Mission Control Status Report #18
5 p.m. CDT Saturday, October 28, 1995


   With all continuing to proceed smoothly aboard Columbia on the 72nd
Space Shuttle mission, the seven astronauts that make up this
microgravity laboratory mission have passed the mid-point of the
flight.

  A short while ago, four the crew members completed their ninth
workday in space and were relieved by the remaining three astronauts.
The crew is split into two shifts working around the clock to support
the many experiments that make up this second dedicated United States
Microgravity Laboratory mission.

  Ken Bowersox, Kent Rominger, Kathy Thornton and Al Sacco turned in
for the evening about 6 p.m. and are scheduled to take over for Mike
Lopez-Alegria, Cady Coleman and Fred Leslie about three tomorrow
morning.

  With no systems problems being tracked by Mission Control, Columbia
continues on its 18th voyage in space at an altitude of 170 miles,
circling the Earth every 90 minutes.

  NASA Television programming tomorrow includes Mission Update at
11:30 a.m.  CDT and the Flight Day Video File at 3:30 p.m.