MISSION CONTROL STATUS REPORT
STS-63 Status Report #7


Monday, February 6, 1995, 7 a.m. CST

Discovery's crew has begun preparations for a close encounter with the Russian
Mir space station this afternoon, although two possible plans for the rendezvous
exist -- ont that would have Discovery move to about 35 feet from Mir at its
closest point and another that would have Discovery remain about 400 feet from
Mir.

Regardless of how close Discovery approaches the station, for either plan,
Discovery will fire its engines at 8:16 a.m. central and again at 9:02 a.m.
central in maneuvers designed to decrease the present rate -- 79 nautical miles
per orbit -- that the shuttle is closing in on the station.  Next, Discovery
will fire its engines at 10:37 a.m. central, when the shuttle is about 8 
nautical miles from Mir, to begin the final phase of the rendezvous.  Discovery 
will arrive at a point about 400 feet directly in front of Mir at 12:16 p.m.
central.

For the plan which has Discovery stay 400 feet from Mir, the shuttle would
then begin a flyaround of Mir at 1:30 p.m., circling the station completely by
about 2:16 p.m. and firing its engines to depart the vicinity of the station
at 2:28 p.m.

Under a plan where Discovery would approach to 35 feet from Mir, Discovery would
reach that closest point to the station at 1:20 p.m.  The shuttle would then
back away and reach a point 400 feet distant again at about 2 p.m..  Discovery
would begin a flyaround of Mir from a distance of 400 feet at 2:26 p.m.,
completing the circle and firing its engines to separate from the vicinity at
3:13 p.m.

Which plan will ultimately be used depends on an evaluation of a leaking right
aft maneuvering jet aboard Disocvery that is ongoing by both shuttle flight
controllers and Mir flight controllers.  A final decision is expected as the
morning progresses, although both rendezvous plans are identical until 
12:16 p.m. central, the time when Discovery arrives a a point 400 feet from Mir.