STS-102 Countdown Highlights
COMPILED BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
Updated: March 7, 2001

The STS-102 countdown is timed to hit zero at the opening of Discovery's theoretical 10-minute launch (planar) window at 6:06:37:10 a.m. EST on March 8. The preferred launch time, the moment when the launch pad is directly in the plane of the international space station's orbit, is 06:42:10 a.m. The start of a final hold at the T-minus nine-minute mark is timed for the opening of the 10-minute planar window. The hold will be extended as required based on final radar tracking of the space station to hit the preferred launch time. The chart below reflects that extension.

Change History:

03/03: Posting initial STS-102 countdown chart
03/07: Updating start of NASA television launch coverage

	L-4: Sunday, March 4
08:00 p m.	STS-102 astronauts depart Houston
11:00 p.m.	Astronauts arrive at Kennedy Space Center SLF
	L-3: Monday, March 5
01:00 a.m.	Astronauts visit pad 39-B for payload inspections
06:45 a.m.	Wetherbee, Kelly conduct unsuited STA flights
09:00 a.m.	Crew tagup with suit techs and flight data file personnel
09:30 a.m.	Firing room call to stations for start of countdown
10:00 a.m.	STS-102 countdown begins at the T-minus 43-hour mark
10:30 a.m.	Crew sleep begins
06:30 p.m.	Crew wakeup
07:00 p.m.	Crew medical exams
10:00 p.m.	Crew free time; flight data file review
	L-2: Tuesday, March 6
02:00 a.m.	Begin a four-hour hold at T-minus 27 hours
04:00 a.m.	Usachev, Voss and Helms inspect flight crew equipment
05:00 a.m.	Thomas and Richards inspect flight crew equipment
06:00 a.m.	Countdown resumes
06:00 a.m.	Begin fuel cell preps and loading
06:45 a.m.	Wetherbee and Kelly take suited STA flights
10:30 a.m.	Crew sleep begins
02:00 p.m.	Fuel cell reactant loading complete
02:00 p.m.	The countdown enters a four-hour hold at T-minus 19 hours
02:00 p.m.	Secure fuel cell loading arm (OMBUU)
06:00 p.m.	The countdown resumes at the T-minus 19-hour mark
06:30 p.m.	Crew wakeup
10:00 p.m.	Crew attends final orbiter, payload and weather briefings
	L-1: Wednesday, March 7
02:00 a.m.	Begin a 12-hour 47-minute hold at T-minus 11 hours
03:00 a.m.	Astronauts review flight data files
05:07 a.m.	Communications activation begins
10:30 a.m.	Crew sleep begins
10:30 a.m.	Rotating service structure retraction
02:47 p.m.	The countdown resumes at the T-minus 11-hour mark
06:30 p.m.	Crew wakeup
07:30 p.m.	Crew enjoys extended free time
07:47 p.m.	Countdown enters a two-hour hold at T-minus six hours
07:47 p.m.	Mission management team meets to give go/no-go for fueling
09:47 p.m.	T-minus six hours: Resume countdown
09:47 p.m.	Begin fueling
	L-0: Thursday, March 8
12:47 a.m.	Fueling complete; external tank in stable replenish mode
12:47 a.m.	T-minus three hours: Begin a two-hour hold
01:30 a.m.	NASA television coverage begins
01:42 a.m.	Crew snack photo opportunity
02:12 a.m.	Crew receives a final weather briefing
02:22 a.m.	Crew suitup
02:47 a.m.	The countdown resumes at the T-minus three-hour mark
02:52 a.m.	The astronauts depart crew quarters, head for launch pad
03:22 a.m.	The astronauts begin strapping in for launch
04:37 a.m.	The shuttle's cabin hatch is closed for flight
05:27 a.m.	T-minus 20 minutes: Begin a 10-minute hold
05:37 a.m.	T-minus 20 minutes: Resume countdown
05:38 a.m.	Backup flight computer verification
05:48 a.m.	T-minus nine minutes: Begin adjustable final hold
06:30 a.m.	Mission management team gives final "go" for launch
06:33 a.m.	T-minus nine minutes: Resume countdown
06:37 a.m.	Planar launch window opens
06:37 a.m.	Auxilliary power unit start
06:42 a.m.	Launch of mission STS-102
06:47 a.m.	Planar launch window closes
06:51 a.m.	Main engine cutoff; shuttle reaches preliminary orbit