BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Follow the progress of the Expedition Two crew's stay aboard the international space station as well as the STS-104 flight of space shuttle Atlantis. Reload this page for the very latest.

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2001
1521 GMT (11:21 a.m. EDT)

The pressure between the transfer compartment, which served as the airlock for today's spacewalk, and the rest of the Zvezda module is being equalized. This is done in preparation for opening the hatchway into the module's living quarters. We now conclude our live coverage.

1511 GMT (11:11 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers report they are already out of their Orlan spacesuits.

1505 GMT (11:05 a.m. EDT)

Mission Control reports the official duration of today's spacewalk was 19 minutes -- from 10:21 to 10:40 a.m. EDT. The end time was based upon sealing the transfer compartment's bottom port with installation of the docking cone. The EVA start time was marked when the original hatch on nadir port was removed.

The airlock is being repressurized, and the next event will be the spacewalkers climbing out of their spacesuits. The hatches to the rest of the station will be reopened later today.

Today's excursion -- the first to be performed from the space station without a space shuttle present -- successfully repositioned a docking cone to the Zvezda module's downward-facing port. This cone will be the receiving end for the docking probe attached to the front of the Russian-made Docking Compartment when it arrives at the station in August.

1458 GMT (10:58 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are now repressurizing the airlock.

1452 GMT (10:52 a.m. EDT)

The docking cone has been installed, completing the chores of this spacewalk. The spacewalkers are now connecting station umbilicals to their suits for the upcoming repressurization of the transfer compartment.

1449 GMT (10:49 a.m. EDT)

Communications have been restored.

1441 GMT (10:41 a.m. EDT)

The space station is currently out of communications range with the ground as it passes over the Central Pacific Ocean.

1438 GMT (10:38 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers use a handle on the docking cone structure to engage latches to lock it into place.

1433 GMT (10:33 a.m. EDT)

The docking cone has been moved to the Earth-facing port. The spacewalkers are using black and yellow guiding lines to make sure the structure is properly aligned for locking to the station.

1430 GMT (10:30 a.m. EDT)

The visual inspection has been completed with no signs of any problems with the seals. So the spacewalkers have been given a "go" to install the docking cone in the open port of the transfer compartment. The cone is currently stowed on the side wall of the compartment.

1425 GMT (10:25 a.m. EDT)

The bottom hatch has been removed and stowed to ceiling of the transfer compartment. The spacewalkers are now inspecting the rubber seals around the open port before the docking cone is installed. Today's activities are running about 10 minutes ahead of schedule.

1420 GMT (10:20 a.m. EDT)

The hatch is now open. The spacewalkers reported needing to give it an extra tug when rotating the handle that unlocks the hatch. The hatch will moved to the ceiling of the compartment and strapped down.

1419 GMT (10:19 a.m. EDT)

The spacesuits are now on internal power, and Russian Mission Control has given a "go" to open the bottom hatch of the transfer compartment.

1417 GMT (10:17 a.m. EDT)

The umbilicals routing oxygen and electrical power from the space station to the spacesuits are being disconnected. The suits will provide the life-support during this relatively short spacewalk.

1412 GMT (10:12 a.m. EDT)

Leak checks of the transfer compartment and the spacewalker's suits going well.

1406 GMT (10:06 a.m. EDT)

The compartment, which is serving as an airlock for this spacewalk, is reaching 5 mm of pressure. At that point, a series of leak checks will be performed before pressing ahead to opening the nadir-facing hatch.

1400 GMT (10:00 a.m. EDT)

The transfer compartment of the Zvezda service module is being depressurized at this time as Yuri Usachev and Jim Voss prepare for today's internal spacewalk to relocate a docking cone for use by the next Russian section of the station, which is set for launch in August.

Once the compartment is dropped to vacuum, then the bottom hatch of the sphere-shaped section of the module can be opened.

The astronauts are fully suited in their Orlan spacesuits. Earlier this morning Usachev had to replace his biomedical belt because the original one wasn't transmitting health data to the ground.

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2001

The first spacewalk staged from the international space station is scheduled for Friday when Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachev and American astronaut Jim Voss manually reposition a 150-pound, three-foot diameter docking mechanism.

Working inside the transfer compartment of Zvezda, the bubble on the front of the Russian-made service module, the two men will move a docking cone for its use in receiving the Russian Docking Compartment when it arrives at the station in August.

The astronauts won't actually venture outside the station, through they might have a peek through the open floor of the transfer compartment during the excursion.

Since the work area will be dropped to vacuum and the astronauts wearing their Russian-made Orlan spacesuits, it does count as a spacewalk.

Cindy Begley, lead Expedition Two spacewalk officer, gave this overview of the EVA, which is expected to begin at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT) and last about 40 minutes.

"The docking cone was launched inside the transfer compartment of the Zvezda service module. It was sticking out facing the Zarya module, and that is how we docked the two modules together.

"The goal is to take the docking cone hatch and move it down to the nadir (bottom) port for the next module to dock in place.

"The two EV crewmen will be in the transfer compartment with both hatches -- the one to the Zvezda module and the one to the Zarya module -- closed. They will go inside the airlock first, then don their spacesuits, depressurize the airlock.

"And then they will have to remove the flat EVA hatch that opens to space on the bottom. They will take that over their heads and strap it up against the top hatch. And then they'll take the docking cone hatch (which is stowed on side wall), insert it through the opening, seal that up and repressurize the airlock. That is the end of the EVA."

Flight Engineer Susan Helms will remain in the Zarya module during the spacewalk.

No live television of the spacewalk is planned. However, we will update this page with live updates beginning at 10 a.m. EDT.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2001

Here is the latest station science status report, which was issued today:

An experiment to measure vibrations as small as a rotating fan or as big as a docking spacecraft began its watchdog role on the orbiting laboratory this week.

The Space Acceleration Measurement System II (SAMS-II) is designed to measure vibrations that could degrade delicate microgravity experiments on board the Station. Scientists need to understand the vibration environment so they can better understand their experiment results and perhaps compensate for the vibrations.

"For instance, if there is an experiment in EXPRESS Rack 1 in the U.S. lab and a crew member is exercising on the treadmill in the Service Module, we want to be able to tell scientists what disturbance levels they can expect from that activity," said Kevin McPherson, project manager for Principal Investigator Microgravity Services at NASA's Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio.

The SAMS-II sensor activated Monday, June 4, is located in EXPRESS Rack 2 in the Destiny lab module. Four additional sensors are located in drawers in EXPRESS Rack 1 and are scheduled for activation next week. Since 1991, SAMS has flown on 20 Space Shuttle missions and operated on Russia's Mir space station for about four years - the longest operational US hardware on the former Russian outpost. It is one of two acceleration measurement systems developed by the Glenn field center. The other -- the Microgravity Acceleration Measurement Systems (MAMS) -- was activated earlier and has recorded disturbances including the docking of a Russian Progress resupply ship.

On Tuesday, June 5, Flight Engineer Susan Helms activated the third of six growth cylinders in the Protein Crystal Growth Single Thermal Enclosure System Unit 10. Every chemical reaction essential to life depends on the function of the proteins and other biological molecules, some of which will be studied as a result of this experiment. Analyses of biological material samples grown on the Station may lead to improved understanding of their structure and the biological processes that they control. In microgravity, scientists hope that these materials can be grown larger and more perfectly ordered than is possible on Earth.

The Expedition Two crew continued during the past week to maintain and operate the orbiting laboratory's science payloads as they prepared for a spacewalk. On Sunday, June 3, Helms performed tests with the Middeck Active Control Experiment (MACE II) space structures experiment.

Flight Engineer Jim Voss conducted the nutrient exchange required by the Advanced Astroculture (ADVASC) plant growth experiment and did computer-based familiarization to perform gas and condensate sampling on ADVASC. These activities are required to feed the plants and understand growing conditions inside the plant experiment. Video downlinked indicated the plants are growing well. Also last weekend, Voss downloaded data from a portable sensor for the Dosimetric Mapping (DOSMAP) experiment to characterize the radiation environment on the Station.

On Friday, June 1, the crew transferred radiation data from the Phantom Torso and Bonner Ball and DOSMAP experiments to storage computers on board.

The crew's week included additional Crew Earth Observations (CEO) photography activities. CEO targets for June 6 through June 9 include the Red Basin, Sechuan Province, China; Yellow River Delta near Beijing; Ganges River Basin; Rift Triple Junction in Ethiopia; and expansion of the Suez Canal system and agriculture east of the Canal; Central Philippine Islands; Rukwa Transform, Tanzania; Yangtze River Delta; major urban industrial centers in southeastern Africa; Kilimanjaro Tropical Glacier; and the Rift Triple Junction in Ethiopia. These sites are of interest to scientists studying global warming and agricultural and urban development.

The crew continued to fill out the computer questionnaire as part of the Interactions study of crew relationships during long space missions.

Science payload activities later this week are expected to be limited as the crew prepares for a 35-minute space walk. Several activities are on a task list of optional items for the crew if they have time, including: operations with the three expedition's radiation experiments, Interactions sessions, continued ADVASC maintenance activities and photography and film loading for the Crew Earth Observations experiment.

Normal operations continue with the Destiny laboratory module's three major science facilities - the Human Research Facility and EXPRESS Racks 1 and 2. In addition to the radiation experiments, other research currently operating on the Station includes the Commercial Protein Crystal Growth, and Experiment on the Physics of Colloids in Space. Science teams on the ground are evaluating the impact of changes to the Space Shuttle launch schedule.

Of the 18 experiments planned for Expedition Two, one is completed, one failed and was deactivated, 13 others have been activated and are in progress, one is partially activated, one remains to be fully set up and activated, and one remains to be launched this summer on the 7A Station assembly mission.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2001
0030 GMT (8:30 p.m. EDT Tues.)

A Russian cargo ship linked up with the international space station today to deliver 1,406 kilograms of supplies, spare parts, computer equipment and fuel for the orbiting complex and its three-person crew.

The culmination of a two-day chase following launch Sunday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the Progress M1-6 freighter made an automated docking with the Zvezda service module's aft port at 0024 GMT (8:24 p.m. EDT Tuesday).

The Progress is the fourth dispatched to the station since last August and the second this year.

Unloading the Progress will become the primary focus for the Expedition Two crew of commander Yuri Usachev and American astronauts Jim Voss and Susan Helms. The unpacking chores are due to begin in earnest on Wednesday morning.

Onboard the vessel is a spare U.S. Command & Control Computer hard drive already loaded with its complement of software. All three C&C computers in the station's Destiny laboratory module failed last month during shuttle Endeavour's visit. Two computers were restored within a few days; the third was swapped out with a replacement unit cobbled together by the astronauts using pieces from other onboard computers.

A CD-ROM was also carried aloft by the Progress to allow the crew members to load new software directly into other station computers, bypassing the alternate method of uplinking software from the ground. The new software is required for the upcoming shuttle mission that will deliver the outpost's airlock.

Other cargo includes food and personal items for the station crew, equipment for the onboard air revitalization system, radiation and medical control hardware and routine delivery of spare parts.

In addition, the Progress contains 900 kilograms of propellant that will be transferred to the Zvezda module, replenishing the fuel reserve for the station's attitude control system.

Progress M1-6 was launched at 6:32:40 p.m. EDT Sunday atop the first Soyuz FG rocket. A modified Soyuz U vehicle, the FG version features a five percent improvement in performance from new fuel injection systems in the core stage and strap-on booster engines.

0024 GMT (8:24 p.m. EDT Tues.)

DOCKING! The unmanned Russian Progress M1-6 cargo vessel has successfully docked to the international space station's Zvezda service module under automated control. The craft is carrying about 3,100 pounds of supplies, equipment and fuel for the station.

The Expedition Two crew plan to open hatches into the Progress over the next 90 minutes. The unloading chores are due to begin in earnest on Wednesday.

0020 GMT (8:20 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Range now 30 meters. Good alignment reported as the Progress nears docking.

0017 GMT (8:17 p.m. EDT Tues.)

The so-called "Terminal Approach" phase of rendezvous has begun. Range is now 100 meters.

0012 GMT (8:12 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Distance now 170 meters.

0003 GMT (8:03 p.m. EDT Tues.)

The Progress M1-6 cargo ship is nearing its docking with the international space station in about 21 minutes. The craft -- under automated control -- has completed a flyaround maneuver of the station. It is now about 215 meters away from the docking port on the Zvezda service module.

Expedition Two commander Yuri Usachev is standing by to take over manual control of the Progress should the automatic docking system fail. Usachev would use a pair of joysticks and camera views to guide the freighter to the linkup.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2001

Here is today's space station station status report:

Expedition Two crew activities aboard the International Space Station this week are focusing on the arrival of two spacecraft -- the next Russian Progress supply vehicle early next week and Space Shuttle Atlantis in a month.

The fourth Progress vehicle dedicated to station resupply is set to launch atop a Soyuz rocket at 6:33 p.m. EDT (2233 GMT) Sunday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Docking to the back end of the Zvezda module is scheduled at approximately 8:20 p.m. EDT next Tuesday. Commander Yury Usachev has checked out the station's manual docking system in the event the automatic docking procedure does not work.

While awaiting the arrival of the Progress carrying 3,100 pounds of supplies, including food, spare computer parts, and other logistical items, crewmembers Jim Voss and Susan Helms are preparing to continue the on-orbit checkout of the station's new robotic arm that will be used to install the station's airlock next month.

On the heels of last week's test of the robotic arm, known as Canadarm2, the station's remote manipulator system will be tested beginning about 6:30 a.m. EDT Thursday morning.

Setting the stage for that test was the reconfiguration of the operational string of software from Prime to Redundant. This will allow a full checkout of the arm using this backup system in the event that the primary channels were to fail. The arm will be maneuvered through various positions, its end effector snares will be cycled and the video cameras will be checked.

Next Thursday, May 24, Helms will maneuver the arm through the exact movements as if the airlock was attached. This will serve as a “dry run” for what is planned during the removal from the shuttle's payload bay and the installation on the Unity module. The first set of testing a week ago verified the arm's functions in the primary mode culminating in the capture of a grapple fixture on the outside of Destiny. All of the arm operations are controlled via the station's command and control computers, which have been restored to full functionality.

The robotic arm checkout is scheduled every Thursday for the next five weeks to ensure it is healthy before Atlantis launches carrying the airlock.

Last Friday, the third C&C computer was swapped with a spare that was built out of existing computer components on board. It has since been loaded with software identical to the other two C&C computers. Working in the same area behind a rack in the laboratory, a blocked filter in a condensate dump line was changed allowing full operation of the water dump system. This repair precludes the need to transfer wastewater to 100-pound containers for disposal aboard the shuttle when it visits.

The failed hard drive was returned aboard Endeavour after the 6A mission and troubleshooting continues as to the cause of that failure in late April.

Presently, both U.S. solar arrays delivered on assembly flight 4A last November are locked in place while engineers evaluate higher than normal electrical currents on the motors that allow the arrays to track the Sun. The arrays continue to absorb plenty of solar energy to provide the required electrical power for station experiments, avionics and other components on board.

Science investigations continue onboard under the auspices of the Payload Operations Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, except for the Human Research Facility, which is monitored and controlled from the Telescience Support Center (TSC) at the Johnson Space Center, Houston.

The International Space Station is operating in excellent shape at an altitude of 250 miles (401 km).

FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2001

Here is the latest station science status report, which was issued today:

The Expedition Two crew and ground controllers activated five more experiments during the past week and continue troubleshooting work with two others.

The Advanced Astroculture experiment activated Thursday is one of the three commercial experiments onboard. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin Madison hope to grow plants through an entire life cycle -- from seed to seed. The seeds are from the same family as radishes and cabbages. Scientists want to compare Earth-grown seeds to space-grown seeds to determine whether there is any effect on the genetic characteristics of the plant.

The university's commercial partner, Space Explorers, Inc., will use the experiment in producing an Internet-based space education program. The company has created and marketed the Orbital Laboratory program, a school kit and Internet multi-media educational program, that allows students to design, conduct and analyze the space experiment. Using the kit, students can compare data through an online student experiment database.

After the Space Station experiment is completed, students can use the actual data to recreate the experiment in a virtual environment. The program is the first-ever, student-designed experiment aboard the station and the first in a series of commercial payloads used for educational purposes by Space Explorers.

Also activated Thursday was the first of six growth chambers in the Protein Crystal Growth Single Thermal Enclosure System Unit 10 experiment. Its goal is to grow biological materials that are larger and more perfect than those grown in Earth's gravity. Proteins are involved in many functions in the human body. By studying these proteins, scientists hope to gain insights into their role in causing or preventing diseases. The remaining growth chambers will be activated in series later in the mission. PCG-STES Unit 10 is one of two onboard.

Science teams and controllers today continue troubleshooting activities with the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus, which shut down in the early morning hours Wednesday, May 9, during commanding from the ground. CBGA is devoted to studying pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.

Controllers also are troubleshooting a problem that shut down the Station's three radiation experiments Wednesday, May 9. The problem occurred during a data transfer using the Human Research Facility Personal computer that controls the three radiation experiments -- Bonner Ball Neutron Detector, Dosimetric Mapping, and Phantom Torso.

The Payload Operations Center successfully downloaded the contents of the Medium Rate Communications Outage Recorder -- or MCOR -- Wednesday, May 9. The MCOR is the main science payload data recorder. Start-up difficulties with the Station Ku-band antenna and main computer prevented the data from being transferred earlier from the recorder to the ground. The recorder, which stores information on experiment results and hardware operating conditions, was about 82 percent full when downlink activities began this week.

On May 4, Flight Engineer Jim Voss installed and activated radiation sensors throughout the Destiny lab module and the Unit node module as part of the Dosimetric Mapping experiment to measure radiation fields on the Station.

On May 3, Flight Engineer Susan Helms set up and activated the Microgravity Acceleration Measurement System and all six growth chambers in the Protein Crystal Growth Single Thermal Enclosure System, Unit 9. MAMS is one of two vibration measuring experiments sent to the Station. They are designed to characterize vibrations and accelerations, such as crew exercise and spacecraft docking, that could affect delicate microgravity experiments. PCG-STES, Unit 9 is identical to the unit activated this week.

The Payload Operations Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., manages all science research experiment operations aboard the International Space Station. The center is also home for coordination of the mission-planning work of a variety of international sources, all science payload deliveries and retrieval, and payload training and payload safety programs for the Station crew and all ground personnel.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2001
1825 GMT (2:25 p.m. EDT)

Endeavour has returned home safely. The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft touched down at Kennedy Space Center today at 2:09 p.m. EDT.

1759 GMT (1:59 p.m. EDT)

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is in the skies over Brevard County. In fact, the 747 jet with Endeavour mounted on top just buzzed over the home of Spaceflight Now's Justin Ray. Plans call for a low-flying pass over the Patrick AFB and along the beaches northward to Jetty Park before heading to Kennedy Space Center for touchdown in the next half-hour or so.

1550 GMT (11:50 a.m. EDT)

The final leg of space shuttle Endeavour's cross-country trek home is now underway. The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with Endeavour aboard departed Little Rock Air Force Base at 11:33 a.m. EDT bound for Kennedy Space Center. Arrival is expected at about 1:50 p.m. EDT after a pass over the Brevard County beaches from Patrick AFB northward to KSC.

1320 GMT (9:20 a.m. EDT)

The ferry flight of shuttle Endeavour remains grounded in Little Rock this morning due to concerns with clouds and rain in Mississippi and Alabama. NASA officials will receive another weather briefing shortly that could lead to take off of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft at about 11:30 a.m. EDT. Arrival at Kennedy Space Center isn't expected until around 2 p.m. EDT.

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 2001

Riding piggyback atop a modified Boeing 747 jet, space shuttle Endeavour left Edwards Air Force Base in California on Tuesday for its cross-country ferry flight back to Kennedy Space Center. Bad weather forced Endeavour to land at Edwards last Tuesday.

The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft took off at morning's first light -- 9:13 a.m. EDT -- for the three-hour trek eastward to Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma where a refueling stop was made.

The duo then resumed the trip at about 3:15 p.m. EDT for an hour-long hop to Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas for an overnight stay.

Pending acceptable weather, the final leg of the ferry flight could resume around 9 a.m. EDT on Wednesday for the trek into KSC. Touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility could occur by 11 a.m. EDT.

Since its return to Earth last week, workers spent several days safing Endeavour, the aerodynamic tailcone was installed on Sunday and the shuttle was hoisted 60 feet in the air on Monday to be bolted atop the carrier jet.

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2001

Dennis Tito's historic eight-day adventure to the final frontier ended safely today when the Soyuz capsule carrying the 60-year old American businessman and two Russian cosmonauts touched down in Central Asia at 0541:28 GMT (1:41:28 a.m. EDT).

The flight to the international space station served the purpose of swapping out the Soyuz emergency escape pod with a fresh capsule after the previous one reached the end of its six-month certified life. The aging craft that Tito and crewmates Talgat Musabayev and Yuri Baturin rode home -- known as Soyuz TM-31 -- was launched on October 31 and delivered the Expedition One crew to the station.

But history will record the Soyuz taxi crew's flight for opening the door to tourists and non-professional astronauts traveling into space. Tito's $20 million joyride, although draped in controversy by NASA's protests, has fueled the desire for more "space vacations" in the future.

"Personally, I've had the time of my life. I've achieved my dream and nothing could have been better," Tito told Mission Control shortly before boarding the Soyuz TM-31 capsule to depart the station. "I thank everybody that supported my mission."

Tito spent about five-and-a-half days aboard the station taking rolls of photographs of the Earth and listening to opera and Beatles CDs.

The Soyuz landed near the Arkalyk, Kazakhstan. The town is about 250 miles southwest of the Kazak capital Astana. Later today the three-man crew is supposed to be flown to Astana to undergo post-flight medical checks and a welcoming ceremony by senior Kazak officials. Then they will fly to Star City in Russia.

The Soyuz TM-32 capsule Tito and company delivered to the station last Monday will remain at the outpost until the end of October when another swap out is scheduled.

The now-free docking port on the Zvezda will be filled on May 20 when a Russian Progress cargo freighter arrives with supplies and equipment for the station's Expedition Two crew of Yuri Usachev, Jim Voss and Susan Helms.

0430 GMT (12:30 a.m. EDT)

Subscribers of our STS-100 Mission Theater can watch a video clip of today's Soyuz undocking.

If you aren't yet a subscriber, here is the page with details.

0232 GMT (10:32 p.m. EDT Sat.)

The free-flying Soyuz capsule with commander Talgat Musabayev, flight engineer Yuri Baturin and tourist Dennis Tito has passed out of range of Russian ground stations.

Looking ahead to the Soyuz's homecoming, the plan calls for a two-minute, 55-second deorbital burn by the craft's engines at 12:47 a.m. EDT (0447 GMT). The maneuver will slow the Soyuz by 111 meters per second, just enough to brake from Earth orbit for the plunge back into the atmosphere. The parachute-controlled landing is expected at around 1:41 a.m. EDT (0541 GMT) about 50 miles northeast of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan.

0223 GMT (10:23 p.m. EDT Sat.)

The Soyuz has performed a short burn to speed up the separation.

0221 GMT (10:21 p.m. EDT Sat.)

UNDOCKING. The Soyuz TM-31 capsule that ferried the Expedition One crew to international space station six months ago has departed the orbiting outpost. The spacecraft, which has served as emergency lifeboat for the station residents, was replaced with a fresh Soyuz on Monday.

0218 GMT (10:18 p.m. EDT Sat.)

The undocking sequence is now underway. Hooks and latches holding the Soyuz capsule to the aft docking port of the Zvezda module are now being opened. Springs will push the two craft apart in a little less than three minutes.

0200 GMT (10:00 p.m. EDT Sat.)

Clocks are counting down to the undocking of Soyuz 2R capsule from the international space station. The undocking command is scheduled to be issued at 10:18 p.m. EDT (0218 GMT). The physical separation will occur about three minutes later once hooks and latches are opened. The Soyuz will then perform a maneuver to depart the vicinity of the station at 10:24 p.m. (0224 GMT). The two-minute, 55-second deorbit burn is expected to begin at 12:47 a.m. (0447 GMT) with landing about 50 miles northeast of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, at around 1:41 a.m. EDT (0541 GMT).

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2001
2345 GMT (7:45 p.m. EDT)

Tourist Dennis Tito and Russian cosmonauts Talgat Musabayev and Yuri Baturin said their goodbyes to the international space station residents a short time ago. The three men then floated into the Soyuz 2R capsule attached to the aft port of the Zvezda service module in preparation for undocking about 2 1/2 hours from now.

We will have live undocking reports beginning at 10 p.m. EDT.

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2001

Dennis Tito's space joyride is drawing to a close. The first fare-paying tourist of the final frontier and two Russian cosmonauts are slated to depart the international space station Saturday night for their journey back to Earth aboard a Soyuz capsule.

Undocking Soyuz 2R spacecraft from the Zvezda module's aft port is scheduled to occur at 10:19 p.m. EDT (0219 GMT Sunday). The deorbit burn is expected around 12:40 a.m. EDT.

Soyuz 2R was launched on October 31 and delivered the Expedition One crew to the station two days later. But the capsule, which serves as the outpost's emergency lifeboat, is at the end of its certified stay in orbit. It was replaced by a fresh Soyuz Tito and company rode to space last weekend.

On Friday the older Soyuz underwent a test firing of its thruster jets in preparation for undocking. This test is similar to the Reaction Control System hotfire test on the space shuttle before it returns home from a mission.

Watch this page for live updates during the undocking.

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2001

Inspections have revealed space shuttle Endeavour suffered the expected number of debris hits during its just-completed voyage into orbit, NASA said Thursday. The shuttle is undergoing work to prepare for next week's cross-country trek from Edwards Air Force Base in California back to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The shuttle was towed off Runway 22 following touchdown on Tuesday. Standard post-flight deservicing continues to go well, officials say. Technicians are establishing vehicle access and proceeding with efforts to offload Endeavour's onboard cryogenics. Work to mate Endeavour to NASA's modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft begins Sunday. Managers are targeting a ferry flight departure on Tuesday.

Preliminary plans have the shuttle/carrier jet duo refueling at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas and then stopping for an overnight stay at Eglin Air Force Base near Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. If all goes as planned, Endeavour could return to Kennedy Space Center as early as Wednesday. The schedule and flight path of any ferry flight are dependant upon weather conditions and daylight en route.

Inspections performed on Endeavour at the Runway 22 and in the Mate-Demate Device revealed a total of 92 debris hits to the orbiter's thermal protection system; 13 of the impact sites measured one inch or larger.

The Edwards landing marked the 48th shuttle homecoming at the Mojave Desert military base, and the third in the last five shuttle flights to land there.

TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2001

Diverted by bad weather in Florida, the Endeavour astronauts glided to a smooth California landing today, leaving the repaired international space station behind in orbit and setting the stage for a milestone mission in June to complete the lab's initial assembly. Read our full landing story.

1732 GMT (1:32 p.m. EDT)

The seven astronauts are now taking the traditional tour around the shuttle on runway and kicking the tires after the 11-day 21-hour, 4.9-million mile voyage.

1708 GMT (1:08 p.m. EDT)

Commander Kent Rominger is now climbing out of the cockpit. The other six astronauts are already off the shuttle. They are currently inside the motorized Crew Transport Vehicle. It is expected that at least some of the shuttle astronauts will make the traditional walkaround of the Endeavour on the runway shortly. Later, all seven astronauts will be driven to the crew quarters at Dryden to have dinner and spend the night. They are due to fly back to their homes in Houston tomorrow.

1642 GMT (12:42 p.m. EDT)

Endeavour's side hatch is now open for the astronauts to exit the shuttle. The Crew Transport Vehicle -- a modified airport "People Mover" -- is pulled up to the hatch for the astronauts to enter directly. The CTV features beds and comfortable seats for the astronauts to receive medical checks after returning to Earth's gravity from the weightless environment of space.

1637 GMT (12:37 p.m. EDT)

Subscribers of our STS-100 Mission Theater can watch a video clip of today's landing.

If you aren't yet a subscriber, here is the page with details.

1629 GMT (12:29 p.m. EDT)

The main engine nozzles have been moved to the "rain drain" position and Endeavour's three Auxiliary Power Units are being shut down.

1622 GMT (12:22 p.m. EDT)

On the runway, workers have arrived with instruments to "sniff" the shuttle's exterior to check for any hazardous vapors. The body flap has been set. And now Endeavour's onboard computers are transitioning to OPS-9 -- the post-landing software package.

1620 GMT (12:20 p.m. EDT)

Here are the preliminary landing times in Eastern Daylight Time and Mission Elapsed Time:

Main Gear Touchdown
12:10:42 p.m. EDT
MET: 11 days, 21 hours, 30 minutes, 00 seconds

Nose Gear Touchdown
12:10:53 p.m. EST
MET: 11 days, 21 hours, 30 minutes, 11 seconds

Wheels Stop
12:11:56 p.m. EST
MET: 11 days, 21 hours, 31 minutes, 14 seconds

1618 GMT (12:18 p.m. EDT)

The side hatch pyrotechnics, drag chute and landing gear have been safed and the external tank umbilical doors on the shuttle's belly are being opened.

1615 GMT (12:15 p.m. EDT)

The astronauts are going through standard post-landing safing of Endeavour following a smooth touchdown today.

1611 GMT (12:11 p.m. EDT)

WHEELS STOP. Endeavour has returned to Earth safely with its international crew after a 4.9-million mile voyage.

1610 GMT (12:10 p.m. EDT)

TOUCHDOWN! Main gear touchdown. Drag chute deployed. Nose gear touchdown. Space shuttle Endeavour rolls out on Runway 22 at the Edwards Air Force Base to complete a successful 12-day mission that spanned 186 orbits and delivered the Canadarm2 to extend the reach of the international space station.

1610 GMT (12:10 p.m. EDT)

Landing gear down and locked. Standing by for touchdown on Edwards' Runway 22 in the Mojave Desert of Southern California.

1609 GMT (12:09 p.m. EDT)

Field in sight. Commander Rominger can see the concrete runway destination as he pilots Endeavour. The shuttle descending at a rate seven times steeper than that of a commercial airliner.

1609 GMT (12:09 p.m. EDT)

Altitude 22,000, 10 miles to touchdown. The last APU started is performing normally. Its cooling system is working.

1608 GMT (12:08 p.m. EDT)

Endeavour is in the Heading Alignment Cylinder, an imaginary circle to align with Runway 22. Kent Rominger has taken manual control to make a 218-degree right-overhead turn.

1606 GMT (12:06 p.m. EDT)

Endeavour's wings are leveling out. Crew has been given a "go" for normal drag chute deploy. Surface winds from 280 degrees at 6 peaking 10 knots.

1605 GMT (12:05 p.m. EDT)

Pilot Jeff Ashby has started the final Auxiliary Power Unit. The unit is being started about a half-hour late to ensure it doesn't overheat. Its cooling system showed signs of a problem during launch. Altitude currently 72,000, 55 miles to touchdown.

1604 GMT (12:04 p.m. EDT)

Endeavour has made landfall over Los Angeles. Air data probes have been deployed from the shuttle's nose to feed air speed and altitude information to the computers for navigation.

1603 GMT (12:03 p.m. EDT)

Eight minutes to touchdown. Endeavour is approaching the Southern California coast. The shuttle will fly directly above Los Angeles, its sonic booms should be heard in a couple minutes. Altitude currently 20 miles.

1602 GMT (12:02 p.m. EDT)

Nine minutes to touchdown. Endeavour banking back to the left.

1601 GMT (12:01 p.m. EDT)

The TACAN navigation units aboard Endeavour are now receiving data from beacons located at the ground. Range 255 miles, altitude 137,000 feet, speed 4,600 mph.

1600 GMT (12:00 p.m. EDT)

Endeavour remains on the proper track for landing in 11 minutes at Edwards Air Force Base. Touchdown predicted to be 2,900 feet down the runway at 195 knots.

1558 GMT (11:58 a.m. EDT)

Altitude 32 miles, speed 8,000 mph, range to Edwards 515 miles.

1557 GMT (11:57 a.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.

1556 GMT (11:56 a.m. EDT)

Inside the final 15 minutes of flight. Endeavour is 750 miles from the runway, speeding along at 10,000 mph at an altitude of 180,000 feet.

1554 GMT (11:54 a.m. EDT)

Endeavour continues in a left-hand bank to scrub off speed. Velocity currently 12,500 miles per hour. Distance to Edwards is 1,200 miles.

1552 GMT (11:52 a.m. EDT)

Time to touchdown 19 minutes. Altitude 42 miles, speed 14,200 mph, range to Edwards 1,660 miles.

1548 GMT (11:48 a.m. EDT)

Speed 15,900 miles per hour. Range to Edwards 2,600 miles.

1546 GMT (11:46 a.m. EDT)

Now 25 minutes to landing. Altitude currently 246,000 feet over the Central Pacific Ocean. Speed 16,750 miles per hour.

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 70-degree roll to the left. These turns basically remove the energy Endeavour built up during launch.

1541 GMT (11:41 a.m. EDT)

Now 30 minutes to touchdown. Endeavour is approaching sunrise.

1539 GMT (11:39 a.m. EDT)

ENTRY INTERFACE. The protective tiles on the belly of Endeavour 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 1611 GMT (12:11 p.m. EDT) on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

1535 GMT (11:35 a.m. EDT)

Endeavour's onboard computers are now switching to the OPS-304 program, which governs the entry phase of the mission.

1533 GMT (11:33 a.m. EDT)

The ground convoy at Edwards reports it is ready to receive Endeavour upon touchdown. Endeavour is currently above the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand, continuing to fall closer and closer to the atmosphere. Entry interface is about six minutes away.

1527 GMT (11:27 a.m. EDT)

The second Auxiliary Power Units is now running to supply pressure to the shuttle's hydraulic systems, which in turn move Endeavour's aerosurfaces and deploy the landing gear. One unit was started prior to the deorbit burn.

The third unit, which should have been started with the second just a few moments ago, won't be activated until 10 minutes before landing because its cooling system isn't working properly. So the astronauts will keep the unit off until as late as possible.

The units are only used during the launch and landing phases of the shuttle mission.

1526 GMT (11:26 a.m. EDT)

Endeavour's altitude is now 183 miles. It was about 240 miles up when the deorbit burn was performed. The shuttle will hit the upper reaches of the atmosphere at an altitude of 77 miles.

1522 GMT (11:22 a.m. EDT)

Excess propellant has been dumped from the shuttle's forward steering jets. The fuel is no longer needed by Endeavour.

1517 GMT (11:17 a.m. EDT)

Today's touchdown of Endeavour at Edwards Air Force Base in California will mark only the third shuttle landing there over the past five years. There was 23 straight landings have occurred at Kennedy Space Center in Florida before the string was broken last October when Discovery landed at Edwards. The November shuttle mission returned to KSC, then Atlantis was diverted to Edwards in February. The most recent mission last month ended at the Cape.

NASA prefers Florida landings because its saves $1 million and a week's worth of processing time to avoid ferrying the shuttle across the country to the launch site. But weather spoiled a KSC touchdown today.

In the 102 previous shuttle landings, 54 have occurred at KSC, 47 at Edwards and one at White Sands in New Mexico.

1510 GMT (11:10 a.m. EDT)

Onboard guidance is now maneuvering Endeavour 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. Endeavour 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 9:07 a.m. local time. Endeavour' track will continue towards Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert. Once in the vicinity of the runway, Commander Rominger will perform a right-overhead turn of about 217 degrees to align with Runway 22 -- the northeast to southwest runway.

1506 GMT (11:06 a.m. EDT)

DEORBIT BURN COMPLETE. Endeavour has successfully completed the deorbit burn, committing the shuttle for its journey back to Earth. The shuttle should hit the top of the atmosphere at 11:39 a.m. EDT and touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in California is set for (12:11 p.m. EDT).

1502 GMT (11:02 a.m. EDT)

DEORBIT BURN IGNITION. Flying upside down and backwards over the equatorial Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa, space shuttle Endeavour 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-and-a-half minutes, slowing the craft just enough to slip from orbit. The retro-burn will send Endeavour toward a touchdown at 12:11 p.m. EDT (1611 GMT) on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

1458 GMT (10:58 a.m. EDT)

Pilot Jeff Ashby is activating Auxiliary Power Unit No. 2 in advance of the deorbit burn, now four minutes away. 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.

NASA ensures that at least one APU is working before committing to the deorbit burn since the shuttle only needs a single unit to make a safe landing.

The second unit will be started just before atmospheric entry. The final APU start will be delayed about a half-hour -- until about 10 minutes to touchdown -- due to concerns with its cooling system not functioning properly. However, the late start is not a problem.

1445 GMT (10:45 a.m. EDT)

Endeavour 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 17 minutes away, will slow Endeavour below orbital velocity, allowing the craft to slip from space and begin the hour-long glide to a pin-point touchdown at 12:11 p.m. EDT at California's Edwards Air Force Base.

1439 GMT (10:39 a.m. EDT)

GO FOR THE DEORBIT BURN! Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain has given final approval for space shuttle Endeavour's landing today at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The landing was diverted from Florida's Kennedy Space Center due to bad weather.

The upcoming retrograde burn using the twin orbital maneuvering system engines on the tail of Endeavour to slow the shuttle's velocity by about 360 feet per second, just enough to slip the craft out of orbit and begin the plunge back into the atmosphere. Engine ignition for the three-minute, 31-second firing is scheduled for 11:02:47 a.m. EDT.

Endeavour is headed to a landing at 12:11 p.m. EDT on Runway 22 at Edwards. The landing will conclude the 11-day, 21-hour, 30-minute STS-100 mission that delivered the Canadarm2 robotic crane to the international space station.

The astronauts are deactivating the toilet, the shuttle's vent doors are being closed, and final configuring of the onboard computers and a steering check of the orbital maneuvering system engine nozzles have been completed. Also, pilot Jeff Ashby has performed the Auxiliary Power Unit prestart, which positions switches in the cockpit in the ready-to-start configuration.

1420 GMT (10:20 a.m. EDT)

The landing convoy made up of over a dozen vehicles used to safe the shuttle on the runway are rolling to their position for Endeavour's return. Meanwhile, we are about 20 minutes from the scheduled time of Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain's final "go/no go" decision for the deorbit burn.

1400 GMT (10:00 a.m. EDT)

The astronauts have begun their "fluid loading" procedure to drink lots of fluids to replenish their bodies to aide in the readaptation to Earth's gravity. The flight deck crew is suited up and strapped into their seats. The middeck crew take a bit more time in getting seated since they have to deactivate the kitchen once fluid loading is completed.

1338 GMT (9:38 a.m. EDT)

Endeavour's astronauts are resuming their preparations for returning to Earth, including donning their entry spacesuits. They went into a holding pattern earlier when the landing was delayed until later in the day.

1259 GMT (8:59 a.m. EDT)

CAPCOM Scott Altman just gave Endeavour commander Kent Rominger an update on the information for the upcoming deorbit opportunity for landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The 3-minute, 31-second deorbit burn will begin at 11:02:47 a.m. EDT (1502:47 GMT) to slip Endeavour out orbit. See the ground track Endeavour will follow to its pin-point touchdown.

The shuttle will make four banks to scrub off speed, first to the left, then to the right, then to the left and finally back to the right. Upon arriving in the skies over Edwards, Rominger will make a right-overhead turn of 217 degrees to align with Runway 22 for touchdown at 12:11 p.m. EDT about 2,400 feet down the runway at about 195 knots.

1156 GMT (7:56 a.m. EDT)

CALIFORNIA BOUND. With low clouds, rain and wind at Kennedy Space Center today, and meteorologists saying the unacceptable weather conditions would remain the rest of the week, NASA has decided to send Endeavour to Edwards Air Force Base in California.

"After getting an update on the weather at the Cape, it's solidly no-go observed right now and forecast to basically be that way for the rest of the week," astronaut Scott Altman radioed from mission control.

"So rather than keep you up there going around, we're going to target Edwards on the next rev, 186. It looks like a great day out there on the West Coast, light winds at all altitudes, including the surface."

Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain waved off the 10:39 a.m. KSC landing opportunity and forego the option of keeping Endeavour aloft another day given the little chance of better weather tomorrow in Florida.

So Endeavour is now headed for Edwards for a touchdown at 12:11 p.m. EDT.

1138 GMT (7:38 a.m. EDT)

Given the persistent low ceilings, rain and crosswinds at Kennedy Space Center this morning the astronauts have been told to hold off donning their day-glow orange launch and entry spacesuits. NASA has not officially waved off the 10:39 landing opportunity, however. That would be the final shot into KSC today.

If and when NASA gives up on Florida today, Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain will then have to decide whether it is worth keeping Endeavour in space for another day in hopes of improved conditions tomorrow at the Cape or else simply divert to Edwards today. The weather is not currently forecast to change in Florida over the next few days.

1130 GMT (7:30 a.m. EDT)

Endeavour's General Purpose Computers have transitioned to the OPS-3 entry and landing software.

Meanwhile, the weather picture remains bleak for a landing of Endeavour at Kennedy Space Center in about three hours. A low pressure system is bringing rain, low clouds and strong winds to the area, all of which are violating the weather rules for a shuttle landing. NASA has already waved off the 9:04 a.m. landing opportunity and is keeping open the option of bringing Endeavour down at 10:39 a.m. should the weather somehow improve dramatically.

With KSC "no go" today and forecast to have similar conditions throughout the week, Mission Control is giving strong consideration to landing Endeavour at Edwards Air Force Base in California today at 12:11 p.m. EDT. Conditions there are fine.

1058 GMT (6:58 a.m. EDT)

The payload bay doors of space shuttle Endeavour have been closed and locked as the stubby-winged ship continues to be transformed from an orbiting platform to an aircraft of sorts for its glide back to Earth in a few hours.

Also, Mission Control has given commander Kent Romginer a "go" to transition Endeavour's onboard computers from the OPS-2 software used during the shuttle's stay in space to OPS-3, which is the software package that governs reentry and landing. And Endeavour will soon maneuver to a new orientation in space to improve the communications link with NASA's orbiting data relay satellites.

Preparations are continuing for a landing in Florida at 10:39 a.m. EDT, but weather conditions may very well force Endeavour to make a detour to Edwards Air Force Base in California today.

1008 GMT (6:08 a.m. EDT)

Mission Control has given the Endeavour astronauts a "go" to close the payload bay doors per the normal timeline today for the second Kennedy Space Center landing opportunity. However, weather in Florida remains unfavorable for the shuttle's homecoming.

The ship's radiators will be bypassed to the flash evaporator system to cool the avionics in advance of closing the doors in about 40 minutes.

If the rain, clouds and winds don't improve in Florida this morning NASA is keeping open the option of sending Endeavour to Edwards Air Force Base in California for a landing later in the day. Weather conditions at Edwards are acceptable.

"We're going to go ahead and count down towards rev 185 to the Cape, including closing the payload bay doors," astronaut Scott "Scooter" Altman told the shuttle crew moments ago. "The forecast for the weather at the Cape does not look promising. Unless something big happens in the near future, it doesn't look good for us to get into the Cape.

"But we do want to go ahead and use our time wisely, close the doors early," he said. "Then we're going to take another hard look at Edwards 186 (the next orbit), which has a 'go' forecast and looks good both today and tomorrow. So there is a good chance that we will be coming home today, possibly at Edwards."

"Thanks, we copy all that and really appreciate the big picture," replied shuttle commander Kent Rominger. "And Scooter, out of curiosity, how does the weather forecast look for Florida in the next couple of days?"

"Well, Endeavour, there's a sort of a low sitting in the vicinity with a high off to the north that's going to produce low ceilings, rain showers and high winds all at the same time. So the forecast is extremely pessimistic for the cape."

"Right, we understand," Rominger said. "Other than the ceilings and winds and rain showers, the weather looks great there."

"That's a good copy, Endeavour."

0849 GMT (4:49 a.m. EDT)

WAVE OFF! Bad weather has forced Mission Control to scrub the first landing opportunity today that would have seen Endeavour land at 9:04 a.m. at Kennedy Space Center.

So the shuttle will make another orbit of Earth in hopes of better conditions in Florida for the second of two opportunitites to land at KSC today. Should the weather somehow improve the deorbit burn would occur at 9:31:15 a.m. for landing at 10:39:17 a.m. EDT.

There is a strong possibility that Endeavour will be diverted to Edwards Air Force Base in California later today if KSC weather remains unacceptable. The weather at Edwards is expected to be near-perfect with clear skies and a light wind. The first Edwards opportunity begins with a deorbit burn at 11:02:47 a.m. and landing at 12:10:55 p.m. EDT.

0830 GMT (4:30 a.m. EDT)

Endeavour's astronauts are working through their deorbit preparation procedures in advance of possibly returning to Earth today. However, poor weather at the planned landing site -- Kennedy Space Center in Florida -- is forcing officials to examine other options.

For now, all activities are progressing toward the first of four available landing opportunities today that would begin with a deorbit burn at 7:55 a.m. to brake from orbit for touchdown at 9:04 a.m. EDT.

The weather forecast for KSC today is calling for rain, low clouds and a stiff crosswind. Meteorologists say there is little hope for improvement today or even the next several days.

Given that lousy outlook, Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain is looking at foregoing the option of keeping Endeavour aloft for another day and instead diverting the shuttle today to the backup landing site of Edwards Air Force Base, California. The first Edwards landing opportunity would begin with a deorbit burn at 11:06 a.m. and landing at 12:11 p.m. EDT.

Read our earlier status center coverage.