How TV will cover Columbia launch

TUESDAY ABC: ''Nightline'' (11:30 p.m.-midnight) Anchorman Ted Koppel previews the next days activities.

NBC, CBS, ABC: All regularly scheduled evening news shows on networks will feature special segments from Cape Canaveral.

WEDNESDAY

ABC: ''Reach into Space: America's Second Space Shuttle Mission'' (6-9:30 a.m. EST); anchored by Frank Reynolds will include final countdown and liftoff, first pictures from craft. ''Good Morning, America'' host David Hartman will be at Cape Canaveral, too.

NBC: ''Today'' (6-10 a.m. EST); special four-hour version from Cape Canaveral with Tom Brokaw and John Chancellor as anchors.

CBS: Dan Rather live from Cape Canaveral (6:30-8 a.m. EST) followed by ''Morning with Charles Kuralt and Diane Sawyer,'' (8-9 a.m. EST).

Cable News Network: Since CNN is a 24-hour news service (available only to subscribing cable systems), coverage will be continuous (but intermittent) all day Tuesday. On Wednesday, as the countdown draws to a close, CNN will go live at Kennedy Space Center and stay live throughout the launch. Then coverage will shift to Mission Control in Houston, finally four days later, CNN will be on hand at Edwards Air Force Base to welcome the space shuttle back home.