Ed Campion
Headquarters, Washington, DC                                                                 
November 4, 1996
(Phone:  202/358-1780)

James Hartsfield
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
(Phone:  713/483-5111)

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


RELEASE:  96-225

STS-80 LAUNCH TARGETED ONE WEEK LATER TO ALLOW 
COMPLETION OF SOLID ROCKET NOZZLE EROSION ANALYSIS, 
EVALUATION

     NASA managers today decided to change the target date 
for Columbia's launch on STS-80 to no earlier than Nov. 15, 
pending availability of the Eastern Test Range. 

     The new target date allows engineers additional time to 
complete their analysis and evaluation of nozzle erosion that 
was found on one Reusable Solid Rocket Motor from Atlantis' 
September flight on STS-79.  Previously, managers had 
retained an option of launching Columbia as early as Nov. 8.

     Shuttle managers plan to reconvene a Flight Readiness 
Review panel during the week of Nov. 11 to hear the findings 
from the solid rocket motor analysis.

     "Everyone involved with the investigation of this issue 
has been doing a superb job and it appears the effort is 
nearing a point where it will provide us with a good 
understanding of the phenomenon," Space Shuttle Program 
Manager Tommy Holloway said.  "However, this additional week 
will ensure the final portions of the investigation are not 
rushed, and it will allow those involved to organize and 
present their data in the best way possible as they draw 
their conclusion."

     The STS-80 mission is NASA's final Shuttle flight 
scheduled for 1996.  During the 16-day mission, Columbia's 
astronauts will deploy and retrieve two science satellites 
and two of the astronauts will conduct a pair of space walks 
to fine-tune techniques which will be used during the 
assembly of the International Space Station.


-end-