BY JUSTIN RAY

November 3, 2000 -- Follow the mission of space shuttle Discovery as its crew continues construction of the international space station. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2000
2359 GMT (6:59 p.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Discovery graced the beaches near Kennedy Space Center today as its cross-country ferry flight concluded. The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft made a loop and buzzed the Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral on a south-to-north trek into KSC. Touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility occurred at about 4:30 p.m. EST under crystal clear skies.

2020 GMT (3:20 p.m. EDT)

NASA managers have cleared the ferry flight of space shuttle Discovery to head home today with arrival at Kennedy Space Center expected around 4:30 p.m. EST. Weather in the flight path from Missouri had been a concern earlier, but the 747 carrier jet adjusted its route to bypass the trouble area.

Brevard County residents will be able to see the shuttle atop the jet during a south-to-north pass over the beaches between 4 and 4:30 p.m.

1910 GMT (2:10 p.m. EDT)

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft left Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, at 1:23 p.m. EST today headed for Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The ferry flight is due to arrive at the Cape around 5 p.m. EST. However, the aircraft could be forced to land at several stop-over sites along the way if weather conditions become unacceptable.

1400 GMT (9:00 a.m. EDT)

Departure of Discovery atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, this morning is on a temporary hold. A NASA spokesman said there is a minor technical problem with the pathfinder aircraft that flies ahead of the carrier jet to ensure the flight path has acceptable weather conditions. That problem is being worked and takeoff is now slated for sometime no sooner than late this morning or early afternoon, and arrival at Kennedy Space Center is still expected by sundown today.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2000
2210 GMT (5:10 p.m. EDT)

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with Discovery aboard landed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, at 1956 GMT (2:56 p.m. EST) today after a flight from Edwards Air Force Base, California. The 747 jet was refueled, and after a weather briefing that showed unacceptable weather moving toward Altus, NASA decided to resume the cross-country trek. The duo are slated to take off in the next few minutes and head to Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, for an overnight stay.

Plans for Friday call for departure from Whiteman at sunrise and a refueling stop at Warner Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia, before continuing on to Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Discovery is expected home no earlier than midday tomorrow.

1715 GMT (12:15 p.m. EDT)

Riding piggyback atop the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, Discovery has departed Edwards Air Force Base in California nine days after it landed at the military base in the Mojave Desert. The modified Boeing jet began rolling down Runway 04 at 1650 GMT (11:50 a.m. EST; 8:50 a.m. local time). The duo is enroute to Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma for a refueling stop and likely an overnight stay. The journey back to Kennedy Space Center in Florida is expected to conclude by midday Friday.

1430 GMT (9:30 a.m. EDT)

The ferry flight to return Discovery from California to Florida is now slated to begin at 1700 GMT (12 p.m. EST; 9 a.m. local).

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2000
2300 GMT (6:00 p.m. EDT)

NASA has again revised tomorrow's ferry flight plans to return space shuttle Discovery from its landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California back to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Riding atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, Discovery is due to depart the West Coast at about 6 a.m. local time tomorrow bound for a refueling and overnight stop at at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The duo would then complete the trek to Florida on Friday. The plans are still dependent upon acceptable weather conditions along the flight path.

The trouble experienced earlier during installation of the tail cone has been resolved and the aerodynamic shroud is now attached to the rear of Discovery. Efforts were underway today to mount the shuttle to the top of the modified Boeing 747 jet.

1745 GMT (12:45 p.m. EDT)

The departure of Discovery from Edwards has been delayed another day. The shuttle riding atop the 747 carrier aircraft is now slated for takeoff at sunrise Thursday bound for Kennedy Space Center. NASA is hoping for a one-day ferry flight with arrival in Florida late tomorrow afternoon. A refueling stop in Fort Worth, Texas, is planned.

No public viewing opportunities will be able on base at Edwards during the departure. However, NASA says the carrier jet will made a shallow left-hand turn during its climb to altitude over the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, which should provide quite a sight for residents there.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2000

Space shuttle Discovery could depart Edwards Air Force Base in California on Wednesday atop a modified Boeing 747 carrier jet for the cross-country trek back to Kennedy Space Center. Discovery wrapped up the 100th shuttle flight with a landing at Edwards a week ago today.

High winds and technical trouble has delayed the start of the ferry flight, which had been slated to start today. Work to install the aerodynamic shroud on the shuttle's tail Monday night was delayed due to strong winds. When the winds did die down earlier today, one of eight bolts that secure the tail cone to the orbiter's aft compartment seized up. NASA said workers were troubleshooting the problem in hopes of getting Discovery airborne by midday Wednesday.

A two-day ferry flight is currently planned with a refueling stop and overnight stay at Fort Worth Naval Air Station, Texas. Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and El Paso, Texas are available backup sites for refueling on Wednesday, if necessary. NASA prohibits the carrier aircraft from flying through precipitation, thick clouds or high turbulence to protect the shuttle. There are also wind and temperature restrictions.

Weather forecasters are calling for the chance of deteriorating conditions at Edwards by Thursday, further complicating matters if the departure is delayed that long.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2000

Discovery's seven astronauts are spending the night at Edwards before returning to their homes in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday. A welcoming ceremony will be held at Ellington Field's Hangar 990 at about 1:30 p.m. local time.

The shuttle appears to be in fine shape after traveling 5.3 million miles in 202 orbits over the course of 12 days and 22 hours. Following vehicle safing and preliminary offloading efforts, workers will begin preparations for Discovery's cross-country ferry flight back to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Using the mate-demate device, technicians are scheduled to hoist the Discovery atop the modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on Monday. NASA is currently hoping for a one-day ferry beginning at first light on Tuesday.

Once back in Florida, Discovery will undergo a tight turnaround processing flow to be prepared for blastoff in February on STS-102. That flight will launch the Expedition 2 crew to the international space station and bring home the first residents of the outpost.

2201 GMT (6:01 p.m. EDT)

All seven astronauts are now reported to be off space shuttle Discovery. The crew is expected to make the traditional walkaround the shuttle on the runway shortly and then make a brief statement.

2120 GMT (5:20 p.m. EDT)

Running two days late, the Discovery astronauts glided to a picture-perfect Mojave Desert touchdown today, finally closing out a marathon space station assembly flight that clears the way for launch of the lab's first full-time crew in just one week. Read our full landing story.

2109 GMT (5:09 p.m. EDT)

Discovery appears to be in good shape following today's spectacular landing in California. The astronauts are now going through procedures to safe the shuttle and should be ready to climb out of Discovery in about an hour.

2101 GMT (5:01 p.m. EDT)

WHEELS STOP. Discovery has rolled to a stop on Runway 22, ending a highly successful 12-day, 21-hour, 43-minute mission that spanned 202 orbits on Earth.

2059 GMT (4:59 p.m. EDT)

TOUCHDOWN! Main gear touchdown. Drag chute deployed. Nose gear touchdown. Space shuttle Discovery rolls out at the Edwards Air Force Base to complete a successful construction mission that added new building blocks to the international space station.

2059 GMT (4:59 p.m. EDT)

Wheels down and locked. Standing by for touchdown on Edwards Air Force Base Runway 22.

2058 GMT (4:58 p.m. EDT)

Runway in sight. Commander Duffy can see the runway as he pilots Discovery to the first Edwards Air Force Base landing for a shuttle in four years.

2057 GMT (4:57 p.m. EDT)

Speed now 500 miles per, 16 miles to touchdown.

2056 GMT (4:56 p.m. EDT)

Discovery is in the heading alignment cylinder, an imaginary circle to align with Runway 22. Brian Duffy will make a 204-degree right-overhead turn.

2055 GMT (4:55 p.m. EDT)

Altitude 50,000 feet, velocity down to Mach 1.

2054 GMT (4:54 p.m. EDT)

Powerful tracking cameras at Edwards Air Force Base have spotted Discovery as the shuttle levels out after the final roll.

2053 GMT (4:53 p.m. EDT)

Discovery is 89,000 feet above Southern California flying at 2,000 miles per hour, less than 80 miles to touchdown.

2052 GMT (4:52 p.m. EDT)

Air data probes have been deployed from the shuttle's nose to feed air speed and altitude information to the computers for navigation.

2051 GMT (4:51 p.m. EDT)

Discovery making the final speed-reducing turn -- this one to the right.

2050 GMT (4:50 p.m. EDT)

Nine minutes to touchdown. Discovery is approaching the Southern California coast. The shuttle will fly above Central Los Angeles, its sonic booms should be heard in a couple minutes, and then above Palmdale where Boeing's Shuttle Assembly Plant is located. That facility is where all the space shuttles were built.

2049 GMT (4:49 p.m. EDT)

The TACAN navigation units aboard Discovery are now receiving data from beacons located at the ground. Mission Control reports Discovery remains on a steady course. Touchdown on Runway 22 should be 2,200 down the concrete strip at a speed of 195 knots.

2048 GMT (4:48 p.m. EDT)

The third bank has started -- this one back to the left.

2047 GMT (4:47 p.m. EDT)

Now 12 minutes to landing. Discovery's speed is currently 8,100 mph, altitude is 32 miles, range to the runway is 535 miles.

2045 GMT (4:45 p.m. EDT)

Discovery now less than 800 miles to Edwards Air Force Base.

2043 GMT (4:43 p.m. EDT)

The shuttle is reversing its banking. This roll is to the right and is the second of four turns during entry designed to reduce speed. Velocity currently 12,600 miles per hour.

2041 GMT (4:41 p.m. EDT)

Discovery's thursters used for pitch have been disabled with the aerosurfaces now being used for this control.

2040 GMT (4:40 p.m. EDT)

Less than 20 minutes until landing. Discovery's speed is currently 14,600 mph, altitude is 43 miles, range to the runway is 1,820 miles.

2036 GMT (4:36 p.m. EDT)

Discovery has now crossed the equator over the Pacific Ocean to begin orbit 202 of its 12-day, 22-hour voyage. Altitude is 243,000 feet, time to touchdown 23 minutes.

The roll control jets on the shuttle are being turned off and the aerosurfaces on the spacecraft now able to be used as the vehicle continues descent into the atmosphere. All the wing flaps will be active shortly with the exception of the rudder, which won't be useful until the shuttle slows to Mach 5.

2033 GMT (4:33 p.m. EDT)

The space shuttle is currently in the first of four steep banks to scrub off speed as it plunges into the atmosphere. This is a 75-degree roll to the left. These turns basically remove the energy Discovery built up during launch.

Discovery is currently at altitude of 48 miles with a speed over 16,900 miles per hour.

2028 GMT (4:28 p.m. EDT)

The protective tiles on the belly of Discovery are now feeling heat beginning to build as the orbiter enters the top fringes of the atmosphere -- a period known as Entry Interface. The shuttle is flying with its nose elevated 40 degrees, wings level, at an altitude of 400,000 feet, passing over the southern Pacific Ocean, about 4,300 nautical miles from the landing site, at a velocity of Mach 25, descending at a rate of 500 feet per second. Touchdown is set for 4:59 p.m. EDT on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

2024 GMT (4:24 p.m. EDT)

Now 35 minutes until landing. Discovery currently above the South Pacific Ocean continuing to fall closer and closer to the atmosphere.

2017 GMT (4:17 p.m. EDT)

All three Auxiliary Power Units are running to supply pressure to the shuttle's hydraulic systems, which in turn move Discovery's aerosurfaces and deploy the landing gear. One unit was started prior to the deorbit burn; the others just a few moments ago. Mission Control reports seeing good pressures in all three APUs. The units are only activated during the launch and landing phases of the shuttle mission.

2012 GMT (4:12 p.m. EDT)

Discovery continues to descend in altitude. All shuttle systems are reported in good shape.

2000 GMT (4:00 p.m. EDT)

Commander Brian Duffy is maneuvering Discovery from its upside down, tail-forward position needed for the deorbit burn to the reentry configuration of heads-up and nose-forward. The nose also will be pitched upward 40 degrees. In this new position, the black tiles on the shuttle's belly will shield the spacecraft during the fiery plunge through the Earth's atmosphere with temperatures reaching 3,000 degrees F. Discovery will begin interacting with the upper fringes of the atmosphere above the South Pacific.

The shuttle's track home is taking the craft above the Indian Ocean, south of Australia, over the South Pacific and then on a northeastward track toward the United States. The shuttle will make landfall over Los Angeles in Southern California with the loud double sonic booms to be heard at about 1:54 p.m. local time. Discovery's track will continue towards Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert.

1955 GMT (3:55 p.m. EDT)

DEORBIT BURN COMPLETE. Discovery has successfully completed the deorbit burn, committing the shuttle for its journey back to Earth. The shuttle should hit the top of the atmosphere in about a half-hour and touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in California is set for 2059 GMT (4:59 p.m. EDT).

1952 GMT (3:52 p.m. EDT)

Flying upside down and backwards over the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, space shuttle Discovery has begun the deorbit burn for return to Earth. The firing of the two OMS engines on the tail of the shuttle will last three-minutes, two-seconds, slowing the craft by a 230 miles per hour, just enough to slip from orbit. The retro-burn will send Atlantis toward a touchdown at 4:59 p.m. EDT on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

1947 GMT (3:47 p.m. EDT)

Now five minutes from the deorbit burn. Pilot Pam Melroy has activated Auxiliary Power Unit No. 1 in advance of the burn. The other two APUs will be started later in the descent to provide pressure needed to power shuttle's hydraulic systems that move the wing flaps, rudder/speed brake, drop the landing gear and steer the nose wheel.

1938 GMT (3:38 p.m. EDT)

Discovery has started maneuvers in space to the deorbit burn attitude. The shuttle will be flying upside-down and backwards with its tail pointed in the direction of travel. The upcoming burn, now 14 minutes away, will slow Discovery below orbital velocity, allowing the craft to slip from space and begin the hour-long glide to a pin-point touchdown at 4:59 p.m. EDT (2059 GMT) at California's Edwards Air Force Base.

1928 GMT (3:28 p.m. EDT)

GO FOR THE DEORBIT BURN! Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain has given final approval for space shuttle Discovery's landing today at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Weather conditions in the Mojave Desert are perfect, not a cloud in sight, a southwesterly wind 7 to 12 knots and no turbulance. So after two extra days in orbit Discovery finally set to return to Earth to complete the 100th space shuttle mission.

The upcoming retrograde burn using the twin orbital maneuvering system engines on the tail of Discovery to slow the shuttle's velocity by 230 miles per hour, just enough to slip the craft out of orbit and begin the plunge back into the atmosphere. Engine ignition is scheduled for 1952:00 GMT (3:52 p.m. EDT) for the three-minute, two-second firing.

The astronauts are now suited, the shuttle's vent doors have been closed and final configuring of the onboard computers has been completed.

1909 GMT (3:09 p.m. EDT)

Pilot Pam Melory has flipped switches in the cockpit to pre-start the shuttle's three Auxiliary Power Units used to drive the shuttle's hydraulics for moving the wing flaps, deploying the landing gear and steering the nose wheel upon touchdown.

1905 GMT (3:05 p.m. EDT)

Discovery's crew was just told by Mission Control that a steering check of the orbital maneuvering system engine nozzles is not needed today since the same test was successfully performed yesterday. The twin engines on the tail of the shuttle will be fired in less than an hour from now to begin the return to Earth. Today's touchdown of Discovery at Edwards Air Force Base in California will mark the first shuttle landing there in over four years. The last 23 straight landings have occurred at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Space shuttle Atlantis made the most recent Edwards landing on March 31, 1996 to conclude the STS-76 flight that marked the third docking mission to the Russian space station Mir. In fact 30 of the last 31 shuttle missions finished with Florida landing, which NASA prefers because its saves $1 million and a week's worth of processing time to avoid ferrying the shuttle across the country to the KSC launch site.

In the 98 previous shuttle landings, 52 have occurred at KSC, 45 at Edwards and one at White Sands in New Mexico.

1841 GMT (2:41 p.m. EDT)

The weather report is excellent from astronaut Kent Rominger flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The skies are clear and there is no turbulance. The winds are a direct headwind on Runway 22 and within limits.

So with that Mission Control has told the astronauts to begin the "fluid loading" procedure in which each crew member drinks large amounts of liquids to aid in readapting to Earth's gravity.

The three-minute, two-second deorbit burn remains set to begin at 1952:00 GMT (3:52:00 p.m. EDT). Landing would then occur at about 2059 GMT (4:59 p.m. EDT).

1822 GMT (2:22 p.m. EDT)

Now 90 minutes away from the deorbital burn by Discovery's breaking rockets that will slow the shuttle by about 230 mph -- just enough to slip from orbit and begin the trek back to Earth. The astronauts will soon put on their launch and entry partial pressure suits and then strap in over the course of the next hour.

Meanwhile, NASA astronaut Kent Rominger is flying the Shuttle Training Aircraft around Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert for weather reconnaissance. The STA is a modified Gulfstream jet that features flying characteristics of the space shuttle, allowing Rominger to provide first-hand observations of how the weather conditions might affect Discovery's landing. Weather at the site is most excellent today and will support a landing at 2059 GMT (4:59 p.m. EDT).

1745 GMT (1:45 p.m. EDT)

Weather conditions remain acceptable at Edwards Air Force Base where the sun is shining bright in a clear blue sky. The astronauts have been going through a list to verify switches in Discovery's cockpit are in the correct positions. They are also deactivating the craft's star trackers and closing the doors on the shuttle's nose.

1715 GMT (1:15 p.m. EDT)

Discovery's twin payload bay doors have been closed and latched in preparation for the shuttle's fiery plunge into the atmosphere and hour-long glide to a pinpoint touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in California today at 2059 GMT (4:59 p.m. EDT). The astronauts are now in the process of transitioning the shuttle's onboard computers from the in-orbit OPS-2 software to the OPS-3 software package that governs the shuttle's reentry and landing.

1530 GMT (11:30 a.m. EDT)

With continued unacceptable weather at Kennedy Space Center today, NASA has decided to divert shuttle Discovery to the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California where conditions are favorable. Touchdown is scheduled for 4:59 p.m. EDT.

Low clouds, crosswinds up to 25 knots and rain within 30 miles of the runway at KSC are all constraints to a landing in Florida. The weather has been out of limits at KSC for three straight days, and the detour to Edwards will break the string of 23 consecutive shuttle landings at the Cape.

The astronauts are in a holding pattern of sorts as they pass some time before picking up with entry preparations for the Edwards landing opportunity, which is one orbit later than the KSC try. Closing of the shuttle's payload bay doors in the next milestone at about 1:12 p.m. EDT.

1055 GMT (06:55 a.m. EDT)

The Discovery astronauts were awakened at 1025 GMT (6:25 a.m. EDT) to begin their third straight day of landing attempts. While four opportunities on successive orbits are available - the first two in Florida and the last two in California - only the last three are under active consideration. The lone Florida opportunity is first up, with a touchdown at 1928 GMT (3:28 p.m. EDT), weather permitting.

According to the latest forecast from the Spaceflight Meteorology Group at the Johnson Space Center in Houston (issued at 0700 GMT (3:00 a.m. EDT), conditions in Florida will be solidly "no go." Crosswinds peaking at 25 knots are expected, along with a chance for broken clouds at 4,000 feet and rain showers within 30 nautical miles. Conditions at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., are expected to be ideal.

Mission control commentator Ed Campion said shortly after crew wakeup that given the bleak forecast for Florida, entry flight director Leroy Cain could elect to pass up both Florida opportunities and to target the first Edwards landing opportunity at 2059 GMT (4:59 p.m. EDT) instead.

Appropriately enough, the astronauts were awakened by a recording of "Deja Vu" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young with its refrain of "what's going on?"

"Good morning Discovery, it sounds very much like deja vu," astronaut Gerhard Thiele radioed from Houston.

"Gerhard, good morning, I guess you guys had to reach all the way back to my generation to get that one," said a cheerful-sounding commander Brian Duffy. "But we don't wonder what's going on, we know what we're doing today. We'll see you guys hopefully on the ground soon."

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2000
0401 GMT (12:01 a.m. EDT)

Discovery's seven astronauts are currently asleep as they orbit the Earth for another 24 hours after bad weather forced NASA to cancel five landing opportunities on Monday. Flight controllers are planning three opportunities on Tuesday afternoon with the first coming at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and two at the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The single Florida option would be on orbit 201 with touchdown at 1928 GMT (3:28 p.m. EDT). An opportunity one orbit earlier (with landing at 1:52 p.m. EDT) is being skipped. Overall the weather picture for the Cape is even worse Tuesday than it has been the past two days.

At Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert the weather is forecast to be greatly improved and should support a landing of Discovery to cap the 100th space shuttle flight. But such a West Coast homecoming of Discovery will end NASA's ongoing string of 23 consecutive shuttle landings at Kennedy Space Center extending back over four years.

The Edwards opportunities are on orbits 202 and 203 with touchdown times of 2059 GMT (4:59 p.m. EDT) and 2236 GMT (6:36 p.m. EDT) respectively.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2000
2150 GMT (5:50 p.m. EDT)

Bad weather today on both U.S. coasts is keeping Discovery aloft until at least 1:52 p.m. EDT on Tuesday. Read our full story on today's landing delays.

2127 GMT (5:27 p.m. EDT)

ANOTHER DAY IN SPACE. Rain, clouds and icing conditions over Edwards Air Force Base in California will keep space shuttle Discovery in orbit for one more day. Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain just made that decision in Mission Control after meteorologists reported rapidly degrading weather at the vast military facility in the Mojave Desert.

There were five opportunities for Discovery to return home today with two at Kennedy Space Center and three at Edwards. The KSC attempts were scrubbed due to high crosswinds, and low clouds, rain and a mixture of the two forced the Edwards opportunities to be skipped, respectively.

Check back shortly for an update on the landing opportunities and complete weather forecast for both landing sites on Tuesday.

Read our earlier status center coverage.