SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2000 (2:30 PM EST)
- VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
- LOCATION: Pad 39A
- TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Feb. 11, 2000 at 12:30 p.m. EST
- TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Feb. 22, 2000 at 4:38 p.m. EST
- LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours and 10 minutes
- MISSION DURATION: 11 days, 4 hours and 8 minutes
- CREW: Kregel, Gorie, Kavandi, Voss, Mohri, Thiele
- ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 126 nautical miles/57 degrees
Work in progress: At Launch Pad 39A, workers completed Shuttle Endeavour’s aft compartment close-outs yesterday and the standard aft confidence test concluded last night. Preparations are under way to pickup the launch countdown at the T-43-hour mark at 5:30 p.m. today.
After a thorough inspection, Shuttle engineers determined today that a scuffed cable, located in the forward skirt of the left solid rocket booster, is safe for launch. A functional test of the booster ignitor’s safe and arm device is scheduled to occur tomorrow. This standard countdown test gives engineers confidence that the device is functioning as expected.
Official forecasts indicate an 80 percent chance that weather will be favorable for Friday’s launch attempt. The forecast calls for clouds to be scattered at 3,000 and 25,000 feet; visibility at 7 miles; winds southwest at 14 peaking to 20 knots; temperature at 70 degrees F; relative humidity at 53 percent; dew point at 52 degrees F; and zero chance of precipitation. The forecast calls for weather to worsen over the next two days. The 24-hour and 48-hour delay forecasts indicate a 30 percent chance of favorable weather on Feb. 12 and 13.
Processing Milestones (target dates only):
- Shuttle pyrotechnic initiator controller test (Feb. 9)
- Load orbiter with cryogenic reactants (Feb. 9)
- Rotating Service Structure retracted (Feb. 10 at about 6:30 p.m.)
- External tank loading (Feb. 11, 4:10 a.m. – 7:10 a.m.)
