DATES:
TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: No earlier than March 16, 2000 at 7:45 a.m. EST
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: March 27, 2000 at 2:40 a.m. EST
FLIGHT DURATION: MISSION DURATION: 10 days and 19 hours
* These dates are the earliest launch dates that it is anticipated could be supported by the Space Shuttle. They do not include any potential impact from an investigation into a recent Proton booster failure that is currently under way in Russia. The dates of these assembly missions could be subject to change once a launch date has been determined for the Proton rocket which will carry the International Space Station's Zvezda service module into orbit in early 2000. Also, the dates for launches of all International Space Station assembly missions are subject to the approval of station international partners at the next meeting of the Space Station Control Board.
Work in progress: Wiring inspections and repairs continue in the orbiter's midbody and aft compartments. Preparations to service Atlantis' freon coolant loop No. 2 are in work, and checks of the orbiter's robot arm are in work. Next week, technicians will conduct ammonia boiler servicing and functional tests of the orbiter's auxiliary power units.
