BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW

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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2001

Blocked by bad weather overnight Monday, the shuttle Atlantis glided back to Earth late Tuesday, dropping out of a muggy Florida sky into the glare of xenon spotlights to complete a virtually flawless space station assembly mission. Read our full landing story.

0524 GMT (1:24 a.m. EDT)

The five astronauts have taken the traditional tour around the shuttle on runway to kick the tires after the 5.3-million mile voyage.

0514 GMT (1:14 a.m. EDT)

Subscribers of our Mission Theater can watch a video clip from an infrared camera providing a cool view of Atlantis landing.

0440 GMT (12:40 a.m. EDT)

Subscribers of our Mission Theater can watch a movie of landing.

If you aren't a subscriber yet, here is how you can sign up! And click here for a complete listing of all the videos currently available to watch.

0421 GMT (12:21 a.m. EDT)

All five astronauts are now reported 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 Atlantis on the runway shortly.

Later, all seven astronauts will be driven to Kennedy Space Center's Operations & Checkout Building to be reunited with their families and have dinner. They are scheduled to fly back to their homes in Houston on Thursday afternoon.

0410 GMT (12:10 a.m. EDT)

The Crew Transport Vehicle -- a modified airport "People Mover" -- is pulled up to the Atlantis' crew hatch for the astronauts to enter. 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.

0357 GMT (11:57 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Atlantis' three Auxiliary Power Units have been shut down.

0354 GMT (11:54 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Post-landing chores continue for the astronauts to configure the shuttle after their homecoming. The shuttle's onboard computers have transitioned to the post-landing software package. The side hatch and drag chute pyrotechnics have been safed, landing gear is reported safed and the main engine nozzles have been gimbaled to the "rain drain" position. And Mission Control has told the crew they can now remove their day-glow orange launch and entry space suits if so desired.

0347 GMT (11:47 p.m. EDT Tues.)

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

Main Gear Touchdown
11:38:55 p.m. EDT
MET: 12 days, 18 hours, 34 minutes, 56 seconds

Nose Gear Touchdown
11:39:10 p.m. EDT
MET: 12 days, 18 hours, 35 minutes, 11 seconds

Wheels Stop
11:40:38 p.m. EDT
MET: 12 days, 18 hours, 36 minutes, 39 seconds

0345 GMT (11:45 p.m. EDT Tues.)

The astronauts are going through standard post-landing safing of Atlantis following a smooth touchdown tonight. The body flap is being set and the external tank umbilical doors on the shuttle's belly have been opened. On the runway, workers have arrived with instruments to "sniff" the shuttle's exterior to check for any hazardous vapors.

0340 GMT (11:40 p.m. EDT Tues.)

WHEELS STOP. Atlantis is back home at its point of origination at the Kennedy Space Center.

0339 GMT (11:39 p.m. EDT Tues.)

TOUCHDOWN! Main gear touchdown. Drag chute deployed. Nose gear touchdown. Space shuttle Atlantis rolls out on Runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center to complete a successful 5.3-million mile mission that delivered the Joint Airlock Quest to the international space station.

0338 GMT (11:38 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Landing gear down and locked. Standing by for touchdown on Kennedy Space Center's Runway 15.

0337 GMT (11:37 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Field in sight. Commander Lindsey can see the runway as he pilots Atlantis to the 18th nighttime landing in shuttle program history. The shuttle descending at a rate seven times steeper than that of a commercial airliner.

0336 GMT (11:36 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Atlantis is in the Heading Alignment Cylinder, an imaginary circle to align with Runway 15. Steve Lindsey will make a 242-degree left-overhead turn. Altitude under 40,000 feet.

0335 GMT (11:35 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Commander Steve Lindsey has taken manual control of Atlantis. The sonic booms have been heard at KSC, announcing the shuttle's arrival.

0334 GMT (11:34 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Now five minutes from landing at the Kennedy Space Center. Mission Control has given the crew a "go" for normal drag chute deployment after main gear touchdow.

0333 GMT (11:33 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Now six minutes to landing. Altitude is 14 miles as Atlantis streaks above Central Florida. Infrared cameras have spotted the shuttle some 65 miles away.

0332 GMT (11:32 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Seven minutes to touchdown. Altitude 87,000 feet. Range to the runway 75 miles.

0331 GMT (11:31 p.m. EDT Tues.)

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

0329 GMT (11:29 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Atlantis now banking back to right. This is the third of four turns to reduce speed. The shuttle is now cruising over Florida on its way to Kennedy Space Center.

0328 GMT (11:28 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Atlantis remains on the proper track for landing in 11 minutes at KSC. Touchdown predicted to be 2,352 feet down the runway at 195 knots.

Altitude now 148,000 feet, range to the runway 285 miles. The Merritt Island tracking station called MILA has locked on to signal from space shuttle Atlantis. This provides more detailed navigation data for tracking the spaceplane as it streaks to touchdown at Kennedy Space Center.

And the TACAN navigation units aboard Atlantis are now receiving data from beacons located at the ground.

0325 GMT (11:25 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Atlantis is beginning the first roll reversal. The shuttle rolling from its bank to left to a right-hand bank. The shuttle is currently over the Gulf of Mexico, just west of Cuba.

0324 GMT (11:24 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Inside the final 15 minutes of flight. The shuttle is now 37 miles high. Range to touchdown 918 miles.

0321 GMT (11:21 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Time to landing now 18 minutes. Altitude 41 miles. Distance to the runway 1,400 miles. Atlantis has made landfall over Central America.

0319 GMT (11:19 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Now 20 minutes until landing.

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.

Landing today will occur on Runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center -- the northwest to southeast strip of the Shuttle Landing Facility. Upon arrival at the heading alignment circle in skies over KSC, commander Steve Lindsey will make a 242-degree left-overhead turn to align Atlantis with the runway. Touchdown is expected at 11:39 p.m. EDT.

The Shuttle Landing Facility was built in 1975. It is 300 feet wide and 15,000 feet long with 1,000-foot overruns at each end. The strip is located about three miles northwest of the 525-foot tall Vehicle Assembly Building.

0316 GMT (11:16 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Time to landing now 23 minutes. Altitude 45 miles. Distance to the runway 2,700 miles.

0312 GMT (11:12 p.m. EDT Tues.)

The space shuttle is currently in the first of four steep banks to scrub off speed as it plunges into the atmosphere. These turns basically remove the energy Atlantis built up during launch.

0307 GMT (11:07 p.m. EDT Tues.)

ENTRY INTERFACE. The protective tiles on the belly of Atlantis 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 over 500 feet per second.

Touchdown is set for 11:39 p.m. EDT on Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

0303 GMT (11:03 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Atlantis' onboard computers are switching to the OPS-304 program, which governs entry phase of the mission. Now 36 minutes until landing. Discovery currently above the South Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand, continuing to fall closer and closer to the atmosphere.

0300 GMT (11:00 p.m. EDT Tues.)

The shuttle's track home is taking the craft above the Pacific Ocean on northeastward track towards Kennedy Space Center. The shuttle will make landfall above Central America before moving out over the Gulf of Mexico and skirting just west of Cuba. Atlantis will arrive over Florida near Fort Myers and continue across the central portion of the state, flying just south of Orlando. Once in the vicinity of KSC, Commander Lindsey will perform a 242-degree left-overhead turn to align with Runway 15 -- the northwest to southeast runway -- by making a swing out over the Atlantic Ocean.

0255 GMT (10:55 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Now 44 minutes to touchdown. All three Auxiliary Power Units are running to supply pressure to the shuttle's hydraulic systems, which in turn move Atlantis' aerosurfaces and deploy the landing gear. One unit was started prior to the deorbit burn; the others just a few moments ago. The units are only activated during the launch and landing phases of the shuttle mission.

Also, excess propellant has been dumped from the shuttle's steering jets.

0239 GMT (10:39 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Onboard guidance is maneuvering Atlantis 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. Atlantis will begin interacting with the upper fringes of the atmosphere above the South Pacific in about 28 minutes.

0235 GMT (10:35 p.m. EDT Tues.)

DEORBIT BURN COMPLETE. Atlantis has successfully completed the deorbit burn, committing the shuttle for its journey back to Earth. Landing is scheduled for 11:39 p.m. EDT on Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Today's landing will be the 55th to occur at Kennedy Space Center in the history of space shuttle program. Dating back to May 1996, this will mark the 33rd of the last 37 shuttle missions to land in Florida. KSC is the most used landing site for the shuttle. Edwards Air Force Base in California has seen 48 landings and White Sands in New Mexico supported one. This also will be the 18th night landing for a space shuttle and the 13th to occur at KSC.

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

DEORBIT BURN IGNITION. Flying upside down and backwards about 240 miles above the Indian Ocean, Atlantis has begun the deorbit burn. The firing of the two Orbital Maneuvering System engines on the tail of the shuttle will last about three minutes and 9 seconds, slowing the craft just enough to slip from orbit. The retro-burn will send Atlantis towards a touchdown at 11:39 p.m. EDT on a runway just a few miles from the Kennedy Space Center launch pad where the shuttle lifted off on July 12.

0226 GMT (10:26 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Pilot Charlie Hobaugh is activating Auxiliary Power Unit No. 2 in advance of the deorbit burn, now six 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.

0212 GMT (10:12 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Atlantis has started maneuvering to the deorbit burn attitude. The shuttle will be flying upside-down and backwards with its tail pointed in the direction of travel.

Meanwhile, the shuttle's vent doors have been closed and final configuring of the onboard computers has been completed.

0203 GMT (10:03 p.m. EDT Tues.)

GO FOR THE DEORBIT BURN! Entry Flight Director Wayne Hale in Mission Control has given space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts the "go" to perform the deorbit burn at 10:32 p.m. EDT for landing tonight at Florida's Kennedy Space Center.

The upcoming retrograde burn using the twin orbital maneuvering system engines on the tail of Atlantis will slow the shuttle's velocity just enough to slip the craft out of orbit and begin the plunge back into the atmosphere.

Atlantis is headed to a nighttime landing at 11:39 p.m. EDT on Runway 15 at KSC. The landing will conclude the 12-day, 18-hour, 35-minute STS-104 mission.

0158 GMT (9:58 p.m. EDT Tues.)

All the astronauts should be suited up and preparing to strap into their seats for the deorbit burn, which is scheduled for 10:32 p.m. EDT. A final "go/no go" decision on the burn by Entry Flight Director Wayne Hale is about 10 minutes away. At this point there are no problems to report. The weather is acceptable and Atlantis is in fine shape for reentry.

The crew has performed a steering check of the Orbiter Maneuvering System thrust vector control. And pilot Charlie Hobaugh has completed the Auxiliary Power Unit prestart, which positions switches in the cockpit in the ready-to-start configuration.

0124 GMT (9:24 p.m. EDT Tues.)

With an "outstanding" weather forecast, Mission Control just told the Atlantis astronauts to begin their "fluid loading" procedure. This involves drink large amounts of fluids to replenish their bodies to aide in the readaptation to Earth's gravity.

0102 GMT (9:02 p.m. EDT Tues.)

The deorbit burn is now 90 minutes away. The astronauts have configured Atlantis' computers to the proper entry software and just completed verifying switches in the cockpit are in the correct position for tonight's homecoming. Shortly, the crew will begin donning their day-glow orange partial pressure suits. The weather remains stable and favorable at Kennedy Space Center for landing at 11:39 p.m. EDT.

0010 GMT (8:10 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Mission Control has given commander Steve Lindsey a "go" to transition Atlantis' 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 Atlantis will soon maneuver to a new orientation in space to improve the communications link with NASA's orbiting data relay satellites.

0001 GMT (8:01 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Atlantis' 60-foot long payload bay doors have been swung closed and locked as the astronauts ready their spacecraft for the fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere later tonight. The doors were shut last night but had to be reopened after weather scrapped the landing plans.

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2001
2225 GMT (6:25 p.m. EDT)

Entry flight director Wayne Hale has received "a very optimistic" forecast from the Spaceflight Meteorlogy Group at the Johnson Space Center for tonight's first landing opportunity at NASA's Florida spaceport.

The chance of rain showers has been removed from the forecast. A few clouds are expected at 2,000 feet with scattered cloud at 10,000 and 25,000 feet.

"Looks like we'll be coming home tonight," Atlantis skipper Steve Lindsey told flight controllers.

Landing on runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for 0339 GMT (11:39 p.m. EDT).

2130 GMT (5:30 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis' astronauts have been awakened for what should be their final hours in space before tonight's reentry and landing. The weather forecast at Kennedy Space Center is somewhat improved with only a slight chance of showers within 30 miles of the runway. Clocks are counting down to the scheduled 10:32 p.m. EDT deorbit burn to brake from orbit with touchdown on tap at 11:39 p.m. EDT.

0457 GMT (12:57 a.m. EDT)

On a night when the weather looked bad, then looked good, then looked bad and stayed bad, space shuttle Atlantis won't be coming back to Earth. Weather conditions at the Kennedy Space Center are unacceptable for a shuttle landing tonight and so Mission Control has ordered Atlantis and five-member crew to remain in space for another day.

The forecast for Florida is more favorable for 24 hours from now when there will be two landing opportunities at KSC. The first will begin with a deorbit burn at 10:32 p.m. and landing at 11:39 p.m. A second try will be available one orbit later with a deorbit burn at 12:08 a.m. and landing at 1:15 a.m.

Atlantis has enough consumables to remain aloft through Thursday night if necessary.

For now, officials have not called up the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California since the shuttle can safely stay in space for a couple more days. It costs NASA about $1 million to ferry the shuttle across the country when landings occur in California.

0445 GMT (12:45 a.m. EDT)

Entry Flight Director Wayne Hale will get a final weather update in the next few minutes in advance of making his decision on this landing opportunity. The deorbit burn is now 23 minutes away.

0442 GMT (12:42 a.m. EDT)

Precourt is now telling flight controllers that the cloud ceiling is lowering over the landing site.

0437 GMT (12:37 a.m. EDT)

Chief NASA astronaut Charlie Precourt is flying the weather reconnaissance aircraft around Kennedy Space Center tonight. His latest report included finding pockets of moisture and patchy decks of clouds around the Shuttle Landing Facility.

0420 GMT (12:20 a.m. EDT)

Rain is now being reported at the Shuttle Landing Facility. The showers continue to move toward the Kennedy Space Center. The situtation does not appear too optimistic. A final decision on this final landing opportunity of the day is expected in about 20 minutes or so.

0351 GMT (11:51 p.m. EDT)

Meteorologists are still tracking the rain around Central Florida in hopes the showers will dissipate to allow Atlantis to land at 2:14 a.m. EDT -- the final landing opportunity of the day. However, should the shuttle be forced to remain in space here is a look at the landing opportunities for the next two days: (all times EDT)

Tuesday PM/Wednesday AM

REV...SITE..DEORBIT......LANDING
200...KSC...10:32 p.m....11:39 p.m.
201...KSC...12:08 a.m....01:15 a.m.
202...EDW...01:39 a.m....02:46 a.m.
203...EDW...03:16 a.m....04:22 a.m.

Wednesday PM/Thursday AM

REV...SITE..DEORBIT......LANDING
215...KSC...09:37 p.m....10:41 p.m.
216...KSC...11:13 p.m....12:17 a.m.
217...EDW...12:45 a.m....01:48 a.m.
218...EDW...02:21 a.m....03:24 a.m.

0319 GMT (11:19 p.m. EDT)

DELAY. A large cluster of rain to the southwest of Kennedy Space Center has forced Entry Flight Director Wayne Hale to call off this landing opportunity. Atlantis will make another orbit of Earth while meteorologists watch the weather. If conditions improve then Atlantis could come home at 2:14 a.m. EDT. That opportunity would begin with a deorbit burn at 1:08 a.m. EDT.

0311 GMT (11:11 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis is performing maneuvers in space to the deorbit burn orientation. The shuttle will be flying upside-down and backwards with its tail pointed in the direction of travel. The burn, scheduled for 11:29 p.m., would slow the shuttle below orbital velocity, allowing the craft to slip from space and begin the hour-long glide to a touchdown at 12:37 a.m. EDT at Kennedy Space Center. However, the weather is still being monitored and a final decision on this landing opportunity has not been made.

0307 GMT (11:07 p.m. EDT)

The astronauts have been told by Mission Control to maneuver Atlantis into the proper attitude for the deorbit burn. However, the crew has not been given a "go" for the burn pending further discussion about the rainshowers southwest of the landing site.

0304 GMT (11:04 p.m. EDT)

The current observed weather at the Shuttle Landing Facility is acceptable. However, these showers 75 miles away are still a concern. Landing rules prohibit rain within 30 miles of the runway.

0257 GMT (10:57 p.m. EDT)

Forecasters are now hedging their bets a bit. There is a large cluster of showers to the southwest of Kennedy Space Center that is moving toward the Cape. Some predictions put the leading edge of rain in the area of Atlantis' approach path at the time of landing about an hour and 40 minutes from now. Officials are debating the situation. A final decision whether to permit Atlantis to brake from orbit to begin the trek back to Earth for its pin-point landing is still about 10 minutes away.

0225 GMT (10:25 p.m. EDT)

Meteorologists in Mission Control have just revised their forecast for Kennedy Space Center's weather tonight to remove concerns over rain, low clouds and wind. At the present time the weather is acceptable and predicted to remain favorable at KSC for a shuttle landing tonight. It is a dramatic reversal for forecasters who had worried about iffy weather in Florida.

So with that news the astronauts have been instructed to begin their "fluid loading" procedure to drink lots of fluids to replenish their bodies to aide in the readaptation to Earth's gravity. This marks a major event on the road to Atlantis being cleared for landing. Mission Control typically does not have the crew begin "fluid loading" unless there is a realistic chance of the shuttle being able to brake from orbit.

0117 GMT (9:17 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis' General Purpose Computers are now loaded with the entry software package.

Weather officials report winds at the Kennedy Space Center are now a concern. Winds are currently gusting up to 14 and 15 knots. The limit is 12 knots for a nighttime shuttle landing. Meteorologists continue to monitor clouds and rain in the area, which are also threats against Atlantis returning home tonight.

NASA has until about 11:09 p.m. to await for improved weather conditions before having to make a "go" or "no go" decision to allow Atlantis to brake from orbit at 11:29 p.m. for the glide through the atmosphere.

A backup landing opportunity is available one orbit later with a deorbit burn at 1:08 a.m. with touchdown at Kennedy Space Center at 2:14 a.m. EDT.

0055 GMT (8:55 p.m. EDT)

The payload bay doors of space shuttle Atlantis 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 Steve Lindsey a "go" to transition Atlantis' 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 Atlantis will soon maneuver to a new orientation in space to improve the communications link with NASA's orbiting data relay satellites.

0035 GMT (8:35 p.m. EDT)

Meteorologists report there has been a bit of improvement with the weather picture at Kennedy Space Center with a decrease in moisture around Central Florida. And with that the decision has been made to close Atlantis' payload bay doors to preserve the option of landing on the first of two landing opportunities tonight. Door closure is expected in about 15 minutes.

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2001
2329 GMT (7:29 p.m. EDT)

DEORBIT PREP. Atlantis' astronauts are beginning their deorbit preparation procedures in advance of possibly returning to Earth tonight. However, the weather forecast for the Kennedy Space Center landing site is iffy at best with rain and the chance of low clouds.

For now, all activities are progressing toward the first of two available landing opportunities today that would begin with a deorbit burn at 11:29 p.m. to brake from orbit for touchdown at 12:37 a.m. EDT.

2100 GMT (5:00 p.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis and her five-member crew are prepared to return to Earth later tonight to cap an 12-day flight that delivered the Joint Airlock Quest to the international space station. See our entry timeline for a schedule of tonight's activities.

Touchdown at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility is targeted for 12:37 a.m. EDT (0437 GMT).

Weather forecasters are calling for the chance of rainshowers within 30 nautical miles, which would be a constraint. Winds and clouds are predicted to be acceptable.

Should the weather prevents an on-time homecoming, Atlantis can make another orbit of Earth and look toward a 2:14 a.m. EDT (0614 GMT) landing attempt.

If both landing opportunities are unacceptable, Atlantis will remain in space for another day.

"We've elected not to call up any of our backup landing sites ... due to the fact that we have three full days of extension capability with the fuel cells and propellant and so forth, and therefore could land as late as Thursday evening, early Friday morning," said entry flight director Wayne Hale. "So we will try for a couple of days Kennedy only. And we're looking very good to get in there."

We will begin our live updates with the start of the Deorbit Prep activities at 7:29 p.m.

Read our earlier status center coverage.