MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-63 Status Report #16


Friday, February 10, 1995, 7 a.m. CST

Discovery's crew began powering off experiments and packing up the shuttle cabin in  
preparation for Saturday's trip home.

Two final observations were performed during the morning with the GLO experiment, a  
study of the glowing effect created as the shuttle's surfaces interact with atomic oxygen in  
orbit. Commander Jim Wetherbee and Pilot Eileen Collins fired Discovery's steering jets  
to allow the experiment to observe their effect on the glow.

Also, the crew participated in a press conference early today, fielding questions from  
reporters in Houston and in Florida.  The Spacehab module and its 20 experiments will be  
deactivated at about 7:30 a.m. today for tomorrow's landing.

Discovery is scheduled to land at Florida's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility   
Saturday, firing its engines at 4:44 a.m. CST to lead to a touchdown at about 5:51 a.m.  
CST.  The weather forecast for Florida is currently favorable for the landing, although  
flight controllers will be closely watching a possiblility of low clouds and strong winds  
there as the forecast is continually updated.  Florida's weather is forecast to deteriorate on  
Sunday.

Two other landing opportunities exist for Discovery Saturday at Edwards Air Force Base,  
Ca., as well.  The first, which is unlikely  to be used since it occurs prior to the first  
Florida opportunity, would have the shuttle fire its engines at 4:38 a.m. CST leading to a  
touchdown at 5:43 a.m. CST.  The second opportunity for Edwards occurs one orbit after  
the Florida opportunity and would have Discovery fire its engines at 6:13 a.m. CST  
leading to a touchdown at 7:19 a.m. CST.  Edwards weather is forecast to be excellent for  
a landing Saturday, and managers may opt to land there if Florida's weather prohibits a  
landing.  

Discovery also has backup landing opportunities available in both Florida and California  
on Sunday.

--end--