NOTE: Visit http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/schedule/schedule.htm on the KSC Home Page for the latest schedule of future Shuttle missions.

Discovery Ferry Flight

Status: Orbiter Discovery is being mated to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) today and is undergoing final preparations to depart Edwards Air Force Base tomorrow morning. The preliminary ferry flight plan has Discovery departing Edwards at first light Thursday, stopping to refuel at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma overnight, and arriving at KSC Friday.

Workers completed orbiter tail cone installation yesterday and began lifting Discovery on to the SCA this morning. Ferry managers will finalize the flight path and KSC arrival time based on updated weather data acquired en route. Ferry flight rules state that the orbiter and SCA cannot fly through precipitation, thick clouds or high turbulence. There are also wind and temperature restrictions.

MISSION: STS-97 - 6th ISS Flight (4A) - PV Module P6

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
LOCATION: Launch Pad 39B
TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Nov. 30, 2000 at 10:01 p.m.
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Dec.10, 2000 at 6:46 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 10 days
CREW: Jett, Bloomfield, Tanner, Noriega, Garneau
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 177 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Space Shuttle Endeavour was hard down at Launch Pad 39B yesterday at 5:30 p.m. Launch pad validations are under way and hot fire testing of the Shuttle's three auxiliary power units began this morning. The Rotating Service Structure was extended around the vehicle at about 2 p.m. today. Shuttle main engine flight readiness testing begins tonight and the standard helium signature leak test is scheduled on Friday.

Upcoming Milestones
Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test - Nov. 7 and 8
Orbiter prelaunch propellant loading begins - Nov. 9

MISSION: STS-98 - 7th ISS Flight (5A) - U.S. Laboratory

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) bay 3
TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Jan.18, 2001 at 3:36 a.m. EDT
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Jan. 28, 2001 at 11:46 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 10 days
CREW: Cockrell, Polansky, Curbeam, Jones, Ivins
ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Technicians have completed leak and functional tests on Atlantis' auxiliary power units. Orbiter ammonia system servicing continues. Payload bay reconfiguration continues along with wiring protection efforts in the orbiter's aft fuselage. Workers are replacing window No. 8 and technicians are running routine checks on the orbiter's robot arm.