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MCC STATUS REPORT - FLIGHT DAY 1
6 p.m. CDT
6/05/91


Following a flawless ascent and insertion to orbit, the
astronaut crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia has completed
activation of the Spacelab module subsystems and has begun
collecting science data.

All systems aboard Columbia and the laboratory module are
working extremely well, allowing the flight crew and flight
controllers to dedicate their full attention to the mission
objectives of this first dedicated life sciences flight.

While astronauts worked to activate laboratory systems this
morning, flight controllers remotely controlled payload bay
cameras aboard the orbiter to inspect some thermal insulation
blankets which have partially detached from their place on
the aft bulkead of the payload bay.  While surveying the
area, flight controllers noticed that a short length of seal
along the payload bay door sill at the top of the aft
bulkhead had also come unseated.  The television images were
recorded on the ground for engineering analysis.  Neither
condition has caused any immediate concern, and whether the
seal poses any threat to payload bay doors closing has yet to
be determined.  However, that possibility is considered doubtful.

The crew will be put to bed this evening about 8 p.m. central
time and will be awakened about 4:20 a.m. central time Thursday
to begin their first full day of science operations.

-- 
Eric Behr, Illinois State University, Mathematics Department
Internet: ejbehr@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu    Bitnet: ebehr@ilstu