Mark Hess/Ed Campion 
Headquarters, Washington, DC                 May 2, 1995
(Phone:  202/358-1778)

Rob Navias
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone:  713/483-5111)

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, FL
(Phone:  407/867-2468)


RELEASE:  95-59

NASA ALTERS SHUTTLE FLIGHT SCHEDULE

     After reviewing processing operations and consulting 
with Russian Space Agency officials, NASA managers have 
decided to change the flight order for the launch of two 
upcoming Space Shuttle missions.

     Space Shuttle Discovery, being prepared for the STS-
70/Tracking Data Relay Satellite-G mission, will be the 
next flight of the Shuttle system.  Following the STS-70 
mission, Atlantis will be launched on Mission STS-71, the 
first Shuttle-Mir docking mission.

     "Both of these flights are very important to NASA's 
space flight effort," said Brewster Shaw, Director, Space 
Shuttle Operations.  "STS-70 represents the first flight of 
the new Block I Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) with the 
new Phase II+ powerhead, single coil heat exchanger and new 
high pressure oxidizer turbopump.  The Block I changes will 
increase SSME durability, reliability and safety margins," 
he said.

     "The STS-71 mission represents a significant step 
forward in our cooperative effort with the Russians and 
also the development of the international Space Station.  
By flying the missions in this order, we are able to make 
the best use of the work force, Shuttle processing 
resources and the ability to meet our future manifest 
assignments," said Shaw.

     Launch of the STS-70 mission is currently targeted for 
June 8 with a mission duration of 5-8 days.  The official 
launch date and mission duration will be set following a 
flight readiness review meeting at the end of this month.  
The STS-71 mission is targeted for launch in the June 19-24 
timeframe.  Atlantis' official launch date will be set 
following its flight readiness review in early June.

			- end -

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