Spaceflight Now: STS-92 Mission Report

Top Stories
Discovery back on Earth
Space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew landed safely today at Edwards Air Force Base in California to conclude a highly succesful mission that added new building blocks to the international space station.
   FULL STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER
   VIDEO: DISCOVERY TOUCHES DOWN
   VIDEO: DISCOVERY TOUCHES DOWN
   VIDEO: SHUTTLE TURNS TO FINAL APPROACH
   VIDEO: ALTERNATE VIEW OF LANDING
Landing
Bad weather on both U.S. coasts keeps Discovery aloft
For the second day running bad weather forced space shuttle Discovery to remain in orbit on Monday. High crosswinds at Kennedy Space Center and low clouds and rain at the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California kept Discovery from returning to Earth. NASA will try again Tuesday.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 23]
Edwards
Recent News
Crosswinds keep Discovery in space until Monday
With crosswinds gusting to nearly 20 knots, NASA was forced to delay the shuttle Discovery's planned return to Earth Sunday by at least 24 hours. Even worse weather is expected at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday, raising the prospect of a diversion to California or, more likely, yet another mission extension to Tuesday.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 22]
Wind sock
Astronauts set to bring Discovery home on Sunday
Keeping tabs on high winds in Florida, the Discovery astronauts tested the shuttle's re-entry systems, packed up loose gear and squeezed in a final bit of "window time" today as they set their sights on landing Sunday at the Kennedy Space Center.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 21]
Discovery
Shuttle leaves station, crew talks to Spaceflight Now
The Discovery astronauts undocked from the international space station on Friday, wrapping up a successful mission to ready the complex for delivery of a huge set of solar arrays in December and its main laboratory module in January. Spaceflight Now's William Harwood interviewed the astronauts a short time later.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 20]
   VIDEO: WATCH THE INTERVIEW
   INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
Undocking
Shuttle crew wraps up four grueling days of spacewalks
Two high-flying astronauts zoomed about over the shuttle Discovery's cargo bay Wednesday, successfully testing emergency jetpacks designed to serve as a lifeline for any space station assembly workers who might someday slip free of his or her safety tether.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 18]
   VIDEO: WISOFF TAKES TEST FLIGHT
   VIDEO: LOPEZ-ALEGRIA TAKES HIS TURN
   VIDEO: VIEW WITH STATION AND EARTH
   SPACEWALK PREVIEW STORY
SAFER
Shuttle booster bolts did not separate cleanly
Two of eight bolts that held the space shuttle Discovery to its launch pad failed to separate cleanly during last week's blast off. Although slight damage was caused to the base of Discovery's right-hand solid rocket booster, the mishap did not endanger the astronauts and is not considered serious.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 18]
Spacewalk
Astronauts set the stage for more power aboard station
Two spacewalkers installed a pair of transformer-like devices aboard the international space station Tuesday that will step down and regulate the voltage produced by a huge set of solar arrays scheduled for installation in December.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 17]
   SPACEWALK PREVIEW
Spacewalk
Space station expands to include new docking port
In a well-oiled team effort, the Discovery astronauts successfully attached a new $20 million shuttle docking port to the international space station Monday after getting off to a slightly rocky start.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 16]
   AN ASTRONAUT'S FRIENDLY REVENGE
   SPACEWALK PREVIEW
   ANIMATION OF DOCKING PORT ATTACHMENT
Spacewalk animation
Discovery's launch revisited
Spaceflight Now presents a series of images from Wednesday's spectacular evening launch of space shuttle Discovery and previously unseen video clips from cameras at launch complex 39A.
   PHOTO GALLERY
   VIDEO: REAR VIEW OF LAUNCH (220k)
   VIDEO: LIFTOFF IN CLOSE UP (161k)
   VIDEO: FRONT VIEW OF LIFTOFF (341k)
Launch
Shuttle astronauts score spacewalk success
Astronauts Leroy Chiao and William McArthur pulled off a near perfect spacewalk Sunday, wiring up the international space station's new truss, deploying its main antenna and stowing tools for use by future assembly teams.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 15]
   VIDEO: ANTENNA DEPLOYED (282k)
   EXCITED FIRST-TIME SPACEWALKER
   SPACEWALK PREVIEW STORY
Spacewalk
New framework added to international space station
After recovering from a potentially crippling short circuit, the Discovery astronauts today successfully attached a $273 million structural truss to the international space station to accomplish one of the primary goals of the 100th shuttle mission.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 14]
   DAILY PREVIEW STORY
   ANIMATION OF Z1 TRUSS ATTACHMENT
Z1 truss animation
Discovery links up with international space station
Streaking through space at five miles per second, the shuttle Discovery gently docked with the international space station on Friday as the two spacecraft sailed 240 miles above Ukraine. Commander Brian Duffy had no problems pulling off an on-time linkup, despite the loss of Discovery's rendezvous radar.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 13]
   DOCKING TIMELINE
   VIDEO OF DOCKING & STATION ENTRY
Docking
Discovery's TV downlink antenna on the blink
The failure today of the shuttle Discovery's primary television and rendezvous radar antenna will not prevent the crew from safely docking with the international space station Friday as planned. But the loss will make the final rendezvous sequence slightly more complex while the loss of KU-band TV coverage means the linkup won't be seen live.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 12]
Ku-band antenna
Camera shows what it's like to launch aboard shuttle
The Discovery astronauts have downlinked dramatic video recorded from inside the cockpit of the space shuttle, showing the jerking and shaking of launch and a surprising light show produced by the ship's main engine exhaust plume as the spacecraft left the atmosphere. (Includes images and video)
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 11]
Video
Discovery lifts off on station assembly flight
The space shuttle Discovery lifted off Wednesday on its oft-delayed space station assembly mission. The winged spaceship vaulted from its Florida launch pad at 7:17 p.m. EDT (2317 GMT), soon after sunset. See our status center for the latest on the mission.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 11]
Discovery launches
Prelaunch coverage
Stray metal pin keeps shuttle grounded
Clearly frustrated, NASA managers Tuesday ordered a fourth launch delay for the hard-luck shuttle Discovery after engineers spotted a small but potentially dangerous metal pin lodged in an inaccessible area at the base of the ship's external fuel tank.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 10]
   VIDEO: LAUNCH SCRUBBED
   VIDEO: NASA DESCRIBES PIN
Launch pad 39A
High winds scrub shuttle Discovery's launch
After weekend work to resolve two technical issues, the hard-luck shuttle Discovery was grounded again Monday, this time by high winds at the launch pad that prevented engineers from completing preparations to fuel the ship for take off.
   FULL STORY[Posted: Oct. 9]
Launch pad 39A
Shuttle bolt issue resolved, now crosswinds a concern
NASA managers today cleared the repaired Discovery for a delayed launch attempt Monday evening to kick off the 100th shuttle flight, the most complex space station assembly mission yet. But forecasters are predicting a 70 percent chance of high crosswinds could prompt another delay.
   FULL STORY[Posted: Oct. 8]
   MISSION STATUS CENTER
Launch pad 39A
New fuel valve installed aboard shuttle Discovery
Shuttle technicians have successfully removed and replaced a faulty vibration-suppression fuel valve inside Discovery's aft engine compartment. The valve trouble caused NASA to delay the 100th shuttle mission to Monday.
   MISSION STATUS CENTER
Pad 39A
Replacement of shock absorbing fuel valve begins
NASA managers say work to replace a sluggish valve in the shuttle Discovery's engine compartment should be complete by late today, setting the stage for a delayed launch attempt at 8:05 p.m. Monday. But that assumes ongoing assessment work with a suspect bolt can be resolved by Monday morning.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 6]
Pad 39A
Suspect valve delays 100th shuttle launch till Monday
The launch of space shuttle Discovery has been postponed until Monday night so workers can replace a suspect valve in the craft's aft engine compartment, NASA officials decided Thursday night.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 6]
Pad 39A
Fuel tank bolt concern scuttles shuttle launch
Launch of shuttle Discovery on a space station assembly mission has been delayed at least one day - and possibly longer - because of concern about a suspect bolt in the ship's external fuel tank. A second technical problem is also being reviewed.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 5]
   SEE THE SUSPECT BOLT
   VIDEO: DELAY ANNOUNCED (220k file)
Discovery
Weather picture still iffy for Thursday's shuttle launch
Shuttle Discovery's countdown continues to tick smoothly toward blastoff Thursday night. The only concern remains the possibility of showers that could cause a delay. Meteorologists are giving a 60 percent "go" forecast.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 4]
Weather
NASA counts down to launch with eye on weather
With the shuttle Discovery's countdown underway, forecasters are predicting marginally acceptable weather for launch Thursday night. There are no technical problems of any significance at pad 39A and officials said today weather is the only concern as the agency gears up for its 100th shuttle mission.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 3]
Pad 39A
Tropical weather wild card in shuttle launch plans
With Discovery scheduled for liftoff Thursday night on the 100th shuttle flight, NASA managers are assessing the progress of Hurricane Keith and its possible impact on operations at both the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the Johnson Space Center south of Houston.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 2]
Discovery
Astronauts fly to Cape for Thursday's shuttle launch
The shuttle Discovery's international crew, clearly eager to take off on a critical space station construction mission, flew to the Kennedy Space Center Sunday evening to prepare for blastoff Thursday on the 100th shuttle flight.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 1]
Crew
Mission Preview
100th shuttle flight packed with dramatic space work
The shuttle Discovery is poised for blastoff Oct. 5 on the 100th shuttle mission, a high stakes flight to mount an 18,400-pound truss housing four stabilizing gyroscopes and critical electronic gear on the international space station. Learn all about the mission in our five-part preview.
   FULL REPORT
Illustration
Crew
Commander: Brian Duffy
Pilot: Pamela Melroy
MS1/EV1: Leroy Chiao
MS2/FE/EV2: William McArthur
MS3/EV3: Peter "Jeff" Wisoff
MS4/EV4: Michael Lopez-Alegria
MS5/RMS: Koichi Wakata

   THE CREW - includes full bios
Crew
Related stories
Station living quarters hit by battery breakdowns
As NASA readies shuttle Discovery for launch Thursday on a space station assembly mission, Russian engineers are troubleshooting yet another perplexing battery failure in the station's new Zvezda command module.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Oct. 4]
ISS
Next shuttle launch hinges on reusing spacesuit parts
Running out of time, NASA plans to cannibalize parts from spacesuits currently aboard the shuttle Atlantis to clear the way for a complex space station assembly mission scheduled for launch in less than three weeks. Even if the work goes smoothly, officials say, there is little margin for error in meeting Discovery's Oct. 5 launch target.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Sept. 18]
Spacewalker
NASA opts to leave shuttle hurricane policy unchanged
NASA is keeping open the option of putting two shuttles on the Kennedy Space Center's two launch pads at the same time during hurricane season. But such decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, balancing the demands of space station assembly against potential disruptions due to approaching storms.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Aug. 30]
Shuttle pads
NASA shortens shuttle launch windows
The five-minute launch windows typical of shuttle missions to the international space station likely will be shortened to as little as two-and-a-half minutes for all upcoming flights to improve safety and the odds of carrying out a successful mission.
   FULL STORY [Posted: Aug. 18]
Galaxies
Ground track
See the path Discovery followed during its homecoming today in our STS-92 Landing Tracker.

EAFB Orbit 202 - touchdown in California at 2059 GMT.


Status Summary

See the Status Center for full play-by-play coverage.