SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2000 (4:30 p.m. EDT)
- VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
- LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A
- TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: April 25, 2000 at about 3:52 p.m.
- TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 6, 2000 at about 11:53 a.m.
- LAUNCH WINDOW: 5 minutes
- MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 20 hours and 1 minutes
- CREW: Halsell, Horowitz, Weber, Williams, Voss, Helms, Usachev
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees
Shuttle Processing Note: During the T-9 minute built-in hold, launch controllers scrubbed today’s launch opportunity because of unacceptable weather conditions at the Shuttle Landing Facility. Space Shuttle Atlantis remains in excellent health while the KSC launch team performs the necessary steps for a 24-hour scrub turn around. Tomorrow’s launch window opens at 3:52 p.m. and closes at 3:57 p.m.
Cross winds at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility were the primary weather concern today. Flight rules require cross winds at the SLF to be no greater than 15 knots in case of a contingency Shuttle landing. Today, winds gusted above 20 knots through the intended launch window. Weather officials indicate an 80 percent chance that weather will prohibit tomorrow’s launch attempt. Shuttle managers will reconvene at 5:45 a.m. tomorrow to review the Shuttle’s technical readiness and the weather outlook before beginning operations to load the external tank. The forecast improves to a 10 percent chance of weather violation on Wednesday.
Upcoming Milestones:
External tank loading operations begin – April 25 at about 6:30 a.m.
