
materials of the right shape and size with no distortion is fundamenal
to powder metallurgy, so we are learning why distortion occurs on
Earth".
  Early this morning after the sintering sample had finished
processing in the Large Isothermal Furnace, Thomas removed it and
initiated a study to establish an accurate measurement of the
diffusion coefficient -- a fundamental quantity which describes the
diffusion process -- of liquid tin in relation to temperature.
  On Earth, diffusion experiments conducted at high temperatures have
been unsuccessful due to fluid movement caused by gravity.  This
experiment, led by Dr. Toshio Itami of the Hokkaido University in
Sapporo, Japan, may help researchers more clearly define the diffusion
process and could lead to improved processing techniques and products
on Earth..
  Later, Thomas set up the Bubble and Drop Nonlinear Dynamics
experiment -- led by Dr.  L.G. Leal of the University of California at
Santa Barbara -- in the Glovebox.  Results could lead to techniques
that eliminate or counteract the complications that bubbles cause
during materials processing.
  Ahead, Thomas will perform the Bubble Drop and Non-linear Dynamics
experiment in the Glovebox and Linteris will continue the combustion
studies --conducting more runs of the Droplet Combustion Experiment.
  STS-94 Flight Day 6 Highlights:
 On Sunday, July 6, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #10
reports:
  Science operations aboard Columbia continue to go smoothly as the
STS-94 crew continue their around-the-clock work with the Microgravity
Science Laboratory experiments.
  Red team crew members Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan Still,
Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg Linteris
were awakened just before midnight to begin their sixth day of
on-orbit activities.
  Halsell continues to do status checks and video documentation of
some experiments while Still has been overseeing various orbiter
systems.  The two red team science members, Thomas and Linteris were
given a half day off in their work schedule.  Half days off are a
standard practice in long duration Space Shuttle flights so that the
crew will remain well-rested and operate at peak efficiency during
longer spaceflights.
  During the morning period, while Linteris took time off, Thomas
worked with the Large Isothermal Furnace experiment and the Glovebox
unit.  In the afternoon while Thomas relaxes, Linteris will work with
the Combustion Module and the Large Isothermal Furnace.
  The Blue team, Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission Specialist
Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch will be awakened
just after 11 a.m. this morning to begin their sixth day of science
operations.  A few hours later, the red team will begin an eight-hour
sleep period just after 3 p.m.
  Later today, Gernhardt and Crouch will conduct an interview with NBC
Nightside.  The interview is scheduled to take place at 11:42 p.m. CDT
Sunday evening.
  Columbia's systems continue to operate properly, providing a stable
platform for microgravity science operations as the Shuttle circles
the Earth every 90 minutes
 On Sunday, July 6, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #08
reports:
  The Microgravity Science Laboratory mission is paying off for crew
members and science teams which have spent years preparing for their
mission on the Space Shuttle and this opportunity to conduct
fundamental scientific research in space. Experiments are yielding new
information in the areas of biotechnology, combustion science,
materials science and fluid physics, and researchers are hopeful their
findings will find applications for improving life on Earth and the
future of research in space.
  Results from the first runs in a study of the capillary-driven heat
transfer devices, conducted overnight in the Middeck Glovebox aboard
Spacelab, are shedding new light on how these devices work. The
experiment is examining their use to transfer heat away from a
particular location. For instance, in spacecraft they may be used to
transfer heat from electrical devices to radiators. They weigh less
than conventional devices because they operate on evaporation and
condensation, and because they do not require power, they are more
economical, but there have been problems with their application for
spacecraft systems.
  Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch conducted the first experiment
run Saturday evening, and Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas
completed another run early this morning. During the experiment, when
heat was added to the evaporator, it dried out. "That's what we
expected, but for another reason," said principal investigator
Dr. Kevin Hallinan of the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. "We're
losing liquid. It's condensing, but not in the condenser. The nice
thing is we didn't expect this. It offers insight into potential
failure mechanisms that may not have been considered before. And we're
modifying our procedures to look at this failure mechanism as well as
the one we anticipated."
  Over the last 24 hours, two series of burning fuel droplet runs were
completed in the Droplet Combustion Apparatus. Payload Specialist
Dr. Gregory Linteris completed one series Saturday morning, and Crouch
completed another series in the afternoon. During the experiment, a
heptane fuel droplet is burned in an atmosphere of helium and
oxygen. The droplet is formed and deployed in the apparatus. Igniter
wires are touched to each side of the droplet and then retracted to
create a free burning droplet. Researchers are gathering information
on the burning rates of flames, flame structures and conditions under
which flames are extinguished. Findings from this study will provide a
better understanding of the combustion process and may lead to cleaner
and safer ways to burn fossil fuels as well as more efficient methods
of generating heat and power on Earth.
  Yesterday, Thomas powered up the Middeck Glovebox to conduct a study
of the manipulation of bubble shape and bubble movement in water under
weightlessness conditions. Many industrial processes, including
solidification of metallic alloys, are adversely affected by
bubbles. Findings from this investigation may improve materials
processing techniques on Earth by eliminating or counteracting
bubbles.
  Linteris conducted a run of the Laminar Soot Processes experiment in
the Combustion Module Saturday afternoon, and Payload Commander
Dr. Janice Voss completed another run last night, giving up her free
time to do so. During the runs, ethylene fuel was burned in the
facility. Researchers are gathering information on flame shape, the
type and amount of soot produced under various conditions and the
temperature of soot components. Findings from this investigation may
lead to a better understanding of how to contain unwanted fires, burn
fuels more efficiently and reduce pollutants.
  In the area of materials science, experiments are under way in the
TEMPUS and Large Isothermal Furnace facilities. These investigations
may find direct applications in improving techniques used on Earth to
manufacture materials and in turn lead to better, higher-quality
products.
  In the TEMPUS facility, Thomas activated an experiment to measure
the heat of undercooled liquid metals. Undercooling occurs when a
solid is melted into a liquid then cooled below its normal freezing
point without solidifying. The study, led by Dr. Hans Fecht of the
Technical University Berlin in Germany, is aimed at determining the
ability of certain zirconium-based alloys to form glass. Zirconium is
a metallic element used chiefly in ceramic and refractory compounds as
alloying agent.
  "This is the first time that these particular alloys could be
prepared and measured in this way," said Fecht. "Undercooling to 200
degrees Celsius is a lot. We have excellent and very important
data. We're very excited."
  Early Sunday, Linteris activated the sample in the TEMPUS facility
to begin another study of glass-forming metallic alloys. This
research, led by Dr. W.I. Johnson of the California Institute of
Technology in Pasadena, examines the thermophysical properties -- heat
capacity, thermal conductivity, nucleation rates, surface tension,
viscosity and thermal expansion -- of multi-component zirconium-based
alloys.
  "We are taking fundamental measurements of these alloys, in some
cases for the first time," said project scientist Dr. Jan Rogers of
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. "These
measurements will be used to make better products on Earth. For
instance, findings from metallic glass investigations may be used to
improve sporting good products, such as golf clubs, because of their
good elastic properties."
  Science operations in TEMPUS have continued successfully despite
difficulties with the facility's top-view video camera. The science
team has developed a procedure to troubleshoot the problem and plans
to perform it later in the mission.
  In the Large Isothermal Furnace, Voss completed the second of five
planned runs Saturday afternoon for the Diffusion of Liquid Metals
study using the Large Isothermal Furnace. Diffusion is the process by
which liquid metals mix without stirring -- similar to how the smell
of baking bread, for instance, spreads from the oven throughout the
house. The experiment is designed to reveal the diffusion coefficient
-- a fundamental quantity which describes the diffusion process -- of
liquid tin in relation to temperature.
  During the fourth run, researchers noticed the helium consumption
was greater than expected and ended the final rapid cooling step of
the experiment early to conserve helium. Another run of the Liquid
Phase Sintering experiment, which does not require helium, was
activated in the facility, while researchers assess the helium
consumption rate. The investigation under way examines the sintering
process, or how particles bond when heated, in solid-liquid mixtures.
  The EXPRESS Rack facility has been experiencing problems relaying
housekeeping information, such as temperature, air pressure and water
flow, to the ground. The crew is monitoring read-outs and voicing down
information every two hours. Troubleshooting continues to determine
the cause and corrective actions.
  Today, Linteris is scheduled to conduct another test of the soot
experiment, and another diffusion of liquid metals study will be
activated in the Large Isothermal Furnace.
 On Sunday, July 6, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #11
reports:
  Columbia's crew continues its around-the-clock scientific
investigations, studying the behavior of flames and the growth of
plant structures in microgravity.
  With Columbia providing a stable platform for science activity, the
seven-member crew has been able to devote its full attention to the
more than 30 experiments housed on board.  Commander Jim Halsell,
Pilot Susan Still, Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload
Specialist Greg Linteris, the mission's Red team, performed
status checks on the plant growth experiment and worked with
investigations in both the Combustion Module and Large Isothermal
Furnace.  Thomas and Linteris also enjoyed four hours of off-duty time
to ensure they remain well-rested throughout this planned 16-day
mission.
  Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt and
Payload Specialist Roger Crouch, awoke just after 11 a.m. to mark
the start of the Blue team's Flight Day 6.  Throughout the afternoon
and evening, they will continue work with the Droplet Combustion
Experiment which gathers information on the burning rates of flames
and flame structures as they are extinguished, and the Laminar Soot
Process experiment which may lead to ways to contain unwanted fires
and limit deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning.
  Beginning at 11:42 tonight, Gernhardt and Crouch will conduct an
interview with NBC Nightside to discuss the progress of the flight.
  The Red team will awaken about 11 p.m., and shortly after 1
a.m. will once again assume responsibility for orbiter and science
operations.  The Blue team will go to sleep about 3 a.m. Monday.
  Columbia's systems continue to operate properly, providing a stable
platform for microgravity science operations as the shuttle circles
the Earth every 90 minutes.
  STS-94 Flight Day 7 Highlights:
 On Monday, July 7, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #12
reports:
  Six days into their flight, the STS-94 astronauts aboard Columbia
continue their around-the-clock scientific effort to examine how
various materials and liquids change and behave in the weightless
environment of space.
  With Columbia providing a stable platform for science activity, the
seven-member crew has been able to devote its full attention to the
more than 30 Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL) experiments housed
on board.
  Commander Jim Halsell continued his status checks of experiments
along with video documentation of experiments while Pilot Susan Still
is monitoring and tending to orbiter systems.  The two science members
of the red team, Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist
Greg Linteris are busy back in the pressurized spacelab module with
MSL equipment and experiments.  Thomas spent his morning working with
the Large Isothermal Furnace, Quasi-Steady Acceleration Measurement
and TEMPUS facilities.  In the afternoon, Thomas also will be working
with experiments in the Glovebox unit.  Both the morning and afternoon
of Linterisday will be devoted to the Droplet Combustion Experiment
and the Combustion Module.
  Early into the start of Flight Day 7 activities, Mission Control
informed the crew of the successful docking of the Progress resupply
vehicle.  The Progress spacecraft docked to the Mir station just
before 1:00 a.m. CDT.  &quot;Thats great news&quot; said Still upon
hearing the news about events on the orbiting Russian facility.
  During the remaining part of Flight Day 7, Halsell, Still and
Linteris are each scheduled for a communication session using the
Shuttle Amateur Radio (SAREX) unit as they take turns talking with
students in schools in Texas, Georgia, and New Mexico.
  Shortly before they turned in for their sleep period last evening,
blue team crew members Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger
Crouch conducted an interview with NBC Nightside to discuss the
progress of the flight and the importance of the experiments being
flown in the Spacelab.  They, along with their fellow blue team
member, Payload Commander Janice Voss, will be awakened just after
11 a.m. today to mark the start of the blue teams Flight Day 7.
  The red team will be going to bed shortly after 3 p.m. today.
Following an eight-hour sleep period, and a brief handover with the
blue team, they will once again assume responsibility for orbiter and
science operations.
 On Monday, July 7, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #09
reports:
  After short breaks in their busy schedules, crew members of the
Microgravity Science Laboratory mission are back to business, working
around the clock to fulfill the objective of their mission --
fundamental scientific research in space. Most of the last 24 hours
focused on combustion and materials science investigations in space.
  Aboard Columbia Sunday, crew members completed three runs of the
Laminar Soot Experiment -- a combustion investigation that could lead
to a more environmentally friendly fuel burning engine.  Using
ethylene gas, Payload Specialist Dr. Greg Linteris completed one run
in the morning, Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch completed one in
the afternoon and Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss completed one late
Sunday evening.
  Lead scientist Dr. Gerard Faeth of the University of Michigan at Ann
Arbor reported to the crew that the flames so far have been "super"
and that the science team is very pleased with experiment data it has
gathered. "We've learned that as we increase pressure, the amount of
soot in the flame and the amount of soot it emits increases,"
explained Faeth.  "It's probably one of the reasons that high pressure
combustion processes -- such as what goes on in a bus engine -- tend
to emit a lot of soot."
  Two samples of the experiment analyzing diffusion in liquid
Lead-tin-telluride were processed in the Large Isothermal Furnace over
the last 24 hours.  Linteris initiated the first sample shortly before
his shift ended at noon Sunday and Crouch initiated the experiment's
second run early Sunday evening. Early this morning, Mission
Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas initiated a third run, and it is
continuing to process in the facility.
  The study, led by Ms. Misako Uchida of Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy
Industries in Tokyo, Japan, is aimed at determining the diffusion
coefficient -- a fundamental quantity which describes the diffusion
process -- of liquid lead-tin-telluride. Diffusion is the process by
which liquid metals mix without stirring -- similar to how food
coloring disperses in a glass of water without stirring. Liquid
lead-tin-telluride is a potential material for use in manufacturing
infrared detectors and lasers. Uchida reported the completed runs were
"very good."
  On Sunday, science teams determined that the Large Isothermal
Furnace has been using more helium than expected. The furnace, a
vacuum-heating facility that is designed to uniformly heat large
samples, uses a helium purge to rapidly cool the samples.  The science
team is assessing the helium consumption rate, but estimates that it
is not likely the facility will run out of helium before testing is
completed.
  In the German levitating furnace, known as TEMPUS, a sample of a
glass-forming metallic liquid performed just as planned, according to
principal investigator Dr. William Johnson of the California Institute
of Technology in Pasadena. This experiment is measuring the
thermophysical properties -- heat capacity, thermal conductivity,
nucleation rates, surface tension, viscosity and thermal expansion --
of a complex alloy of titanium, zirconium, copper and nickel. "This is
the first time that some of these fundamental measurements have been
ever been taken," said Johnson.
  Early this morning, Thomas activated another experiment in the
TEMPUS facility which studies how glass forms in zirconium-based
alloys. Zirconium is an element found chiefly in ceramic and
refractory compounds. This study is led by Dr. Hans Fecht of the
Technical University Berlin in Germany. Results from TEMPUS
investigations could lead to improved techniques for processing
metallic alloys and in turn better products.
  Voss completed another series of runs of the Droplet Combustion
Experiment Sunday. That marked the beginning of the second of three
phases of the study to map the burning characteristics of heptane fuel
droplets over a range of atmospheric pressures. The first phase burned
the fuel droplets at one atmospheric pressure, the same as on
Earth. This phase is burning the droplets at one-half atmospheric
pressure. "In each phase, we are keeping the pressure the same and
slowly reducing the oxygen to see if the fuels can still burn and if
so, how they burn," said project scientist Dr. Vedha Nayagam of NASA's
Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. "On Earth, we encounter low
combustion scenarios -- for instance, in gas turbines -- so it's
important to know what happens when pressure is reduced."
  In one atmospheric pressure the flame burned out, leaving a residue
of fuel. At the lower pressure, the flame is larger so the same
results were expected, but the flame collapsed back on the droplet,
completely consuming it. "It's surprising to see the droplet burn out
completely," said Nayagam. "This tells us something about the
extinction mechanisms."
  Linteris attempted to conduct another test this morning but the
droplet did not ignite. The science team is reviewing data to
understand why it didn't. Also, the Droplet Imaging Camera, which
records information about droplet size, is not working. The science
team is proceeding with experiment runs while it assesses the problem.
  Sunday, Crouch conducted an investigation that could result in an
improved understanding of the mechanisms leading to the unstable
operation and sometimes failure of specialized heat transfer devices
in space operations. In space, capillary-pumped loops are used to
transfer heat away from electrical devices to space radiators.  These
devices are not always reliable.  However, they are very attractive
because they require no power to operate, and are very economical in
terms of weight, an important consideration in satellite design.
  According to investigator Dr. Kevin Hallinan of the University of
Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, the experiment is providing researchers with a
better understanding of the mechanisms behind the unstable operation
and occasional failure of these devices. "The experiment has shown us
that the device is failing for reasons we didn't expect, which
provides new insight into potential failure mechanisms that may have
not been considered before. We're quite pleased with the results so
far."
  Sunday evening, Voss successfully rebooted an electronics unit of
the EXPRESS Rack -- powering it down then back up -- to restore the
facility's communication and telemetry capabilities. The EXPRESS Rack
is designed for quick and easy installation of hardware and
experiments on the International Space Station. Two experiments -- the
Physics of Hard Spheres Experiment and the ASTRO/Plant Generic
Bioprocessing Apparatus -- are being conducted in the EXPRESS Rack to
test its design, development and adaptation.
  The facility was experiencing problems relaying housekeeping
information -- temperature, air pressure and water flow -- to the
ground and receiving ground commands. The Physics of Hard Spheres
science team is now able to send up commands, but the ASTRO/Plant
Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus science team is still unable to
command from the ground and is continuing to troubleshoot the
problem. Crew members are able to command the experiment from the
Spacelab, so there is no impact to science. Restoring housekeeping
data functions would require rebooting the entire system which would
interrupt science, so the EXPRESS Rack team is relying on other,
indirect methods of gathering this information.
  Ahead, Linteris will complete the series of runs under way in the
Droplet Combustion Apparatus. Thomas will work in the Middeck Glovebox
to conduct a study of techniques used to control the position and
motion of free drops of liquid in low-gravity. Linteris will complete
another test of the soot experiment, and Thomas will begin the first
of six runs to study the diffusion process of tracers, or impurities,
in melted germanium, an element widely used as a semiconductor and
alloying agent.
 On Monday, July 7, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #13
reports:
  Columbia's seven astronauts continued their steady support of
science investigations in the Spacelab module, focusing on how various
materials and liquids change and behave in the weightless environment
of space.
  Throughout the day, the Red team astronauts, Commander Jim Halsell,
Pilot Susan Still, Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload
Specialist Greg Linteris, continued work with a variety of
investigations in the Large Isothermal Furnace, Glovebox and
Combustion Module. In addition, Halsell, Still and Linteris each
talked with students at schools located in Texas, Georgia and New
Mexico using the Shuttle Amateur Radio (SAREX) unit.
  As their day was ending, the Red team also sent down some television
sharing images of the four astronauts as they explained the challenges
of working, living and exercising in a microgravity environment.
  The Blue team, Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission Specialist
Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch, assumed
responsibility for science and orbiter operations shortly after 1
p.m. today.  Voss and Crouch will continue work with the Droplet
Combustion Experiment and Laminar Soot Processes investigation, while
Gernhardt performs status checks in the Spacelab module and monitors
all of Columbias systems.
  The Red team will awaken about 11 p.m., following an eight-hour
sleep period, and two hours later will once again be back on duty,
supporting 24-hour science operations on Columbia.  The Blue team will
begin its next sleep period shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday.
 On Monday, July 7, 1997, 7:00 p.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #10
reports:
  The Microgravity Science Laboratory -1 crew aboard Columbia and
science teams on the ground kept up a solid pace of experiment
activities today.
  Payload Specialist Dr. Greg Linteris, and Payload Commander
Dr. Janice Voss each conducted a series of Droplet Combustion
Apparatus experiments. Linteris also corrected a glitch with the
droplet imaging camera that hung up during one of the experiment runs.
Researchers report that the brief glitch had no scientific impact on
the experiment.
  Today's droplet combustion experiments were part of the second of a
three phase study to map burning characteristics over a range of
atmospheric pressures.  The first phase, completed earlier in the
mission, was conducted at one atmospheric pressure, the same as on
Earth.  In the second phase experiments are being conducted at
one-half the Earth's atmospheric pressure.  The third phase will use
one-fourth Earth's atmospheric pressure.
  Characterizing the results from today's experiments, scientist
Dr. Forman Williams of the University of California in San Diego said:
"The crew had a tougher time igniting the droplets at this lowered
pressure -- we expected that But, when the fuel droplets did ignite,
they burned stronger and more vigorously than we expected."
  During the experiment an n-heptane fuel droplet is burned in an
atmosphere of helium and oxygen.  The droplet is formed and deployed
in the apparatus.  Igniter wires are brought close to the sides of the
droplet then retracted to create a free burning droplet.
  Investigators are gathering information on burning rates of flames,
flame structures and conditions under which flames are extinguished.
Results of the investigation will provide researchers with a better
understanding of the combustion process and may lead to cleaner, safer
ways to burn fossil fuels as well as more efficient methods of
generating heat and power on Earth.
  Mid-morning, Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas initiated another
materials experiment in the Large Isothermal Furnace.  The experiment,
led by Dr. David Matthiesen of Case Western Reserve University in
Cleveland, Ohio investigates the diffusion process in molten
semiconductors.
  This experiment will measure accurately the diffusion of dopants,
deliberately added impurities, into germanium, which could lead to
improved processing techniques for high quality metal alloys and
products.
  Later, Thomas conducted the Internal Flows in a Free Drop experiment
in the Glovebox.  He deployed free single liquid drops of water and
water and glycerin of varying sizes and then positioned the spinning
drops using sound waves or acoustic manipulation.  Tracer particles
inside the drops give scientists the ability to map the internal flows
taking place as the drops are manipulated by sound waves.
  "We had expected the rotation control to be easier with the second
sample, the water-glycerin sample, but in reality it had a stronger
torque, or twist, so the power had to be turned down," explained the
lead scientist Dr. Satwindar S. Sadhal of the University of Southern
California in Los Angeles.
  Acoustic positioning is an important technique used in the
containerless processing of materials.  This investigation will allow
researchers to assess the potential for a containerless, non-contact
mixing method that could lead to improvements in chemical
manufacturing, petroleum technology, cosmetics and food sciences.
  This morning, Linteris performed an ethylene-fueled run of the soot
experiment -- providing researchers with more information than they
were hoping for.
  "We were able to get information about the condition when the flame
begins to emit soot," explained lead scientist Dr. Gerard Faeth of the
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.  "After the flame was adjusted,
we got a flame configuration that did not emit nearly as much soot,"
he continued.  "We got two for one data; one flame provided
information on two different soot emitting conditions -- something
that is not possible on Earth."
  Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch performed the next to last run
of the soot experiment this afternoon which explored the effect of
increased pressure on flames.  "During our experiment runs, we've
gotten interesting difference from anything we've observed on Earth;
we've gotten fairly large flames that are easy to study and we're
certainly able to make observations onboard the shuttle that we
couldn't make on Earth," said Faeth.  The soot experiment will
conclude about 9:30 p.m. after its final scheduled run; and the
Combustion Module 1 will be readied for a series of flame ball
experiments
  An experiment which studies how glass forms in zirconium-based
alloys completed a 14 hour processing period in the German levitating
furnace, known as TEMPUS around, 4:00 p.m.  The results of this study,
led by Dr. Hans Fecht of the Technical University Berlin in Germany,
could lead to improved techniques for processing metallic alloys and
in turn better products.
  Ahead, Voss and Crouch will continue conducting combustion
experiments in the Spacelab.  Crouch will conduct another series run
of the Droplet Combustion Experiment and Voss will perform the final
soot experiment before reading the Combustion Module -1 for the flame
ball experiment.  Shortly before midnight, Crouch is scheduled to
change out a camera in the TEMPUS facility.
  STS-94 Flight Day 8 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, July 8, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #14
reports:
  With more than 40 percent of their mission completed, Columbia's
seven astronauts are continuing around-the-clock science
investigations in the Spacelab module, focusing on how various
materials and liquids change and behave in weightlessness.
  After a brief handover with their blue team counterparts just after
midnight, the red team members -- Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan
Still, Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg
Linteris -- took over responsibility for the management of science
operations aboard the Shuttle.
  After completing his daily exercise period, Halsell conducted status
checks and performed video documentation of some of the Microgravity
Science Laboratory experiments and activities in the Spacelab.  The
first part of Pilot Susan Still's day involved monitoring orbiter
systems and working an in-flight maintenance procedure with the
Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX).  Following a daily lab
planning session, Thomas continued experiments in the Glovebox unit
and Linteris worked with the Combustion Module.
  After they take a lunch break, Thomas and Linteris will continue the
same science efforts with the addition of work with the Large
Isothermal Furnace.  Halsell and Still will continue watching over
Shuttle systems, performing some air monitoring checks as well.  They
also will conduct some communication sessions with the SAREX unit.
  A possible SAREX communication session between the crew aboard
Columbia and astronaut Mike Foale aboard the Mir space station may
take place just before 2 p.m. CDT at 7/00:57 MET.  If it happens, the
linkup between the two spacecraft will be accomplished by routing
Foale through ham radio operators at the Johnson Space Center and into
mission control.  The Shuttle and Mir will not be passing close to one
another for this communications opportunity.  The conversation between
Mir and Columbia will depend on Foale's schedule.
  The STS-94 Blue team, Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission
Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch, will be
awakened just after 11 a.m. CDT and will take over responsibility for
science and orbiter operations shortly after 1 p.m.
 On Tuesday, July 8, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #11
reports:
  As the Microgravity Science Laboratory mission approaches the
half-way mark of its planned 16-day flight, researchers are reporting
overall good results so far, and one of the combustion science
research teams, which completed its experiment last night, says the
information it gathered on this mission is even better than hoped for.
  Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss performed the last run of the
Laminar Soot Processes experiment in the Combustion Module last night,
and according to lead scientist Dr. Gerard Faeth of the University of
Michigan at Ann Arbor, "it was gorgeous; the best of them all."
Between both missions, the one in April and this one, 17 tests were
completed, three more than originally scheduled. "Every one worked and
yielded good data," said Faeth. "That was beyond my wildest dreams."
  Researchers learned that achieving non-buoyant, or steady, flames is
a lot tougher than thought and so was predicting some of the flame
burning characteristics. "After the first few runs we got some
starting points, and it was easy to predict when the soot would be
produced," said Faeth, "but predicting how much soot was much more
difficult."
  The science team will now spend at least the next 12 months poring
over information gained from the study. "There is a tremendous amount
of data that comes out of each test," said Faeth, "so there's plenty
to do." Findings from the investigation may lead to a better
understanding of how to contain unwanted fires, burn fuels more
efficiently and reduce pollutants. "The study is a good example of a
process found in a diesel engine," said Faeth.
  Later, Voss removed and stowed the soot experiment hardware and
began preparing the Combustion Module for an investigation known as
Structure of Flame Balls at Low Lewis Number, or SOFBALL. The study is
designed to determine under what conditions a stable ball of flame can
exist and if heat loss is responsible in some way for the
stabilization of the flame ball during burning.
  This experiment is designed to provide researchers with a better
understanding of the combustion process and will help to improve
theoretical models. "Combustion models give different results for
these types of flames," said investigator Dr. Paul Ronney of the
University of Southern California in Los Angeles. "This is an acid
test to show which, if any, current combustion models should be used."
  Three runs of the Droplet Combustion Experiment were completed
overnight. The experiment is collecting information on burning rates
of flames, flame structures and conditions under which flames are
extinguished. The experiment involves burning a droplet of heptane
fuel at different atmospheric pressures. Last night's run was at
one-half atmospheric pressure, half of that on Earth, in a mixture of
helium and 25 percent oxygen.
  "We had one excellent run," said project scientist Dr. Vedha Nayagam
of NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. "It is more
difficult to ignite the droplets at lower pressure, but we think we
have the procedure down now and it is just a matter of
coordination. Timing is critical."
  Results of this investigation will also provide researchers with a
better understanding of how combustion occurs and may lead to cleaner
and safer ways to burn fuels as well as more efficient methods of
generating heat and power on Earth.
  In the TEMPUS levitating furnace facility last night, an experiment
run was ended when the vapor levels reached the maximum amount allowed
for the sample. The experiment is studying glass formation in
zirconium-based metals. The experiment had been given additional run
time, however, so although it ended early it completed the full
originally scheduled run.
  Later, Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch performed a scheduled
changeout of the TEMPUS side view camera, then activated an experiment
to study the nucleation, or point at which solidification from the
melted state begins, in liquid zirconium. During the experiment, the
melts will be cooled below their freezing points. Researchers are
interested in determining the temperatures at which nucleation occurs
and how many nucleations occur at each temperature. Nucleation is an
important chemical and industrial process.
  Later, Crouch performed a shear cell rotation of the sample
processing in the Large Isothermal Furnace. This procedure is part of
an experiment to study the diffusion process of tracers, or
impurities, in melted germanium, an element widely used as a
semiconductor and alloying agent.
  During the shear cell rotation, samples of pure germanium and
germanium with an impurity are rotated into contact with each
other. After an opportunity to mingle together, or diffuse, the
resulting single sample is sheared into segments and cooled for
post-flight analysis.
  Findings from materials science experiments aboard Spacelab,
including investigations under way in the TEMPUS and Large Isothermal
Furnace facilities, may lead to improved techniques of processing
materials on Earth and in turn better products.
  This morning, Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas is conducting a
study of capillary- driven heat transfer devices in the Middeck
Glovebox. The goal is to examine the performance of these devices in
microgravity and improve their reliability. Similar devices may be
used to transfer heat from electrical systems to radiators. Capillary
heat transfer is attractive for use in space because it requires no
power to operate and such devices cost less because they weigh less.
  Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris is continuing to prepare the
Combustion Module for the first SOFBALL test. Ahead, Linteris will
initiate the second of six planned runs of the diffusion study under
way in the Large Isothermal Furnace and complete a scheduled procedure
to change out a disk of one of the microgravity measurement systems on
board Columbia.
 On Tuesday, July 8, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #15
reports:
  The Space Shuttle Columbia continues to orbit the Earth in excellent
condition, providing a stable and reliable platform for more than 30
separate scientific investigations being conducted on board.
  The seven crew members, working in two teams to provide 24-hour
science support to the investigations, are devoting most of their
attention to working with the Microgravity Science Laboratory
experiments.  Earlier today, Pilot Susan Still discussed procedures
for stowing one of those experiments, a plant growth investigation
called Astro-PGBA, with the flight control team in Houston.
  Astro-PGBA is currently located in the Express Rack in the Spacelab
module, where it will remain until the crew begins stowage activities
in anticipation of a planned July 17th landing at the Kennedy Space
Center.  For both launch and landing, Astro-PGBA is stowed in two
middeck lockers.  Once on orbit, the experiment was moved to the
Express Rack in the Spacelab module, and two empty lockers from the
Express Rack were moved to the middeck.  At that time, the crew
encountered some difficulty in removing a long-handled allen wrench
from a bolt in the lower left hand corner of the middeck stowage
position.  Earlier today, Still made a careful survey of the area
today, checking all four bolts, removing and reinstalling lockers and
reported to the flight control team that she had no problem with the
locker or bolts. Based on Still's input, Astro-PGBA will be stowed in
its planned stowage location for entry.
  Shortly before 2 p.m. today, Mission Commander Jim Halsell, Payload
Commander Janice Voss and Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt spoke with
astronaut Mike Foale aboard the Mir space station during a 10-minute
ham radio contact that was routed to Columbia's crew. At the time of
the conversation, the two spacecraft were about 1,100 miles apart with
Mir tracking southeast from Canada over much of the mid-western United
States before passing over Florida and the Atlantic Ocean.  Columbia,
meanwhile, was skirting the coast of Central America and crossing over
the northern portions of South America throughout the
conversation. The astronauts discussed the docking of the Progress
resupply vehicle to Mir, with Foale's Mir 23 crew mate Alexander
Lazutkin announcing that &quot;Christmas had arrived.&quot; Foale also
invited Columbia's crew over for a cup of tea, after a fresh supply
arrived on the Progress.
  The Blue team, Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission Specialist
Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch, assumed
responsibility for orbiter and science operations shortly after 1
p.m. today and continue their support of combustion investigations in
the Spacelab module.  The Red team;  Halsell, Still, Mission
Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg Linteris, will
awaken just after 11 p.m. to mark the start of Flight Day 9 for the
Microgravity Science Laboratory Mission.
 On Tuesday, July 8, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #12
reports:
  Crew members aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia were busy today,
conducting more combustion, materials and fluid science experiments as
the Microgravity Science Laboratory Mission approached its mid-point.
  This morning Mission Specialist Dr. Don Thomas performed an
experiment which studies capillary-driven heat transfer devices.  The
experiment is already shedding new light on how these devices work and
is offering explanations as to why they occasionally fail in
spacecraft applications.
  The investigation examines the device's ability to transfer heat
away from a particular location.  In the future these devices may be
used to transfer heat from electrical equipment to radiators on
spacecraft.  The benefits of these systems are that they weigh less
than conventional units because they operate on evaporation and
condensation, and are more economical because they do not require
power.
  This morning, Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris attempted to
ignite the first flame balls of the mission in the Structure of Flame
Balls at Low Lewis-number experiment, but the run produced only
&quot;flame kernels,&quot; explained project scientist Dr. Karen
Weiland of NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
  "What resulted this morning, when the igniter was sparked, were not
really flames," said Weiland.  The reason was that this sample was
much weaker than the mix that burned during the STS-83 mission.  On
the previous mission, flame balls burned for 500 seconds --
dramatically longer than investigators had expected.
  Weiland said the science team is not totally surprised that flame
balls did not develop in today's first experiment run because the mix
is approaching the flammability limit.  Another run scheduled for this
evening will test a richer fuel mix that should be easier to ignite.
  The experiment, conducted in the Combustion Module 1, is designed to
determine under what conditions a stable flame ball can exist and if
heat loss is responsible for the stabilization of the flame ball
during burning.  The experiment also examines how various mixture
properties, such as fuel/oxidizer concentrations and temperature,
affect the flame-ball's stability and existence.
  "In pre-mixed gases used for combustion on Earth, we simply don't
understand the mechanisms of flame extinction (what makes the fire go
out), what stabilizes it, or what keeps it going," said Dr. Paul
Ronney of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
"These stationary spherical flame balls are the simplest to study,
learn from and then apply to Earth applications."
  Results of the experiment could lead to improvements in lean-burn
internal combustion engines, increased efficiency and reduced
emissions.  Other benefits may include improved fire safety for mine
shafts, chemical plants and spacecraft.
  Midday, before the end of his shift, Linteris changed a disk the
Quasi-Steady and Space Acceleration Measurement system.  The system is
one of four on board the Shuttle which detects and records the small,
yet unavoidable disturbances in the near-zero gravity environment of
the Spacelab.  Science teams rely on the information, down-linked in
near-real-time, to determine the effect of the disturbances on
experiments.
  After his daily exercise period, Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch
performed the Internal Flows in a Free Drop experiment.  This
investigation, led by Dr. Satwindar S. Sadhal of the University of
Southern California in Los Angeles, are allowing researchers to assess
the potential for a containerless, non-contact mixing method that
could lead to improvements in chemical manufacturing, petroleum
technology, cosmetics and food sciences.
  Crouch deployed free single liquid drops of water, and water and
glycerin, of varying sizes into the Glovebox and then positioned the
spinning drops using sound waves or acoustic manipulation.  Tracer
particles inside the drops give scientists the ability to map the
internal flows taking place as the drops are manipulated by sound
waves.
  Processing of a liquid zirconium sample underway in TEMPUS will
continue for another 14 hours.  Researchers are studying nucleation,
or the point at which solidification begins.  So far the sample has
been melted and then cooled below its freezing point -- while still a
liquid -- more than 70 times.  Researchers are interested in
determining the temperatures at which nucleation occurs and how many
nucleations occur at each temperature.  Nucleation is an important
chemical and industrial process.
  Ahead, after a scheduled half day break, Voss will resume combustion
investigations, performing the second in a series of flame ball
experiments and Crouch will perform another run of the experiment that
examines the positioning of fluids using sound waves.
  STS-94 Flight Day 9 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, July 9, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #16
reports:
  As shuttle mission STS-94 nears the halfway point, Columbia
continues to orbit the Earth in excellent condition, providing a
stable and reliable platform for more than 30 separate scientific
investigations.  The official halfway point of the Microgravity
Science Laboratory mission will occur later this morning, just before
9:30 a.m. central, at 7 days, 20 hours and 26 minutes into the flight.
  Following a brief handover with their blue team counterparts just
after midnight, Columbia's red team crew members -- Commander Jim
Halsell, Pilot Susan Still, Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload
Specialist Greg Linteris -- took over responsibility for the
management of science operations aboard the Shuttle.
  After starting his day with an exercise period, Halsell conducted
status checks and video documentation on some of the Microgravity
Science Laboratory experiments and activities being carried in the
Spacelab module.  The first part of Pilot Susan Still's day
involved monitoring orbiter systems and finishing troubleshooting on
the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX).  Still reported just
before 3 a.m. today that she was seeing a good connection between the
SAREX system, the Payload General Support Computer (PGSC) and the
Packet Module.  This interface means that SAREX operations data, such
as who contact is made with, the time of contact and other
information, will be recorded in the laptop computer.
  Halsell and Still also spent part of their morning setting up and
collecting data with the Wireless Data Acquisition System (WDAS).  The
WDAS is a risk mitigation experiment designed to gather orbiter cargo
bay temperatures and monitor if payload hardware is approaching
thermal limits.  It is believed that real-time monitoring of thermal
conditions for various exterior payloads on the future International
Space Station may be required and a system such as WDAS might provide
the support needed.
  Thomas and Linteris spent their morning in the Spacelab module
working on several experiments. Thomas' has been working with the
Large Isothermal Furnace (LIF), a vacuum-heating furnace designed to
heat large samples uniformly; the Middeck Glovebox (MGBX) unit; and
the Internal Flows in a Free Drop Experiment (IFFD).  The IFFD
experiment involves containerless processing of materials using
acoustic positioning techniques.  Linteris has worked with the
Combustion Module and an experiment called the Structure of Flame
Balls at Low Lewis-number (SOFBALL).  Data from the SOFBALL experiment
could lead to improvements in lean-burning internal combustion engines
that may increase their efficiency and reduce emissions.
  At 7:22 a.m. central today, Halsell and Still will take a few
minutes away from orbiter activities to conduct an interview with
WRDW-TV and WJBF-TV in Augusta, Georgia, the hometown of Still.
During the remainder of their day, both Halsell and Still will conduct
communication sessions with the SAREX. Thomas will continue his work
with the Glovebox unit while Linteris continues his work with the
Combustion Module.
  The Blue team of crew members, Payload Commander Janice Voss,
Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch,
will awaken at about 11 a.m. and relieve the Red team at 1
p.m. central.
 On Wednesday, July 9, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #13
reports:
  Aboard Spacelab last night, Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss
ignited the first flames of the flame ball experiment. The purpose of
the investigation is to determine if stationary spherical flame
structures can exist. "It was just fantastic," said Microgravity
Science Laboratory investigator Paul Ronney of the University of
Southern California in Los Angeles. "We had two very successful
burns. Everything worked great and we are just ecstatic."
  During both runs, mixtures of hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur
hexafluoride burned in the chamber for the full 500-second duration of
the test. This is significant because these mixtures will not burn on
Earth. "These are the weakest flames ever burned," said Ronney. "The
typical power of these flames is about one watt, less than a
flashlight."
  The experiment revealed new information about the role of buoyancy
on flames. "The effect of gravity is weaker than we expected," said
Ronney. And that information, along with other findings from the
study, may have important applications for improving fuel efficiency
on Earth. "If we could burn weaker mixtures in engines, we could get
higher efficiency with less pollutant emissions," said Ronney.
  This morning, after the crew shift change, Payload Specialist
Dr. Gregory Linteris continued the flame ball experiment, reporting
"phenomenally successful" runs.
  Two runs of the Internal Flows in a Free Drop experiment were
completed overnight in the Middeck Glovebox. Payload Specialist
Dr. Roger Crouch conducted the first run late last night, and Mission
Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas completed another run early this
morning. The experiment examines techniques for controlling the
position and motion of liquids in low-gravity. This study is allowing
researchers to assess a potential method of mixing which could lead to
improvements in chemical manufacturing, petroleum technology, and the
cosmetics and food industries.
  Late last night, Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt performed a shear
cell rotation of the sample processing in the Large Isothermal
Furnace. A second rotation was performed by Thomas early this
morning. This procedure is part of an experiment to study the
diffusion process of tracers, or impurities, in melted germanium, an
element widely used as a semiconductor and alloying agent. "It is a
fundamental scientific study.  We are trying to measure the
fundamental thermophysical properties of this semiconductor," said
lead scientist Dr. David Matthiesen of Case Western Reserve University
in Cleveland, Ohio.
  Such knowledge is fundamental and findings from this study may have
applications for improving the performance of electronic components
made from semiconductor materials, such transistors and integrated
circuits.
  "We're using samples of pure germanium and doped germanium, or one
with an additive," explained Matthiesen. "The first shear rotation
brings samples into contact with other. After processing for a certain
amount of time, the second rotates them back to break them into
segments." The segments are then cooled for post-flight analysis.
  One thermocouple -- an electronic temperature sensor -- in the
cartridges used for Matthiesen's samples is not working. Researchers
are working on a procedure to correct the connection between the
facility and the thermocouple.
  In the TEMPUS levitating facility, an investigation is underway to
study nucleation, or the point at which solidification from the melted
state begins, in undercooled liquid zirconium. Undercooling is when a
liquid remains fluid when cooled below its freezing point. Researchers
are interested in determining the temperatures at which nucleation, an
important in metals casting processes, occurs.
  According to researcher Dr. Robert Bayuzick of Vanderbilt University
in Nashville, Tenn., the team is extremely pleased with last night's
test results. "The effort could be considered a complete success,"
said Bayuzick. Collaborating on the study with Bayuzick are Dr. Merton
Flemings and Dr. Gerardo Trapaga of the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology in Cambridge, Mass. Results may help improve theoretical
modeling.
  Today, Thomas is slated to conduct a study in the Middeck Glovebox
to examines the manipulation of bubble shape and movement in water
under weightlessness conditions. He will also continue the diffusion
in semiconductors experiment under way in the Large Isothermal
Furnace. Linteris will continue the flame ball experiment in the
Combustion Module and begin another undercooling of metallic alloys
study in the TEMPUS facility.
 On Wednesday, July 9, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #17
reports:
  A brisk pace of scientific investigation is continuing on board
Columbia as the STS-94 mission enters the second half of its planned
16-day stay on orbit.
  The official halfway point of the Microgravity Science Laboratory
mission occurred just before 9:30 a.m. central time today, at 7 days,
20 hours and 26 minutes into the flight.  The seven-member crew
continues its around-the-clock science support studying how various
materials and liquids change and behave in the weightless environment
of space.
  Throughout the morning the Red team astronauts, Jim Halsell, Susan
Still, Don Thomas and Greg Linteris, supported investigations in the
Large Isothermal Furnace, Middeck Glovebox and other facilities in the
Spacelab module.
  This morning, Still talked with two television stations in her
hometown of Augusta, Georgia. In interviews with WRDW-TV and WJBF-TV,
she and Halsell discussed the progress of their mission to date and
the day-to-day housekeeping tasks performed on board.
  This afternoon at the request of the flight control team, Halsell
toggled a power supply switch for one of Columbia's aerosurface
servo-actuators (ASA's) that control various aerodynamic surfaces,
including the rudder and elevons.  There are four ASA's on board, each
with redundant power supplies.  The flight control team noticed that
ASA 4 had lost redundancy in one of its two power sources and
requested Halsell to perform the power cycle which restored full
redundancy and cleared the problem.  The loss of one of the two power
supplies to ASA 4 would not have had any impact on the mission.
  The Red team began an eight-hour sleep period shortly after 3
p.m. central time.
  The Blue team of crew members, Payload Commander Janice Voss,
Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch,
assumed responsibility for orbiter and science operations shortly
after 1 p.m.  central time.  Voss and Crouch will continue work with
investigations in the Large Isothermal Furnace and Combustion Module.
Crouch is scheduled for about an hour and one-half of off-duty time
early in his day.
 On Wednesday, July 9, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #14
reports:
  "Great Balls of Fire" are just what Columbia's science crew saw
today in an experiment to study the simplest form of combustion.  But
it wasn't their strength or size that made these flame balls great.
Today, astronauts were continuing an experiment that is resulting in
the weakest flames ever produced.
  Most of the fuel mixtures that are being used for this experiment
are so weak -- resulting in flames that are about one hundred times
weaker than a common match flame -- that they will not burn on Earth.
  Knowledge gained from this experiment will be used to build better
computer models of weak combustion that can be applied to the design
of more fuel efficient and cleaner engines.  Researchers will also be
able to apply experiment results to spacecraft safety.
  "We're learning that there are certain types of fuel mixtures that
will burn in a space environment that couldn't burn on Earth. We can
use this knowledge to make the next generation of spacecraft even
safer," said Dr.  Paul Ronney of the University of California in Los
Angeles, lead scientist for the Structure of Flame Balls at Low
Lewis-number experiment.
  Both Payload Specialist Dr. Greg Linteris and Payload Commander
Dr. Janice Voss performed runs of the flame ball experiment today.
This morning, Linteris performed a run of the experiment using a fuel
mixture of 4.6 percent hydrogen in carbon dioxide, the most diluted
hydrogen/carbon dioxide mixture to be used.  After the third sparking
attempt, what resulted were two balls of flame that burned for the 500
second duration of the experiment.  Upon a reburn attempt the
remaining fuel mixture produced a single flame ball.
  "We're almost getting more data than we know what to do with, and
we're going to be spending a lot of time trying to analyze all of
this," said Ronney.
  Today, Mission Specialist Dr. Don Thomas and Payload Specialist
Dr. Roger Crouch conducted an experiment that could improve
manufacturing processes on Earth.  Bubbles that form during the
processing of materials can cause many complications in a variety of
industrial applications, including the solidification of certain
alloys which involve systems where large number bubble and drop
dispersions are used.
  The Bubble and Drop Nonlinear Dynamics experiment, lead by
Dr. L.G. Leal of the University of California at Santa Barbara, will
help scientist better understand how bubbles respond to ultrasonic
radiation pressure -- possibly leading to a technique that could
eliminate or counteract the complications that bubbles cause during
materials processing.
  During the experiment, bubbles are deployed into a water-filled
chamber within the Glovebox.  Scientists are assessing their ability
to control bubble location, manipulate double bubbles and maximize
bubble shape.  Shape deformation is being studied as a function of
size and ultrasonic pressure.  The effect of ultrasonic radiation
pressure on bubbles will also be assessed by bringing two single
bubbles together to form one.
  This afternoon, Linteris initiated an experiment in TEMPUS to
investigate the maximum amount that a sample of aluminum-copper-iron
and aluminum-copper-cobalt melts could be cooled below their freezing
point and remain liquid.  The investigation, led by Dr. D.M. Herlach
of the German Aerospace Research Establishment in Cologne, Germany,
could shed light on nucleation, an important chemical and industrial
process.
  The gum ball-size sample is covered with a thin layer of gold.  "The
gold is protecting the sample from oxidation," explained Herlach.  "If
the sample -- containing aluminum -- were to oxidize, it could not be
undercooled."  As the gold-plated sample is processing, researchers
are measuring the specific heat of the melt, an important parameter
for modeling nucleation and growth processes, which could improve the
analysis of undercooling experiments performed in space as well as on
Earth.
  Crew members from both shifts performed shear cell rotations of the
germanium sample processing in the Large Isothermal Furnace -- with
Thomas completing one shortly before noon and Voss performing one
rotation around 1:30 p.m.  This procedure is part of an experiment to
study the diffusion process of tracers, or impurities, in melted
germanium, an element widely used as a semiconductor and alloying
agent.
  During the shear cell rotation, samples of pure germanium and
germanium with an impurity are rotated into contact with each
other. After an opportunity to mingle together, or diffuse, the
resulting single sample is sheared into segments and cooled for
post-flight analysis.
  "This is the first time diffusion in semiconductors has been studied
in space. Diffusion of liquid metals has been studied before, but not
semiconductors. The difference is metals expand when melted and
semiconductors expand, like water, upon freezing. That subtle
difference made the development of technology to conduct this
experiment very difficult," said the study's principle investigator
Dr. David N. Matthiesen of Case Western Reserve University in
Cleveland, Ohio.
  At the beginning of his shift, Crouch successfully performed an
inflight maintenance procedure for the Large Isothermal Furnace.  One
thermocouple -- an electronic temperature sensor -- in the cartridges
used for Matthiesen's samples was not working.  After the procedure,
the ground crew began to receive data from the thermocouple again.
  This evening, Crouch will continue the bubble experiment and Voss
will perform another run of the flame ball experiment using the
richest fuel mixture yet to be burned.
  STS-94 Flight Day 10 Highlights:
 On Thursday, July 10, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #18
reports:
  More than one week into the STS-94 mission, the seven crewmembers
aboard Columbia are continuing their around-the-clock science
investigations in the Spacelab module, focusing on how various
materials and liquids change and behave in a microgravity environment.
  After a brief handover with their blue team counterparts just after
midnight, the red team members -- Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan
Still, Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg
Linteris -- took over responsibility for the management of science
operations aboard the Shuttle.
  About the same time as the red team began their Flight Day 10
activities, NASA astronaut Michael Foale, aboard the Russian Mir space
station, received a phone call from NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin.
During their conversation, Foale talked about the activities he and
his two cosmonaut crewmates have been engaged in since a Progress
vehicle collided with the Spektr science module last month.  Foale
showed some of the hardware that will be used later this month, during
an intervehicular spacewalk, to restore power connections to the 3
undamaged Spektr solar arrays.
  Aboard Columbia, Halsell continued with his status checks and video
documentation on some of the Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL)
experiments while Still monitored various orbiter systems.  The two
science members of the red team, Thomas and Linteris, continued their
efforts with the 30-plus different experiments being carried in the
Spacelab module.  Thomas' efforts this morning were with the Glovebox
unit and the Bubble Drop & Nonlinear Dynamics experiment while
Linteris worked with the Droplet Combustion Experiment.
  Thomas and Linteris are both scheduled for a half day of off-duty
time this afternoon.  Half day rest periods are built into the crew
schedule during long duration spaceflights like STS-94 so that the
astronauts can remain well rested and operate at peak efficiency.
  While he is relaxing this afternoon, Thomas will take a few minutes
to talk with high school students from the greater Cleveland area who
will be gathered at the Great Lakes Science Center.  The conversation
between Thomas and the students is scheduled for 11:22 a.m. CDT.
  The STS-94 Blue team, Payload Commander Janice Voss, Mission
Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch, will be
awakened just after 11 a.m. today, to start their next day of orbiter
and science operations.  The blue team will take over responsibility
for science and orbiter operations shortly after 1 p.m.
 On Thursday, July 10, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #15
reports:
  The crew of the Microgravity Science Laboratory mission and science
teams on the ground worked steadily through the night, continuing to
conduct fundamental scientific research in the areas of combustion
science, fluid physics, materials science and biotechnology.
  Payload Commander Janice Voss worked in the Combustion Module last
night to conduct an experiment to study the burning processes of very
weak mixtures of fuel and air in low-gravity. During the experiment, a
mixture of hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur hexafluoride -- a combination
that does not readily ignite -- was used in the facility. "We were
able to get it to burn. The burn and reburn were both extremely
successful," said investigator Paul Ronney of the University of
Southern California in Los Angeles. This is significant because these
are the weakest flames ever burned. They are will not burn on Earth.
  Findings from this study may be used to build better models of weak
combustion processes which may be applied to the design of cleaner,
more efficient-burning fuel engines. "We know that if we can burn
weaker mixtures in our engines, we could indeed get higher fuel
efficiencies, with lower pollutant formation," said Ronney.
  Overnight, Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch and Mission
Specialist Dr.  Donald Thomas conducted two tests of the Bubble and
Drop Nonlinear Dynamics experiment in the Middeck Glovebox. During the
experiment, acoustic pressure, or sound, is used to position the
bubble in the center of a water-filled container and then flatten
it. Researchers are measuring the bubble's movement as the shape of
the bubble changes. "This reveals the mechanical properties of the
bubble under large forces, or distortions," said investigator
Dr. Anthony Hmelo of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. "These
properties are very difficult to model, so we are conducting this
study to better understand fluid physics in general and improve
theoretical models."
  Findings from this investigation may also have applications for
improving industrial processes. "There are a range of industrial
processes that depend on drops for operation," said Hmelo. "For
instance, the combustion of fuels, the same processes being studied in
other experiments aboard Spacelab, depends on the kinds of fluid
physics we are investigating in the Middeck Glovebox."
  Crouch performed a scheduled disk change-out in the Quasi-Steady and
Space Acceleration Measurement system. The system is one of four on
board the Shuttle which detects and records the small, unavoidable
disturbances in the near-zero gravity of the environment of the
Spacelab. Science teams rely on the information, downlinked in
near-real-time, to determine the effect of the disturbances on
experiments.
  In the Large Isothermal Furnace last night, Crouch began the fourth
of six planned runs of an experiment to study the diffusion process of
tracers, or impurities, in molten semiconductors. Diffusion is the
process by which liquid metals mix without stirring. The experiment is
a fundamental scientific study to measure the thermophysical
properties of germanium, an element widely used as a
semiconductor. Findings from the study may have applications for
improving the performance of electronic components made from
semiconductor materials, such as transistors and integrated circuits.
  Early this morning, Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris reported
"fantastic" burns in the Droplet Combustion Experiment. During the
experiment, heptane fuel droplets are burned at different pressures
and oxygen concentrations. Runs conducted this morning were at
one-half atmospheric pressure, half of what it is one Earth, in oxygen
concentrations varying from 25 to 40 percent.
  Results of each test may be different depending on the pressure,
oxygen and size of the droplet. "Three things can happen," said
project scientist Dr.  Vedha Nayagam of NASA's Lewis Research Center
in Cleveland, Ohio. "The droplet can not ignite; it can ignite and
burn out partially, leaving a droplet of fuel; or it can ignite and
consume the droplet, burning out completely." The Droplet Combustion
Experiment is studying these scenarios.
  The experiment is also interested in determining the complex
chemical processes which occur when the flames are extinguished. "By
understanding the chemistry which occurs, we can burn them more
cleanly, more efficiently, because we know how they work," said
Nayagam.
  Later, Linteris began an experiment in the TEMPUS levitating furnace
facility to collect fundamental measurements of an undercooled sample
of palladium-silicon. Undercooling is when a liquid remains fluid when
cooled below its freezing point. During the experiment an
electromagnetic pulse is used to squeeze, then release the sample
being levitated in the facility.  Researchers then gather data on the
oscillations, or changes in the sample's shape. "By measuring the
oscillations, we can determine the surface tension and viscosity, or
resistance to flow," said researcher Bob Hyers of the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass.
  "We are using a new technique which is allowing us to measure the
viscosity of these samples for the first time, measurements which
can't be obtained on Earth. And even some of the surface tension
measurements are a first," said Hyers. This information may be used to
improve materials processing techniques on Earth and in turn products
manufactured from these processes.  "The study is providing us with
fundamental measurements for modeling industrial materials
systems. Without the right parameters, you can't model systems," said
Hyers.
  Ahead, Linteris will continue to conduct the Droplet Combustion
Experiment and the fifth run of the diffusion of molten semiconductors
experiment will be initiated in the Large Isothermal Furnace.
 On Thursday, July 10, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #19
reports:
  Science activities are continuing on board Columbia as the
seven-member crew supports a steady pace of investigations focusing on
flames, combustion, and plant growth on orbit.
  After a brief handover with their red team counterparts about 1 p.m.
central time today, the blue team astronauts - Payload Commander
Janice Voss, Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist
Roger Crouch - assumed responsibility for the management of science
and orbiter operations.
  Throughout the afternoon and evening hours, Voss and Crouch will
support investigations in the Combustion Module and Glovebox
facilities, while Gernhardt monitors orbiter systems and conducts
video documentation of Spacelab operations.  Late in the red team's
day, Gernhardt and Crouch will take time out from their investigations
for an interview with the CBS program "Up to the Minute."  That
interview is expected to occur about 12:15 a.m. central time Friday.
  Before relinquishing responsibility to the blue team, the
four-member red team of astronauts completed another day of scientific
investigation.  Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist
Greg Linteris both enjoyed some scheduled off-duty hours this morning,
to ensure they remain well rested during this planned 16-day mission.
Thomas took a few minutes this afternoon to talk with students who
gathered at the Great Lakes Science Center in Thomas' hometown of
Cleveland.  Thomas answered questions about his preparations for the
STS-94 mission, the science he is conducting on board, and his Ohio
roots.
  The red team astronauts -- Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan Still,
Thomas and Linteris -- will be awakened just after 11 p.m. today to
start their next day of orbiter and science operations.
  Columbia is continuing to fly virtually trouble-free, providing a
stable platform for science operations.
 On Thursday, July 10, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #16
reports:
  The study of fire dominated the Microgravity Science Laboratory-1
investigations in Columbia's Spacelab, today.
  This morning Payload Specialist Dr. Greg Linteris completed a run in
the second phase of the Droplet Combustion Experiment.  The run is
part of a three phase study to map the burning characteristics of
heptane fuel droplets over a range of atmospheric pressures.  The
first phase --conducted earlier in the mission -- burned fuel droplets
at one atmospheric pressure, the same as on Earth.  The second phase
burned the droplets at one-half atmospheric, while the third will burn
droplets at one-quarter atmospheric pressure.
  "In each phase, we are keeping the pressure the same and slowly
reducing the oxygen to see if the fuels can still burn and if so, how
they burn," said project scientist Dr. Vedha Nayagam of NASA's Lewis
Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.  "On Earth, we encounter low
combustion scenarios -- for instance, in gas turbines -- so it's
important to know what happens when pressure is reduced."
  "We wanted to expand our data base at one-half atmospheric
pressure," said co-investigator Dr. Fred Dryer of Princeton University
in Princeton, New Jersey, "so we combined two of our gas bottles that
had been slated for one-quarter atmospheric pressure studies to yield
a one-half atmospheric condition in the test chamber."  The
one-quarter atmospheric runs are scheduled for later in the mission.
  Linteris burned three sizes of heptane droplets -- 4 mm, 3 mm and 2
mm.  The 4 mm droplet extinguished after burning 5.9 seconds--leaving
behind a relatively large droplet.  The smallest droplet burned about
nine seconds -- using almost all of the fuel.
  "The large droplet extinguished early in its burn time due to loss
of significant combustion energy by radiation," said Dryer.  "The
small droplet burned to near completion because less energy is lost by
radiation as the droplet's initial diameter is decreased.  We would
have received opposite results if we'd conducted this same experiment
on Earth."
  Basic knowledge gained by the mapping of these various burning
regimes will be used by scientists to design better combustion
systems, such as combustors and propulsion systems, to extract maximum
efficiency while minimizing unwanted pollutants.
  After Linteris completed the series of runs to study burning fuel
drops, both he and Mission Specialist Dr. Don Thomas took a planned
half-day break.
  Late this morning, a palladium-silicon sample completed an 11-hour
processing period in the TEMPUS levitating furnace facility.  The
sample went from a solid state to a molten state and then was
undercooled 16 times.  The co-investigator, Bob Hyers of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
said this particular sample was chosen because it is a glass forming
metal with many industrial applications.
  "Preliminary results look very promising," said Hyers.  "We got a
wide range of temperatures and achieved a reasonable amount of
undercooling."
  A sample of palladium copper and silicon is now processing in the
levitation furnace.  Knowledge gained from this study, led by Dr. Ivan
Egry of the German Aerospace Research Establishment in Cologne, may be
used to improve materials processing techniques on Earth, and in turn,
products manufactured from these processes.
  Early this evening Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss performed a run
of the flame ball experiment using a 4 percent hydrogen in air fuel
mixture.  "The rich fuel mixture matches the lean flammability limit
of combustion on Earth," said project scientist Dr. Karen Weiland of
NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
  Voss' sparking attempt resulted in eight flame balls.  By studying
flame balls, scientists hope to understand the physics of near-limit
combustion, thereby leading to the design of leaner-burning fuels and
improvements in engine efficiency - along with reduced emissions.  The
Structure of Flame Balls at Low Lewis-number experiment is led by
Dr. Paul Ronney of the University of Southern California in Los
Angeles.
  This afternoon, Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch performed the
Bubble Drop and Non-linear Dynamics Experiment led by Dr. L.G. Leal of
the University of California at Santa Barbara.  During the experiment,
Crouch deployed a bubble into the center of a water-filled container
and then flattened it.  On the ground the science team measured the
bubble's movement as the shape of the bubble changed--revealing
mechanical properties of the bubble under large forces or distortions.
Later, Crouch will deploy two bubbles and try to create one bubble
from the two--shedding light on bubble control and
manipulation. Results of the bubble experiment could lead to
techniques that eliminate or counteract the complications that bubbles
cause during materials processing.
  Processing of a germanium sample to study diffusion processes in
molten semiconductors ended this morning when the control
thermocouple, or temperature sensor on the sample, malfunctioned.  The
sensor inadvertently told the furnace to heat the sample beyond the
high temperature limit which caused the Large Isothermal Furnace to
shut itself off.  The furnace is designed to monitor temperature and
will shut off automatically if a sample reaches a certain temperature.
The science team on the ground says the Large Isothermal Furnace is
operating normally, and are assessing the control thermocouple which
is part of this particular sample run.  The orbiter crew initiated
another scheduled sample run of the experiment at 5:15 p.m. -- after
the furnace had cooled down.  This run is proceeding normally.
  Ahead, Voss will conduct another run of the flame ball experiment
and Crouch will continue the bubble experiment.
  STS-94 Flight Day 11 Highlights:
 On Friday, July 11, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #20
reports:
  Ten days since being launched from the Kennedy Space Center,
Columbia continues to orbit the Earth in excellent condition,
providing a platform for more than 30 separate scientific
investigations.  Onboard the Shuttle, the STS-94 crew, split into two
teams, continues around-the-clock work in support of the Microgravity
Science Laboratory.
  Before finishing up their Flight Day 10 activities and going to bed
early this morning, blue team crewmembers Mike Gernhardt and Roger
Crouch conducted an interview with CBS' "Up to the Minute" program
during which they discussed the activities and progress that had been
made so far on the STS-94 flight.  Gernhardt, Crouch and with Payload
Commander Janice Voss began an eight-hour sleep period just after 3
a.m.
  Also near the end of the blue team's day, Voss and Gernhardt began
an in-flight maintenance activity to troubleshoot a problem with a
television camera on the TEMPUS experiment.  Shortly after they began
to remove the two dozen plus screws on a TEMPUS panel, the crew found
that several of the screws would not rotate.  Flight controllers told
the crew to suspend the activity until officials at the Payload
Operations Control Center (POCC) at the Marshall Space Flight Center
had an opportunity to study the problem further.
  After awakening just before midnight, the red team took
responsibility for the management of science operations aboard the
Shuttle around 1 a.m.
  For the red team, Don Thomas worked with the Middeck Glovebox unit
and the Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion (FSDC) experiment while
Greg Linteris spent time with the Droplet Combustion Experiment (DCE).
Both FSDC and DCE are gathering combustion data not possible on Earth
because of gravity-induced buoyancy flows.  Information learned from
these experiments may contribute to cleaner and safer use of fossil
fuels and reduced air pollutants.
  In the afternoon, Thomas will continue his work with FSDC while
Linteris will shift his attention to the Combustion Module and the
Structure of Flame Balls at Low Lewis-number (SOFBALL).  SOFBALL
studies stationary spherical flames and the major elements of the
combustion process.  Data from SOFBALL may aid in development of
improvements in lean-burning internal combustion engines, an
advancement that holds the promise of providing increased efficiency
and reduced emissions. The research also could lead to improvements in
fire safety for mine shafts, chemical plants, and spacecraft.
  Following the next handover with their blue team counterparts just
after 12 noon, the blue team will once again assume responsibility for
the management of science operations aboard the Shuttle around 1:00
p.m. this afternoon.
  This evening, as the blue team winds up their efforts, Gernhardt and
Crouch will conduct an interview with CONUS Communications.  The
interview will take place at 7:32 p.m. CDT and will have participation
from television stations in Cleveland, Roanoke and Atlanta.
 On Friday, July 11, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CST, STS-94 Payload Status Report #17
reports:
  Now entering day 11 of the Microgravity Science Laboratory mission,
crew members and science teams are reporting steady growth of good
returns with their investigations. "Science teams are getting
everything they hoped for, and in some cases, more than they hoped,"
said Mission Manager Teresa Vanhooser of NASA's Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala. " We're seeing a lot of smiling faces in
the science operations areas."
  The flame ball experiment is one that is yielding good results. The
experiment, being conducted in the Combustion Module experiment
facility aboard Spacelab, studies the burning processes of very weak
mixtures of fuel and air in weightlessness. The diluted mixtures are
so weak they will not burn under the influence of Earth's gravity.
  Last night, Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss completed one burn and
attempted another. The first run resulted in two flame balls that
burned for almost the entire 500-second duration of the test. The
mixture didn't ignite on the reburn. "This is not surprising," said
lead scientist Dr.  Paul Ronney of the University of Southern
California in Los Angles, "since the flame balls in the first run
burned out before the duration, which means they consumed most of the
fuel available to them."
  The investigation is providing researchers with a better
understanding of the combustion process and may be used to improve
theoretical models. "Not much is known about the burning processes of
these mixtures," said Ronney.  "So we are trying to see which, if any,
theoretical models should be used."  Results from the experiment may
also lead to increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions in
combustion engines, and improvements in fire safety which would
benefit the mining, chemical manufacturing and aerospace industries.
  Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch performed an experiment in the
Middeck Glovebox last night to study the manipulation of bubble
movement and shape in water. During the experiment, an air bubble is
deployed into a water-filled chamber. Sound waves are used to distort
the shape of the bubble, and instruments record the bubble's movement
as the shape of the bubble changes. Researchers will use this
information to gain a better understanding of fluid physics and
improve theoretical models which describe these fundamental processes.
  Late last night, crew members began a procedure to fix the top-view
camera in the TEMPUS levitating facility. The camera stopped working
earlier in the mission. Crew members were unable to complete the
procedure because they could not remove all the screws from the panel
covering the camera.  The crew and science team are continuing to
troubleshoot the problem.
  Pilot Susan Still performed a shear cell rotation of a sample
processing in the Large Isothermal Furnace. This procedure is part of
a study examining the diffusion process of tracers, or impurities, in
melted germanium, an element widely used as a semiconductor and
alloying agent.
  During the shear cell rotation, samples of pure germanium and doped
germanium, or one with an additive, are rotated into contact with each
other. After an opportunity to mingle together, or diffuse, the
resulting single sample is sheared into segments and
cooled. Fundamental measurements taken from the segments may have
applications for improving semiconductors used in electronic
components.
  Linteris began his shift early this morning working in the Droplet
Combustion Apparatus, a facility designed to accommodate a study of
burning fuel droplets. "We are burning heptane fuel droplets at
different pressures over a range of atmospheric concentrations to map
the burning characteristics of the droplets, to learn what is
happening," explained Dr.  Vedha Nayagam of NASA's Lewis Research
Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The run conducted this morning was at
one-half atmospheric pressure, half of that on Earth, in a 30-percent
concentration of oxygen. "Everything went great," said Nayagam. "We
got some really fantastic runs."
  The study is providing researchers with fundamental knowledge of the
burning process and may provide a method for verifying which complex,
chemical model accurately describes the process. It may also lead to
cleaner and safer ways to burn fuels.
  Thomas spent the morning preparing to conduct an experiment in the
Middeck Glovebox. The experiment studies the burning process of
single, large fuel droplets. A thin fiber is used to position the
large fuel droplets in the viewing area. The droplets are ignited and
the burning characteristics, such as burn rates, flame positions and
the diameters of the droplets at the time the flames are extinguished,
are measured. The study also investigates how the burning process is
influenced by convection, or the transfer of heat caused by motion in
the air. Results from this study may lead to a better understanding of
the combustion process and its by-products, such as soot, a harmful
pollutant.
  Coming up, Linteris will complete the series of runs under way in
the Droplet Combustion Apparatus before beginning another test of the
flame ball experiment. Thomas will begin the Fiber Supported Droplet
Combustion experiment in the Middeck Glovebox. Later, he will initiate
another study of undercooled metallic alloys in the TEMPUS levitating
facility.  Undercooling is when a liquid is cooled below its normal
freezing point and still remains a liquid. This TEMPUS investigation
will study nucleation, or the point at which solidification from the
melted state begins.
 On Friday, July 11, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #21
reports:
 Columbia's astronauts continued their steady pace of scientific
investigation today, with mission commander Jim Halsell expressing his
satisfaction with their efforts at the end of red team's day, telling
flight controllers to "chalk up another one for STS-94".
  The red team, Halsell, Susan Still, Don Thomas and Greg Linteris,
successfully completed an in-flight maintenance activity begun
overnight by the blue team, to troubleshoot a problem with a
television camera on the TEMPUS electromagnetic levitation experiment.
Still used a screwdriver and hammer to loosen three bolts that would
not rotate during the initial effort.  With that complete, the
astronauts removed a panel to gain access to wiring to recover the use
of the overhead camera.
  The red team's work today focused on droplet combustion experiments
housed in the Middeck Glovebox and Droplet Combustion facilities.
  Following a handover between teams at about 1:30 p.m. central time
today, the blue team of Janice Voss, Mike Gernhardt and Roger Crouch
once again assumed responsibility for the Microgravity Science
Laboratory investigations.  Crouch will continue work with experiments
in the Middeck Glovebox, while Gernhardt conducts experiment and
facilities status checks.  Voss, who was scheduled to support Droplet
Combustion Experiments (DCE) during the first portion of her day, will
have some time off.  The DCE investigation has been using fuel at a
slightly higher rate than expected and investigators are currently
determining priorities for the investigation for the remainder of the
flight.  Voss may receive additional science duties during that free
time as requirements dictate.
  In addition to their science duties today, Gernhardt and Crouch will
take time this evening to talk with affiliates of CONUS Communications
located in Cleveland, Ohio; Roanoke, Virginia; and Atlanta, Georgia.
That interview will take place shortly after 7:30 p.m. central time.
 On Friday, July 11, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 Payload Status Report #18
reports: (MET 10/4:58)
  The crew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia has had another busy day
conducting materials and combustion experiments in the Spacelab.
  Today, crew members worked in the Glovebox to conduct additional
Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion experiment.  Mission Specialist
Dr. Don Thomas spent most of the morning, and Payload Specialist
Dr. Roger Crouch spent the afternoon, conducting the experiment to
study the combustion process of large droplets of fuel.
  "In this experiment we're burning heptane and hexadecane --
hydrocarbon fuels which are similar to gasoline," said co-investigator
Dr. Benjamin Shaw of the University of California in Davis, Calif.
"Hexadecane has a much higher boiling point than heptane and when you
mix these two together some peculiar things happen."
  "Specifically we're looking to see whether the fuel drop will have a
bubble that will grow inside and then shatter the drop.  Sometimes
these flames will pulsate and we want to know when that pulsation
occurs because that tells us what is going on within the droplet
itself," said Shaw.
  The Fiber Supported Droplet Combustion experiment allows scientists
to study the burning of fuel droplets nearly one-quarter inch in
diameter.  The experiment will shed light on the role that convection
plays in burning by introducing a controlled air-flow into the flame
environment during the experiment.
  Results of this experiment, led by Dr. Forman Williams of the
University of California in San Diego, could lead to the efficient
utilization of fossil fuels and reduction of air pollution.
  This morning Linteris set up the Combustion Module -1 and conducted
another run of the flame ball or Structure at Low Lewis-number
experiment.  This run of the experiment used a fuel mixture of
hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur hexafluoride at one atmospheric pressure
-- the same as on Earth.  Linteris sparked the fuel mixture in the
test chamber, producing one burning ball of flame.  Upon a reburn
attempt, another flame ball was ignited.
  "We had a very successful burn and reburn this morning," said
project scientist Dr. Karen Weiland.  The initial flame ball burned
steadily for the duration of the experiment -- 500 seconds.
  The flame ball experiment is designed to determine under what
conditions a stable flame ball can exist and if heat loss is
responsible for the stabilization of the flame ball during burning.
The experiment also examines how various mixture properties, such as
fuel/oxidizer concentrations and temperature, affect the flame-ball's
stability and existence.
  Around noon, Thomas initiated a nickel sample from an experiment led
by Dr. D.M. Herlach of the German Aerospace Research Establishment in
Cologne in the TEMPUS levitation facility.  This experiment studies
the solidification velocity of dendrites -- tiny branching structures
-- that form as metals solidify.  The size, shape and structure of the
dendrites have a major effect on the strength and usefulness of an
alloy.
  Measurements of the speed of dendritic solidification can be used to
test and refine modeling of dendritic growth behavior.  This type of
experiment must be performed in microgravity because crystal growth
can be greatly affected by connective fluid flow or buoyancy-driven
motion, in molten metal.  The low-acceleration environment in space
effectively eliminates convection.  Comparing space experiment data to
those obtained on Earth will allow researchers to learn more about the
effect convection has on dendrite growth.  Information gained from
this experiment could have applications in welding and casting.
  Before taking a scheduled half-day break, Payload Commander
Dr. Janice Voss performed a procedure to fix the top-view camera in
the TEMPUS facility. The camera had stopped working earlier in the
mission.  The proceedure was a success, and the camera is operational.
The side-view camera has remained operational throughout the mission
and investigators have been able to receive data despite the
malfunction of the top-view camera.
  This afternoon, Crouch initiated the sixth and last sample run of
the diffusion in molten semiconductors experiment in the Large
Isothermal Furnace.  This is the first time diffusion in
semiconductors has been studied in space.  Results of the experiment
could improve semiconductors used in electronic components.
  Ahead Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss will perform a run of the
flame ball experiment and Crouch will continue to perform the Fiber
Supported Droplet Combustion experiment.
  STS-94 Flight Day 12 Highlights:
 On Saturday, July 12, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #22
reports:
  Around-the-clock science investigations continue aboard Columbia
with the focus this morning on developing better methods for the
efficient use of fossil fuels while reducing emissions and air
pollutants.
  The seven-astronaut crew of STS-94 - divided into two teams -
provides on-orbit assistance to ground controllers throughout the
mission conducting these, and as many as 30 other, experiments in the
Spacelab pressurized module which is emulating what laboratory work
will be like on the future International Space Station.
  The Red team of astronauts began its twelfth flight day in space at
about midnight with mission Commander Jim Halsell and Pilot Susan
Still watching over orbiter systems while Mission Specialist Don
Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg Linteris oversee science
operations.
  Much of Thomas' day is focused on the Fiber Supported Droplet
Combustion experiment in the Spacelab glovebox to assist investigators
in what could eventually lead to more efficient utilization of fossil
fuels and reduction of air pollutants.  Halsell and Still supported
the experiment work by periodically turning off the shuttle's thruster
jets to provide a 'quiet' environment for Thomas' work.
  Linteris worked on another experiment through the first half of his
workday called the Structure of Flame Balls at Low Lewis-number that
in the future may lead to the development of improvements in lean
burning internal combustion engines - an advancement that holds
promise in providing increased efficiency and reduced emissions.
  Earlier this morning, Halsell and Still entertained questions from a
television station in his home state of Louisiana, with the focus on
Halsell's background and the mission's objectives.
  The Blue team of Janice Voss, Mike Gernhardt and Roger Crouch turned
the reins over to the Red team about 1 a.m. today and is scheduled to
wake up about noon.
 On Saturday, July 12, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 Payload Status Report #19
reports: (MET 10/17:58)
  The Shuttle Columbia crew and the Microgravity Science Laboratory
are rounding the final turn and heading into the home stretch of their
16-day run of conducting science in space. According to Mission
Scientist Dr. Mike Robinson, things continue to go well. "The science
teams have been working very hard, and they're happy with what they've
seen so far," said Robinson.
  The science team for the flame ball experiment was happy with what
it saw last night, reporting two more series of successful runs. The
investigation, being conducted in the Middeck Glovebox, examines the
combustion properties of very weak fuel mixtures in near-zero gravity.
Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss completed one set of runs last night
and Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris completed another early
this morning. "The experiment is going extremely well and the science
team is getting fantastic data," said lead investigator Dr. Paul
Ronney of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
  During the experiment, the chamber is filled with very weak
combustible gases, the mixture is ignited with a spark, and
information is gathered on the resulting flame balls. "We're
interested in learning which mixtures will burn and which ones won't,"
said Ronney, "and the limits of combustion -- where the weakest
possible flames can exist."
  Also, Ronney reported that during last night's burns, instruments
measured very little disturbance in the microgravity environment of
the test facility. "The flame is being driven by hot gases surrounding
the flame and these gases are extremely sensitive," said Ronney, "so
it's important to minimize disturbances in the environment."
  Since little is known about the burning processes of these flames,
findings will be used to verify which, if any, existing theoretical
models are accurate. "We want a steady flame so we can easily compare
it to computer models on the ground," said Ronney. "Any disturbances
make that comparison more difficult."
  Another combustion science experiment, which studies the burning
process of large fuel droplets, was conducted in the Middeck
Glovebox. Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch completed a series of
tests last night and another series was completed this morning by
Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas. "We are ahead of schedule," said
investigator Dr. Ron Colantonio of NASA's Lewis Research Center in
Cleveland, Ohio. "We've been able to complete a few extra runs and
we're getting good science."
  During the experiment, a thin fiber is used to position a large
droplet of fuel in the viewing area of the chamber. The droplet is
then ignited and information is gathered on the burn rates, flame
shape and radiation emitted. "The amount of energy lost through
radiation has never been measured before," said Colantonio. "People
have guessed what that is. We're actually going to measure it."
  Information from this study can also help improve theoretical models
of combustion. It will also complement what is being learned from the
Droplet Combustion Experiment, also being conducted aboard
Spacelab. That experiment is studying the burning processes of heptane
fuel droplets. Like the Droplet Combustion Experiment, the Fiber
Supported Droplet experiment also burns heptane fuel droplets, but in
an environment of oxygen and hydrogen, rather than oxygen and
helium. "By changing one parameter, we will be able to measure the
effect of the different combinations of elements in the environment,"
said Colantonio. "This will be very beneficial to the Droplet
Combustion science team."
  Overnight, two shear cell rotations of the sixth and final run of an
investigation to study the diffusion process of tracers, or
impurities, in melted germanium were conducted. Crouch performed the
first rotation last night and a second rotation was performed by Pilot
Susan Still early this morning. "It looks like we saved the best for
last," said lead scientist Dr. David Matthiesen of Case Western
Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  "We're optimistic the results
of this test will be good."
  The experiment involves two samples, one of pure germanium and one
of germanium with an additive. The first shear rotation brings samples
into contact with other. After diffusing, or mixing, for a certain
amount of time, the resulting single sample is sheared into segments
and cooled for post-flight analysis.
  Germanium is an element widely used as a semiconductor. Knowledge
gained from this study may be used to improve the performance of
electronic components made from semiconductor materials, such as
transistors and integrated circuits.
  Last night in the TEMPUS facility, Crouch initiated an experiment to
measure the surface tension and viscosity of undercooled liquid
metals.  During the experiment, an electromagnetic pulse is used to
squeeze, then release a sample -- in this case, liquefied gold --
being levitated in the facility. Researchers then gather information
on the oscillations, or changes in the sample's shape. From these
measurements researchers are able to determine the surface tension and
viscosity -- or resistance to flow -- of the sample. This is a new
technique which is allowing researchers to measure some of the
fundamental properties of liquid gold for the first time.
  One aim of the investigation is to achieve improvements in materials
processing techniques on Earth, in turn making possible better
products.
  Ahead, Thomas will continue to conduct the Fiber Supported Droplet
Combustion experiment in the Middeck Glovebox and Linteris will begin
the third phase of the Droplet Combustion Experiment. This phase of
the study is designed to map the burning characteristics of a heptane
fuel droplet at one-quarter atmospheric pressure, a fourth of the
atmospheric density on Earth, at varying oxygen concentrations.
 On Saturday, July 12, 1997, 5:30 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #23
reports:
  Space Shuttle Columbia continues to provide a solid platform for
microgravity science experiments being conducted in the Spacelab
module in the orbiter's cargo bay. The STS-94 mission Saturday passed
the two-thirds complete mark with another full day of experiments in
combustion and materials processing science. Science investigations by
the crew Saturday related primarily to the study of combustion
processes in space and experiments in the Electromagnetic
Containerless Processing Facility.  Taking a brief break from science
operations, Red Team members Jim Halsell, Susan Still, Don Thomas and
Greg Linteris sent downlink television of their choice to the ground,
answering Internet questions with a videotaped lesson in combustion
science. Thomas explained the goals of some of the experiments, how
droplets burn in the absence of gravity and the significance of the
work to life on Earth. Still took her blood pressure and pulse
on-orbit and compared them to pre-flight readings. Linteris
demonstrated how liquids behave in a low-gravity environment.
  The three also were interviewed by WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, La.  The
Red Team members took the opportunity to explain some of the
combustion science work under way and commented on the quick
turnaround between the shortened first flight of the MSL-1 payload in
April and the reflight.  STS-94 is the fastest reflight of a crew and
payload in shuttle history, making up for the first attempt which was
cut short by suspect performance in a fuel cell.
  The Blue Team of Janice Voss, Mike Gernhardt and Roger Crouch awoke
shortly before 1:30 p.m. CDT to begin its 12th flight day. The Red
Team will awaken again about 11 p.m. CDT and take the duty shift about
1 a.m.  The next status report will be issued about 6 a.m. CDT Sunday.
  STS-94 Flight Day 13 Highlights:
 On Sunday, July 13, 1997, 7:15 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #24
reports:
  Three fourths of the way through its 23rd voyage in space, Shuttle
Columbia continues to perform near flawlessly while payload
controllers collect volumes of data from experiments being conducted
by the seven astronauts on the Microgravity Science Laboratory
mission.
  Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan Still, Mission Specialist Don
Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg Linteris are on duty throughout the
morning and early afternoon overseeing orbiter systems and science
investigations while the remaining three crew members - Payload
Commander Janice Voss, Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload
Specialist Roger Crouch rest.
  The Combustion Module continues to be the focus of attention as the
astronauts and investigators research methods that could improve
fire-fighting techniques on Earth as well as improve the operation and
efficiency of combustion engines while reducing air pollution.
  Halsell, Still Thomas and Linteris were interviewed by the ABC Radio
Network just before 7 a.m. today discussing these and other mission
objectives.
  Voss, Gernhardt and Crouch have begun shifting their sleep schedules
slightly later each day to prepare for Thursday's planned landing back
at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  After handing control of the
flight over to Halsell and the Red team about 1:30 this morning, the
Blue team turned in for an eight hour sleep period set to end with
wakeup at about 12:30 this afternoon.
 On Sunday, July 13, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 Payload Status Report #20
reports: (MET 11/18:58)
  During the past 24 hours, researchers aboard Columbia have gained
yet a better understanding of what makes certain types of heat
transfer devices fail in space.  They also pushed the envelope of
knowledge of combustion by setting a fire at the lowest atmospheric
pressure yet this mission and "giving birth to twin droplets of flame
in an unplanned experiment.  Meanwhile, researchers in the Spacelab
Mission Operations Control set an all-time record for the number of
commands issued to experiments aboard a Spacelab mission.
  At 5:25 p.m. CDT Saturday night, the 25,838th science command was
sent to the shuttle breaking a 1994 record and demonstrating the high
pace of research activities aboard Columbia.
  Saturday morning, Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris resumed
work on the Droplet Combustion Experiment, burning a drop of heptane
fuel at one-quarter of the atmospheric pressure on Earth.  It left
scientists ecstatic.
  "It was a superior burn," said Dr. Fred Dryer of Princeton
University in Princeton, N.J.. "This is the first time we've been
successful with a quarter-atmosphere burn.  It is the most difficult
condition (to achieve a burn) -- the lowest pressure of this kind that
we've been trying to obtain science for.  It's always hard to do
science at extremities.  It was very gratifying."
  So successful was the experiment run that two additional tests were
dropped from the schedule.  "The one run defined all the science we
needed," said Dryer. "Additional experiments this morning just are not
necessary. We will conserve fuel for future runs."
  The Droplet Combustion Experiment is providing researchers with
fundamental knowledge of the burning process and may provide a method
for verifying which complex, chemical model accurately describes the
process.  It may also lead to cleaner and safer ways to burn fuels.
  Later Saturday, Mission Specialist Janice Voss again set up the
Droplet Combustion Experiment for three more runs.  Igniting a
3-millimeter fuel droplet in the chamber filled with normal air.
   "On the ground, there have been a lot of studies on heptane.  But
all have been less than 2 millimeters in diameter," said the study's
lead investigator, Dr. Forman Williams of the University of California
at San Diego.  "This is the first complete burn of a 3-millimeter
diameter heptane droplet."  Forman was also excited "because in the
atmosphere of normal air, we were able to observe a fuel droplet that
burns for a longer period of time."  Additionally, as a fuel droplet
burned in a spherical shape, the heat dissipated outward, and actually
extinguished the flame before all the fuel vapor was completely burned
away.  This gave researchers a very pure look at the combustion
process.
  Also Saturday, Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas began what would
be eight hours of highly successful combustion tests in the Middeck
Glovebox -- a facility that allows the crew to handle, transfer and
manipulate experiment hardware and materials not approved for use in
the open Spacelab.  The Spacelab crew has now performed more than 100
tests runs in the Glovebox -- twice as many as expected.
  In a novel twist to this experiment, scientists decided to run a
test using two droplets instead of one.  This provided a bonus to
researchers as they observed the interaction of the
droplets. Dr. Williams, the experiment's principal investigator,
called the view of the two droplets "the most beautiful set of twins
I've ever seen."  Information from the study is expected to help
improve theoretical models of combustion.
  Saturday evening and Sunday morning, Mission Specialist Voss set up
the flame ball -- or Structure of Flame Balls at Low Lewis-number --
experiment for another series of test in the Combustion Module.  She
used a fuel mixture of hydrogen, oxygen and sulfur hexafluoride at one
atmospheric pressure.  Voss sparked the fuel mixture in the test
chamber, producing a burning ball of flame.  Upon a reburn attempt,
another flame ball was ignited.
  The flame ball study, lead by Dr. Paul Ronney of the University of
Southern California in Los Angeles, is designed to show under what
conditions a stable flame ball can exist and if heat loss is
responsible for the stabilization of the flame ball during burning.
The experiment also examines how various mixture properties, such as
fuel/oxidizer concentrations and temperature, affect the flame-ball's
stability and existence.
  Ronney said that from this experiment, "we can learn the burning
limits of fuel mixtures.  It gives us an idea of just how lean a fuel
can be -- and still burn."  He said the results of this experiment may
lead to leaner-burning fuel on Earth.  "That would mean better gas
mileage and less auto emissions," said Ronney.  Other benefits include
improved fire safety for future spacecraft.
  Saturday afternoon, Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch set up the
Capillary-driven Heat Transfer Device in the Middeck Glovebox.  The
study examines the device's ability to transfer heat away from a
particular location.  In the future, these devices may be used to
transfer heat from electrical equipment to radiators on spacecraft.
The benefits of these systems are that they weigh less than
conventional units because they operate on evaporation and
condensation, and are more economical because they do not require
power.  This study has already provided insight into how these devices
work and is offering explanations as to why they occasionally fail in
spacecraft applications.
  The experiment's lead investigator, Dr. Kevin Hallinan of the
University of Dayton, Ohio, said, "As a result of today's tests, we've
been able to characterize boundaries of what we call unstable
operations which accelerates this transition to this failed -- or
disrupted state."
  "We've seen the same failure mechanism that we've also seen
previously.  But today we were able to characterize the conditions
that cause a violent instability in the evaporator portion of the
device.  This instability immediately causes the entire device to
fail.  So we now effectively understand another 'failure mechanism'
and are closer to our goal of understanding why the Capillary-driven
Heat Transfer devices have failed in space yet succeed in 1-G (on the
ground).  We are confident new designs can be rendered that will
work."
  Coming up later today, Payload Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris will
continue combustion test runs -- observing the structure of flame
balls -- as other members of Columbia's crew start the Coarsening in
Solid-Liquid Mixtures experiment.  The goal of this investigation is
to examine the solidification process for the development of stronger
alloys and new manufacturing processes.
  STS-94 Flight Day 14 Highlights:
 On Monday, July 14, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #26
reports:
  On-orbit science investigation continues to be the focus of
Columbia's Microgravity Science Laboratory mission as the seven
astronauts work around the clock on two shifts supporting the more
than 30 experiments in the Spacelab module.
  Janice Voss, Mike Gernhardt and Roger Crouch continue to adjust
their sleep schedules each day to prepare for the end of the mission
Thursday morning at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
  Jim Halsell, Susan Still, Don Thomas and Greg Linteris remain on the
same schedule throughout the flight, waking up at 11 p.m. each day.
  Work today in the laboratory includes plant experiment and protein
crystal growth status checks and work in the glovebox on the
Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures experiment.  During coarsening,
small particles shrink by losing atoms to larger particles, causing
the larger particles to grow.  In this experiment solid particles of
tin will grow, or coarsen, within a liquid lead-tin matrix.  By
conducting this experiment in space, a greater range of solid volume
fractions can be studied without the effects of convection present in
Earth-based experiments.
  The Observable Protein Crystal Growth Apparatus is being used to
characterize proteins and determine the differences that exist in
crystal growth processes in microgravity and on the ground. The
experiment hopes to ultimately optimize growth procedures and
conditions for application in the biochemical field.  A major goal of
this experiment is to improve the design and loading procedures and to
eliminate bubble formation, which interferes with crystal growth.
  The dual-shift mission is set to end Thursday morning with favorable
weather forecast for the time of landing.
  Columbia continues to orbit the Earth at an average altitude of 160
nautical miles.  All orbiter systems are in excellent shape.
 On Monday, July 14, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 Payload Status Report #21
reports:
  Studies of material and combustion science dominated the Microgravity
Science Laboratory -1 investigations in Columbia's Spacelab during the past
24 hours.
  In one area of materials research, the crew conducted an experiment
to study a process that can severely degrade the strength of alloy
products, such as turbine blades in aircraft engines.  The Coarsening
in Solid-Liquid Mixtures experiment, led by Dr. Peter Voorhees of
Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill., is providing insight into
processes which can cause metals to weaken or fail.
  The different metals that comprise alloys often have different
freezing points.  One metal can begin to solidify before the others,
forming small particles in the mixture.  As the solidification process
continues, the mixture begins to coarsen -- the small particles shrink
by losing atoms to larger particles. This results in a lack of uniform
particle distribution that may lead to defects in materials and
products. "We are looking at how the particle sizes change over time,"
said investigator Mark Assel of NASA's Lewis Research Center in
Cleveland, Ohio.
  Exactly how coarsening occurs is still not well understood.  On
Earth, gravity causes the heavier liquid metal to sink to the bottom
of the mixture, making it difficult to study the coarsening
process. By studying it in space, the design and control of metals
processing on Earth could be improved.
  During the experiment, a cartridge of lead-tin samples is loaded
into a compact, electric oven in the Middeck Glovebox.  The oven heats
the samples to form solid-liquid mixtures.  Hundreds of thousands of
solid particles are dispersed in these small samples. Then, the
samples are quenched, rapidly freezing the high-temperature particle
structure.  "We are collecting time and temperature data in flight,"
said Assel. "We won't know for sure until we're able to look at the
samples, but we believe the runs were successful, and we expect to get
a lot of good science."
  Sunday, crew members from both the red and blue shifts conducted
runs of the Structure of Flame Balls at Low Lewis-number experiment,
called SOFBALL. The study examines the burning processes of very weak
fuel-air mixtures in near-zero gravity. Payload Specialist Dr. Greg
Linteris conducted a run of the experiment Sunday morning and Mission
Specialist Dr.  Janice Voss conducted another run late Sunday night.
  For the first, a mixture of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide was
used.  It was a repeat of a test that was conducted during the
abbreviated STS-83 mission in April. The gas mixture resulted in four
balls of flame. "This run gave us some very interesting results,"
explained project scientist Dr.  Karen Weiland of Lewis Research
Center.  "Of the four flame balls, only two burned for the duration of
the experiment -- 500 seconds.  The other two used up the fuel in that
area and extinguished.  This is different than what we observed during
STS-83."
  During the second run, the hydrogen-air mixture was ignited and two
flame balls developed. According to principal investigator Dr. Paul
Ronney of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, the
experiment is going very well and the science team is very pleased
with the results of the investigation so far.
  At the beginning of his shift Sunday afternoon, Payload Specialist
Dr.  Roger Crouch performed a scheduled changeout of the Space
Acceleration Measurement System's hard drive, and last night, Voss
performed a disk changeout in the Quasi-Steady Acceleration
Measurement system.  The two systems detect and record the tiny
disturbances in the near-zero gravity environment of the Spacelab.
Science teams rely on the information, downlinked in near-real-time,
to determine the effect of the disturbances on experiments.  There are
four acceleration measurement systems operating aboard Columbia.
  Around midnight, Crouch performed a sample exchange in the Large
Isothermal Furnace, initiating a run of the Liquid Phase Sintering
experiment, which is led by Dr. Randall German of Pennsylvania State
University in University Park, Penn.
  In industry, the liquid phase sintering process is used to form very
hard and dense solids -- which, in turn, are used to manufacture
products such as cutting tools, car transmission gears and radiation
shields. Liquid phase sintering consists of causing particles of mixed
metals to bond and form a strong material. During the experiment,
compressed powders of tungsten, nickel, iron and tungsten, nickel and
copper are heated. The nickel, iron and copper melt but the tungsten
does not, resulting in solid-liquid mixtures. Researchers are studying
these mixtures to learn more about the sintering process, specifically
how the particles of the mixtures bond. On Earth, settling of
constituents in the mixture during sintering tends to result in a
distorted material.
  This research is fundamental to powder metallurgy. Investigators
hope to better understand this process and develop techniques that can
be used to lower costs of production and create even better sintered
materials.
  Later, Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas began the fifth and
final run of the Diffusion of Liquid Metals study, led by Dr. Toshio
Itami of Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. The investigation is
aimed at determining the diffusion coefficient of liquid tin in
relation to temperature, a very significant measurement for describing
the diffusion process by which liquid metals mix without stirring.
  In the TEMPUS levitating, processing of a sample of iron, nickel and
chromium was initiated Sunday.  The Alloy Undercooling Experiment, led
by Dr. Merton Flemings of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in
Cambridge, Mass., is measuring how fast melted steel mixtures
solidify.  During the study, a spherical sample will be positioned in
the facility, melted and then cooled.  Results of this research may
improve steel strip casting and welding processes.
  Early this morning, Thomas exchanged the sample in the furnace to
begin another run of a study to gather fundamental measurements of an
undercooled sample of cobalt-palladium. Undercooling is when a liquid
remains fluid when cooled below its normal freezing point. During the
experiment, an electromagnetic pulse is used to squeeze, then release
the sample being levitated in the facility. Instruments record the
oscillations, or movement, of the sample. "This is a new technique,"
explained researcher Bob Hyers of the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology in Cambridge, Mass.  "Using this technique we can determine
the surface tension and viscosity, or resistance to flow, of the
sample." This is the first time the viscosity of a cobalt-palladium
alloy has ever been measured. And although the surface tension
measurements of some of the TEMPUS samples are already known, for
others this new technique is pinpointing that figure for the first
time.
  The TEMPUS studies are providing researchers with fundamental
measurements necessary for modeling industrial materials systems
needed to manufacture new and better products. "The studies are going
remarkably well," said Flemings. "They have done everything we hoped
they'd do."
  Today, the Columbia crew is scheduled to perform another run of the
Coarsening of Solid Liquid Mixtures experiment and Linteris will
conduct another run of the flame ball experiment in the Combustion
Module.
 On Monday, July 14, 1997, 5:30 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #27
reports:
  Space Shuttle Columbia continues to provide a reliable ride for the
materials science experiments in the Spacelab module.  After 13 full
days in orbit, the spacecraft has no significant problems and
scientists have been able to work uninterrupted in gathering
experiment data.
  A press conference with Columbia's crew is planned for just before 2
a.m.  Tuesday morning with reporters at Johnson Space Center, Kennedy
Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center participating.
  The astronauts heard a special greeting Monday from Alabama
Sen. Jeff Sessions, speaking to them from the payload operations
control center at Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama.
Sen. Sessions complimented the crew on its work in microgravity
science and its contribution to improving life on Earth.
  In downlink television Monday, Red Team members Jim Halsell, Susan
Still, Don Thomas and Greg Linteris demonstrated the selection of food
available to space travelers aboard the shuttle.  The astronauts
showed different methods of packaging and preservation as well as
preparation in space.
  During a mission status briefing today, Lee Briscoe, mission
management representative, said that while there were ample supplies
on board Columbia, no extension of the mission was being contemplated.
Columbia is due to land early Thursday at Kennedy Space Center,
Florida. Briscoe also noted that the crew reported a small "ding" in
one of the orbiter's overhead windows - a = centimeter pit commonly
seen on other missions.  Such impacts of tiny debris do not affect the
flight.
  STS-94 Flight Day 15 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, July 15, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #28
reports:
  As his mission entered the home stretch, Columbia's Commander Jim
Halsell expressed thanks to all those on the ground who prepared the
shuttle, crew and payload for an unprecedented repeat launch to
complete work with the Microgravity Science Laboratory. The first
flight of Columbia with the laboratory, then designated mission
STS-83, was cut short this spring due to a suspect fuel cell.
  Halsell's comments on behalf of the STS-94 crew came during a crew
press conference this morning. Halsell thanked all involved for
helping this reflight of the lab do "what STS-83 set out to do."
  Assembled in the Spacelab pressurized module where the bulk of
science investigations are taking place on the flight, the crew
discussed the mission and its relevance to life on Earth and to what
life will be like aboard the International Space Station.
  With a day and a half of science work left, attention has turned to
completing the more than 30 investigations and starting cleanup
procedures prior to Thursday's return home. Landing is scheduled for
5:47 a.m. CDT at the Kennedy Space Center, Fl. The weather forecast
calls for acceptable landing conditions, with only a slight chance of
ground fog predicted in the vicinity of KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility
runway at touchdown.
  The Blue team of astronauts -- Payload Commander Janice Voss,
Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger Crouch
-- continues to shift its sleep schedule slightly each day to prepare
for landing.  Meanwhile, the Red team -- Halsell, Pilot Susan Still,
Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg Linteris --
wrapped up work on the Combustion Module, a lab facility that houses a
number of flame and soot investigations.
  One investigation, called the flameball experiment, has formed the
weakest flame ever burned, equaling only one watt.  By comparison, the
average birthday candle is about 50 watts.  The experiment also
provided the longest burning flames in space, about 500 seconds in
duration.  The tests provide new data for use in developing models for
combustion processes needed to build cleaner, more fuel-efficient
internal combustion engines.
  Shortly after 3 p.m., the Blue team will accept greetings from Sen.
William Frist (R-Tenn.) and NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin.  Payload
Specialist Roger Crouch is from Jamestown, Tennessee.
 On Tuesday, July 15, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 Payload Status Report #22
reports:
  As the First Microgravity Science Laboratory mission begins day 14
of its flight, crew members are working steadily to complete the
remaining investigations scheduled for the 16-day mission. In a news
conference from space last night Payload Commander Dr. Janice Voss
summarized the purpose and success of the science experiments being
conducted aboard Spacelab.  "The nature of research in general is an
evolutionary process, building on what has come before and feeding
what comes after," said Voss. "This is true with the experiments on
this flight. They're all contributing good science to the future of
these research programs."
  One such effort which is providing a foundation for future space
research in the area of combustion science is the flame ball
experiment on Columbia, called SOFBALL. Two more runs of the
experiment, which studies the burning processes of weak fuel-air
mixtures in near-zero gravity, were conducted Monday. Payload
Specialist Dr. Gregory Linteris conducted one run using a mixture of
hydrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Two flames balls resulted and
burned for the full eight-plus minutes.
  The second run, conducted by Voss last night, involved a mixture of
remaining fuels from two previous runs. "This mixture bridged the gap
between two other test points," said investigator Dr. Paul Ronney of
the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Two flame balls
resulted and burned for entire 500-second duration of the experiment.
  The investigation is providing researchers with information
necessary to improve theoretical models. A better understanding in
this area will enable improving fuel efficiency and reducing pollution
in combustion engines.
  Crew members initiated another run of the Coarsening in Solid-Liquid
Mixtures experiment in the Glovebox.  The investigation studies a
process that can severely degrade the strength of alloy products, such
as turbine blades in aircraft engines.  The experiment, led by
Dr. Peter Voorhees of Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill., is
providing insight into processes which can cause metals to weaken or
fail.
  The Droplet Combustion Experiment concluded in the Spacelab Monday
evening as Voss burned the last drop of heptane fuel at one-quarter
atmospheric pressure.  "We've achieved our science objectives," said
principal investigator Dr. Forman Williams, of the University of
California at San Diego.  "We burned droplets of heptane over a range
of pressures from one-quarter atmosphere to one atmosphere.  We were
even able to get some data which will provide a comparison for another
combustion experiment that took place in the Glovebox."
  After that final fire investigation in the Droplet Combustion
Apparatus, Voss removed the control computer, camcorder, camera and
VCR and prepared the experiment for the trip back to Earth.
  Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions visited the Spacelab Mission
Operations Control Center at Marshall Space Flight Center in
Huntsville, Ala., Monday. He spoke to crew members, offering his
support and best wishes for the mission's continued success. "All of
America is proud of the good work you are doing," said Sessions. "This
is the beginning of a commercially feasible adventure into space
exploration, characteristic of this nation -- a nation of explorers."
  Later, Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch completed the fourth and
final run of an undercooling of metallic alloys experiment in the
TEMPUS levitating facility. The Alloy Undercooling Experiment, led by
Dr. Merton Flemings of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in
Cambridge, Mass., is aimed at measuring how fast melted steel mixtures
solidify.  During the study, a spherical sample of iron, chromium and
nickel is positioned in the facility, melted and then cooled. The
science team said all four runs have gone well. Results of this
research may improve steel strip casting and welding processes.
  The undercooling run was the last planned TEMPUS experiment of the
mission. Project scientist Dr. Jan Rogers of Marshall said the
remaining time allocated for TEMPUS experiments is bonus time and will
be used to process samples identified by scientists as good candidates
for gathering additional scientific data.
  Two samples of the experiment analyzing diffusion in liquid
lead-tin-telluride were processed in the Large Isothermal Furnace over
the last 24 hours, making a total of five runs for that
investigation. The study, led by Ms. Misako Uchida of
Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries in Tokyo, Japan, is aimed at
determining the diffusion coefficient -- a fundamental quantity which
describes the diffusion process -- of liquid lead-tin-telluride. The
alloy is a potential material for use in manufacturing infrared
detectors and lasers.
  Today, Thomas and Linteris will be wrapping up other
experiments. Linteris will conduct runs of the flame ball experiment
and the properties of soot experiment in the Combustion Module. Thomas
will initiate the third and final run of an experiment in the Large
Isothermal Furnace to study the diffusion process of impurities in
molten salts. Later, Thomas and Pilot Susan Still will transfer the
plant growth experiment from the EXPRESS rack to two lockers in the
Middeck. The EXPRESS Rack is designed to speed and ease transportation
of experiments to the International Space Station.  The plant growth
experiment was transferred to the EXPRESS Rack earlier in the mission
to test its design development and adaptability.
 On Tuesday, July 15, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #29
reports:
  With one day of science operations remaining, the astronauts on
board Columbia and flight controllers in Mission Control began to
focus their attention on preparations for Thursday morning's planned
entry and landing.
  On board Columbia, some of the materials processing experiments
already have completed their full mission run and were being powered
down.  This morning, red team members relocated the ASTRO-PGBA
experiment hardware from its temporary working location in the
laboratory module back to its designated position in the orbiter's
middeck.  The hardware is firmly secured in its locker space, and a
fastener broken when the experiment was first moved to Spacelab, will
have no effect on its stability for entry.
  The Mission Management Team meeting Tuesday morning reviewed weather
predictions for landing opportunities on Thursday and Friday.  The
outlook is generally good at both the Kennedy Space Center in Florida
and Edwards Air Force Base in California for the next few days.  With
the possibility of ground fog early in the morning at KSC, flight
controllers could elect to bypass the first landing opportunity at
5:47 a.m. CDT in favor of a landing one orbit later at 7:22
a.m. Edwards Air Force Base in California will not be called up for
landing support on Thursday since the long-term weather outlook for
Florida is good and Columbia's systems remain healthy.
  In other activities today, all seven crew members participated in a
general press conference with reporters at NASA Centers in Texas,
Florida and Alabama.  Also today, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin and
Sen. William Frist of Tennessee made a congratulatory phone call
talking with the three blue team members, Payload Commander Janice
Voss, Mission Specialist Mike Gernhardt and Payload Specialist Roger
Crouch.
  All of Columbia's systems remain in good condition with no
significant issues being worked by the flight control team.  The
spacecraft is in a slightly elliptical orbit of 180 x 187 statute
miles altitude.
  STS-94 Flight Day 16 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, July 16, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #30
reports:
  With a healthy spacecraft around them, Columbias seven crewmembers
began closing up shop in preparation for tomorrows return home to the
Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with landing scheduled for 5:47 a.m.,
weather permitting.
  Early this morning, Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Susan Still and
Flight Engineer Mike Gernhardt put the orbiters systems through a
thorough checkout to ensure their health and readiness to support
entry and landing activities that begin shortly before 1
a.m. Thursday.
  The flight control surfaces were tested using one of three hydraulic
units, or Auxiliary Power Units and all 44 thruster jets were fired
and found to be in good working order.  Following communications
checks through east and west coast ground tracking stations, the crew
started stowing equipment that is no longer needed for on orbit
operations.
  Meanwhile, the payload crew that includes Payload Commander Janice
Voss, Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialists Greg
Linteris and Roger Crouch squeezed in some final experiment work in
the Spacelab module and shutdown those experiments that have been
completed.  Final payload deactivation procedures will wait until the
crew transitions to the deorbit preparation timeline about one oclock
Thursday morning.
  Weather is expected to be favorable for both landing opportunities,
although the first still has a slight chance of some pre-dawn ground
fog developing that may not dissipate in time of the decision to land.
As the sun heats the atmosphere, the ground fog would dissipate rather
quickly presenting more favorable weather for the second which would
be at 7:22 a.m.
 On Wednesday, July 16, 1997, 7:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 Payload Status Report #23
reports:
  As the orbiting Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL) nears the end
of its mission, scheduled for Thursday morning, the crew of Space
Shuttle Columbia is wrapping up Spacelab experiments in the areas of
combustion science, fluid physics, materials science and
biotechnology.
  Mission Specialist Dr. Donald Thomas and Pilot Susan Still
transferred the Astro/Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus from the
EXPRESS Rack to the Shuttle middeck Tuesday morning.  The plant growth
experiment had been moved from the middeck to the EXPRESS Rack early
in the mission.  The EXPRESS Rack is designed to speed and ease the
transportation of experiments to the International Space Station, and
the MSL mission is testing the design, development and adaptability of
the rack.  "Lessons learned from this flight will be implemented to
improve the EXPRESS Rack for the Space Station," said hardware
developer Annette Sledd of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in
Huntsville, Ala.
  The plants will continue to grow in the middeck.  "Things are going
great," said lead scientist Dr. Louis Stodieck of the University of
Colorado in Boulder. "We've gotten data showing that the plants are
very healthy. I'm very enthused and looking forward to the Shuttle
landing and the opportunity to analyze the plants."
  The plant growth experiment is studying the effect of space on
various types of plants.  The investigation examines the production of
lignin, essential for the formation and joining of woody cell walls in
plants; the production of secondary metabolites, necessary for
generating energy to sustain vital life processes; and changes which
occur in the sugars and starches of vegetable plants.
  Researchers are interested in determining if these plant processes
are interrelated and how they might be manipulated to improve plant
growth and production on Earth. Findings may also verify evidence that
plants grown in microgravity require less metabolic energy to produce
lignin, permitting greater production of secondary metabolites, a
source of many medicinal drugs. Secondary metabolites may also be used
to attract, repel or poison insects.
  Plants being studied aboard Space Shuttle Columbia, include a
species of sage native to Southeast Asia which is a source of the
antimalarial drug artemisinin; one which produces vinca alkaloids,
used in chemotherapy treatment of cancer; the loblolly pine, used
widely in the paper and lumber industries; and a variety of spinach.
  One of the combustion experiments, the Structure of Flame Balls at
Low-Lewis Number, or SOFBALL, completed its final run Tuesday morning.
Payload Specialist Dr. Greg Linteris conducted the run in the
Combustion Module. The experiment gathered data on the burning
processes of weak fuel-air mixtures in near-zero gravity.
  The last run, which used a mixture of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon
dioxide, was a repeat of a test performed earlier in the
mission. Sparking the mixture resulted in six balls of flame.  "We got
a few more flame balls than we expected," said project scientist
Dr. Karen Weiland of NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
"Earlier in the mission when we ran this test point, we only got four.
We'll be able to compare this run to the earlier one to understand the
different behaviors of flame balls when there are more of them
present."
  The flame ball experiment completed more runs than originally
scheduled, and the science team wrapped up early, making time for four
additional runs of a study of soot properties. Payload Commander
Dr. Janice Voss conducted the runs last night. The Laminar Soot
Processes experiment, led by Dr.  Gerard Faeth of the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor, is collecting information on flame shape, the
type and amount of soot produced under various conditions and the
temperature of soot components.  Information gathered from this study
may lead to a better understanding of how to contain unwanted fires
and reduce harmful pollutants from fires.
  Two runs of a diffusion of liquid metals study were conducted in the
Large Isothermal Furnace Tuesday.  Thomas initiated the first run
Tuesday morning. Processing was ended when the science team reported
unexpected readings from the sample. The cartridge was changed out for
another and processing resumed.
  Payload Specialist Dr. Roger Crouch initiated the experiment's final
run Tuesday afternoon. Diffusion is the process by which liquid metals
mix without stirring. The investigation is aimed at determining the
diffusion coefficient -- a fundamental quantity which describes the
diffusion process -- of molten salts.  Headed by Dr. Tsutomu Yamamura
of Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, the experiment is designed to
also reveal the ideal conditions for electrolysis of molten salts.
Electrolysis is the use of an electrical current to break down a
dissolved substance into its constituent components.  Findings may
benefit basic science and engineering processes on Earth.  After the
final sample completed processing, Thomas deactivated the Large
Isothermal Furnace early this morning.
  NASA Administrator Dan Goldin and Tennessee Senator Dr. Bill Frist
spoke to crew members Voss, Crouch and Mission Specialist Dr. Michael
Gernhardt by telephone Tuesday. Frist asked questions on behalf of
school students and expressed his personal appreciation for a job well
done.
  The final runs of the Coarsening in Solid-Liquid Mixtures experiment
were conducted Tuesday in the Glovebox, completing all nine planned
runs of the experiment. The investigation which is led by Dr. Peter
Voorhees of Northwestern University in Chicago, Ill., could provide a
better understanding as to what causes metals to weaken or fail.
  Crouch spent most of the evening Tuesday deactivating the protein
crystal growth experiments -- the Protein Crystallization Apparatus
for Microgravity, Second-generation Vapor Diffusion Apparatus and
Hand-held diffusion test cells.  The microgravity environment of space
allows researchers to grow larger and more perfect protein crystal
specimens.  Once back on Earth, scientists perform X-ray diffraction
studies on the specimens to determine their structures.  Better
understanding of a protein's structure could allow scientists to
design more effective drugs to treat diseases such as cancer,
diabetes, alcoholism, AIDS and Alzheimer's.
  After a sample of zirconium completed processing in the TEMPUS
levitating furnace, an experiment to investigate undercooling of an
aluminum-copper-iron alloy was conducted.  Undercooling is when a
liquid remains fluid when cooled below its normal freezing point. The
investigation, led by Dr. D.M. Herlach of the German Aerospace
Research Establishment in Cologne, Germany, could shed light on
nucleation, the point at which solidification from the melted state
begins. This research could lead to improved techniques for processing
materials on Earth and in turn, better products.
  This morning, Linteris began the final run the Capillary-driven Heat
Transfer Device in the Middeck Glovebox.  The study is aimed at
improving the performance of these devices for future use in
spacecraft. Similar devices may be used to transfer heat from
electrical systems to radiators.  Capillary-heat transfer is
attractive for use in space because it requires no power to operate
and such devices cost less because they weigh less.  This study has
already provided insight into how these devices work and is offering
explanations as to why they occasionally fail in spacecraft
applications.  The experiment's lead investigator is Dr. Kevin
Hallinan of the University of Dayton, Ohio.
  Today, Thomas will deactivate the Physics of Hard Spheres Experiment
in the EXPRESS Rack before powering down the facility. Linteris will
complete the capillary heat transfer experiment and later, Thomas will
shut down the Middeck Glovebox. Before completing his shift around
noon today, Linteris will shut down the TEMPUS facility.
  STS-94 Flight Day 17 Highlights:
 On Thursday, July 17, 1997, 5:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #31
reports:
  Space Shuttle Columbia's Red Team, Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot
Susan Still, Mission Specialist Don Thomas and Payload Specialist Greg
Linteris, spent most of their day packing up experiments and wrapping
up work on the materials science mission in anticipation of a landing
tomorrow at the Kennedy Space Center.
  By late afternoon, with investigations complete, virtually all
experiment hardware was being deactivated.  The Spacelab module itself
is due to be buttoned-up at 10:47 p.m. CDT by Payload Commander Janice
Voss.  Once the laboratory module is deactivated, it will not be
re-opened, even if tomorrow's landing opportunities are bypassed.
There are two landing opportunities to the Kennedy Space Center
tomorrow.
  Plans call for Columbia's crew to begin deorbit preparations shortly
before 1 a.m. CDT Thursday, closing the payload bay doors at 2:04 a.m.
The astronauts will climb into their seats about 3:45 a.m. and wait
for Mission Control's "go/no-go" decision, which is expected at 4:24
a.m. for the first landing opportunity.  The deorbit burn of
Columbia's orbital maneuvering system engines would follow at 4:44
a.m., with landing at the Kennedy Space Center at 5:47 a.m. CDT.
  In the event conditions prohibit a landing on the first opportunity,
the second landing opportunity would see a deorbit burn at 6:19
a.m. CDT with landing at KSC at 7:22 a.m.  Mission managers have
decided not to call up landing support at Edwards Air Force Base in
California for either Thursday or Friday since the orbiter is healthy
and weather conditions in Florida are predicted to remain favorable at
least through Saturday.  Columbia has enough cryogenic consumables on
board to support landing attempts through Sunday.
  Columbia's crew is expected to remain in Florida until the day after
landing, returning to Ellington Field in Houston for a mid-day public
welcoming ceremony.
 On Thursday, July 17, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-94 MCC Status Report #32
reports:
  The Space Shuttle Columbia returned to Earth today, touching down at
5:47 a.m. CDT on the Kennedy Space Centers Shuttle Landing Facility
runway to cap a near-flawless 16-day, 6.2 million-mile mission.
  The STS-94 mission completed more than 30 science investigations in
the Microgravity Science Laboratory, gaining all the experiment work
and more that was interrupted by Columbias early return on the STS-83
mission in April. That flight was cut short after only 4 days in orbit
due to a possible problem with one of Columbias electricity-producing
fuel cells.
  Columbia's orbital maneuvering system engines were fired at 4:44
a.m. CDT to begin its descent from orbit. Commander Jim Halsell eased
Columbias main landing gear onto the runway for a touchdown at 15
days, 16 hours, 44 minutes, 34 seconds into the mission, or 5:46:34
a.m. CDT.  The nose gear touched down 10 seconds later, and Columbias
wheels came to a stop at 15 days, 16 hours, 45 minutes and 29 seconds
of flight, or 5:47:29 a.m. CDT.
Halsell and the other six members of the crew will not return to
Houston until midday Friday.
<end of mission>
Mission Name: STS-85 (86)
  Discovery (23)
  Pad 39-A (63)
  86th Shuttle Mission
  23rd Flight OV-103
  KSC Landing (39)
 NOTE: Click Here for Countdown Homepage
Crew:
  Curtis L. Brown, Jr (4), Mission Commander
  Kent V. Rominger (3), Pilot
  N. Jan Davis (3), Mission Specialist
  Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. (1), Mission Specialist
  Stephen K. Robinson (1), Mission Specialist
  Bjarni Tryggvason (1),(CSA) Payload Specialist
  Note:   Jeffrey S. Ashby (1), Pilot was previously assigned
          as pilot of STS-85.
Milestones:
   OPF-2 --  02/21/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/21/1997)
     VAB --  07/07/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/07/1997)
     PAD --  07/14/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/14/1997)
    TCDT --  07/22/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/22/1997)
     FRR --  07/24/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/24/1997)
 Countdown - 08/04/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/04/1997)
Payload:
  CRISTA-SPAS(DARA), MFD, TAS-01(SEM,CFE,SOLCON,CVX,SLA-02,ISIR,TPF), IEH-2(UVSTAR,SEH,GLO-5,GLO-6,DATA-CHASER), ACIS, MIM,  MAHRSI, GAS(G-572,G-745), BDS-03, MSX-08, SSCE-07, SWUIS-01, SIMPLEX-01, PCG-STES-05, BRIC-10, MIDES
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Jun 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Jul 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Aug 1997)
Mission Objectives:
     The deployment and retrieval of a satellite designed to study
Earth's middle atmosphere along with a test of potential International
Space Station hardware will highlight NASA's sixth Shuttle mission of
1997.  The prime payload for the flight, the Cryogenic Infrared
Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet
Satellite-2 (CRISTA-SPAS-2) is making its second flight on the Space
Shuttle (previous flight STS-66 in 1994) and is the fourth mission in
a cooperative venture between the German Space Agency (DARA) and NASA.
   During the flight, Davis will use Discovery's robot arm to deploy
the CRISTA-SPAS payload for about 9 days of free-flight. CRISTA-SPAS
consists of three telescopes and four spectrometers that will measure
trace gases and dynamics of the Earth's middle atmosphere. Davis also
will operate the robot arm for CRISTA-SPAS retrieval.  The Shuttle
Pallet Satellite (SPAS) on which the scientific instruments are
mounted is a self-contained platform that provides power, command,
control and communication with Discovery during free-flight.
   Two other instruments mounted on the SPAS also will study the
Earth's atmosphere. The Middle Atmosphere High Resolution Spectrograph
Instrument (MAHRSI) will measure hydroxyl and nitric oxide by sensing
UV radiation emitted and scattered by the atmosphere, while the
Surface Effects Sample Monitor (SESAM) is a passive carrier for
state-of-the-art optical surfaces to study the impact of the
atomic oxygen and the space environment on materials and services.
    The crew also will support the Manipulator Flight Demonstration
(MFD) experiment being sponsored by NASDA, the Japanese Space
Agency. MFD consists of three separate experiments located on a
support truss in the payload bay.  The primary objective is to
demonstrate the newly designed dexterous robot arm in the space
environment, before installing on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM)
of the International Space Station.
     Several Hitchhiker payloads, including the
Technology Applications and Science Payload (TAS-01), the
International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker (SEH), and the
Ultraviolet Spectrograph Telescope for Astronomical Research (UVSTAR)
will be housed in Discovery's payload bay, operating independently
of crew support during the flight.
     The Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount (MIM) experiment
will be operated by Canadian Space Agency astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason.
The MIM experiment is a small double-locker size device designed to
isolate International Space Station payloads and experiments from
disturbances created by thruster firings or crew activity.  MIM will
be operated for 30 hours with real-time data transmission
to investigators on the ground.  (Reference NASA Press Release 96-224)
 Another experiment onboard STS-85 is the Southwest Ultraviolet Imaging System (SWUIS-01) from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)
along with scientific collaborators from JPL, APL, and the University
of Maryland. SWUIS (pronounced, "swiss") is a wide-field UV imager to
which will be used to observe comet Hale-Bopp.  It is based around an
18-cm Maksutov UV telescope and a UV-sensitive, Xybion
image-intensified CCD camera that frames at video rates (30 Hz). Each
SWUIS observation period will last approximately 3 hours, and should
garner 10^5 images in up to 7 filter bandpasses.  SWUIS will be
operated from a 2-axis mount inside the Shuttle mid-deck cockpit, and
looks out of the Shuttle through a quartz window. SWUIS can be pointed
anywhere in a 4.5 deg cone around the centerline of the comet. Mission
specialists will set up and operate the instrument.
Launch:
  Launch August 7, 1997 10:41:00.069 am EDT. Launch window is 1 hour,
39 minutes (1 Launch COLA due to Mir overhead between 10:53am -
10:55am).
  On Thursday, 8/7/97 at 6:00am, the countdown was at a two hour
planned hold at the T-minus 3 hour mark.  Weather forcasters predicted
a 60% chance of favorable weather.  Discovery was fully fueled and a
go was given to wake the flight crew.  Crew breakfast began at 6:18am,
followed by a weather briefing, suitup at 6:46am and then departure
for Pad 39A at 7:26am EDT.  The coundown came out of the hold at
7:21am EDT.  By 8:30am EDT, the crew were all strapped into their
launch seats and communication checks were performed.  The hatch was
closed by 9:18am EDT and leak checks complete by 9:30am EDT.  At 9:28
am EDT, RSO reported a no go due to ground fog leading to a visability
of less than 5 miles but predicted that the fog would burn off as
the sun rises. (Reference KSC Weather History 08/07/1997 0900).  The
countdown clock picked up at 9:38am at the T-minus 44 minute mark. The
white room crew reported to OTC that the white room was secure. At 10:03am
EDT, the count entered the automatic hold at the T-minus 20 minute mark.
At 10:09am EDT, SRO reported to NTD that Range Safety cleared the
Launch Commit Criteria (LCC) Violation and gave a go to launch.  The
countdown picked up at 10:11am EDT and held at the planned hold at the
T-minus 9 minute mark.  At 10:28am EDT, the NASA Test Director (NTD)
conducted a final poll of the launch team in the firing room and the
Launch Director Jim Harrington conducted a final poll of the
mission management team.  There were no constraints to launch and the
count came out of the T-minus 9 minute mark at 10:32am EDT.  Liftoff
occured at 10:41am EDT.
  On Tuesday, 8/5/97, The orbiter's mid-body umbilical unit was
demated and retracted into the Fixed Service Structure. Preparations
were underway to retract the Rotating Service Structure to the launch
position at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.  Loading of the external tank
with cryogenic propellants began at about 1:50 a.m. on Thursday
8/7/97.  The STS-85 crew arrived at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility
(SLF) at about 5 p.m. 8/5/97 and took opportunities to complete a few
familiarization activities. Commander Curtis Brown and Pilot Kent
Rominger practiced SLF approaches in the Shuttle Training Aircraft
this morning as well.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/06/1997)
  Discovery's aft compartment close-outs concluded on Saturday 8/2/97
with installation of the aft access doors. External tank purge
activities were also completed on Saturday. The launch countdown for
STS-85 began 8/4/97 at 3 p.m.  Loading of cryogenic fuels into the
power reactant storage distribution system began at 7:30 a.m. 8/5/97.
Testing of Discovery's pyrotechnic initiator controllers began at 4
p.m. on Tuesday.  Servicing of the CRISTA-SPAS payload continued and
final payload bay door closure was 5 a.m. 8/5/97.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/05/1997)
  On Wednesday, 7/30/97, Space suit installation and check-out were
complete. Discovery's aft compartment close-outs continue through the
weekend. Ordnance installation was delayed due to work on the
orbiter's connections to a ground coolant unit. The connections are
being replaced to ensure that no further freon leakage occurs.
Replacement of Mass Memory Unit No. 1 is in work and reload is also
slated. Because of the damaged oxidizer drain line found on
Columbia, inspections of Discovery's oxidizer drain line are being
performed as well.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/30/1997)
  On Tuesday, 7/22/97, the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test
(TCDT) began in the Launch Control Center and at Pad 39A.  The payload
Interface Verification Test (IVT) was successfully concluded and
preparations were underway for servicing the CRISTA-SPAS with
cryogenic helium next week. Preparations continue for loading
hypergolic propellants aboard the Space Shuttle on Thursday.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/22/1997)
   The Shuttle helium signature test was successfully concluded over
the weekend and the payload interface verification testing was
performed on monday, 7/21/97.  Preparations continue for loading
hypergolic propellants on Thursday. The astronauts arrived at KSC
Sunday evening for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT)
starting 8 a.m. EST Tuesday 7/22/97 and concluding 11 a.m. Wednesday.
The crew will be on the flight deck for the last three hours of the
test as is customary.  The TCDT is an electrical test of the Space
Shuttle vehicle and a procedural exercise for the launch team and
astronauts.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/21/1997)
  On Friday, 7/18/97, the payload Interface Verification Test (IVT)
and the Shuttle helium signature test were conducted and preparations
continued for loading of hypergolic propellants. The crew is scheduled to
arrive at KSC Sunday evening for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test
(TCDT) July 22-23.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/18/1997)
  In the VAB, orbiter/external tank interface leak checks concluded on
Friday, 7/11/97. Functional testing of the liquid oxygen 17-inch
disconnect were completed and the Shuttle Interface Test wrapped up.
Discovery is slated to roll out to Pad 39A on Monday, 7/14/97
beginning at about 2 a.m.  At pad 39A, the CRISTA-SPAS payload was
moved to the payload ground handling mechanism. It will be installed
into the orbiter.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 7/11/1997)
  On 6/25/97, potable water servicing was complete and a 24-hour decay
check was in work. Tile replacement work continued on Discovery's
forward reaction control system.  Close-outs of Discovery's aft
compartment continues through Thursday and preparations were underway
for payload bay door closure.  In the Vehicle Assembly Building,
ordnance installation on the solid rocket booster holddown posts was
in work. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/25/1997)
  On 6/10/97, heat shield installation continues through Tuesday and
mid-body close-outs continue on schedule. Repair work on the lower
portion of Discovery's rudder speed brake are continuing through
Tuesday.  Tile inspections resulted in the removal of 7 suspect tiles
on the FRCS.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/10/1997)
  On 3/25/97, Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME) No. 1 and 3 have been removed
and Engine No. 2 will be removed. The forward Reaction Control System (RCS)
functional checks continue today. Work to remove and replace fuel cell
No. 2 will begin 3/27/97. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/25/1997)
  On 3/5/97, deservicing of Discovery's hypergolic system began. This
hazardous operation to remove residuals from the Reaction Control
System (RCS) keeps the bay closed to non-essential personnel and other
work through most of the day.  An orbiter navigational aid activation
test is scheduled for 3/6/97 and hydraulic system inspections will
begin.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/05/1997)
  The launch was originally scheduled for July 17, 1997 at 10:06am but
was slipped to early August so that Columbia could refly the STS-83
MSL-1 mission that was cut short due to a fuel cell problem.
Orbit:
  Altitude: 160nm
  Inclination: 57
  Orbits: 189
  Duration: 11 days, 20 hours, 28 minutes, 07 seconds.
  Distance:  4.7 million miles
Hardware:
  SRB: BI-088
  SRM:
  ET :  SN-86
  MLP :
  SSME-1: SN-2041
  SSME-2: SN-2040
  SSME-3: SN-2042
Landing:
  KSC August 19, 1997. 7:07:59 am EDT.  Runway 33.
Main Wheel Touchdown at 7:07:59 am EDT. (MET 11days 20hr 26min 59sec)
Nose Wheel Touchdown at 7:08:09 am EDT. (MET 11days 20hr 27min 09sec)
Wheel Stop at EDT 7:09:07 (MET 11days 20hr 28min 07sec).
  At 5:44 a.m. EDT, commander Curtis L. Brown, Jr was given the go to
take Discovery out of orbit with a 2 minute 14 second deorbit burn of its
twin Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines.  The burn occured on orbit
189 at 6:08am EDT while Discovery was over the Pacific Ocean.  Entry
Interface occured at 6:37am.  KSC's 1st opportunity landing track took
Discovery over the Yucatan peninsula and then over the Gulf of Mexico.
At 7:00am EDT, with 8 minutes to touchdown, Discovery was 135nm from
the Shuttle Landing Facility, traveling at an altitude of 18000ft and
3,300mph.  At 5 min to touchdown, Discovery was at 58,000ft and 10nm west
of KSC.  Sonic booms were heard at KSC at 7:06am, 3 min from touchdown
while Discoverey was being flown around the final Heading Alignment Circle
(HAC) at 38,000ft and dropping below 500mph.  At 2 minutes to touchdown,
Discovery was southeast of the SLF, traveling 230mph setting up on final
approach to Runway 33.  At 1 minute 20 seconds to touchdown, Discovery
was at 13,000ft.  At 300ft, Pilot Kent Rominger dropped the landing gear
and Commander Brown pitched the nose up.  Touchdown occured at 8/19/97
at 7:07a.m. EDT.
  Discovery's mission was scheduled to end Monday August 18, 1997
with landing scheduled at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at
about 6:14 a.m. central time but the landing attempt for was waived
off due to low fog in the area of the Shuttle Landing Facility.
Forecasters had predicted favorable weather for landing and . Flight
controllers only targeted a single Florida landing opportunity on
Monday and did not consider opportunities for landing at
Edwards Air Force Base, CA.
Mission Highlights:
  STS-85 Flight Day 1 Highlights:
 On Thursday, August 7, 1997, 10:30 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #1
reports:
  Six astronauts rocketed into space today aboard the Shuttle
Discovery to kick off an 11-day mission designed to study the Earth's
ozone layer and to test technology which may be used in the operation
of the International Space Station.
  Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger, Mission Specialists Jan
Davis, Bob Curbeam and Steve Robinson and Canadian Payload Specialist
Bjarni Tryggvason blasted off on time at 9:41 a.m. Central time from
Launch Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center after a flawless
countdown.
  Less than nine minutes later, Discovery had reached its preliminary
orbit, which was refined into a circular orbit about 175 miles above
the Earth through the firing of the shuttle's orbital maneuvering
system engines.
  Once Discovery's cargo bay doors are opened, the astronauts will
begin to activate key systems and experiment hardware. Davis and
Robinson plan to activate and checkout Discovery's 50-foot long robot
arm, which will be used this afternoon to grapple and deploy the
CRISTA-SPAS satellite. That autonomous satellite is scheduled to be
released by robot arm operator Davis at 4:57 p.m. Central time for the
start of nine days of free flight from Discovery to study the planet's
ozone layer and other characteristics of the Earth's atmosphere. The
satellite will be retrieved by Discovery's astronauts on August 16 for
its return to Earth.
  The astronauts are scheduled to begin an 8 and a half hour sleep
period at 8:41 p.m. tonight and will be awakened at 5:11 a.m. Friday
for their second day of work on orbit.
  All of Discovery's systems are functioning normally.
 On Thursday, August 7, 1997, 6:30 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #2
  Following an on time launch from Kennedy Space Center this morning
and a "go" from Mission Control for on-orbit operations, the STS-85
crew immediately began activation of the various payloads being
carried on the flight.
  A little less than 8 hours into the flight, Mission Specialist Jan
Davis used the Shuttle's mechanical arm to deploy the Cryogenic
Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle
Pallet Satellite-2 (CRISTA-SPAS-2) payload.  The CRISTA-SPAS payload
will fly free of the Shuttle for over 200 hours and will use three
telescopes and four spectrometers to measure infrared radiation
emitted by the Earth's middle atmosphere.  Data gathered will help
investigators from 15 countries to understand how small-scale tracer
"filaments" in the stratosphere contribute to transport of ozone and
chemical compounds that affect the distribution of ozone.  The
satellite will be retrieved by Discovery's astronauts on August 16 for
its return to Earth.
  The other payloads in Discovery's cargo bay - the Technology
Applications and Science (TAS), the Manipulator Flight Demonstration
(MFD) and the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker (IEH)
payloads were all successfully activated early in the flight.
  The Manipulator Flight Demonstration payload is sponsored by NASDA,
the Japanese Space Agency and is designed to demonstrate applications
of a mechanical arm for possible use on the Japanese Experiment Module
of the future International Space Station.  The Technology
Applications and Science payload holds seven separate experiments that
will provide data on the Earth's topography and atmosphere, study the
sun's energy and test new thermal control devices while the the four
experiments comprising the International Extreme Ultraviolet
Hitchhiker payload will study ultraviolet radiation from the stars,
the sun and other sources in the solar system.
  The STS-85 astronauts are scheduled to begin an 8 and a half hour
sleep period at 8:41 p.m. tonight and will be awakened at 5:11
a.m. Friday for their second day of work on orbit.
  STS-85 Flight Day 2 Highlights:
 On Friday, August 8, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #3
reports:
  Scientists on the ground continued the activation procedures for
their experiments aboard Discovery overnight as the six crew members
slept.
  Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger, Mission Specialists Jan
Davis, Bob Curbeam and Steve Robinson and Payload Specialist Bjarni
Tryggvason were awakened at 5:11 a.m. CDT to the sounds of "To the
Moon and Back" by Savage Garden.
  The Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the
Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-2 (CRISTA-SPAS-2) payload,
deployed some 8 hours after launch, continues to trail Discovery by
about 40 miles with the distance widening by 4 miles each orbit, using
its three telescopes and four spectrometers to gather data about the
composition of the stratosphere and the movement of ozone and chemical
compounds that affect its distribution. Initial check-out of
CRISTA-SPAS-2 has determined that all satellite systems are nominal,
the satellite is at the proper altitude, and all small payloads have
collected first data.  The German-built satellite is to be retrieved
Aug. 16.
  Astronauts activated instruments of the Technology Applications and
Science (TAS), including the Shuttle Laser Altimeter, the Infrared
Spectral Imaging Radiometer (ISIR), the Cryogenic On-Orbit Long Life
Active Refrigerator (COOLAR), Two Phase Flow (TPF), Critical Viscosity
of Xeonon (CVX) and were initializing the Solar Constant Experiment
(SOLCON) and preparing for its first observation about 10 a.m. CDT.
  The International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker (IEH) payloads were
all successfully activated, including GLO-5 and GLO-6, which will
measure Earth's atmospheric emissions. Canister doors were opened for
observations by the Solar Extreme Ultraviolet Hitc hhiker (SEH), which
will accurately measure the solar flux in the extreme ultraviolet
wavelengths; and the Disribution and Automation Technology
Advancement-Colorado Hitchhiker and Student Experiment of Solar
Radiation (DATA-CHASER), which will measure the full-disk solar
ultraviolet and soft X-ray irradiance. The Ultraviolet Spectrograph
Telescope for Astronomical Research (UVSTAR), which will study the
planets in the extreme ultraviolet bands, is in the midst of its
checkouts.
  Work with the Japanese-built Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD)
experiment will begin about 8:30 a.m., when Davis begins checkout of
its Small Fine Arm, destined for use outside the International Space
Station's Japanese Experiment Module.
  Scientists reported a "fantastic" first day for the Microgravity
Vibration Isolation Mount (MIM), designed to isolate small experiments
from disturbances on the International Space Station.
  Brown is scheduled to talk with interviewers from WBTV-TV,
Charlotte, N.C., and WTVD-TV, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., at 12:36 p.m.
 On Friday, August 8, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #4
reports:
  STS-85 science and payload activities are now in full swing as
Mission Commander Curt Brown and his crew, Pilot Kent Rominger,
Mission Specialists Jan Davis, Bob Curbeam and Steve Robinson and
Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason near completion of their first
full day in space.
  The prime focus of today's activities was associated with the
Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD) experiment in Discovery's
payload bay.  Activation of the MFD payload was completed just after
9:30 a.m. today and throughout the day Davis and Robinson performed a
series of evaluation tests with the prototype of the Small Fine Arm
(SFA), destined for use outside the International Space Station's
Japanese Experiment Module.
  While Davis and Robinson were not able to complete all of today's
planned objectives, good data were collected on the overall MFD system
and different modes in which it can operate.  Due to data conflicts
between some of the MFD components, the orbital replacement unit
detachment and attachment test, along with the door open & close task,
were not performed.  These kinds of operational problems are not
unexpected, especially for a demonstration test payload flying for the
first time.
  There are several more days of MFD operations planned during the
STS-85 flight and the expectation is that most or all of the major
objectives of the MFD payload will be accomplished.  Currently, the
only anticipated to MFD operations is the possibility of reduced test
runs on some specific tasks.
  Curbeam spent part of his day working with the Bioreactor
Demonstration System (BDS) payload.  Just as gravity affects the
manner in which crystals grow and materials are processed, Earth's
pull also can alter the development of cells and tissues.  The BDS is
designed to perform cell biology experiments under controlled
conditions on small samples of material.
  Tryggvason continued his work with the Microgravity Vibration
Isolation Mount (MIM) experiment, designed to isolate small
experiments from vibration disturbances on the International Space
Station.
  Early this afternoon, Brown took a few minutes away from his work
schedule to talk with WBTV-TV, Charlotte, NC, and WTVD-TV,
Raleigh-Durham, NC.  Brown, a native of North Carolina, answered
questions about his responsibilities as mission commander, the science
being conducted on the flight as well as daily life aboard the
Shuttle.
  The STS-85 crew is scheduled to begin an eight hour sleep period at
6:41 p.m. CDT.  They will be awakened at 2:41 a.m. Saturday to begin
their third day of on-orbit operations.
  STS-85 Flight Day 3 Highlights:
 On Saturday, August 9, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #5
reports:
 Discovery's astronauts continue to conduct and monitor experiments
that will help some researchers measure atmospheric phenomena while
other crew members gather data on experiments and hardware that will
be used on the International Space Station.
  Serving as a testbed for those ISS evaluations, the orbiter is
functioning in excellent fashion while the crew gathers data using the
Space Vision System - a series of dots strategically placed on various
payload and vehicle structures that permit precise alignment and
pointing that could be invaluable on the space station when a clear
line of sight by the crew is not available.
  In addition to SVS, the crew is evaluating a system designed to
dampen vibrations that could be harmful to sensitive science
experiments.  The Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount, or MIM, also
can induce vibrations that scientists can use to determine what
effects those vibrations have on experiment operations.  It will be
operated throughout the day by Canadian Astronaut and Payload
Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason.
  While Payload Commander Jan Davis focused on SVS operations, Mission
Specialist Steve Robinson worked with a controlled-flame investigation
called the Solid Surface Combustion Experiment.  Robinson also will
setup and operate a small ultraviolet imaging telescope to view Comet
Hale-Bopp.  The shuttle's robot arm will be strategically placed to
provide shading of orbiter windows during the telescope's
observations.
  Mission Commander Curt Brown and Pilot Kent Rominger continue to
periodically fire thruster jets on the orbiter to maintain an adequate
distance from the free-flying CRISTA-SPAS satellite which was deployed
on launch day.  The satellite will gather atmospheric data, including
ozone measurements, that will be useful in calibrating other
ground-based instruments.
  Flight Engineer Bob Curbeam will spend his day assisting with the
Space Vision System and Hale-Bopp observations, while overseeing work
with the Bioreactor Demonstration System, which will evaluate a cell
culture incubator and a biotechnology specimen temperature controller.
Cell biology experiments in space could lead to the use of
microgravity to manufacture tissues from individual cells.
  The STS-85 crew was awakened at 2:40 this morning to the song."Don't
Look Down," by Lindsey Buckingham.  The astronauts' third flight day
on Discovery ends at 5:40 this afternoon.
 On Saturday, August 9, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #6
reports:
 Work to understand how fires behave in a weightless environment,
observations of Comet Hale-Bopp and checkout of a vision system
designed to aid in the construction of the International Space Station
were among the tasks accomplished today by Discovery's six-person
crew.
 Following what has been another busy day of on orbit operations,
Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger along with Mission
Specialists Jan Davis, Robert Curbeam, Steve Robinson and Canadian
Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason will shortly begin an eight hour
sleep period at 5:41 p.m. CDT.
  Early today, Rominger worked with a controlled flame experiment
called the Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE).  This
experiment is designed to understand how flames behave in space and
increase basic understanding of the combustion process.  The SSCE is a
continuation of the combustion investigation efforts that were
performed last month by the STS-94 crew on the re-flight of the
Microgravity Sciences Laboratory mission.
  Davis and Robinson spent part of their day performing a checkout of
the Space Vision System (SVS).  The SVS system involves a series of
dots strategically placed on various payload and vehicle structures
that payload bay cameras can see to create a graphic digital display
on a laptop computer.  An astronaut operating the mechanical arm can
use that display for precise alignment and pointing with payloads
being moved in the cargo bay.  The SVS system will be used during the
assembly of components of the future International Space Station.
  Also related to upcoming ISS activities was Tryggvason's continued
efforts with the Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount, or MIM,
payload.  The MIM payload uses magnets to levitate a platform and
protect sensitive microgravity processing experiments from vibrations
created by station operations.
  Robinson spent his afternoon with the setup and operation of a small
ultraviolet imaging telescope to view Comet Hale-Bopp.  The Southwest
Ultraviolet Imaging System (SWUIS) telescope was mounted to the
orbiter's side hatch window.  Over the course of two orbits, Robinson
used the telescope with different filters to gather data on what the
comet is made of and how it is responding to solar wind conditions.
As part of the SWUIS operations, the shuttle's robot arm was
strategically placed to provide shading of orbiter windows during the
telescope's observations.  Three more pairs of observations are
planned during the flight.
  Curbeam continued his work with the Bioreactor Demonstration System
payload - a cell biology experiment which has flown previously on the
Shuttle.  On this flight, Curbeam is using BDS to grow colon cancer
cells to a larger size than can be done on Earth.  It is hoped that
future BDS experiments on the International Space Station will help
investigators learn how to stop the growth and kill these cells in the
human body.
  Periodic firings of the Shuttle's maneuvering jets were done today
to ensure Discovery stays within the desired distance range to the
CRISTA-SPAS satellite which was deployed on launch day.  The satellite
is using three telescopes and four spectrometers to measure infrared
radiation emitted by the Earth's middle atmosphere.  The data gathered
will help investigators from 15 countries to understand how
small-scale tracer."filaments" in the stratosphere contribute to
transport of ozone and chemical compounds that affect the distribution
of ozone.
  STS-85 Flight Day 4 Highlights:
 On Sunday, August 10, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #7
reports:
 Following this morning's wakeup call at 1:40, Discovery's astronauts
focused their attention on testing of a small, robotic arm serving as
a prototype for use on the future International Space Station and
conducting experiment work on the Shuttle's middeck.
  While the free-flying CRISTA-SPAS satellite continues to gather data
on the Earth's atmosphere and ozone layer, Payload Commander Jan Davis
and Mission Specialist Steve Robinson once again will spend the day
testing the small Japanese robotic arm.  Their work began about 5:30
this morning with Robinson operating the arm through a checkout and
then detachment and reattachment of a box simulating an orbital
replacement unit.  The arm's dexterity will further be tested remotely
from inside the crew compartment by opening and closing a door on
another box.
  After lunch, Davis and Robinson will swap places with Davis
operating the arm through an identical checkout with Robinson
supporting the activity.
  Mission Specialist Bob Curbeam continued his work with the
Bioreactor Demonstration System designed to perform cell biology
experiments under controlled conditions.
  Canadian Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason continued his work
with the Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount which uses magnets to
levitate a platform and protect sensitive microgravity processing
experiments from vibrations.  Such a system could be valuable on a
space station to protect materials processing experiments from
vibrations caused by other activities.
  Periodic firings of Discovery's thrusters continue at the beginning
and end of each crew day by Commander Curt Brown and Pilot Kent
Rominger to maintain a desired distance of 25 to 45 nautical miles
from the CRISTA-SPAS satellite.
  The spacecraft will be retrieved a week from today for the return
trip home.  The next mission status report will be issued late this
afternoon.
  STS-85 Flight Day 5 Highlights:
 On Monday, August 11, 1997, 1:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #9
reports:
  Mission Control briefly awakened the crew of Discovery about 2 
hours early today after a malfunction of the telemetry and command
system for the Technology Applications and Science-1 package left the
Shuttle Laser Altimeter laser stuck in the."on" position.
  At the time of the malfunction, the Shuttle Laser Altimeter, which
is designed to make direct measurements of the height of clouds and
acquire profiles of land and surface vegetation, was between targets
over the South Atlantic Ocean.
  Commander Curt Brown was asked to turn off the TAS-1 avionics and
the SLA laser in an effort to regain the ability to command the
experiment package from the ground. The laser was left in the."off"
position so that the hitchhiker experiment packages in the payload bay
could continue their observations without any threat of shining the
laser on the co-orbiting CRISTA-SPAS atmospheric research
satellite. CRISTA-SPAS investigators said they did not believe the
laser would have harmed the satellite, but Mission Control opted to be
conservative. There was no loss of CRISTA-SPAS data.
  Scientists working with the Shuttle Laser Altimeter notified the
flight team of the problem shortly before 8 p.m. CDT. The crew was
awakened about 11:15 p.m. Brown successfully executed a procedure
voiced up by Spacecraft Communicator Marc Garneau, and was allowed to
return to sleep about 11:20 p.m. CDT.
  Investigators for the TAS-1 reported at 11:22 p.m. CDT that full
telemetry and command capability had been restored, which gave a green
light for continued overnight experiment operations with TAS-1 and the
International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker (IEH) and a return to the
shuttle's nominal attitude timeline.
  Scientists gave a preliminary report that there was no significant
data loss to the IEH or TAS-1, but began a detailed assessment of the
malfunction's impact on the mission's objectives.
  Discovery's six person crew -- Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger, Mission
Specialists Jan Davis, Robert Curbeam, and Steve Robinson and Payload
Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason -- will be awakened at 1:41 a.m. Monday
to begin its fifth day of on orbit activities.
 On Monday, August 11, 1997, 5:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #10
reports:
  Orbital flight demonstration using a uniquely designed small robotic
arm will continue today as Discovery's mission heads into its fifth
day.
  Two wakeup calls - one unscheduled late last night - signalled the
start of the day for the six astronauts that make up the STS-85 crew.
Johnny Mathis'."Chances Are," a favorite of Flight Engineer Bob
Curbeam's, awoke the crew officially at 1:40 this morning.
  Mission Control called the crew at about 11:15 last night following
a temporary malfunction of the telemetry and command system for the
Technology Applications and Science package which left the Shuttle
Laser Altimeter laser in the."on" position.  The instrument measures
the height of clouds and acquires profiles of land and surface
vegetation.  Commander Curt Brown turned off the TAS avionics and the
SLA laser restoring commanding capability from the ground.  Within
minutes investigators were able to continue experiment operations.
  Payload Commander Jan Davis and Mission Specialist Steve Robinson
will once again test the small robotic arm serving as a prototype for
one that will fly as part of the Japanese Experiment Module on the
International Space Station.  Simulated orbital replacement unit
detachment and reattachment will be the focus once again today.
  Bob Curbeam will discuss the progress of the flight at 7:45 this
morning with a television station in St Louis, before continuing his
work with the Bioreactor Demonstration System designed to perform cell
biology experiments under controlled conditions.
  Immediately after Curbeam's interview, Canadian Payload Specialist
Bjarni Tryggvason is set to talk to elementary and high school
students at a summer camp in Saskatchewan, Canada.  He then will once
again concentrate on working with the Microgravity Vibration Isolation
Mount which uses magnets to levitate a platform and protect sensitive
microgravity processing experiments from vibrations.
  Brown and Pilot Kent Rominger continue to watch over Discovery which
is supporting more than 24 science investigations onboard and on the
CRISTA-SPAS satellite, 40 nautical miles behind the Orbiter, where it
is gathering atmospheric data for investigators on the ground.
 On Monday, August 11, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #11
reports:
 Orbital flight demonstration using a uniquely designed small robotic
arm continued today as Discovery's crew completed its fifth day of on
orbit activities
  Within the past hour, Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger,
Mission Specialists Jan Davis, Robert Curbeam, Steve Robinson and
Canadian Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason begin an eight hour
sleep period at 4:41 p.m. CDT.
  Payload Commander Jan Davis and Mission Specialist Steve Robinson
conducted the third in a series of tests with the Manipulator Flight
Demonstration (MFD) payload and the small robotic arm serving as a
prototype for one that will fly as part of the Japanese Experiment
Module on the International Space Station.  Davis used the arm to
remove and replace a simulated orbital replacement unit on a stand on
the MFD platform.
  One more day of work with the small mechanical arm is planned to
take place on Flight Day Seven.  The fourth day of MFD operations will
be different as the arm is maneuvered by personnel in the Payload
Operations Control Center (POCC)in the Mission Control building while
the crew monitors the arm's performance.  Ground control operations
will only involve arm movement and will not use either the orbital
replacement unit or door mechanism units that were utilized in earlier
operations.
  In an interview with KMOX-Radio in St Louis this morning, Curbeam
discussed the progress of the flight before continuing his work with
the Bioreactor Demonstration System designed to perform cell biology
experiments under controlled conditions.
  Immediately after Curbeam's interview, Canadian Payload Specialist
Bjarni Tryggvason talked to elementary and high school students at a
summer camp in Saskatchewan, Canada.  He then continued his work with
the Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount which uses magnets to
levitate a platform and protect sensitive microgravity processing
experiments from vibrations.
  Brown and Rominger continue to watch over Shuttle systems and
perform periodic orbital adjustment burns to keep Discovery within the
desired distance window to the CRISTA-SPAS satellite that is
independently gathering atmospheric data.  Currently Discovery is
leading the SPAS satellite by about 46 n.m.
  The science efforts associated with the STS-85 mission are not
confined to activities on Discovery.  The data being gathered by the
orbiting CRISTA-SPAS satellite is being coordinated with
ground-launched rocket and balloon validation flights from NASA's
Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA.  One of the International
Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker (IEH) payload experiments - SEH - had a
cooperative science activity earlier today with a missile launch from
the White Sands facility in New Mexico.  The missile was launched at
1:18 p.m. CDT today.  At the time of launch, Discovery was 160
n.m. above the Pacific Ocean, just off the west coast of Canada.
  Discovery's crew will receive a wake up call from Mission Control
early tomorrow morning at 12:41 a.m. Tuesday morning to begin their
sixth day of on orbit operations.
  STS-85 Flight Day 6 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, August 12, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #12
reports:
  Discovery's astronauts spent the first half of their day supporting
observations of Comet Hale-Bopp using a small ultraviolet telescope
mounted in the side hatch window of the orbiter.
  Following Stevie Ray Vaughn's."The House is Rockin'" wakeup call
from Mission Control, the six astronauts got down to the business of
the day, including Mission Specialist Steve Robinson's observations
with the small ultraviolet telescope.  The experiment, called the
Southwest Ultraviolet Imaging System (SWUIS), was used with different
filters to gather video and telemetry data on what the comet is made
of and how it is responding to solar wind conditions.
  While Commander Curt Brown and Pilot Kent Rominger maneuvered the
orbiter to point its side hatch window toward the comet's location,
Payload Commander Jan Davis once again placed the Shuttle's robot arm
in a strategic location to provide shading of the window during the
telescope's observations.  Two more observation days are planned
before Discovery's mission comes to a close.
  Brown and Rominger also watch over orbiter thruster firings and
rendezvous maneuvers in support of the CRISTA-SPAS satellite, now in
its fifth day of free flight away from Discovery.  The orbiter
maintains a distance of between 25 and 60 nautical miles from the
satellite so that investigators can communicate with the spacecraft
using the shuttle as a conduit for the link.  In concert with the
satellite's on-orbit data gathering, a number of ground-launched
rocket and balloon validation flights are being conducted from Wallops
Island off the coast of Virginia.
  In addition to assisting Brown and Rominger with orbiter system
oversight, Flight Engineer Bob Curbeam, today continues his work with
the Bioreactor Demonstration System designed to perform cell biology
experiments under controlled conditions.
  Canadian Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason, today continues his
work with the Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount which uses
magnets to levitate a platform and protect sensitive microgravity
processing experiments from vibrations.
  Discovery's STS-85 crew is scheduled to begin an 8 hour sleep period
at about 4:30 this afternoon and awaken at 12:41 Wednesday morning.
 On Tuesday, August 12, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #13
reports:
  As Discovery's crew nears the halfway point of the STS-85 mission,
the astronauts continued observations of Comet Hale-Bopp using a small
ultraviolet telescope mounted in Discovery's side hatch window, and
evaluated a new system for possible future use with the Shuttle's
mechanical arm.
  Mission Specialist Steve Robinson conducted observations of Comet
Hale-Bopp with the small ultraviolet telescope known as SWUIS or the
Southwest Ultraviolet Imaging System telescope.  Robinson used
different filters on the telescope to gather video and telemetry data
on what the comet is made of and how it is responding to solar wind
conditions.
  While Commander Curt Brown and Pilot Kent Rominger maneuvered the
orbiter to point its side hatch window toward the comet's location,
Payload Commander Jan Davis once again placed the Shuttle's robot arm
in a strategic location to shade the window during the telescope's
observations.  Two more observation days are planned before
Discovery's mission comes to a close.
  Davis and Robinson also evaluated a new system called the RMS
Situational Awareness Displays (RSAD), which is designed to
incorporate data from a variety of sources and provide crew members
with enhanced visual cues when operating the Shuttle's robot arm. RSAD
is being evaluated prior to potential use on the International Space
Station when astronauts will use a robot arm to maneuver large
elements over long distances with extreme precision and when the arm
operator may not have the benefit of a direct view during arm
operations.
  Brown and Rominger also continue to watch over orbiter thruster
firings and rendezvous maneuvers in support of the CRISTA-SPAS
satellite, now finishing its fifth day of free flight away from
Discovery.  The orbiter maintains a distance of between 25 and 60
nautical miles from the satellite so that investigators can
communicate with the spacecraft using the shuttle as a conduit for the
link.  In concert with the satellite's on-orbit data gathering, a
number of ground-launched rocket and balloon validation flights are
being conducted from Wallops Island off the coast of Virginia.
  In addition to assisting Brown and Rominger with orbiter system
oversight, Flight Engineer Bob Curbeam, today continued his work with
the Bioreactor Demonstration System designed to perform cell biology
experiments under controlled conditions.
  Canadian Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason took time out from his
work with the Microgravity Isolation Mount (MIM) experiment to talk
with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien earlier today.  Tryggvason
then resumed his work with MIM which uses magnets to levitate a
platform and protect sensitive microgravity processing experiments
from vibrations.
  Discovery's six-member crew began an 8-hour sleep period at 4:41
p.m. central time today and awaken at 12:41 Wednesday.
  STS-85 Flight Day 7 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, August 13, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #14
reports:
  More than halfway through their planned 11 day flight, Discovery's
astronauts today took a hands off approach to operations with many of
the payloads on board including the small robot arm being tested for
future use on the International Space Station.
  The Manipulator Flight Demonstration experiment, or Small Fine Arm,
supplied by the National Space Development Agency of Japan, was
powered up for a final day of operations.  The tests today, however,
center on the ability of the arm to be remotely operated from the
ground instead of onboard by the crew.  The ground commanded maneuvers
of the arm demonstrated the usefulness of conducting work in space
even while the crew is asleep or busy with other tasks.
  This morning's wakeup call to the crew was in honor of Canadian
Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason's work with an experiment
vibration isolation system, called MIM.  The Beach Boys'."Good
Vibrations" woke the crew to begin its seventh flight day at about
12:40 this morning.
  While Tryggvason works with the Microgravity Vibration Isolation
Mount, Flight Engineer Bob Curbeam continues his work with the
Bioreactor Demonstration System designed to perform cell biology
experiments under controlled conditions.
  Payload Commander Jan Davis and Mission Specialist Steve Robinson
watched over the ground commanded maneuvers of the small robot arm in
the payload bay and later plan to take control of it for a final
demonstration of its ability to remove and replace a simulated orbital
replacement unit.
  Commander Curt Brown and Pilot Rominger fired Discovery's thrusters
to slowly phase in toward the CRISTA-SPAS satellite in order to
maintain a distance of between 25 and 40 nautical miles from the
satellite so that investigators can communicate with the spacecraft
using the shuttle as a conduit for the link.
The crew is scheduled to go to sleep about 3:30 this afternoon and
wake up at 11:41 tonight.
 On Wednesday, August 13, 1997, 4:00 p.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #15
reports:
 Now into the second half of their planned 11 day flight, Discovery's
astronauts today took a hands off approach to operations with the
small robot arm being tested for future use on the International Space
Station.
  In an effort to cycle the crew's wake/sleep periods around for the
end of the mission time frame, Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent
Rominger, Mission Specialists Jan Davis, Robert Curbeam, Steve
Robinson and Canadian Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason are already
into a sleep period which began at 3:41 p.m. CDT.
  The Manipulator Flight Demonstration experiment, or Small Fine Arm,
supplied by the National Space Development Agency of Japan, was
powered up today for a fourth day of operations.  The tests today,
however, center on the ability of the arm to be remotely operated from
the ground instead of onboard by the crew.  The ground commanded
maneuvers of the arm demonstrated the usefulness of conducting work in
space even while the crew is asleep or busy with other tasks.
  Davis and Robinson watched over the ground commanded maneuvers of
the small robot arm in the payload bay and later took over control of
the arm for a final demonstration of its ability to remove and replace
a simulated orbital replacement unit.
  Some final ground control operations of the mechanical arm had been
planned following the ORU work but was not completed due to a
communication problem.  Flight controllers believe a commanding
problem exist somewhere onboard in the network system of laptop
computers that support MFD ground command tests.  The flight team is
now looking at the possibility of adding additional time for MFD
operations sometime on Flight Day Nine.
  Tryggvason performed additional tasks with the Microgravity
Vibration Isolation Mount experiment while Curbeam continued his work
with the Bioreactor Demonstration System designed to perform cell
biology experiments under controlled conditions.
  Brown and Rominger continued to periodically fire Discovery's
thrusters to maintain the desired distance window with the CRISTA-SPAS
satellite so that investigators can communicate with the spacecraft
using the shuttle as a conduit for the link.
  The Shuttle is also being maneuvered on a regular basis to support
observation requirements with the variety of experiments being carried
on the Technology Applications and Science (TAS) and International
Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhike (IEH) payloads being carried in the
payload bay of Discovery.
  TAS holds seven separate experiments that will provide data on the
Earth's topography and atmosphere, study the sun's energy and test new
thermal control devices.  The four experiments comprising the IEH
payload will study ultraviolet radiation from the stars, the sun and
other sources in the solar system.
  Approximately 150 different maneuvers are planned to support STS-85
science activities.  Because of the high number of required attitude
changes, about 5-6 maneuvers are performed remotely by the flight
control team while the crew is asleep each evening.
  Early this morning, Brown took a break from his orbiter duties, to
conduct an interview with WRC-TV in Washington, D.C.  Brown discussed
the work being done with the MFD mechanical arm and the data being
collected by the CRISTA-SPAS satellite.
  The STS-85 crew will receive its wake up call from Mission Control
at 11:41 p.m. this evening to begin the eighth day of on orbit
operations.
  STS-85 Flight Day 8 Highlights:
 On Thursday, August 14, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #16
reports:
  Much of the first half of Discovery's seventh day in space was spent
rotating the orbiter back and forth to support deep space viewing of
Comet Hale-Bopp while in darkness and measuring the Sun's energy input
to Earth's atmosphere while in daylight.
  The wake up call to the crew came at 11:41 last night.  The
song."You Will Go to the Moon" by Moxy Fruvous signalled the start of
flight day eight for the STS-85 crew which consists of Commander Curt
Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger, Mission Specialists Jan Davis, Bob Curbeam
and Steve Robinson, and Canadian Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason.
  Soon after wakeup, Brown put Discovery through a series of maneuvers
to support Hale-Bopp viewing using a small ultraviolet emission
detecting telescope mounted in the side-hatch window of the orbiter.
Robinson oversaw operation with the telescope.  When Discovery moved
into daylight, Brown repositioned the payload so that the Solar
Constant experiment's radiometers could measure the Sun's total energy
input into the Earth's atmosphere.
  Meanwhile, flight planners are discussing whether or not to conduct
further ground commanded maneuvers of the Manipulator Flight
Demonstration experiment after yesterday's testing was cut short.
Should additional time be granted, the work with the small robotic arm
in the payload bay would likely occur tomorrow.
  Tryggvason continues his work with the Microgravity Vibration
Isolation Mount experiment and Curbeam spent the morning overseeing
activities with the Bioreactor Demonstration System designed to
perform cell biology experiments under controlled conditions.
  A morning thruster firing of Discovery's reaction control system
jets by Brown and Rominger continues to maintain the desired distance
from the CRISTA-SPAS satellite so that investigators can communicate
with the spacecraft using the shuttle as a conduit for the link.  The
satellite is scheduled to be placed back aboard the orbiter Saturday
morning.
  The STS-85 crew is scheduled to go to bed about 2:30 this afternoon
and receive a wakeup call from Mission Control at 11:41 tonight.
 On Thursday, August 14, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #17
reports:
  Following a week of activities that included the deployment of an
atmospheric satellite, evaluation tests of hardware and software to be
used on the future International Space Station and work with numerous
science and technology experiments, the STS-85 astronauts enjoyed some
time off before they enter the home stretch of their 11-day mission.
  Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger, Mission Specialists Jan
Davis, Robert Curbeam, Steve Robinson and Payload Specialist Bjarni
Tryggvason from the Canadian Space Agency were given a half day off as
is normally done on longer shuttle missions to keep the crew well
rested and operating at peak efficiency.  The crew is in a nine-hour
sleep period that began at 2:41 p.m.
  This morning, Robinson again used the Southwest Ultraviolet Imaging
System (SWUIS), a 7-inch imaging telescope that is pointed out of the
orbiter's middeck hatch window, to observe the Hale-Bopp
comet. Curbeam continued his work with the Bioreactor Demonstration
System designed to perform cell biology experiments under controlled
conditions. Tryggvason spent part of his time troubleshooting a
computer hard drive system that support the Microgravity Vibration
Isolation Mount experiment.
  As the shuttle crew entered the final portion of its flight, the new
Mir 24 crew of Commander Anatoly Solovyev and Flight Engineer Pavel
Vinogradov, who arrived on the station the same day Discovery was
launched, bid farewell to Mir 23 Commander Vasily Tsibliev and Flight
Engineer Alexander Lazutkin who are returning home after 185 days in
space. The Soyuz vehicle carrying the Mir 23 crew home undocked from
the station at 3:56 a.m. CDT. Following a four-minute deorbit burn at
6:22 a.m. and journey through the atmosphere, their spacecraft landed
in Central Asia at 7:17 a.m. CDT. After Tsibliev and Lazutkin landed,
they were flown to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center outside of
Moscow, where they will undergo medical exams and debriefings about
their mission. They were reunited with their families shortly after
returning to the Star City facility.
  When the Discovery crew resumes full-up operations Friday, it will
have one additional experiment activity. Mission managers have
approved a plan to conduct further ground commanded maneuvers of the
small mechanical arm associated with the Manipulator Flight
Demonstration payload that were not completed during yesterday's
testing session. The STS-85 astronauts are scheduled to receive a
wake-up call from Mission Control at 11:41 p.m. tonight to begin their
ninth day of on orbit activities.
  STS-85 Flight Day 9 Highlights:
 On Friday, August 15, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #18
reports:
  A final day of robotic arm testing with a prototype destined for use
on the International Space Station signaled the start of Discovery's
ninth flight day in space.
  Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger, Mission Specialists Jan
Davis, Robert Curbeam and Steve Robinson, and Canadian Payload
Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason were awakened by Jackson Browne's
rendition of."Stay" which prompted Brown to jokingly wish for an
extension day to the planned end of mission Monday.
  Jan Davis watched over the Manipulator Flight Demonstration
experiment while Japanese investigators again maneuvered the Small
Fine Arm remotely from a control room near Mission Control.  It is the
final planned work with the arm during this mission.
  While MFD operations were ongoing, Robinson again used the Southwest
Ultraviolet Imaging System's ultraviolet imaging telescope to observe
Comet Hale-Bopp and Curbeam continued his work with the Bioreactor
Demonstration System designed to perform cell biology experiments
under controlled conditions.  Tryggvason spent his day supporting data
gathering with the Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount experiment.
  Before the crew's workday began, they discussed the mission's
progress with reporters in the U.S. and Canada as part of the
traditional crew news conference.  Questions ranged from life in space
for the first time space travelers to providing a report card on the
more than 24 experiments being conducted throughout the mission.
  With landing scheduled for Monday, Brown and Rominger conducted
routine communications checks with ground stations in Florida and
California to ensure a good link when Discovery is on final approach
to the runway.  Forecasters predict favorable conditions for the
single landing opportunity available at the Kennedy Space Center in
Florida, Monday, citing a dominant high pressure system that should
remain in the area for several days.  While the actual landing time is
likely to change following tomorrow's rendezvous and retrieval of the
CRISTA-SPAS satellite, Discovery is expected to touchdown at about
6:14 a.m. Central time on the concrete runway at the Shuttle Landing
Facility.
 On Friday, August 15, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #19
reports:
  Flight day nine activities aboard Discovery today saw the STS-85
crew support the last test of ground commanding capability of a small
robotic arm, final data collection and deactivation of several science
experiments and a checkout of the equipment that will support
satellite retrieval operations Saturday.
  Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger, Mission Specialists Jan
Davis, Robert Curbeam and Steve Robinson, and Canadian Payload
Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason are in an eight hour sleep period and
will awaken at 10:41 p.m. CDT.
  Friday, Davis watched over the Manipulator Flight Demonstration
experiment while Japanese investigators again maneuvered the Small
Fine Arm remotely from a control room near Mission Control. This final
test completed all of the planned objectives for the prototype of an
arm that will be used at the end of a larger Japanese Experiment
Module (JEM) arm on the future International Space Station
(ISS). Shortly before going to sleep, the crew received a musical
thank you -- part of the song."Mr. Robot" by the group Styx -- from
the MFD team in Mission Control.
  Robinson completed final data takes with the Southwest Ultraviolet
Imaging System (SWUIS), mounted to the inside of the middeck hatch
window, to observe Comet Hale-Bopp. Today's data, along with
information gathered during three previous sessions, will help
investigators understand what the comet is made of and how it is being
affected by the solar wind.
  Curbeam completed his work with the Bioreactor Demonstration
System. More than 30 data runs with human colon cancer cells were
completed. Future research on the ISS may reveal a way to halt the
growth of these cells or kill them in the human body.
  Tryggvason spent his day gathering data with the Microgravity
Vibration Isolation Mount (MIM) experiment. The experiment, designed
to gather data on how to protect sensitive microgravity processing
experiments from spacecraft operation vibrations, is a more advanced
version of one that has been flying on Space Station Mir for more than
a year.
    With landing scheduled for Monday, Brown and Rominger conducted
routine communications checks with ground stations in Florida and
California to ensure a good link when Discovery is on final approach
to the runway. Forecasters predict favorable conditions for the single
landing opportunity available at the Kennedy Space Center on
Monday. While the actual landing time is likely to change following
tomorrow's rendezvous and retrieval of the CRISTA-SPAS satellite,
Discovery is expected to touchdown in Florida about 6:14 a.m. CDT.
  On Mir today, the Commander Anatoly Solovyev, Flight Engineer Pavel
Vinogradov and NASA Astronaut Mike Foale took a brief ride in their
Soyuz spacecraft, relocating it to a different docking port. The Mir
24 crew undocked from the Kvant-1 module at 8:30 a.m. CDT and redocked
to the transfer node 44 minutes later at 9:14 a.m. CDT. During the fly
around, Vinogradov took still photos and Foale recorded video of the
damaged Spektr science module, its solar arrays and other parts of the
station. Downlink of the video is not expected until Monday.
  STS-85 Flight Day 10 Highlights:
 On Saturday, August 16, 1997, 5:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #20
reports:
 The mission of an Earth atmospheric-studying satellite is set to end
today as Discovery and the STS-85 crew prepare to rendezvous and
retrieve the CRISTA-SPAS spacecraft after nine days of free flight
away from the shuttle.
  Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger, Mission Specialists Jan
Davis, Robert Curbeam and Steve Robinson, and Canadian Payload
Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason were awakened at 10:40 last night to
start their tenth flight day in space.  The Japanese Astro Boy cartoon
theme song."Mighty Iron Arm Atom" awoke the crew.
  Rendezvous activities began shortly after 4 a.m and the Terminal
Initiation burn is scheduled for just before 8 this morning.  TI sets
the stage for Brown's taking manual control of the final minutes of
the rendezvous placing Discovery within about 35 feet of the
satellite.  Davis will then use the shuttle's robotic arm to capture
the satellite shortly after 10 a.m.  The spacecraft should be latched
in Discovery's payload bay by about 11 a.m.  CRISTA-SPAS has been
scanning the Earth's atmosphere since Aug. 7, measuring ozone levels
while correlating its data with that collected from aircraft,
instruments launched on small rockets, and data obtained from high
altitude balloons.
  Early this morning, Robinson watched over an experiment designed to
study how cooling systems operate in space.  With operating problems
resolved on the Two-Phase Fluid Loop Experiment, or TPFLEX (teepee
flex), investigators expect to get all the data planned for the
mission.  Robinson later assisted, where necessary, with the
CRISTA-SPAS rendezvous activities.
  Although his work with the Bioreactor Demonstration System is
effectively complete, Curbeam will tend to the experiment by
performing a cell mixing procedure once a day for the rest of the
flight to ensure the cells are surrounded by a good mix of nutrients.
More than 30 data runs with human colon cancer cells were completed.
Future research on the ISS may reveal a way to halt the growth of
these cells or kill them in the human body.
  In addition to Tryggvason's continued operation of the Microgravity
Vibration Isolation Mount (MIM) experiment, plans are for the ground
to operate it during the crew's sleep period, also, to finish
gathering data.  Brown assured Mission Control that the experiment's
operation was quiet enough so as not to disturb the crew's rest.  The
experiment gathers data on how to minimize or even eliminate
vibrations that could disrupt sensitive microgravity processing
experiments.  The MIM on STS-85 is a more advanced version of one that
is flying on Space Station Mir.
  Discovery's mission is scheduled to end Monday with landing
scheduled about 6:14 a.m. central time.  A more defined landing time
will be calculated following today's rendezvous activities with the
CRISTA-SPAS satellite.  The Spaceflight Meteorology Group at the
Johnson Space Center predicts favorable weather in Florida for the
single landing opportunity available.  With plenty of consumables on
board, mission managers are not calling up support Monday at the
backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, CA.
 On Saturday, August 16, 1997, 11:30 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #21
reports:
  Discovery's crew completed the major objective of their mission with
the successful retrieval of the CRISTA-SPAS this morning.
  While Commander Curt Brown flew Discovery to within 35 feet of the
atmospheric research satellite, astronaut Jan Davis latched on to the
free-flyer with the shuttle's mechanical arm at 10:13 a.m. Central
time.  Released from Discovery on Aug. 7, the satellite had ranged as
far as 60 miles from the shuttle while performing its atmospheric
studies. Using the arm, Davis maneuvered the satellite back into
Discovery's cargo bay, latching it in place at about 11:30 a.m.  for
Monday's trip back to Earth
  The CRISTA-SPAS satellite studied the Earth's atmosphere during its
mission, measuring ozone levels while correlating its data with that
collected from aircraft, instruments launched on small rockets, and
data obtained from high altitude balloons. Scientists have reported
receiving all of the data originally planned for the studies and more
that will be analyzed in the coming months.
  Prior to capturing the satellite, Brown flew Discovery in a precise
practice approach to CRISTA-SPAS, imitating the approaches the Space
Shuttle will use to dock with the future International Space
Station. The practice session served as a successful flight test of
the station's planned approach procedures.
  Discovery's mission is scheduled to end Monday with landing
scheduled at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at about 6:14
a.m. central time. Forecasters currently predict favorable weather for
landing. Current plans are for flight controllers to target for only
the single Florida landing opportunity on Monday and not consider
opportunities for landing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA.
  Discovery's crew will begin a sleep period at 2:41 p.m. and awaken
for the next-to-last day of the mission at 10:41 p.m. today.
  STS-85 Flight Day 11 Highlights:
 On Sunday August 17, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #22
reports:
  Discovery is ready for its conversion from spacecraft to airplane in
preparation for tomorrow's planned landing at the Kennedy Space Center
in Florida, with touchdown set for 6:14 a.m.  Weather forecasters
predict favorable conditions for the end of mission following 11 days
in space.
  Two small Orbital Maneuvering System burns are scheduled for about
7:15 and 8 a.m. to lower Discovery's altitude from 160 to 138 nautical
miles in order to place the vehicle in the proper orbit for the
desired trajectory needed for reentry and landing.
  While Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger and Flight Engineer
Bob Curbeam tested the orbiter's flight control systems to ensure they
are in good shape to support reentry into Earth's atmosphere, Payload
Commander Jan Davis and Mission Specialist Steve Robinson practiced
techniques that will be used in the assembly of the International
Space Station.
  With the CRISTA-SPAS satellite's Earth atmospheric observations
completed, the spacecraft became a simulator for the Functional Cargo
Block - the first element of the ISS.  Davis maneuvered the satellite
into exact positions that will be seen on STS-88 for the FGB 's
attachment to the U.S.-built Node 1 as part of the second assembly
mission next year.  Next, the satellite was maneuvered as elements
will be on another station assembly flight to attach part of the ISS
truss structure.
  These tests provide in-flight verification of ISS assembly concepts
while evaluating the usefulness of various visual cues for the crew.
The Space Vision System, the robotic arm situational awareness
displays and the automatic targeting computer vision system will
assist crew members that may not always have the benefit of direct
viewing of robotic arm operations during space station assembly tasks.
  Canadian Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason, today, finished his
work with the Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount.  He is the sixth
Canadian to fly on the space shuttle.
  The crew was awakened at 10:45 last night to Lyle Lovett's."You're
Not from Texas," to begin the final day of on orbit operations,
including cleaning up the vehicle for the return home.  One final
sleep adjustment for the astronauts has them going to sleep at about
two this afternoon and waking up just after 10 p.m. tonight to begin
entry and landing preparations.
 On Sunday August 17, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #23
reports:
  Commander Curt Brown and Pilot Kent Rominger will fire Discovery's
orbital maneuvering system engines at 5:13 a.m. CDT Monday to initiate
the shuttle's return to Earth after 11 days of atmospheric research
and space station technology tests.
  Brown will guide the shuttle to a 6:14 a.m. CDT landing on runway 33
at the Kennedy Space Center. Forecasters are predicting favorable
conditions for Discovery's return to the Space Coast, but are watching
carefully the possibility of fog developing at the last
minute. Shuttle managers plan to shoot for a Tuesday landing in
Florida if Monday's landing there is not feasible.
  The crew's final day on orbit will begin with a wake-up call at
10:11 p.m. Sunday. About 1:30 a.m., the crew will finish packing up
the last of the loose items in the crew cabin, and about 2:30 a.m. the
shuttle's payload bay doors will be closed. Once the deorbit burn has
been completed, Discovery will begin falling back to Earth and feel
contact with the atmosphere at an altitude of 395,000 feet.
  Flight Engineer Robert Curbeam and Mission Specialist Steve
Robinson, both making their first shuttle flight, will join the
commander and pilot on the flight deck for landing. Payload Commander
Jan Davis and Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason will be below on
the middeck.
  Returning to Earth with the astronauts will be the German-built
Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the
Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-2 (CRISTA-SPAS-2), which spent
nine days flying in formation with Discovery and recording data about
the composition of the Earth's atmosphere, and the Technology
Applications and Science-1 (TAS-01) and International Extreme
Ultraviolet Hitchhiker-2 (IEH-02) instruments, which scanned the Earth
and the solar system from the payload bay. Also aboard will be the
Japanese-built Manipulator Flight Demonstration (MFD) experiment,
which tested a small robotic arm destined for use on the future
International Space Station.
  The STS-85 astronauts are scheduled to return home to the Houston
area and a ceremony at Ellington Field's Hangar 990 about 4:45
p.m. Monday.
  STS-85 Flight Day 12 Highlights:
 On Monday August 18, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #24
reports:
  Discovery's six astronauts received a bonus day in space today after
their planned landing was postponed 24 hours because of the
uncertainty over ground fog at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle
Landing Facility.
  Entry Flight Director Wayne Hale called off the only landing
opportunity for the day at 5 a.m. Central time after forecasters
indicated that ground fog could build around the 3-mile long landing
strip as dawn approached. Landing support was not called up today for
the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
  Currently, one daylight landing opportunity is available on Tuesday
at the Kennedy Space Center, with the deorbit burn planned for 5:08
a.m. Central time and landing scheduled one hour later at 6:08
a.m. Central time. Another landing opportunity to KSC exists one orbit
earlier in darkness, at 4:35 a.m. Central time, but NASA managers have
not yet decided whether to prepare for that option.
  Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Kent Rominger, Mission Specialists Jan
Davis, Bob Curbeam, Steve Robinson and Payload Specialist Bjarni
Tryggvason removed their launch and entry suits after their landing
attempt was scrubbed and settled in for another day in orbit.
  The astronauts have no payload activities planned for the rest of
the day, which will wrap up with an eight-hour sleep period scheduled
to begin shortly after 1 p.m. Central time. The crew will be awakened
at about 9:11 p.m. tonight to begin deorbit and landing preparations
once again.
  Discovery continues to orbit the Earth at an altitude of about 150
statute miles in excellent shape.
 On Monday August 18, 1997, 7:00 p.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #25
reports:
  Monday was a bonus day for scientific research aboard the Space
Shuttle orbiter, Discovery. The threat of ground fog at Kennedy Space
Center, Florida, forced a wave-off of the planned early-morning
landing.  The crew resumed on-orbit operations, which included
reactivation of scientific instruments in the payload bay.
  The International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchiker-2 and Technology
Applications and Science-1 payloads resumed operation throughout the
flight day.  The orbiter's systems continued to function flawlessly.
  The Florida weather forecast for Tuesday is much the same as Monday.
With an ample supply of consumables on board, Shuttle managers have
opted to shoot only for a Florida landing Tuesday, and will not
activate landing support systems in California.  A single KSC landing
opportunity Tuesday would put Discovery on the runway at 6:07
a.m. CDT, following a planned deorbit burn at 5:07 a.m.  Morning fog
remains a possibility.
  Discovery's crew began its sleep shift at 2 p.m. CDT and will be
awakened at 9:41 p.m. to begin its second series of preparations for
deorbit and landing.
  The STS-85 astronauts are scheduled to return to Houston and a
ceremony at Ellington Field's Hanger 990 at approximately 4:45
p.m. Tuesday.
  STS-85 Flight Day 13 Highlights:
 On Tuesday August 19, 1997, 6:30 a.m. CDT, STS-85 MCC Status Report #26
reports:
  After spending an extra day in orbit, Discovery's astronauts glided
to a smooth landing at the Kennedy Space Center this morning to wrap
up a 12-day, 4.7 million mile mission designed to study the Earth's
atmosphere and test technology for the International Space Station.
  Commander Curt Brown set Discovery down on runway 33 at KSC's
Shuttle Landing Facility at 6:08 a.m. CDT to wrap up the sixth shuttle
mission of the year and the 86th in shuttle program history. It was
the 10th consecutive shuttle landing at the Florida spaceport.
  Discovery's landing came one day after a threat of ground fog forced
the astronauts to remain in orbit for an additional 24 hours, but this
morning, skies were clear and winds were calm to greet Brown, Pilot
Kent Rominger, Mission Specialists Jan Davis, Bob Curbeam and Steve
Robinson and Payload Specialist Bjarni Tryggvason.
  The astronauts plan to undergo brief medical exams at KSC and be
reunited with their families before flying back to Ellington Field in
Houston later this afternoon. Crew arrival is scheduled shortly after
4 p.m. Central time.
<end of mission>
Mission Name: STS-86 (87)
  Atlantis (20)
  Pad 39-A (64)
  87th Shuttle Mission
  Night Launch (19)
  20th Flight OV-104
  KSC-Landing (40)
 NOTE: Click Here for Countdown Homepage
Crew:
  James D. Wetherbee (4), Commander
  Michael J. Bloomfield (1), Pilot
  Vladimar G. Titov (5), (RSA) Mission Specialist
  Scott E. Parazynski (2), Mission Specialist
  Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien (3), (CNES) Mission Specialist
  Wendy B. Lawrence (2), Mission Specialist
  David A. Wolf (2), Mission Specialist
 Download:
  C. Michael Foale
 NOTE: Wendy B. Lawrence was scheduled to replace C. Michael Foale onboard MIR.
       However, due to concerns about the minimum size restrictions of the
       Russian MIR Orlan EVA Spacesuit, her backup David A. Wolf was selected in
       her place. Wolf was originally scheduled to fly on the STS-89 mission to
       MIR and join the Mir 24 crew.
  (Reference the Crew's Personal World Wide Web page)
Milestones:
     VAB -- 04/08/97 Storage (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 04/08/1997)
   OPF-3 -- 05/24/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 5/24/1997)
     VAB -- 08/11/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/11/1997)
     PAD -- 08/18/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/18/1997)
    T-43 -- 09/22/97 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/18/1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Jul 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Aug 1997)
  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status Sep 1997)
Payload:
  Mir-Docking/7, SpaceHab-DM, MEEP-R, EDFT-06, SEEDS-II, GAS(G-036),
  CCM-07, MSX-09, CREAM-09, KIDSAT-03, RME-III-21, SIMPLEX-02
Mission Objectives:
  The 7th Mir Docking mission carries a Spacehab double module for a
docking with Mir, cargo transfer and an astronaut exchange. The
shuttle previously Mir missions were STS-71, STS-74, STS-76, STS-79,
STS-81 and STS-84.
  Highlights of the 10-day mission include five days of docked
operations between Atlantis and Mir and the exchange of crew members
Foale and Wolf to continue a permanent American presence of the
Russia complex.  A spacewalk is scheduled to retrieve the four Mir
Environmental Effects Payloads which were attached to the Mir's
docking module by Linda Godwin and Rich Clifford during STS-76 to
characterize the environment surrounding the Mir space
station. Atlantis will carry the SPACEHAB double module to support the
transfer of logistics and supplies for Mir and the return of
experiment hardware and specimens to Earth.
Launch:
   Launch September 25, 1997 10:34:19 pm EDT.  Launch window was
6-10 minutes.  The launch window actually opened at about 10:29
p.m. and extended for about 10 minutes. However, instead of launching
at the opening of this period, the mission management team decided
to target the most optimum launch time of 10:34 p.m. EDT for vehicle
performance reasons.  Air Force weather forecasters predicted
a 20 percent probability that weather would prohibit launch.
(Reference KSC Weather History 09/25/1997 2000).
   On Thursday, 9/25/97, the Rotating Service Structure was moved to
the launch position at about 3:30 a.m.  At 10 a.m. EDT, following a
MIR safety review, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin gave the go ahead for
the STS-86 mission, as well as David Wolf's stay on MIR.  Tanking
operations started at 2:30 p.m. EDT, approximately 1 hour later than
planned due to software problem in the MPS Firing Room Console.  The
crew met for the traditional breakfast/lunch at 5:40 pm.  At 6:41pm
EDT the countdown clock picked up at the T-minus 3 hour mark.  The
crew departed for the launch pad at 6:44 p.m. EDT and the flight crew
was all strapped by 8:20pm EDT.  Voice communication checks were
completed by 8:26pm EDT and by 8:31 pm EDT, the hatch closed and
configured for flight.  At 9:21 pm EDT, the countdown entered a
planned 10 minute hold at the T-minus 20 minute mark.  The count then
counted down to the T-minus 9 minute mark where it sat until 10:25pm
EDT.  At T-minus 7 minute 30 seconds the Orbiter Access Arm (OAA) was
retracted.  At T-minus 6 minutes 9 seconds, the APU prestart sequence
was started and APU start occured at T-minus 5 minutes 30 seconds.
Auto sequence start occured at 22:33pm EDT.  Liftoff occured at
10:34:20pm EDT.  SRB separation at 10:37pm EDT.  SSME cutoff at
10:43pm EDT.
   On Tuesday, 9/23/97, Loading of cryogenic reactants into the power
reactant storage distribution system was under way and concluded at
about 6 p.m.  A replacement computer for Space Station Mir was
prepared for stowage at the SPACEHAB Payload Processing Facility and
will be installed into the Spacehab module 9/24/97.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/24/1997)
  On Monday, 9/22/97, the launch countdown for mission STS-86 began at
2 p.m.  Following normal aft compartment close-out activities last
week, technicians reopened the aft to change out a helium regulator on
main engine No. 1 that displayed indications of pressure loss. The new
regulator was retested over the weekend and the aft compartment is now
closed for flight. Flight crew equipment stowage was also completed.
A 59-pound replacement computer for the Mir space station arrived at
KSC early today for installation into Atlantis on Wednesday during
scheduled late stow activities. The STS-86 crew also arrived at KSC.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/22/1997)
  On Thursday, 9/18/97, ordnance connections and checks were complete
and the space suits to be used by Parazynski and Titov during their
planned space walk have been installed into the orbiter's
airlock. Aft engine compartment close-outs continued with aft door
installation at midnight.  (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/18/1997)
  On Friday, 8/29/97, Atlantis' main propulsion system cavity purge
was complete. Installation of the pyrotechnic canister assemblies at
the aft external tank/orbiter attach points continues. Engineers
gained access to the rudder speed brake sector seals for visual
inspections. The Shuttle's payload bay doors will be opened next
Friday to support vertical payload installation on Saturday. The
Spacehab payload will be delivered to Pad 39A on Sept. 4.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/29/1997)
  On Tuesday, 8/26/97, loading of hypergolic fuels into Atlantis'
power reactant storage and distribution system began and will
conclude 8/28/97.  In the Shuttle's aft compartment, the
pyrotechnic canister assemblies will be installed at the external
tank/orbiter attach points later this week.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/26/1997)
  On Monday, 8/18/97, the Space Shuttle Atlantis rolled out to launch
pad 39A at about 2 a.m. and was hard down at 8:30 a.m. The
Rotating Service Structure (RSS) was rolled around Atlantis at about
11a.m. Main engine flight readiness testing begins 8/19/97. The
Spacehab payload is slated to join the orbiter at the pad Aug. 28.
(Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/18/1997)
  On Wednesday, 6/25/97, servicing of Endeavour's freon coolant loop
No. 2 was underway and continues through Sunday.  Radiator functional
Tests were in work.  Weight saving modifications of the left and right
hand elevon coves, where the back of the orbiter's wings meet the aft
fuselage, were in work until Monday.  Engineers are evaluating leak
check data from a 17-inch disconnect on the umbilical assembly that joins
the external tank to the orbiter. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/25/1997)
  On Tuesday, 6/17/97, deservicing of freon coolant loop No. 2 was in
work and trouble shooting of the accumulator on freon coolant loop
No. 1 was also in progress. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 6/17/1997)
Orbit:
  Altitude: 184 statute miles
  Inclination: 51.6
  Orbits: 169
  Duration: 10 days, 19 hours,  22 minutes,  12 seconds.
  Distance:  miles
Hardware:
  SRB:  BIO-90
  SRM:
  ET : SN-88
  MLP : MLP-3
  SSME-1: SN-2012
  SSME-2: SN-2040
  SSME-3: SN-2019
Landing:
  KSC October 6, 1997 at 5:55 p.m. EDT Runway 15
Main Gear Touchdown 5:55:09 pm EDT (MET 10 Days 19 Hours 20 Min 50 Sec)
Nose Gear Touchdown 5:55:19 pm EDT (MET 10 Days 19 Hours 21 Min 00 Sec)
Wheel Stop 5:56:31pm EDT (MET 10 Days 19 hours 22 Min 12 Sec)
  At 4:31pm EDT 10/6/97, Atlantis was given a go to manuever to the
deorbit burn attitude and at 4:35pm EDT the crew was given a go for
the burn.  KSC weather at landing time was expected to have some cloud
cover at 33,000 feet with cross winds of 10 knots and gusts to 15
knots.  (Reference KSC Weather History 10/06/1997 1700).
  The deorbit burn occured at 4:48pm EDT on orbit 169.  At 5:51pm EDT,
long range cameras picked up the shuttle and double sonic booms were
heard at KSC as the shuttle slowed down to just below the speed of
sound.  Time to touchdown was 2min 30sec.  Landing Gear down and
locked at 5:54pm EDT, touchdown 5:55pm EDT.
  Other landing opportunities on Monday were available but not
needed. The second KSC landing opportunity on 10/6/97 would have been
on orbit 170, with a deorbit burn at 6:24 p.m. EDT, and touchdown at
KSC at 7:30 p.m. EDT. Two landing opportunities at Edward's Air Force
Base were also possible. The first would have been on orbit 171, with
a deorbit burn 7:54 EDT and a landing at 9:01 EDT. The second
opportunity for Edwards would have been on orbit 172, deorbit burn at
9:31 EDT, with a landing at 10:37 EDT.
  Both landing opportunties for KSC on October 5, 1997, were waved off
due to to cloud cover and high winds at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility
(SLF).  (Reference KSC Weather History 10/05/1997 1900).
Mission Highlights:
  STS-86 Flight Day 1 Highlights:
 On Thursday, September 25, 1997, 10:00 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #1
reports:
  After receiving final clearance to launch from NASA Administrator
Daniel Goldin earlier in the day, Atlantis' astronauts blasted off on
time from the Kennedy Space Center tonight at 9:34 p.m. Central time
to begin the seventh docking mission to the Mir Space Station.
  Atlantis lit up the central Florida coastline as Commander Jim
Wetherbee, Pilot Mike Bloomfield and Mission Specialists Vladimir
Titov, Scott Parazynski, Jean-Loup Chretien, Wendy Lawrence and David
Wolf began their planned 10-day flight to transfer Wolf to the Mir to
replace astronaut Mike Foale, who is nearing the end of his four-month
mission on the Russian complex.
  Shortly after reaching orbit, the astronauts began to activate
Shuttle and Spacehab systems and planned a minor firing of the orbital
maneuvering system engines to refine Atlantis' path to the Mir, which
was flying over Southern Europe at launch time at an altitude of about
215 nautical miles with Commander Anatoly Solovyev, Flight Engineer
Pavel Vinogradov and Foale aboard.
  The astronauts are scheduled to begin an eight-hour sleep period at
2:34 a.m. and will be awakened at 10:34 a.m. Central time Friday
morning to begin their first full day in space.
  Atlantis and the Mir Space Station are both in excellent condition
with all systems functioning normally.
  STS-86 Flight Day 2 Highlights:
 On Friday, September 26, 1997 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #2
reports:
  The seven-member crew of Atlantis begins its first full day on orbit
this morning, with Atlantis continuing its pursuit of the Mir Space
Station.  The two vehicles currently are separated by a distance of
about 2,700 nautical miles, with Atlantis trailing the Russian
outpost.
  Most of today's activities will focus on preparations for Saturday
afternoon's planned docking between the two spacecraft and a
subsequent spacewalk to be performed by Mission Specialists Scott
Parazynski and Vladimir Titov.  Mission Commander Jim Wetherbee and
Pilot Mike Bloomfield will conduct another in a series of planned
engine firings to refine Atlantis' approach to the Mir Space
Station. Wetherbee and Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence will then
install the centerline camera in the Orbiter Docking System.  The
camera will provide views of docking targets and the docking module
during the final phase of the rendezvous activities.
  While Bloomfield verifies the health of tools to be used during the
rendezvous, Parazynski and French Mission Specialist Jean-Loup
Chretien will extend the orbiter docking ring to verify its
performance.  The ring, which mates with a similar device on the Mir,
will remain extended after this initial verification check. Parazynski
and Titov also will check out the spacesuits they will wear during
their spacewalk.  In addition, they will begin preparing Atlantis'
airlock to support their spacewalk activities.
  Titov and Chretien will complete activation of the Spacehab module
housed in Atlantis' payload bay and Chretien and Mission Specialist
Dave Wolf will begin staging some of the logistical materials which
will be transferred to Mir.
  Wetherbee, Wolf and Lawrence will take time this afternoon to
discuss their mission, and Wolf's transfer to the Mir Space Station,
with National Public Radio in an interview scheduled for 2:06
p.m. central time.
  The crew will awaken today at 11:34 a.m. central time, one hour
later than originally scheduled, to ensure adequate rest for the
astronauts. At least some of the crew members were awake up to two
hours past their planned sleep period as they worked to configure
Atlantis for 10 days of orbital operations.
  Atlantis and the Mir Space Station are both in excellent condition
with all systems functioning normally.
 On Friday, September 26, 1997, 8:00 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #3
reports:
 Atlantis' astronauts spent their first full day in space preparing
for tomorrow's rendezvous and docking with the Russian space station
Mir as they tested equipment which will be used for the seventh linkup
between the two vehicles and the spacesuits which will be worn next
week by two astronauts during a spacewalk outside the Atlantis-Mir
complex.
  The astronauts were awakened at 11:34 a.m. Central time this morning
and moved right into their tasks, completing the activation of systems
in the Spacehab double module at the rear of Atlantis' cargo bay and
checking out rendezvous tools which will be used by Pilot Mike
Bloomfield and Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski tomorrow to measure
distance and closing rate to the Mir. Commander Jim Wetherbee will
manually fly Atlantis to its linkup with the Mir over the final 600
feet of the approach to the station after Atlantis arrives at a
prescribed point below Mir.
  Bloomfield and crewmate Wendy Lawrence installed a centerline camera
in the Orbiter Docking System aboard Atlantis which will offer
Wetherbee televised views of the alignment of Atlantis' docking
mechanism with the Mir's Docking Module docking mechanism tomorrow as
Wetherbee flies Atlantis from the aft flight deck control
panel. Lawrence and French Mission Specialist Jean-Loup Chretien also
set up radio gear which Chretien will use to communicate to Mir
Comander Anatoly Solovyev, Flight Engineer Pavel Vinogradov and
U.S. astronaut Mike Foale during the final phase of the
rendezvous. Chretien, who speaks fluent Russian, previously flew on
the Mir in 1988 and its predecessor, the Russian Salyut 7 space
station in 1982.
  On the eve of his arrival on the Mir to begin a four-month research
mission, David Wolf helped his crewmates with hardware setup and
exercised during his final hours as a Shuttle crewmember. Wolf will
formally become a member of the Mir crew early Sunday at which time
Foale will return as a member of Atlantis' crew once Wolf has
transferred his custom made Soyuz seatliner from the Spacehab module
to the Mir.
  Chretien and Lawrence began to fill contingency waste containment
bags with water for transfer to the Mir as part of the logistics which
will be moved to the Russian outpost over the course of the six days
of joint docked operations. In all, some 1400 pounds of water are
expected to be transferred from Atlantis to the Mir in about 15 bags.
  Parazynski completed a successful checkout of the spacesuits he and
Russian Mission Specialist Vladimir Titov will wear during a scheduled
five-hour spacewalk outside the Mir next week to retrieve experiment
packages and to deploy a solar array cap which may be used to seal off
a potential leak site on the damaged Spektr module during a future
Russian spacewalk. Titov is making his second trip as a Shuttle
crewmember.
  Atlantis is scheduled to dock to the Mir at 2:56 p.m. Central time
tomorrow with the hatch opening between the two vehicles expected
about an hour and a half later. Atlantis and the Mir are both flying
in excellent condition with all systems reported to be in good shape.
  The astronauts plan to begin an abbreviated seven-hour sleep period
at 12:34 a.m. Central time Saturday and will be awakened at 7:34
a.m. to begin rendezvous activities.
  STS-86 Flight Day 3 Highlights:
 On Saturday, September 27, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #4
reports:
 The seven astronauts on board Atlantis are preparing for this
afternoon's docking with the Mir Space Station and a reunion with
American Astronaut Mike Foale, who is about to conclude his four-month
mission to the Russian outpost.
  The STS-86 crew - Commander Jim Wetherbee, Pilot Mike Bloomfield,
and Mission Specialists Scott Parazynski, Vladimir Titov, Jean-Loup
Chretien, Wendy Lawrence and Dave Wolf - are powering up and
installing many of the rendezvous aids they will use later today
during the final phase of their approach to Mir.  Wolf and Chretien
will activate the VHF radio that the astronauts and cosmonauts will
use to communicate with each other during the rendezvous activities.
Chretien, who speaks fluent Russian, will handle those communications
duties.
  This morning, Wetherbee and Bloomfield will conduct another in a
series of engine firings which are designed to refine Atlantis'
approach to Mir.  Shortly after 12:30 p.m. central time, they will
perform the terminal initiation burn which will place Atlantis on an
intercept course to Mir, and about 2 p.m. Atlantis should be about
2,500 feet beneath Mir, ready to begin its final approach.
  With his crew mates providing range rate and closure data obtained
from a variety of tools on board, Wetherbee will manually fly Atlantis
up toward Mir with contact and capture between the two vehicles
expected about 2:55 p.m.  About an hour and a half later, the hatches
between the two vehicles should swing open allowing Wetherbee and Mir
Commander Anatoly Solovyev to greet each other.
  The transfer of Wolf's custom-made Soyuz seatliner to the Mir on
Sunday morning will mark the start of his tenure as a Mir crewmember,
and conclude Foale's stay.
  Yesterday, the astronauts began filling containers, referred to as
CWC's, with water for transfer to the Mir.  Three bags, with a weight
of about 282 pounds, have been filled and a fourth water bag fill is
expected to be complete by the time Atlantis docks with Mir.
 On Saturday, September 27, 1997, 8:45 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #5
reports:
 For the seventh time in two years, the Shuttle Atlantis gently docked
with the Russian Mir Space Station this afternoon, bringing ten
astronauts and cosmonauts together for six days of joint docked
operations.
  Operating from Atlantis' aft flight deck, Commander Jim Wetherbee
guided Atlantis to a smooth docking with the Mir at 2:58 p.m. Central
time as the two vehicles flew north of the Caspian Sea east of the
Russian-Kazakh border at an altitude of about 215 nautical miles.
  The successful docking culminated a textbook rendezvous by
Wetherbee, who commanded a flight more than two years ago in which
Discovery rehearsed rendezvous techniques by flying to within 37 feet
of the Mir. All of the Russian outpost's systems functioned normally
during today's rendezvous and docking.
  Less than two hours later, at 4:45 p.m., Wetherbee and Mir Commander
Anatoly Solovyev opened their respective spacecraft's hatches and
shook hands, Wetherbee handing Solovyev a new computer for the Mir
which was brought into orbit by Atlantis for installation following
the docked phase of the mission. The ten crewmembers spent a few
minutes greeting one another at the start of their joint work which
will involve the transfer of some four tons of logistical supplies and
water from Atlantis to the Mir.
  The crewmembers planned to conduct a routine vehicle systems safety
briefing after a joint meal before beginning their respective sleep
periods later tonight. The transfer activities are scheduled to begin
in earnest on Sunday morning, at the same time astronaut David Wolf
formally becomes a member of the Mir crew following the transfer of
his custom-made Soyuz seatliner from Atlantis to the Mir. Astronaut
Mike Foale, who has been a Mir crewmember since May 18th, will become
a Shuttle crewmember at that point.
  No problems were encountered during the final phase of Atlantis'
approach to the Mir. Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski reported the
first visual sighting of the Russian complex while Atlantis was at a
distance of 36 miles from the Mir, just under four hours before the
docking itself.
  The Mir cosmonauts will begin a nine hour sleep period at 8:30
p.m. Central time tonight, two hours before Atlantis' astronauts begin
an eight-hour sleep period.
  The Atlantis-Mir space complex is orbiting the Earth at an altitude
of about 215 nautical miles with both spacecraft's systems operating
in excellent shape.
  STS-86 Flight Day 4 Highlights:
 On Sunday, September 28, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #6
reports:
  The 10 astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the Atlantis-Mir space complex
are spending their first full day of joint operations exchanging
American crew members on the Russian complex and beginning the
transfer of more than four tons of logistical supplies.
  Shortly before 11 a.m. central time today, Dave Wolf's custom made
Soyuz seatliner should be transferred from Atlantis to Mir marking the
official start of his stay on Mir. With that transfer, Mike Foale will
conclude 134 days as a Mir crew member and board Atlantis as a member
of the STS-86 crew.  Over the course of the next few days, Foale will
spend considerable time with Wolf, acquainting him with his new home
and showing him the location of experiments and hardware.
  Much of the joint crews' day will be spent transferring logistical
supplies between the two spacecraft.  In addition to transferring more
than four tons of material from Atlantis to Mir, the crew members will
move science return items, experiment hardware and other supplies from
Mir to Atlantis for a return trip to Earth. Five bags of water
totalling more than 500 pounds should be transferred to the Mir by the
end of the day. In all, a total of 17 bags of water totalling 1400
pounds will have been transferred by the time Atlantis undocks from
the Mir on Friday.
  Also on tap today is the Mir Structural Dynamics Experiment which will
measure the effects of jet firings and crew exercise on the
Shuttle-Mir complex.  Data gathered through this experiment will be
used in performing structural dynamics evaluations for the
International Space Station.
  Late this afternoon, Foale, Wolf and Mir Commander Anatoly Solovyev
will take time out from their activities to discuss their joint flight
in interviews with both ABC News and CBS News.
  The Atlantis-Mir space complex is orbiting the Earth at an altitude of
about 215 nautical miles with both spacecraft's systems operating in
excellent shape.
 On Sunday, September 28, 1997, 6:00 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #7
reports:
  Atlantis' astronauts and the Mir Space Station cosmonauts traded
crew members today as David Wolf formally began a four-month research
mission as a member of the Mir 24 crew and astronaut Mike Foale ended
his 134-day stint by returning as a Shuttle crew member in the first
full day of docked operations between the two spacecraft.
  One day after Atlantis docked to the Mir, Wolf transferred his
custom-made Soyuz capsule seatliner and associated gear to the Russian
complex, officially joining Mir 24 Commander Anatoly Solovyev and
Flight Engineer Pavel Vinogradov at approximately 11 a.m. Central
time. Wolf quickly set up shop in the Kvant-2 module, which he will
use as his sleeping quarters and a place from which to coordinate
scientific experiments during his stay on orbit.
  Foale, who began his role as a Mir crew member back on May 17th,
moved his personal belongings back into Atlantis, just one week before
he is scheduled to complete his long duration flight with a landing
back in Florida.
  Among the items transferred from Atlantis to Mir today included
seven bags of water totaling about 500 pounds, more than one-third of
the water to be hauled into the Russian station for use over the next
several months. Several large air pressurization units and a variety
of experiment hardware to collect data for the International Space
Station program office also were carried over to the Mir.
  This afternoon, Commander Jim Wetherbee and Pilot Mike Bloomfield
fired small jet thrusters on Atlantis to provide data for the Mir
Structual Dynamics Experiment (MISDE), which measures disturbances to
space station components and its solar arrays. The data will also be
used by International Space Station engineers in their fine-tuning of
hardware for the new outpost.
  The Mir cosmonauts and Wolf will begin their 9-hour sleep period at
about 8:30 p.m. CDT this evening and the Shuttle crew goes to sleep
about 10:30 p.m.  The Mir crew will wake up at about 5:30 a.m. CDT
Monday followed an hour later by the Shuttle crew. Monday is another
full day of transfer operations along with data gather on some of the
secondary shuttle payloads and photography of the Mir complex from
Atlantis' Spacehab windows. The next major mission event comes on
Wednesday with the spacewalk by Scott Parazynski and Vladimir Titov.
  STS-86 Flight Day 5 Highlights:
 On Monday, September 29, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #8
reports:
  A full day of transfer activities is planned for the joint
Atlantis/Mir crew members as they move into their second full day of
docked operations.
  Experiment hardware, logistical supplies and water continue to be
moved between the two vehicles as the astronauts and cosmonauts work
side by side.  Mir 24 crew member Dave Wolf also is receiving daily
briefings from Mike Foale who concluded his 134-day visit to Mir on
Sunday morning.  Foale is acquainting Wolf with the the Mir station,
which will be his home for the next four months.
  Yesterday, Commander Jim Wetherbee and Pilot Mike Bloomfield fired
small thrusters on Atlantis to provide data for the Mir Structural
Dynamics Experiment (MiSDE), which measures the structural reaction of
station components and solar arrays. The data will be used for
structural analyses for the International Space Station.  U.S. and
Russian managers will review the data in a regularly-scheduled
teleconference on Tuesday.  In the meantime, a secondary test,
DTO-259, the tuned notch filter test, was canceled.
  U.S. and Russian flight controllers continue to discuss whether to
install the new main computer in Mir as early as Wednesday.  Atlantis
would provide attitude control for the combined spacecraft during the
replacement procedure.  Also on Wednesday, Scott Parazynski and
Vladimir Titov will conduct a spacewalk outside Atlantis/Mir,
retrieving four experiment packages mounted by astronauts Linda Godwin
and Rich Clifford during STS-76 in March 1996.
 On Monday, September 29, 1997, 9:15 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #9
reports:
  The ten astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the Atlantis-Mir space
complex continued their transfer activities today, moving more
logistical supplies and water to the Russian outpost as U.S. astronaut
Dave Wolf settled in for his four-month mission on the space station.
  Wolf spent part of the day conducting experiments with a biomedical
device on the Mir designed to cultivate cell tissue in the absence of
gravity. Having set up his living quarters in the Mir's Kvant-2
module, Wolf also had a chance to spend time with astronaut Mike
Foale, his U.S. predecessor on the Mir, as Foale helped familiarize
Wolf with his new orbital home.
  Foale worked with Mir Flight Engineer Pavel Vinogradov to complete
the cultivation of plants in the Mir's Greenhouse experiment which has
studied plant growth in the absence of gravity during Foale's tenure
on the Russian station.
  Mission Specialists Vladimir Titov and Scott Parazynski joined
Vinogradov and Mir 24 Commander Anatoly Solovyev in the continuing
transfer of water and logistical supplies to the Mir for use over the
next several months. As the two crews began their workday,
approximately half of all of the items earmarked for transfer between
both vehicles had already been moved to their respective locations.
  U.S. and Russian flight controllers spent time today discussing the
techniques and timelines which will be used for the installation of
the new central computer for the Mir which was transferred from
Atlantis Commander Jim Wetherbee to Solovyev Saturday at the time of
hatch opening. Pending final approval Tuesday morning, the computer is
expected to be installed in the Mir Wednesday prior to the start of a
five-hour spacewalk in Atlantis' cargo bay by Titov and Parazynski. It
could take most of the day for software to be reloaded in the new
computer, but no Mir systems performance should be affected since
Atlantis will maintain the correct orientation to the sun for the
Russian station for electrical production through its solar arrays.
  Once the Mir's new computer is back on line, the station's gyrodynes
can once again be spun up to provide automatic attitude
control. Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the Mir Friday morning
at the conclusion of six days of joint operations.
  The Atlantis-Mir space complex is orbiting the Earth at an altitude
of about 215 nautical miles with both spacecraft's systems operating
in excellent shape.
  STS-86 Flight Day 6 Highlights:
 On Tuesday, September 30, 1997, 6:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #10
reports:
  Preparations for a spacewalk and continuing transfer work will be
the focus of activity on board Atlantis/Mir today.
  As their crew mates move logistical supplies, water, experiment
hardware and other equipment between Atlantis and Mir, Astronauts
Scott Parazynski and Vladimir Titov will ready themselves for
Wednesday's planned spacewalk.  Parazynski and Titov will unstow their
spacesuits and check out some of the tools, tethers and other
equipment they will be using during the spacewalk.
  During the five-hour excursion, they will retrieve four
suitcase-sized experiments called the Mir Environmental Effects
Payload (MEEP) that have been gathering data on the environment
surrounding the space station since being installed in March 1996 by
Astronauts Linda Godwin and Rich Clifford.  They also will tether a
solar array cap to the docking module for use during a future Mir EVA.
The cap is designed to seal off the base of the damaged solar array on
the Spektr module if and when cosmonauts jettison that array.
  Transfer items today will include additional containers of water, an
old Elektron oxygen-generating unit, and an experiment which studies
circadian rhythms.  The Beetle experiment was designed to study how a
simple organism, such as the black-bodied beetle, responds to changes
in the time cues, such as light or dark, that influence the internal
body clock. In humans, these changes in circadian rhythms are often
manifested as jet lag or lethargy and are often observed in shift
workers.
  The astronauts and cosmonauts also will take time today to discuss
their mission in interviews scheduled with CNN, PBS and Russian media.
  Plans are still being refined to allow the cosmonauts to install a
new computer in Mir on Wednesday prior to the start of Titov and
Parazynski's spacewalk.  It could take most of the day for software to
be reloaded in the new computer, but no Mir systems performance should
be affected since Atlantis will be maintaining attitude for the joint
spacecraft.
  The Atlantis-Mir space complex is orbiting the Earth at an altitude
of about 215 nautical miles with both spacecraft's systems operating
in excellent shape.
 On Tuesday, September 30, 1997, 8:00 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #11
reports:
  Transfer and hand-over activities continued today onboard the docked
Atlantis-Mir complex, with more than three-quarters of all items to be
brought across having been transferred. Among the items moved so far
are the old Elektron oxygen-generating unit and the Beetle experiment
from Mir to Atlantis, biomedical experiment equipment and samples from
Atlantis to Mir and two more bags of water, totaling almost 1200
pounds of water already transferred out of 1400 lbs. planned.
  Astronaut Michael Foale spent about five hours briefing his
replacement, astronaut David Wolf, acquainting Wolf with his new
orbital home. Wolf's science experiments were moved to the Priroda
module for his use over the next four months.
  Also during the day Tuesday, mission specialists Vladimir Titov and
Scott Parazynski completed the checkout and preparation of all the
tools they will use tomorrow during a planned five-hour spacewalk that
will begin at 1:44 p.m. CDT.  The primary task during the spacewalk
will be the removal of four Mir Environmental Effects Packages which
had been placed along the outside of the docking module last March by
astronauts Linda Godwin and Rich Clifford. Parazynski and Titov also
will carry out the Spektr Solar Array Cap which cosmonauts may use in
a future spacewalk to bolt over any hole found in the hull of the
damaged Spektr module.  The cap will be attached to the outside of the
docking module within reach of spacewalking cosmonauts.
  Plans are nearing completion for the swap-out of the Mir's motion
control computer tomorrow for a new one brought into orbit by
Atlantis. The current schedule calls for the old computer to be
removed at about 1030 am CDT and replaced by the new computer. The
swap-out should take about 90 minutes, after which new software will
be loaded into the computer by Russian flight controllers. That
process will take several more hours. Mir's automatic attitude control
devices, the gyrodynes, will be spun down early Wednesday afternoon to
accommodate the change, and will not be spun up again until early
Thursday morning to provide the Mir its own attitude control
capability once again. In the meantime, Atlantis holds attitude
control for the Mir, aligning its solar panels with the sun at all
times to provide electrical production.
  Earlier today, members of both crews were interviewed by CNN, PBS
and Russian reporters at the Russian Mission Control Center, and
provided a commemorative message from the Mir this morning for the
40th anniversary of the launching of the first satellite, Sputnik, by
Russia on October 4th, 1957. The anniversary will be celebrated on
Saturday.
  Mir's crew is scheduled to begin its nine-hour sleep period tonight
at 8:30 p.m. CDT.  Atlantis astronauts will go to bed about 10:30 and
wake at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.  EVA preparations Wednesday begin at 8:34
a.m. with the closing of hatches between Atlantis and Mir.
  STS-86 Flight Day 7 Highlights:
 On Wednesday, October 1, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #12
reports:
  Aboard Atlantis, preparations are under way for today's planned
five-hour spacewalk to retrieve four experiment packages and test
tools and techniques for construction of the International Space
Station.
  With the hatches connecting Atlantis and Mir slated to swing closed
shortly after 8:30 a.m. today, Mission Specialists Scott Parazynski
and Vladimir Titov are preparing for their excursion outside of the
Atlantis-Mir complex.  Shortly after waking up, the duo will climb
into their spacesuits and begin a 2  hour pre-breathe protocol
designed to purge nitrogen from their blood.  Depressurization of
Atlantis' airlock hatch is slated for about 1 p.m., with Parazynski
and Titov floating into the payload bay about 1:45 p.m. The spacewalk
is expected to conclude about 6:30 p.m.
  The primary task during the spacewalk will be the retrieval of four
Mir Environmental Effects Packages which had been mounted on the
docking module last March by astronauts Linda Godwin and Rich
Clifford. Parazynski and Titov also will tether the Spektr Solar Array
Cap to the docking module. The Solar Array Cap may be used in a future
Mir spacewalk to seal any hole found in the hull of the damaged Spektr
module.  The two spacewalkers also will evaluate some common EVA tools
which could be used by astronauts wearing either Russian or
American-made spacesuits.
  As the Atlantis crew prepares for the spacewalk, the Mir crew will
be installing a new motion control computer. Swap-out of the computer
should take about 90 minutes, after which new software will be loaded
into the computer by Russian flight controllers in a process that will
take several more hours. Atlantis will provide attitude control for
the combined stack throughout the EVA and computer swap-out
activities, with Mir's automatic attitude control devices scheduled to
be brought back on line Thursday morning.
  Through three days of docked operations, the Atlantis/Mir crews have
transferred more than 77% of the items scheduled to be moved,
including more than 1,200 lbs of water.
 On Wednesday, October 1, 1997, 8:00 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #13
reports:
  For the third time this year, a U.S. astronaut and a Russian
cosmonaut walked and worked in space together today, retrieving
scientific experiments from the Docking Module on the Mir Space
Station while leaving a device behind for future repair work on the
damaged Spektr module as the Atlantis-Mir space complex orbited the
Earth in flawless fashion.
  Astronaut Scott Parazynski and his Atlantis crewmate, Russian
cosmonaut Vladimir Titov, spent 5 hours and one minute in the
Shuttle's cargo bay and at the Docking Module itself, collecting four
suitcase-size packages called MEEPS, the Mir Environmental Effects
Payloads, which were left outside the Mir by another pair of Shuttle
spacewalkers a year and a half ago to collect data on how the space
environment affects an orbiting space station.
  Parazynski and Titov floated out of a hatch on Atlantis' tunnel
adapter in front of the Orbiter Docking System to begin their
spacewalk shortly after placing their spacesuits on battery power at
12:29 p.m. Central time. Working right on the timeline after
recovering the MEEPS, Parazynski and Titov affixed a 121-pound
instrument called a Solar Array Cap to the Docking Module for future
use by Russian cosmonauts to seal off a suspected breach in the hull
of the Spektr Module which was depressurized in the June 25th
collision of a Progress resupply ship with the Mir. The most likely
location of the breach is underneath the Spektr's damaged solar
array. If Russian flight controllers confirm that suspicion, the cap
could be used like a hermetic seal for Spektr to allow additional
repair work to be conducted.
  Parazynski and Titov wrapped up their work outside Atlantis by
testing several components of the Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue
(SAFER) jetpacks they wore which are designed to enable spacewalkers
to propel themselves back to safe haven in the Shuttle's payload bay
if they become untethered while working. The two Mission Specialists
ended their spacewalk at 5:30 p.m. Central time as they repressurized
Atlantis' airlock to complete the 39th spacewalk in Shuttle program
history. It was the fourth spacewalk for the veteran Titov, who
conducted three other spacewalks in 1988 as Commander of the Mir. It
was Parazynski's first spacewalk. It was the first time a non-American
had conducted a spacewalk from an American spacecraft in U.S. space
history.
  As Parazynski and Titov worked outside the Atlantis-Mir complex, Mir
24 Commander Anatoly Solovyev and Flight Engineer Pavel Vinogradov
installed a new motion control computer in the station's Core Module,
replacing one which has experienced problems in recent months. The
installation and checkout of the new computer went smoothly, enabling
Russian flight controllers to begin the uplink of fresh software to
the device. The Mir's gyrodynes, which provide automatic attitude
control for the station, were spun down during the computer
swapout. They are scheduled to be reactivated by tomorrow afternoon,
enabling the Mir to regain its own attitude control for Friday's
scheduled undocking of Atlantis.
  The newest member of the Mir crew, astronaut David Wolf, conducted
scientific experiments and continued his familiarization of his new
orbital home while the computer swapout took place onboard the Russian
outpost.
  About 77 per cent of all items earmarked for transfer between the
two vehicles have been moved successfully with all of items expected
to be transferred before the hatches are closed between Atlantis and
the Mir for the final time Thursday afternoon.
  The astronauts are scheduled to begin an eight hour sleep period at
10:34 p.m. Central time tonight and will be awakened at 6:34 tomorrow
morning to begin their final full day of joint work with their Russian
counterparts.
  Atlantis and the Mir are orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 213
nautical miles with all of their systems functioning normally.
  STS-86 Flight Day 8 Highlights:
 On Thursday, October 2, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #14
reports:
  The Atlantis and Mir crews have begun their final day of joint
operations, with the hatches between the two spacecraft slated to
closed about 5 p.m. central time today.
  Final transfer activities will take center stage as the astronauts
and cosmonauts move the final items between their spacecraft.  Amidst
the transfer work, Mike Foale and Dave Wolf will conduct their final
handover meeting as Wolf settles into his work routine aboard Mir.
  The Mir 24 crew will be working with Russian Mission Control today
as the station's gyrodynes, which provide automated attitude control
for Mir, are spun back up following yesterday's installation of a new
main motion control computer.  Final checks of the computer and its
software are scheduled during communications passes with Russian
ground stations.
  Both crews will take a break from their busy schedules today to talk
with media assembled in the United States, Russia and France in a news
conference scheduled for 2:04 p.m. central time.  At the conclusion of
the press conference, the two crews which have worked side by side
since last Saturday, will conduct an informal farewell ceremony as
their joint operations come to an end.
  Following final transfer activity and an inventory review, the
astronauts and cosmonauts will have an opportunity for private
farewells before the two commanders - Jim Wetherbee and Anatoly
Solovyev - swing the hatches of their spacecraft closed.  Atlantis
will remain docked to the Mir during the crew's sleep period, with
undocking scheduled for 10:43 a.m. central time on Friday.  Pilot Mike
Bloomfield will be at Atlantis' controls for the undocking and
flyaround of the Mir space station.
 On Thursday, October 2, 1997, 8:30 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #15
reports:
  The ten astronauts and cosmonauts of the Atlantis-Mir space complex
completed their joint work today, having transferred more than four
tons of logistical supplies and water between the two spacecraft over
the course of six days of joint docked operations.
  With their work successfully concluded, Atlantis Commander Jim
Wetherbee and Mir 24 Commander Anatoly Solovyev shook hands for a
final time at 5:45 p.m. this afternoon and closed the hatches between
the two spacecraft in preparation for tomorrow morning's undocking of
Atlantis from the Mir and an end to the seventh Shuttle-Mir docking
mission.
  Left behind on the Mir were more than 1700 pounds of water, hardware
for the repair of the damaged Spektr module, a new computer to
maintain attitude control for the Russian complex and U.S. astronaut
David Wolf, setting out on his four-month scientific research
mission..
  The change-out of the Mir's troublesome motion control system
computer for the new one brought to orbit by Atlantis' astronauts was
successfully completed today with the spinup of the Mir's ten
gyrodynes, the automatic attitude control mechanisms used to keep Mir
pointed at the sun. The Mir now has full attitude control for future
operations following Atlantis' departure.
  Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the Mir tomorrow morning at
10:43 a.m. Central time while the two vehicles are passing just East
of the Caspian Sea over Turkmenistan. Pilot Mike Bloomfield plans to
back Atlantis away to a distance of about 600 feet below and in front
of Atlantis to test navigation sensors, before closing in toward the
Mir to a distance of 240 feet. Bloomfield will stationkeep at that
range for an hour waiting for sunrise, before initiating a 46-minute
fly-around of the Russian station to enable his crewmates to use
cameras equipped with high-powered lenses and video equipment for the
documentation of the Spektr module.
  At several points during the fly-around, plans call for Solovyev and
Flight Engineer Pavel Vinogradov to open a pressure regulation valve
in the Mir to allow air to rush into the depressurized Spektr. Russian
flight controllers hope Atlantis' astronauts may detect some seepage
of particles or debris from the breach in the hull of Spektr which
will assist them in the future planning of repairs to the module.
  Bloomfield will conduct a final separation maneuver from the Mir at
1:43 p.m. Central time, bidding the Mir farewell until January, when
the Shuttle Endeavour returns during the STS-89 mission.
  STS-86 Flight Day 9 Highlights:
 On Friday, October 3, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #16
reports:
  Atlantis is prepared to depart the Mir space station today following
six days of joint operations between the STS-86 and Mir 24
crews. Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the Mir today at 10:43
a.m. Central time while the two vehicles are passing just East of the
Caspian Sea over Turkmenistan.
  Pilot Mike Bloomfield will back Atlantis away to a distance of about
600 feet below and in front of Atlantis to test navigation sensors,
before once again closing in toward the Mir to a distance of 240
feet. He will stationkeep at that range for an hour waiting for
sunrise, before beginning a 46-minute fly-around of the Russian
station. During the fly-around, Atlantis' astronauts will conduct
visual inspections of the Mir station and use a variety of cameras
equipped with high-powered lenses and video equipment for
documentation of the Spektr module.
  At several points during the fly-around, Mir Commander Anatoly
Solovyev and Flight Engineer Pavel Vinogradov will open a pressure
regulation valve in the Mir to pulse air into the depressurized
Spektr. Russian flight controllers hope Atlantis' astronauts may
detect some seepage of particles or debris from the breach in the hull
of Spektr which will assist them in the future planning of repairs to
the module.
  Once the fly-around is complete, Bloomfield will conduct a final
separation maneuver from the Mir at 1:43 p.m. Central time, bidding
the Mir farewell and leaving behind Astronaut Dave Wolf.
  Early this morning, the Mir crew began replacing an onboard command
exchange unit, which acts as a relay between Mir's main motion control
computer and the Kvant module's gyrodynes and Kurs antenna.  Mir's
attitude control gyrodynes will not be spun down for this activity,
which will begin at 6:34 a.m. central time and is expected to take two
and one-half hours.  The replacement will be followed by a brief
checkout of the command unit's systems and if all systems are
functioning, the work should be complete about one hour prior to
undocking.
  Undocking could be delayed by two orbits, or until about 2
p.m. central time, in the event problems are encountered and the Mir
crew has to reinstall the existing command exchange unit.  While that
relay box has been working perfectly in recent weeks and throughout
docked operations, it had issued independent commands in the past, and
Russian flight controllers elected to install the new unit to provide
them with increased confidence in their attitude control capability.
The system will be checked out by issuing commands to the inactive
Kvant-2 gyrodyne and to the Kurs antenna which is used for automated
dockings.
  Once Atlantis' crew has departed from Mir, they will enjoy some off
duty time for the remainder of their day on orbit, before beginning a
scheduled eight-hour sleep period at 10:34 p.m.
 On Friday, October 3, 1997, 6:30 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #17
reports:
  After executing a textbook fly-around to view damaged areas of the
Spektr module on the Mir Space Station, Atlantis' astronauts separated
from the Russian complex this afternoon, leaving behind U.S. Astronaut
Dave Wolf and tons of logistical supplies and water for the next four
months of scientific research.
  Atlantis undocked from the Mir one orbit later than originally
planned, at 12:28 p.m. CDT, as the two vehicles flew over southeast
Russia just north of Mongolia. The delay in undocking was the result
of a request by Russian flight controllers to enable the Mir
cosmonauts to finish installing and testing a new data relay unit in
the Kvant-1 module. The relay unit is designed to transmit commands
from Mir's new central computer to Kvant for operation of its
automatic attitude control devices and its navigation antenna, which
is used for automatic dockings of Progress resupply vehicles.
  Pilot Mike Bloomfield flew Atlantis to a point 600 feet beneath and
in front of the Russian station to gather data from a European Space
Agency navigation sensor in the shuttle's cargo bay. Bloomfield then
brought Atlantis back to a point just 240 feet from Mir where he began
his fly-around of the station.
  Aboard Mir, Commander Anatoly Solovyev opened a pressure valve in
the station's node, blowing air into the depressurized Spektr
module. Mission Specialist Vladimir Titov aboard Atlantis and Flight
Engineer Pavel Vinogradov aboard Mir both reported seeing particles
seeping from the base of the damaged solar array on Spektr. Russian
flight controllers suspect it is the most likely location for a hull
breach as the result of a June 25 collision of a Progress vehicle with
Mir.
  A second pulse of air into Spektr 20 minutes later was less
conclusive, as Titov and Solovyev reported seeing only one particle
drifting from an unspecified area near Spektr.
  With the visual inspection of Spektr complete, Bloomfield fired
Atlantis' jets to separate from the Mir for the final time at 3:16
p.m. CDT. The astronauts then settled down to several hours of
off-duty time to relax following six days of joint docked
operations. A second orbital adjust burn later in the afternoon open
the separation rate to more than 100 miles per orbit. At 6:30
p.m. Atlantis was below and approximately 105 miles ahead of Mir.
  Atlantis astronauts are due to begin their sleep period at 10:34
p.m., waking at 6:34 a.m. Saturday for entry preparations. Bloomfield
and Commander Jim Wetherbee will conduct a flight control system
checkout at 10:34 a.m. followed by a hot-fire test of the reaction
control system at 11:44 a.m. CDT.
  STS-86 Flight Day 10 Highlights:
 On Saturday, October 4, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #18
reports:
  On the 40th anniversary of the launching of the Sputnik satellite to
start the Space Age, Atlantis' astronauts are readying themselves and
their vehicle for a return trip to Earth, with landing scheduled for
5:59 p.m. central time Sunday.
  This morning, Commander Jim Wetherbee, Pilot Mike Bloomfield and
Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski will perform the routine checks of
Atlantis' flight control systems and surfaces to ensure their vehicle
is ready to support landing operations.  Wetherbee and Bloomfield also
will conduct a hot-fire test of the reaction control system jets.
  Most of the crew's day will be devoted to stowage activity as the
astronauts configure Atlantis for reentry.  The astronauts will ensure
that all of the items transferred from Mir are properly secured in the
Spacehab module and also will begin the process of stowing much of the
hardware and equipment they have used over the past several days in
orbit.  In addition, Parazynski and Mission Specialist Vladimir Titov
will put away the tools and the spacesuits they used during last
Wednesday's five-hour excursion outside the space station.
  Wetherbee and Mission Specialist Jean-Loup Chretien will take a
break from their activities today to talk with French reporters and
schoolchildren in Paris at 2:34 p.m. central time.  At the conclusion
of that event, the entire STS-86 crew will talk with a four-member
team living in an air-tight chamber at the Johnson Space Center.  That
team began a 90-day test of a regenerative life support system on
September 19th, using a combination of physical, mechanical and
biological methods to recycle their air and water.
 On Saturday, October 4, 1997, 8:00 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #19
reports:
  Atlantis is set to conclude its voyage in space at 5:59 p.m. Central
time Sunday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, following this
morning's checkout of systems that will be used during reentry and
landing.  Weather forecasters will be closely monitoring wind
conditions at KSC which are expected to be near the cross wind limit
at the Shuttle Landing Facility runway, but generally favorable
conditions are anticipated for both landing opportunities available to
KSC tomorrow. The backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base,
California is not being considered for a Sunday evening homecoming.
  Commander Jim Wetherbee, Pilot Mike Bloomfield and Mission
Specialist Scott Parazynski spent the morning testing Atlantis' flight
control surfaces and thruster jets to ensure they are ready to support
the Shuttle's high speed return to Earth.
  A good part of the astronauts' final day on orbit was devoted to
stowing equipment and finishing experiment work in the Spacehab module
in the cargo bay. The crew will go to bed this evening at 10:34
p.m. Central time for an eight-hour sleep period which will end with a
wakeup call from Mission Control at 6:34 a.m. CDT.
  Earlier today Wetherbee and Mission Specialist Jean Loup Chretien
had an opportunity to talk with French news media and school children.
Following that conversation, all six crewmembers talked to four test
subjects in an advance life support test underway at Johnson Space
Center in Houston.  The test team entered a closed chamber in Houston
September 19 and will remain sealed inside until late December
evaluating the effectiveness of regenerative life support systems that
could be used for extended space missions.
  Deorbit preparations will begin just before 1 p.m. CDT Sunday
followed a little less than 90 minutes later by closing of Atlantis'
payload bay doors at about 2:11 p.m.  The astronauts are scheduled to
don their launch and entry suits shortly before 3 p.m.  Entry Flight
Director Linda Ham is expected to poll the flight control team for the
final decision for the deorbit burn 20 minutes prior to the planned
firing of Atlantis' orbital maneuvering system engines at 4:52 p.m.
  In addition to all of the items being brought back from the Mir
Space Station, Atlantis is ferrying home astronaut Mike Foale, who is
returning to Earth after 134 days on the Mir. If Atlantis lands as
planned Sunday, Foale will have logged 144 days in space on this
flight, the second longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut
behind the record 188-day stay in orbit by Shannon Lucid last
year. Foale's replacement on the Mir, David Wolf, is continuing his
work with his two crewmates with the Russian orbiting facility.
  Atlantis continues to orbit the Earth every 90 minutes in excellent
condition at an altitude of about 230 statute miles.
  STS-86 Flight Day 11 Highlights:
 On Sunday, October 5, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #20
reports:
  On board Atlantis, the seven-member crew is preparing their vehicle
for its high-speed reentry and landing at the Kennedy Space Center
today at 5:59 p.m. Central time.  While generally favorable weather
conditions are expected, weather forecasters will continue to track
wind conditions at KSC which are expected to be near the cross wind
limit.
  This morning, the astronauts will finish stowing any final items
necessary to secure Atlantis' crew cabin for this afternoon's planned
landing.  Mission Specialists Vladimir Titov and Jean-Loup Chretien
will button-up the Spacehab module today, shutting down systems and
securing any loose items, prior to closing the entry hatch to that
module.
  Following an on-board briefing to review reentry procedures, the
astronauts will begin their deorbit preparations just before 1
p.m. CDT Sunday.  Atlantis' payload bay doors are scheduled to be
closed about 2:11 p.m. and the crew will don their launch and entry
suits shortly before 3 p.m.  Entry Flight Director Linda Ham is
expected to poll the flight control team for a final."go/no go"
decision for the deorbit burn 20 minutes prior to the planned firing
of Atlantis' orbital maneuvering system engines at 4:52 p.m.
  There is a second opportunity for Atlantis to return to KSC today,
in the event weather prohibits landing on the first opportunity, with
the deorbit burn at 6:30 p.m. central time with landing to follow at
7:36 p.m.  The back-up landing site at Edwards Air Force Base,
California has not been called up to support landing opportunities
today.  If Atlantis lands on the second opportunity, it should create
a bright plasma trail in the skies over the southeast as it streaks
toward Florida.
  Atlantis' crew may be able to view the launch of a Progress resupply
vehicle this morning, with the Progress scheduled to launch from the
Baikonur Cosmodrome shortly after 10 a.m. central time.  At the time
of the launch, Atlantis will be traveling toward the northeast,
overhead Jordan.  About three minutes later, Atlantis should be close
enough to the launch site to allow them to view the rocket plume.
  A landing today will conclude a 144-day stay in space for astronaut
Mike Foale. Foale's replacement on the Mir, David Wolf, is continuing
his work with his two crewmates on board the Mir.
  The next STS-86 status report will be issued following either
Atlantis' landing at the Kennedy Space Center or a wave-off of landing
opportunities.
 On Sunday, October 5, 1997, 7:30 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #21
reports:
  The homecoming of the shuttle Atlantis and astronaut Mike Foale was
postponed 24 hours after clouds at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida
prevented a landing on the two opportunities available at the Florida
spaceport.
  Atlantis' landing was waved off until Monday early this evening by
Flight Director Linda Ham after forecasters predicted broken clouds
and extensive cloud coverage over the 3-mile long landing strip at
KSC.
  The waveoff offered Foale and his crewmates a bonus day in space,
extending Foale's time on orbit to a 145th day since his launch in
May, the second longest single mission by an American astronaut in
U.S. spaceflight history.
  Mission managers decided after tonight's waveoff to call up landing
support at the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base,
California Monday with forecasters calling for similar weather
conditions in Florida tomorrow and clear skies and winds near
crosswind landing limits forecast for Edwards.
  There will be four landing opportunities Monday, two at KSC and two
at Edwards on consecutive orbits. The first landing opportunity at KSC
would call for a deorbit burn at about 3:48 p.m. Central time with a
landing at the Florida spaceport at about 4:55 p.m.
  During their deorbit preparations, Atlantis' astronauts viewed the
rocket plume from the launch of a Russian Progress resupply ship for
the Mir Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in
Kazakstan. Atlantis was flying over Jordan at the time of the
launch. The Progress currently attached to the Mir will be jettisoned
Monday morning to make way for the new Progress' linkup on
Tuesday. All of the Mir's systems continue to function normally in
support of astronaut David Wolf and his new Mir 24 crewmates.
  Atlantis' astronauts will begin an eight-hour sleep period at 11:34
p.m. Central time and will be awakened at 7:34 a.m. to resume deorbit
preparations. The shuttle continues to fly flawlessly in a 207 by 191
nautical mile orbit in support of on-orbit operations.
  STS-86 Flight Day 12 Highlights:
 On Monday, October 6, 1997, 8:00 a.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #22
reports:
  Atlantis' crew is preparing for a possible homecoming today, with
landing opportunities at both the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and
Edwards Air Force Base in California. Today's landing attempts come
after inclement weather prevented a landing on the two Florida
opportunities yesterday.
  Flight Director Linda Ham made the decision to extend Atlantis'
mission for 24 hours following forecasts of broken clouds and
extensive cloud coverage over the 3-mile long landing strip at KSC.
  There are four landing opportunities today, two to KSC and two to
Edwards on consecutive orbits. The first landing opportunity at KSC
would call for a deorbit burn at about 3:48 p.m. Central time with a
landing about 4:55 p.m. A preliminary look at today's weather at the
Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida indicates the possibility of
continued low cloud coverage and cross-winds at or near acceptable
limits.  Initial weather forecasts for Edwards indicates predicted
high winds for both landing opportunities there.
  Working with flight controllers on the ground, the crew will begin
its formal deorbit preparations just before noon central time today,
with closure of Atlantis' payload bay doors targeted about 1 p.m.
  With a landing today, Astronaut Mike Foale will have accumulated 145
days in space, 134 of those as a Mir crew member.
  The next STS-86 status report will be issued following either
Atlantis' landing or a wave-off of landing opportunities.
 On Monday, October 6, 1997, 5:00 p.m. CDT, STS-86 MCC Status Report #23
reports:
  The Space Shuttle Atlantis glided to a smooth landing at Kennedy
Space Center, Florida, at 4:55 p.m. CDT today, bringing the STS-86
mission to a safe and successful conclusion and returning astronaut
Mike Foale to earth after 145 days in space.
  Foale, who spent 134 days as a crewmember aboard the Russian space
station Mir, concluded a voyage that is estimated to have covered
58,000,000 miles.  His is the second longest single space flight in
U.S. spaceflight history behind Shannon Lucid's 188-day flight in
1996.
  Monday's landing came one day after clouds prevented Atlantis'
landing Sunday in Florida.  Mission duration was 10 days, 19 hours and
21 minutes, and covered 4,225,000 miles. NASA Chief Astronaut Ken
Cockrell, flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft on mock entry profiles
at the KSC landing facility, gave a."go" for observed weather at 3:24
p.m. CDT.  Moments later meteorologists gave a &quot;go&quot; for
forecasted weather.  Entry Flight Director Linda Ham quickly relayed
approval to the Atlantis crew 13 minutes before the deorbit burn
occurred to begin Atlantis' reentry.
  Atlantis landed on the first of two opportunities today at KSC.  Two
later landing opportunities were available this evening at Edwards Air
Force Base, CA.  Today's was the Shuttle's 11th consecutive landing at
KSC, the program's preferred nominal landing site.
  The Atlantis crew will spend tonight at Kennedy Space Center and will
return to Houston Tuesday.  Welcoming ceremonies at Ellington Field
are tentatively planned for between 6 and 7 p.m. CDT.  The schedule
will be updated during the day Tuesday.
<end of mission>