STS-80
Report # 19 
Tuesday, November 27, 1996, 6 p.m. CST 
 
 With final preparations for the first of two spacewalks on tap for
today, the STS-80 crew began the ninth day of its mission at
mid-afternoon.

  The Mission Control Center team woke the crew at 2:59 p.m. with
Thanksgiving eve greetings and the Arlo Guthrie tune, "Alice's
Restaurant"

  Once the crew completes its post-sleep activities, Mission
Specialists Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones will begin to check out the
tools they will be using for their spacewalk on Thursday
evening. Later today, the crew will prepare the shuttle's middeck for
the spacewalk as well.

  The first excursion by Jernigan and Jones into Columbia's cargo bay
is designed to test a telescoping crane which will be used during the
assembly of the International Space Station to haul large components
from module to module. On Thursday night, Jernigan and Jones will
utilize the crane to move a simulated space station battery or orbital
replacement unit (ORU), back and forth around the cargo bay. The
second spacewalk will be conducted Saturday night.

  Early Wednesday, Columbia's cabin pressure was reduced from 14.7
pounds per square inch to 10.2 pounds per square inch to help reduces
the amount of time Jernigan and Jones will have to pre-breathe pure
oxygen to purge their systems of nitrogen that could make them
susceptible to the bends while in their space suits.

  Meanwhile, the ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite continues to trail
Columbia by about 43 nautical miles. The next firing of Columbia's
jets to maintain its distance from the German satellite will be
conducted early this evening.

  Columbia is in excellent condition in a 221 by 214 statute mile
orbit, circling the Earth every 91 minutes.


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