MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-70 STATUS REPORT # 17

Friday, July 21, 1995, 2:30 p.m. CDT

  Discovery's crew spent a quiet extra day aloft after canceling efforts
toward a landing this morning due to fog and low clouds at Florida's
Kennedy Space Center shuttle runway.

  The crew began an eight-hour sleep period at 1:42 p.m. CDT and will
awaken at 9:42 p.m. to refocus landing efforts toward a Saturday
morning touchdown in either Florida or at Edwards Air Force Base,
California.

  Discovery has a total of three landing opportunities Saturday, two
to Florida and one to California. The first opportunity would have the
shuttle fire its engines at 4:25 a.m. CDT to descend to a Florida
landing at 5:26 a.m. CDT. A second opportunity would begin with an
engine firing at 6 a.m. CDT culminating in a Florida touchdown at 7:02
a.m. CDT.

  The third opportunity, to California, would begin with an engine
firing at 7:26 a.m. CDT and result in an 8:29 a.m. CDT touchdown at
Edwards.

  The forecast for Florida tomorrow morning again calls for a
possibility of fog and low clouds that could prohibit landing. The
forecast for California calls for excellent landing weather, with only
high, scattered clouds and light westerly winds.

  Discovery remains in excellent condition with no mechanical
problems.

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