SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2000 (3 p.m. EDT)
- VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
- LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A
- TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: April 26, 2000 at about 3:27 p.m.
- TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: May 6, 2000 at about 12:03 p.m.
- LAUNCH WINDOW: 5 minutes
- MISSION DURATION: 9 days, 21 hours
- CREW: Halsell, Horowitz, Weber, Williams, Voss, Helms, Usachev
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 173 nautical miles/51.6 degrees
Shuttle Processing Note: Following a very smooth countdown today, launch controllers scrubbed Space Shuttle Atlantis’ second launch attempt at about the T-40 minute mark. Once again, cross winds at the Shuttle Landing Facility were to high to support a contingency Shuttle landing at KSC. The launch team will off load the cryogenic propellant in the external tank and perform a 24-hour scrub turnaround. Tomorrow’s launch window opens at 3:26:50 p.m. and extends for 5 minutes.
Tomorrow at about 5:30 a.m., mission managers will reconvene the standard pretanking meeting to discuss the Shuttle’s technical readiness and to review an updated weather forecast. Following mission management approval, engineers will begin loading Atlantis’ external tank again at about 6 a.m.
Forecasters indicate only a 10 percent chance that launch weather criteria will be violated. The forecast calls for scattered clouds at 4,000 feet; visibility at 7 miles; winds from the northwest at 14 gusting to 20 knots and temperature at 76 degrees F. Officials indicate a slight chance of low cloud ceilings.
Upcoming Milestones:
External tank loading operations complete – April 26 at about 9 a.m.
