BY JUSTIN RAY
Follow the four-month mission of first resident crew of the international space station as well as the STS-98 flight of space shuttle Atlantis to deliver the U.S. laboratory Destiny. Reload this page for the very latest.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2001
For the second day in a row, high crosswinds at the Kennedy Space Center forced entry flight director Leroy Cain to order the Atlantis astronauts to delay their homecoming for another 24 hours and to spend a second bonus day in orbit. Read our full wrap-up story.
1950 GMT (2:50 p.m. EST)
See our updated landing weather for the full forecast of conditions predicted at Kennedy Space Center, Edwards Air Force Base and White Sands.
1840 GMT (1:40 p.m. EST)
Atlantis' payload bay doors have been reopened and the astronauts are preparing to get out of their launch and entry spacesuits following today's landing wave off.
The weather forecast for Florida on Tuesday calls for scattered clouds at 4,500 feet, scattered clouds 20,000 feet and winds from 130 degrees at nine knots gusting to 14 knots. The crosswind component is 4.5 knots.
The outlook for the backup site at Edwards Air Force Base in California is somewhat marginal. Forecasters are calling for scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, broken decks at 10,000 and 20,000 feet and a chance for a broken deck at 5,000 feet. Winds will be from 230 degrees at eight knots with gusts to 12.
The shuttle has enough propellant, electrical power and crew supplies to remain in orbit until Wednesday in a worst-case scenario.
1812 GMT (1:12 p.m. EST)
YET ANOTHER DAY IN SPACE! For the second day running, unacceptable weather at Kennedy Space Center caused NASA to scrap plans to bring space shuttle Atlantis back to Earth. The crosswinds are out of limits, there are clouds moving into the area and rain showers within 30 miles.
So the shuttle will remain in orbit for another 24 hours and hope for better conditions in Florida on Tuesday. The first landing opportunity tomorrow would feature a touchdown time of 12:27 p.m. EST (1727 GMT).
Besides the preferred KSC landing site, NASA also plans to call upon the backups on Tuesday: Edwards Air Force Base in California and White Sands in New Mexico. So if KSC does not have acceptable weather, Atlantis could be diverted to one of the other sites. All three sites are predicted to have generally favorable weather on Tuesday, forecasters say.
Check back a little later for a complete wrap-up story from today and preview of tomorrow's try.
1800 GMT (1:00 p.m. EST)
Atlantis commander Ken Cockrell just asked Mission Control what the chances were for landing on this orbit. CAPCOM Scott Altman responded that controllers were working on the plan and would have words for the crew in about 10 minutes.
1753 GMT (12:53 p.m. EST)
The weather picture remains unacceptable at Kennedy Space Center where crosswinds are out of limits and clouds are becoming broken. Mission Control has told the crew to hold off on "fluid loading" for this upcoming landing opportunity. Officials have another 40 minutes or so before the "go/no go" decision must be made on this landing opportunity into KSC. The backup site at Edwards Air Force Base in California is even worse than Florida today.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, should weather keep Atlantis in space for another 24 hours, here are the key times:
Orbit 200 (KSC)
Deorbit Burn: 11:20:10 a.m. EST
Landing: 12:26:39 p.m. EST
Orbit 201 (KSC)
Deorbit Burn: 12:56:16 p.m. EST
Landing: 2:02:07 p.m. EST
Orbit 202 (EAFB)
Deorbit Burn: 2:27:15 p.m. EST
Landing: 3:33:00 p.m. EST
Orbit 203 (EAFB)
Deorbit Burn: 4:03:33 p.m. EST
Landing: 5:08:48 p.m. EST
1743 GMT (12:43 p.m. EST)
Chief NASA astronaut has taken off in the Shuttle Training Aircraft again after a refueling stop. He is flying weather reconnaissance around Kennedy Space Center.
1734 GMT (12:34 p.m. EST)
CAPCOM Scott Altman just gave Atlantis commander Ken Cockrell an update on the information for the upcoming deorbit opportunity. The 2-minute, 44-second deorbit burn would begin at 1:57:50 p.m. EST. Upon arriving in the skies over KSC, Cockrell would make a right-overhead turn of 248 degrees to align with Runway 33 for touchdown at 3:04 p.m. EST. The current forecast on the runway is easterly winds from 100 degrees at 11 peak 18 knots, which would be a violation of the flight rules.
1700 GMT (12:00 p.m. EST)
NASA has about another hour-and-a-half to watch the weather at Kennedy Space Center before needing to make a decision on the final landing opportunity for today in Florida. Not only are crosswinds a problem at the runway, there are now clouds moving into the area with moisture in them. Crosswinds are a problem because the shuttle is a powerless glider during its return to Earth; clouds could obscure commander Ken Cockrell's view of the runway while he pilots the spaceplane; and rain can damage the delicate heat-protection tiles on the belly of Atlantis.
1650 GMT (11:50 a.m. EST)
We have updated our entry timeline to reflect the new landing plans for Atlantis today.
1626 GMT (11:26 a.m. EST)
ONE MORE ORBIT! Mission Control has waved off this first of two landing opportunities available to bring space shuttle Atlantis back to Earth today. The crosswinds at Kennedy Space Center's runway are peaking around 20 knots. The limit is 15 knots. There is also a deck of clouds moving into the area and rain believed to be within 30 nautical miles of the landing strip. So Atlantis will make another orbit of Earth in hopes of better conditions later today. The second landing opportunity on orbit 186 would begin with a deorbit burn at 1:58 p.m. and touchdown at 3:03 p.m. EST.
1626 GMT (11:26 a.m. EST)
Precourt says clouds five miles to the west of the SLF and to the southwest have "gone broken." A decision on this first landing opportunity of day is expected momentarily. So flight controllers are now dealing with crosswinds and clouds.
1623 GMT (11:23 a.m. EST)
Precourt says scattered clouds are building to the south of the Kennedy Space Center. He says it's "encroached" in the last 10 minutes. Still scattered but he thinks it might go broken shortly, which would just add to the weather constraints today. Crosswinds still the main concern currently.
1615 GMT (11:15 a.m. EST)
Weather pilot Charlie Precourt says he considers both Kennedy Space Center runways "go" at present. He says there's only a little bit of turbulence and that it's not tough piloting.
1600 GMT (11:00 a.m. EST)
CAPCOM Scott Altman in Mission Control just radioed the Atlantis crew to hold off on their "fluid loading" procedure. Although this first of two landing opportunities has not been waved off yet, the crew was told they should not begin the process of drinking large amounts of fluids in the routine effort to aide in readapting to Earth's gravity. The crosswinds at the runway have been up as high as 20 knots today, but occasionally fall to the 11-knot range. The limit is 15 knots.
1557 GMT (10:57 a.m. EST)
In his approach to the Shuttle Landing Facility today in the Shuttle Training Aircraft, astronaut Charlie Precourt reports moderate turbulence and a noticeable crosswind on Runway 33 -- the southeast to northwest strip. He will now try the other end of the SLF -- Runway 15.
1550 GMT (10:50 a.m. EST)
The shuttle astronauts report they are ready to begin donning their day-glow orange launch and entry spacesuits.
At the Kennedy Space Center, meanwhile, crosswinds at the three-mile shuttle runway remain problematic for Atlantis -- a powerless glider -- to make a safe touchdown at 1:27 p.m. EST today. Over the past couple of hours, Mission Control reports the crosswinds have been peaking at 18 to 20 knots. The limit is 15 knots. There have been some periods of time when the winds drop off, giving officials at least some tiny amount of hope conditions will improve.
In order for Atlantis to make the 1:27 p.m. EST landing time, the shuttle must first perform the deorbit burn to brake from orbit and begin the hour-long trek toward its pin-point destination. That burn is set for 12:21 p.m.
1547 GMT (10:47 a.m. EST)
CAPCOM Scott Altman just gave Atlantis commander Ken Cockrell an update on the information for the upcoming deorbit opportunity. The 2-minute, 45-second deorbit burn would begin at 12:20:51 p.m. EST. Upon arriving in the skies over KSC, Cockrell would make a right-overhead turn of 295 degrees to align with Runway 33 for touchdown at 1:27 p.m. EST. The current forecast on the runway is easterly winds from 090 degrees at 11 peak 18 knots.
1530 GMT (10:30 a.m. EST)
After having flown a T-38 jet around the Kennedy Space Center area today for weather reconnaissance, chief NASA astronaut Charlie Precourt has switched to the modified Gulfstream jet known as the Shuttle Training Aircraft. The STA has flying characteristics very similar to those of the space shuttle and will be used to evaluate the weather conditions at KSC's runway to determine if it will be safe for Atlantis to return home today.
1523 GMT (10:23 a.m. EST)
Atlantis' onboard computers are now transitioning 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.
1508 GMT (10:08 a.m. EST)
The two 60-foot long payload bay doors have been closed -- the left door then the right -- and locked for today's planned reentry and landing of space shuttle Atlantis. However, forecasters are worried about crosswinds at the Kennedy Space Center being out of limits for the first landing opportunity today, and unacceptable low clouds for the second.
1500 GMT (10:00 a.m. EST)
Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain has polled his team in Mission Control and given the Atlantis crew a "go" to close the payload bay doors. Although a little late to save onboard water, activities are continuing to support a deorbit burn at 12:21 p.m. and landing at 1:27 p.m. EST today at Kennedy Space Center, weather permitting.
1455 GMT (9:45 a.m. EST)
As NASA officials keep a close eye on the iffy weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center today, the crew of space shuttle Atlantis are revising their chores to ready the spaceplane for its possible return to Earth today.
Closing of the payload bay doors has been delayed in an effort to conserve water aboard the shuttle. The radiators on the insides of the doors are used to cool the shuttle's avionics in space. But once the doors are closed the ship's flash evaporator system provides the cooling by using the onboard water supply.
Meteorologists are currently looking at crosswinds at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility, as well as some clouds and rain currently located southeast of the runway. The concern is those clouds and showers could move northwest toward the landing strip.
For now, landing is still targeted to occur at 1:27 p.m. EST -- the first of two opportunities for Atlantis' homecoming today. The second would occur one orbit later at 3:03 p.m. EST.
The backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California appears to have even worse weather today.
1155 GMT (6:55 a.m. EST)
The Atlantis astronauts are working through their morning routine and preparing to being deorbit timeline operations for a day-late landing today at the Kennedy Space Center.
Touchdown on the first landing opportunity is targeted for 1:26:55 p.m. EST (1827 GMT). A second landing opportunity is available at 3:03:21 p.m. (2003 GMT).
But forecasters are predicting high crosswinds at the shuttle landing facility and possibly broken clouds below 8,000 feet, both of which would violate NASA's landing flight rules. As of 7 a.m., it appeared the second opportunity would be more favorable than the first.
Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert is staffed today, but forecasters predict solidly "no-go" conditions with broken cloud decks, high winds and rain showers within 20 nautical miles of the runway.
Conditions in Florida are expected to improve Tuesday and Wednesday. The shuttle has enough propellant, electrical power and crew supplies to remain in orbit until Wednesday in a worst-case scenario.
The Tuesday forecast for Kennedy, Edwards and White Sands, N.M., will be posted as soon as the numbers are available. See our STS-98 entry timeline for a detailed breakdown of major events for today's two Kennedy landing opportunities.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2001
High crosswinds at the Kennedy Space Center blocked two back-to-back landing attempts by shuttle Atlantis today and forced entry flight director Leroy Cain to extend the mission by one day in hopes of better weather Monday. Read our full story.
1753 GMT (12:53 p.m. EST)
The astronauts are now preparing to reopen Atlantis' 60-foot payload bay doors and redeploying the radiators for this bonus day in orbit for the five-member crew. They will climb out of their day-glow orange spacesuits a little later.
1746 GMT (12:46 p.m. EST)
ANOTHER DAY IN SPACE! The crosswinds are just not going to cooperate today at the Kennedy Space Center and space shuttle Atlantis will remain in orbit for one more day.
The forecast for Monday is improved for KSC with winds not a concern. The only issue could be low clouds. The two landing opportunities on Monday in Florida are: 1:26 and 3:02 p.m. EST.
Officials have not decided whether to call up the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Monday. The weather forecast there is very poor.
Atlantis has enough onboard consumables to stay in space through Wednesday, if necessary.
1742 GMT (12:42 p.m. EST)
The ongoing weather briefing to flight controllers indicates crosswinds continue to violate the weather rules for landing the space shuttle. And the forecast does not predict any significant improvement today.
1740 GMT (12:40 p.m. EST)
Now about 20 minutes from the point Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain will make the "go/no go" decision on whether Atlantis will be able to land today at 2:28 p.m. EST.
1729 GMT (12:29 p.m. EST)
Precourt is now going to take a look at some clouds northeast of Kennedy Space Center that are building and moving in the direction of the runway.
1727 GMT (12:27 p.m. EST)
Weather pilot Charile Precourt -- NASA's chief astronauts -- says the turbulence is increasing. He said it's now "moderate" and he suspects afternoon heating is starting to have an effect.
1722 GMT (12:22 p.m. EST)
The astronauts have been told restart their "fluid loading" procedure. This means the crew will resume drinking large amounts of fluids to help in their readaption to Earth's gravity. The crosswinds are currently right at the limit of 15 knots.
1705 GMT (12:05 p.m. EST)
CAPCOM Scott Altman just gave Atlantis commander Ken Cockrell an update on the information for the upcoming deorbit opportunity. The 2-minute, 45-second deorbit burn would begin at 1:21:39 p.m. EST. Upon arriving in the skies over KSC, Cockrell would make a right-overhead turn of 286 degrees to align with Runway 33 for touchdown at 2:28 p.m. EST.
The weather forecast for this final shot of bringing Atlantis home today, however, does not look overly optimistic. The winds are predicted to be from 030 degrees at 12 peaking to 19 knots, so crosswinds would be out of limits.
The forecast for Monday in Florida looks better with a low cloud ceiling at 4,000 feet the only concern. The winds would be 110 degrees at 10 peaking 17 knots, which would be acceptable. The backup site at Edwards is solid "no go" tomorrow with clouds and rain.
1651 GMT (11:51 a.m. EST)
Now 90 minutes from the targeted deorbit burn time for Atlantis' second of two possible landing opportunities today. The twin OMS engines on the tail of Atlantis would be fired for nearly three minutes starting at 1:21:39 p.m. EST, braking the shuttle from orbit and committing it for the drive back to Earth. However, if the crosswinds don't improve by then, the shuttle will be kept in space for another day.
1625 GMT (11:25 a.m. EST)
The weather CAPCOM in Mission Control just radioed STA pilot Charlie Precourt -- he is flying weather reconnaissance at KSC -- that meteorologists don't see anything in the forecast to lower the winds today and more of the same is expected on the next landing opportunity one orbit from now.
Atlantis does have enough consumables to remain in space through Wednesday, if necessary. If the winds don't improve over the next hour-and-a-half orbit, the shuttle will be keep aloft for 24 hours. The backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California is not called up today.
1622 GMT (11:22 a.m. EST)
NO GO FOR THE BURN! Crosswinds at the Shuttle Landing Facility are staying just above the 15-knot limit, Mission Control says, and so Atlantis will skip this first of two landing opportunities today. The shuttle will make another orbit of Earth in hopes the winds improve. The crosswind is currently 17 to 18 knots.
The second landing chance today at Kennedy Space Center would begin with a deorbit burn at 1:21:39 p.m. EST and landing at 2:28 p.m. EST.
1621 GMT (11:21 a.m. EST)
Pilot Mark Polansky is flipping 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. Also, a steering check of the twin Orbital Maneuvering System engine nozzles has been performed.
1620 GMT (11:20 a.m. EST)
In a clue the first landing opportunity is in jeopardy of being delayed due to the weather, Mission Control just told the astronauts to hold off on any further "fluid loading" for the moment. The crew consumes lots of fluids just prior to reentry to aide in readapting to Earth's gravity. They have been "loading" over the past hour or so.
1615 GMT (11:15 a.m. EST)
Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain is about 10 minutes away from making the call whether to allow Atlantis to land as scheduled today on the first opportunity at 12:53 p.m. EST (1753 GMT). He is receiving another weather briefing at present.
Aboard Atlantis, meanwhile, the astronauts are suited up in their day-glow orange launch and entry suits and all five crew members will soon be strapped into their seats. They are doing their "fluid loading" procedure in which each astronaut drinks large amounts of liquids to aid in readapting to Earth's gravity.
1606 GMT (11:06 a.m. EST)
Chief NASA astronaut Charlie Precourt, flying weather reconnaissance at the Kennedy Space Center, just said that he believes the crosswinds and turbulence aren't a problem during approach to Runway 33. Astronaut Dom Gorie, the weather CAPCOM in Mission Control, said the winds are higher at the runway tower and Entry Flight Director Cain is looking at all that very closely.
1600 GMT (11:00 a.m. EST)
Despite the winds, it is an otherwise beautiful day here in Florida today. The skies are mostly clear, good visibility and warm temperatures.
1556 GMT (10:56 a.m. EST)
The latest run by Precourt has revealed a more easterly-component in the wind from 036 degrees at 7 knots. It was 020 degrees earlier. Entry Flight Director Leory Cain is about 25 minutes or so away from having to give the "go" for the deorbit burn.
1536 GMT (10:36 a.m. EST)
Chief NASA astronaut Charlie Precourt reports his first approach and landing on the KSC runway in the Shuttle Training Aircraft revealed only slight turbulance and a crosswind within limits.
1530 GMT (10:30 a.m. EST)
Mission Control just radioed the crew of Atlantis to report that crosswinds are currently blowing at -- and sometimes above -- the 15-knot limit at the Kennedy Space Center runway. So the situation is being watched very closely as clocks count down to the scheduled deorbit burn for the first of two landing opportunities today. The burn would begin at 11:46:33 a.m. to slip Atlantis from orbit for touchdown at 12:53 p.m. EST. A backup opportunity exists one orbit later with a burn at 1:21 p.m. and landing at 2:28 p.m.
The alternate landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California is not a player today.
1517 GMT (10:17 a.m. EST)
Now 90 minutes away from the deorbital burn by Atlantis' braking rockets that will slow the shuttle just enough to slip from orbit and begin the trek back to Earth. The 2-minute, 47-second burn will be performed using the twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines on the tail of the shuttle. Time of ignition is set for 11:46:33 a.m. EST.
The only concern right now is winds at the runway above the allowable limit for the shuttle landing.
The astronauts are currently going through a list to verify switches in the shuttle's cockpit are in the correct positions. Soon the crew will put on their launch and entry partial pressure suits and then strap in over the course of the next hour.
1456 GMT (9:56 a.m. EST)
At the Kennedy Space Center Chief NASA astronaut Charlie Precourt is preparing to take off in the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) -- a modified Gulstream jet that has flying characterists very similar to the space shuttle. He flew a T-38 jet earlier this morning.
Precourt is flying weather reconnaissance flights to evaluate conditions at KSC for Atlantis' landing. He passes his input to Mission Control and Entry Flight Director Leroy Cain.
The next full-up weather briefing for flight controllers will come in about an hour. The most recent forecast was unchanged with some clouds in the area, good visibility and a stiff wind from 020 degrees. If the wind should shift more easterly, then that would be a problem because the wind would become a crosswind across KSC's three-mile landing strip.
1437 GMT (9:37 a.m. EST)
The shuttle's General Purpose Computers are switched to the OPS-3 entry software.
1411 GMT (9:11 a.m. EST)
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.
Also, the crew has maneuvered the shuttle into an attitude to improve the communications link with ground controllers. And the three mission specialist seats on the flight deck and middeck of Atlantis have been reinstalled. They are removed shortly after reaching orbit on launch day to provide additional room for the astronauts inside the shuttle's cramped crew module.
1408 GMT (9:08 a.m. EST)
Atlantis' two 60-foot long payload bay doors have been swung closed and latched for today's upcoming reentry and landing.
1403 GMT (9:03 a.m. EST)
Mission Control has given the astronauts a "go" to close Atlantis' twin payload bay doors. This comes following work to bypass the shuttle's cooling from the radiators on the doors to the flash evaporator system. Once the doors are closed, the radiators won't be able usable to cool the shuttle's avionics. The alternate flash evaporator to be used for the rest of Atlantis' flight relies upon the shuttle's supply water system for the cooling in a fashion similar to a car's radiator.
1330 GMT (8:30 a.m. EST)
The deorbit preparation timeline is being worked aboard space shuttle Atlantis as activities continue on schedule for the spaceship's return to Earth today.
Meanwhile, chief NASA astronaut Charlie Precourt is flying a T-38 jet around the Central Florida area to evaluate weather conditions for Atlantis' planned landing at 12:53:08 p.m. EST (1753 GMT) on Kennedy Space Center's Runway 33. Precourt will later switch to the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) to make approaches and landing on the runway to simulate how the weather conditions will affect Atlantis.
1200 GMT (7:00 a.m. EST)
The Atlantis astronauts were awakened a few minutes past 4 a.m. EST (0900 GMT) to begin preparations for deorbit and landing at the Kennedy Space Center.
Flight controllers say the orbiter is in good shape and the only question mark is the weather, with right-to-left crosswinds on runway 33 right at NASA's 15-knot limit.
The latest forecast calls for scattered clouds at 3,000 feet and 25,000 feet and winds out of 20 degrees at 13 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. That translates into a crosswind component of 15.36 knots.
Should the wind shift even more to the northeast, the crosswind component will get bigger.
The shuttle crew has two landing opportunities today, the first at 12:53:08 p.m. EST (1753 GMT) and the second, one orbit later, at 2:27:47 p.m. (1928 GMT). Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is not staffed for today's landing attempts.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2001
The Atlantis astronauts tested the shuttle's re-entry systems today and packed up for landing Sunday to close out a near-perfect mission to attach a new $1.4 billion laboratory module to the international space station. Read our full landing preview story.
We have also posted the ground tracks showing Atlantis' path to Kennedy Space Center for landing; and the detailed entry timeline.
Spaceflight Now will provide continuous live coverage of Atlantis' homecoming on Sunday. Watch this page for reports throughout the final hours of the STS-98 mission.
1150 GMT (06:50 a.m. EST)
The Atlantis astronauts were awakened at 5:13 a.m. EST to begin their final full day in space. Commander Kenneth Cockrell, pilot Mark Polansky and flight engineer Marsha Ivins plan to begin testing the shuttle's re-entry systems at 9:23 a.m. EST, firing up one of the ship's hydraulic power units and checking the operation of the shuttle's elevons and other aerosurfaces.
The will carry out a traditional hot fire of the shuttle's small maneuvering jets starting at 10:23 a.m. before the crew begins final cabin stowage around 12:45 p.m. Two Baltimore television stations are scheduled to interview spacewalkers Thomas Jones and Robert Curbeam - both Balitimore natives - at 1:43 p.m.
Deorbit ignition on orbit 169 is now targeted for 11:46:33 a.m. Sunday with a touchdown on runway 33 at the Kennedy Space Center at 12:53:08 p.m. Should entry be delayed one orbit, landing would be targeted for 2:27:47 p.m.
The forecast calls for generally favorable weather at the Kennedy Space Center with somewhat brisk-but-acceptable crosswinds. Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., appears no-go Sunday due to low ceilings.
We will post landing weather pages, an updated entry timeline and a landing preview story later this morning, along with the latest version of NASA's television schedule.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2001
The shuttle Atlantis undocked from the international space station today, leaving the outpost behind with a new $1.4 billion laboratory module and some 3,000 pounds of equipment and supplies. Read our full story.
1525 GMT (10:25 a.m. EST)
The shuttle is now a couple of miles away from the space station. We will have a wrap-up story on today's undocking a little later.
1455 GMT (9:55 a.m. EST)
Atlantis is now 1,600 feet away from the station and separation at 7 feet per second.
1448 GMT (9:48 a.m. EST)
The final separation burn by Atlantis has been performed and the shuttle is now quickly departing the vicinity of the international space station.
The five astronauts will enjoy some off duty time to relax later today. Tomorrow will be spent packing up the crew cabin and checking out Atlantis' flight control aerosurfaces, hydraulics and steering jets in preparation for Sunday's planned reentry and landing back at the Kennedy Space Center.
1443 GMT (9:43 a.m. EST)
Atlantis is reaching a point above the space station to complete this half-lap flyaround. Pre-flight plans for a full loop flyaround was cut short because of propellant limitations. NASA has the shuttle make the flyarounds to document the station with photos and video.
1437 GMT (9:37 a.m. EST)
The Ku-band antenna of Atlantis is being switched from TV mode to radar mode to give the astronauts more information during today's flyaround and upcoming separation burn.
1434 GMT (9:34 a.m. EST)
The shuttle is now directly in front of the international space station in terms of the direction of travel of the two spacecraft around the Earth. Atlantis is about 400 feet away from the docking port on the Destiny laboratory.
1428 GMT (9:28 a.m. EST)
The flyaround continues with Atlantis 410 feet away.
1426 GMT (9:26 a.m. EST)
Under the control of pilot Mark Polansky, Atlantis is now beginning a half-lap flyaround of the international space station from a distance of about 450 feet. The shuttle is flying backwards with its tail in the direction of travel. The flyaround starts with the shuttle directly below the station, takes Atlantis in front of the station and then directly above it .
1424 GMT (9:24 a.m. EST)
The shuttle is 400 feet directly below the station.
1421 GMT (9:21 a.m. EST)
Atlantis 330 feet from the station. The flyaround will start once the shuttle is more than 400 feet away.
1420 GMT (9:20 a.m. EST)
The opening rate continues to grow. It is now up to .5-feet per second. The distance is nearing 300 feet.
1416 GMT (9:16 a.m. EST)
Atlantis' separation velocity now .3-feet per second. Distance is 170 feet.
1414 GMT (9:14 a.m. EST)
Distance between the two spacecraft now 150 feet.
1411 GMT (9:11 a.m. EST)
The shuttle is approaching 100 feet from the station. After reaching a point about 450 feet away, Atlantiss will begin a flyaround of the station.
1408 GMT (9:08 a.m. EST)
Atlantis continues to back away from the international space station with over 30 feet already separating the two craft. The shuttle is moving downward and towards Earth from the Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 docking port on the Unity node. Meanwhile, Alpha commander Bill Sheperd reports the station has returned to its own attitude control.
1407 GMT (9:07 a.m. EST)
Under the control of pilot Mark Polansky, Atlantis moving away from the station at .2-feet per second.
Atlantis was docked to the station for six days, 21 hours and 15 minutes.
1406 GMT (9:06 a.m. EST)
UNDOCKING! Space shuttle Atlantis is slowing backing away from the international space station after an extremely successful mission that saw the $1.4 billion U.S. Destiny laboratory module added to the orbiting complex. The Boeing-built module will serve as the centerpiece of the outpost, providing a research lab and central control station.
The next shuttle to visit the station is scheduled for launch on March 8 when Discovery blasts off with hardware and experiments for Destiny, and the Expedition Two crew that will replace the outgoing Expedition One astronauts following their four-month voyage.
1404 GMT (9:04 a.m. EST)
The command has been issued to begin driving open the hooks holding Atlantis and station together.
1403 GMT (9:03 a.m. EST)
The steering jets on Atlantis have been inhibited for the period of physical undocking from the station. The separation occurs when large springs push the two craft apart.
1402 GMT (9:02 a.m. EST)
The leak check is completed and Mission Control has just radioed the Atlantis crew the final "go" for undocking.
1401 GMT (9:01 a.m. EST)
Now five minutes from undocking.
1356 GMT (8:56 a.m. EST)
Undocking is scheduled to occur while the two spacecraft fly over the Western Pacific Ocean northeast of New Guinea.
1355 GMT (8:55 a.m. EST)
Now about 10 minutes from Atlantis' undocking from the international space station, completing a seven-day visit.
1344 GMT (8:44 a.m. EST)
The space shuttle and international space station flight control teams are both reported "go" for undocking. The leak check of the vestibule between Atlantis and station continues, which is the last task before undocking.
1340 GMT (8:40 a.m. EST)
The international space station's P6 solar arrays have been turned to an edge-on position relative to Atlantis and locked into place. The positioning is done to ensure the jet thruster plumes from the shuttle during departure don't damage the delicate arrays.
1325 GMT (8:25 a.m. EST)
The final hatch between the shuttle Atlantis and the international space station was closed at 8:14 a.m. EST (1314 GMT). Total time hatches between the two vehicles were open: 63 hours and nine minutes.
The combined crews chose not to downlink live television or audio of the hatch closing and departure ceremony.
1220 GMT (7:20 a.m. EST)
The Atlantis astronauts are preparing to close the hatches between the shuttle and the international space station, setting the stage for undocking at 9:06 a.m. EST (1306 GMT). Pilot Mark Polansky will be at the controls for the undocking and a half-loop flyaraound (see our undocking preview for details).
A rocket firing to leave the station behind for good is planned for 9:47 a.m. (1447 GMT) and a status briefing to discuss the mission to this point is planned for 10:30 a.m. (1530 GMT). The astronauts will field questions from three news organizations at 2:48 p.m. (1948 GMT) before taking the rest of the day off.
0501 GMT (12:01 a.m. EST)
The combined crews of the shuttle Atlantis and space station Alpha completed a final day of equipment transfers Thursday and readied the two spacecraft for undocking today to close out a full week of work to install and activate the new Destiny lab module. Read our full story.
Watch this page for live updates on the undocking Friday.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2001
2108 GMT (4:08 p.m. EST)
One of four space station stabilization gyroscopes -- Control Moment Gyro No. 2 -- dropped off line today. Onboard software performed a power cycle on the gyro and its has since returned to apparent normal working order. Engineers are studying the glitch. The gyro will be integrated back into the set to control the station's orientation later.
At the time of the event, space shuttle Atlantis was controlling the station's attitude. And even if the gyros were in control, only two of the four are needed for the job.
The gyros were activated during Atlantis' mission to the station.
1225 GMT (7:25 a.m. EST)
The joint shuttle-station crews are working through a final full day of docked activity, completing equipment transfers, boosting the station's altitude a final few miles and holding a traditional joint crew news conference at 1:38 p.m. EST (1838 GMT).
When all is said and done, about 3,000 pounds of equipment and supplies will have been transferred from Atlantis to the station and another 850 pounds of discarded gear and trash will have been moved into the shuttle for return to Earth.
Among the transfer tasks today is moving a spare Russian Vozdukh carbon dioxide removal system from the shuttle into the station. The astronauts attempted to do this earlier, but the Vozdukh's packing case would not fit through the shuttle-station hatch. The crew will unpack the equipment today as necessary to get it into the station.
Today's final reboost maneuvers will increase the station's altitude by about five miles, giving the complex a total altitude boost of about 16 miles. When Atlantis departs Thursday, the station will be left at an average altitude of around 237 statute miles.
Shuttle commander Kenneth Cockrell and spacewalkers Thomas Jones and Robert Curbeam - both from Baltimore - will discuss the mission with elementary and middle school students at the Maryland Science Center at 8:49 a.m. (1349 GMT). All eight shuttle-station astronauts will participate in the joint crew news conference later this afternoon.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2001
Two shuttle astronauts completed the 100th spacewalk in American space history today, finishing up work to outfit the international space station and testing rescue techniques that one day could save an injured astronaut's life. Read our full story.
2015 GMT (3:15 p.m. EST)
EVA ENDS. Space shuttle Atlantis' airlock is now being repressurized, marking the end of today's spacewalk by Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam. The EVA concluded at 3:13 p.m. EST for a duration of 5 hours and 25 minutes. The total spacewalk time of this shuttle mission over three EVAs stands at 19 hours and 49 minutes. This was the 16th spacewalk dedicated to international space station construction bringing that total to 108 hours, 43 minutes.
Check back a little later today for a full wrap-up story.
2009 GMT (3:09 p.m. EST)
After making some comments commemorating this 100th American spacewalk, Jones and Curbeam have returned to Atlantis' airlock. Repressurization of the airlock will begin shortly.
1940 GMT (2:40 p.m. EST)
Mission Control reports the incapacitated crewmember tests are now completed. The spacewalkers will be debriefed once back on Earth to tell trainers their opinions on the techniques tested today.
The spacewalkers will now stow the remaining equipment they have before returning to the airlock to end this 100th EVA in U.S. space program history.
1925 GMT (2:25 p.m. EST)
The first round of incapacitated crewmember tests has been completed with Curbeam returned to the airlock by Jones. Now they will trade roles.
1850 GMT (1:50 p.m. EST)
The upcoming test will be a demonstration of techniques that might be needed down the road to rescue an incapacitated spacewalker.
Taking turns, one spacewalker will pretend to be unconscious while the other tows him the length of Atlantis' payload bay and maneuvers him into the shuttle's airlock.
Two techniques will be tested. In one, called the daisy chain method, the active spacewalker will hook his waist tether to the passive spacewalker's suit.
In the other, called the strap method, both ends of the passive spacewalker's waist tether will be hooked to the his suit making a loop. The active spacewalker will put his arm through the loop to pull the incapacitated crew member along with both hands free.
For his part, Jones said before he anticipated no problems.
"We've done it in the water tank and we don't think managing somebody even as big as Bob is going to be a big problem in zero G," he said at a pre-flight news conference. "As long as you can keep him from developing a rate (of motion) in one direction or another, you can keep him under control.
"I think that's the hardest part, actually maneuvering the mass of three or four hundred pounds of spacesuit and person into the airlock single handed. We're going to see if that's feasible.
"Our experience in the water has been that as long as you move slowly and carefully and you've got a presence of mind where your partner is, you can keep yourself from getting in trouble with the masses involved."
1825 GMT (1:25 p.m. EST)
The payload bay clean up chores are still continuing. The spacewalkers are enjoying the view and sending back spectacular views of Earth with cameras mounted to their helmets.
1738 GMT (12:38 p.m. EST)
Mission Control reports the spacewalk is running ahead of schedule. The EVA is passing 2 hours, 50 minutes in duration. They have a couple other quick inspections to make and closeout photos to snap before starting the incapacitated tests a little later.
1717 GMT (12:17 p.m. EST)
Spacewalkers Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam have completed all their scheduled activaties related to the international space station, NASA reports. The two men are now headed back into Atlantis' payload bay to begin cleaning up and putting away equipment before performing the "incapacitated" crewmember tests to demonstrate ways to return a fellow spacewalker back into the airlock.
1707 GMT (12:07 p.m. EST)
Commander Cockrell reports the radiator deploy is complete. Meanwhile, the spacewalkers are making their inspections of the solar array linkages atop the station and taking pictures for engineers back on Earth.
1655 GMT (11:55 a.m. EST)
"That radiator is reaching right out to the horizon," Jones just said as the spacewalkers get a unique view of the radiator extending in its accordion-like fashion.
1649 GMT (11:49 a.m. EST)
Atlantis' commander Ken Cockrell is deploying that starboard radiator on the space station's P6 truss via remote control from inside the shuttle. The radiator's restraints were released by spacewalker Jones a short time ago. The radiator is similar to several others on the P6 truss already deployed.
1642 GMT (11:42 a.m. EST)
The spacewalkers continue to smoothly complete one task after another today. They are now headed to the very top of the station -- nine stories up -- to inspect the linkages in a system used earlier to extend the two giant U.S. solar arrays.
During deployment of the array booms in early November, one of the four bars in the linkage system did not rotate away from the central truss far enough to completely lock in place. Jones and Curbeam will inspect and photograph the suspect linkage to determine what, if anything, might need to be done down the road to correct the problem.
1630 GMT (11:30 a.m. EST)
Bob Curbeam is making some further inspections of the quick-disconnect fittings on ammonia cooling lines of the space station. The one fitting sprung a leak when he was moving the line for attachment to the Destiny lab over the weekend. In the meantime, Tom Jones is headed to the P6 solar array truss of the station to release from winches holding a radiator folded up. The radiator is due to be deployed today.
1621 GMT (11:21 a.m. EST)
The S-band communications antenna has arrived at its home on the lower segment of the Z1 truss of the international space station. Two bolts will be used to secure it, followed by the attachment of power and heater cables.
1600 GMT (11:00 a.m. EST)
Jones has gotten the SASA antenna released from the sidewall of Atlantis' payload bay and handed it over to Curbeam. Riding on the end of the robot arm, Curbeam will transport the unit up the Z1 truss for installation. Jones will climb up to the work site about 40 feet above the shuttle's bay.
1515 GMT (10:15 a.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are now getting down to business. Curbeam is currently taking a portable foot restraint platform over to the station for attachment. The platform will be used in the future. Meanwhile, Jones has begun releasing the S-band Antenna Support Assembly, or SASA, communications unit from its position in Atlantis' payload bay. This antenna will be mounted to the station during today's spacewalk.
1500 GMT (10:00 a.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are heading outside the airlock following a full check of their suits. They are gathering the tools and equipment needed for their work today.
Today's spacewalk is the third of three spacewalks planned for shuttle mission STS-98, the 100th in the history of the U.S. space program and 60th from a space shuttle. It also marks the 16th spacewalk dedicated to assembly of the international space station. And it is the third spacewalk for both Jones and Curbeam.
1449 GMT (9:49 a.m. EST)
EVA BEGINS. Astronauts Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam switched their spacesuits from shuttle-provided powered to internal batteries at 9:48 a.m. EST, signalling the official start of today's planned 5-hour space station construction spacewalk.
The two men will float outside the shuttle's airlock hatch in the next few minutes. The items on their "to-do" list include mounting a spare communications antenna on the station's exterior, checking some connections between Destiny and its PMA docking port attached during the last spacewalk, releasing "winches" that had held a radiator in place on the station, perform some inspections on the station and test techniques for a spacewalker to carry an incapacitated fellow spacewalker back to the airlock.
See our detailed spacewalk timeline.
1430 GMT (9:30 a.m. EST)
Running ahead of schedule, spacewalkers Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam have completed the task of breathing pure oxygen as a preparatory step for their EVA. They will now begin depressurizing Atlantis' airlock.
1215 GMT (7:15 a.m. EST)
The Atlantis astronauts were awakened around 5:13 a.m. to begin preparations for a third and final spacewalk by astronauts Thomas Jones and Robert Curbeam. The five-hour excursion is scheduled to begin at 10:18 a.m. EST (1818 GMT) and end shortly after 3 p.m. (2000 GMT).
The primary goals of the 100th spacewalk in U.S. space history - the 16th devoted to space station assembly - are to mount a spare S-band antenna array on the Z1 structural truss; to inspect ammonia quick-disconnect fittings between the station and the Destiny lab module; and to demonstrate techniques for rescuing an incapacitated spacewalker.
A folding radiator panel on the P6 solar array truss will be deployed during the spacewalk and the space station crew will film operations with a large format IMAX camera. See our updated flight day eight timeline for additional details.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2001
Computers in the newly installed $1.4 billion Destiny laboratory module began controlling the international space station's orientation for the first time today, spinning up four massive, fuel-saving gyroscopes in a critical milestone for the orbiting complex. Read our full story.
Meanwhile, the shuttle's robotic arm was used late today to observe areas of what appeared to be bubbling paint on one station cooling radiator. Engineers are evaluating what may have caused the condition, but there is no significant concern and all station radiators are continuing to function normally as they have since they were attached last year, NASA said.
1225 GMT (7:25 a.m. EST)
At 7:10 a.m. EST (1210 GMT), the control moment gyroscopes in the Z1 truss took over control of the international space station's orientation, or attitude, for the first time. This initial handoff from rocket power to gyro control went smoothly with no problems of any significance.
1200 GMT (7:00 a.m. EST)
In yet another milestone, computers in the U.S. laboratory module Destiny are set to begin controlling the international space station's orientation for the first time this morning, using a quartet of smooth-running gyroscopes installed last fall.
The control moment gyroscopes spin at 6,600 rpm. By changing the speeds of the various gyros, the station's guidance and navigation system can change the orientation of the outpost without using experiment-jarring rocket firings.
It took about six hours to spin the gyros up to full speed but the work went off without a hitch and all four are operating within temperature and vibration limits, according to NASA spokesman Rob Navias at the Johnson Space Center.
Throughout the day, flight controllers will shift station control back and forth between the gyros and thrusters on the Russian Zvezda command module in a lengthy series of tests to check out and evaluate operation of the gyro stabilization system.
Once the system is declared operational, responsibility for day-to-day operation of the space station will shift from Russian flight controllers to the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
While the gyro check-out work proceeds, the Atlantis astronauts plan to enjoy a bit of off-duty time today to relax and rest up after four straight days of busy lab installation and activation work.
Commander Kenneth Cockrell will fire the shuttle's small steering jets again today to boost the station's altitude slightly and most of the astronauts will participate in round-robin media interviews starting at 2:38 p.m. EST (1938 GMT). A mission status briefing is planned for 2 p.m. (1700 GMT).
Hatches between Atlantis and the space station will remain closed throughout the day to maintain a slightly lower air pressure. This is to help spacewalkers Thomas Jones and Robert Curbeam avoid the bends during or after a third and final spacewalk Wednesday.
Aboard the space station, meanwhile, commander William Shepherd, Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev are continuing work to configure the new lab module's systems for normal operations.
Late Monday, a rack of air scrubbing equipment in the lab was turned on and checked out with no major problems. The air revitalization system, or ARS rack, is capable of removing carbon dioxide from the entire station's air supply if necessary.
Shepherd told flight controllers this morning restraint wires on the station's vibration isolated treadmill have frayed and snapped, suggesting engineers think about a possible modification at some point to avoid a breakdown.
He also reported trouble with a connector in the PMA-3 docking module, but both issues are relatively low-priority items.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2001
The Atlantis astronauts staged a near-perfect spacewalk Monday, connecting a shuttle docking port to the $1.4 billion Destiny laboratory module, installing a mounting fixture for a new robot arm and opening the lab's picture window on the world. Read our full wrap-up story.
2249 GMT (5:49 p.m. EST)
EVA ENDS. Repressurization of Atlantis' airlock has begun, officially marking the end of today's 6-hour, 50-minute spacewalk by astronauts Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam. This successful excursion was the 99th in U.S. space program history and the 15th dedicated to space station construction. A final spacewalk on this shuttle mission is planned on Wednesday.
2243 GMT (5:43 p.m. EST)
Airlock hatch being sealed.
2226 GMT (5:26 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are heading back into the airlock.
2159 GMT (4:59 p.m. EST)
Clean up work and an inventory of their tools continues by the spacewalkers as the EVA passes six hours in duration.
2132 GMT (4:32 p.m. EST)
Following a "most productive day" working outside space shuttle Atlantis, spacewalkers Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam have been told to finish their cleaning chores and head back to the airlock. Besides completing the main goals of the EVA, including mounting the PMA docking port and installing the grapple fixture for the station's robotic arm, the two men also performed some of the activities scheduled for their next spacewalk on Wednesday.
2115 GMT (4:15 p.m. EST)
This has been a big day for space news with the ongoing spacewalk and landing of the NEAR Shoemaker probe on the asteroid Eros. Also of note is space shuttle Discovery's 4.2-mile trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center earlier today. Rollout from High Bay 1 began at 7:10 a.m., and the mobile launcher platform was secured to the pad at 1:35 p.m. EST.
Discovery is scheduled for liftoff on March 8 to ferry the Expedition Two crew to the international space station and return the Expedition One astronauts back to Earth. The shuttle will also carry equipment and the first experiments for the Destiny laboratory.
2108 GMT (4:08 p.m. EST)
Destiny's window is in business. The space station residents now have an 20-inch diameter, optical-quality window to observe the planet Earth below.
The spacewalkers will now proceed with cleaning up the shuttle's payload bay, putting away tools, tethers and other equipment before returning to the airlock.
2103 GMT (4:03 p.m. EST)
The shutter and gear box has been installed. A protective thermal cover will now be removed so astronauts can look out the 20-inch diameter window.
2059 GMT (3:59 p.m. EST)
Today's spacewalk is now passing the five-hour mark.
2053 GMT (3:53 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are performing a "get-ahead" task today. They are installing the frying pan-like shutter on the outside of Destiny's window. This job was slated for the third spacewalk of the mission on Wednesday. But since things have gone so well and the two men ahead of the timeline, they are getting this chore done now.
2048 GMT (3:48 p.m. EST)
Mission Control just radioed the shuttle and station astronauts to announce the successful landing of the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft on the asteroid Eros today.
2036 GMT (3:36 p.m. EST)
Turning our attention back to Earth orbit, the spacewalkers have successfully completed installation of the Power and Data Grapple Fixture on the Destiny lab. The PDGF will be point where the station's Canadian-built robot arm is mounted on STS-100 later this spring. They have also finished mounting a vent to Destiny, which completes the final major task of this spacewalk. The vent work was halted earlier because the spacewalkers needed a fetch different socket.
2006 GMT (3:06 p.m. EST)
The NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft has apparently survived its landing on the asteroid Eros. See our coverage.
1930 GMT (2:30 p.m. EST)
Tom Jones is attaching the Power and Data Grapple Fixture. The installation includes hooking up power lines, connecting a video signal converter for a fiber optic link to the interior of the station and then re-installing the debris shielding.
"There are a number of other minor outfitting chores on the EVA and installing a slide wire for translation safety up and down the lab, installing foot restraints for other work that we're going to be do
"It's just a grapple fixture that you've seen on all sorts of payloads on shuttle and space station elements," Jones said in a pre-flight interview. "But this one's a little bit more capable in that it provides electrical connections into the laboratory from the outside.
"And not only electrical connections but a video feed so that the cameras on the arm can be monitored from inside the laboratory and later from other workstations inside the station cupola, for example."
1915 GMT (2:15 p.m. EST)
Curbeam still working on the backup cable connections, which is a get-ahead task because this activity was slated for the mission's third spacewalk.
1850 GMT (1:50 p.m. EST)
The primary cable connections have been completed by Curbeam as the spacewalk continues ahead of schedule today. He will now run the backup umbilicals.
1846 GMT (1:46 p.m. EST)
Curbeam is now beginning to hook up the umbilicals between Destiny and its docking port.
1835 GMT (1:35 p.m. EST)
Spacewalker Curbeam has completed his work to prepare the Destiny's exterior for attaching the Power and Data Grapple Fixture. He is now headed to connect some umbilicals between Destiny and the PMA-2 docking port attached a little while ago.
1829 GMT (1:29 p.m. EST)
Now two hours, 30 minutes into today's spacewalk.
1822 GMT (1:22 p.m. EST)
Here is a summary of the upcoming Power and Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF) attachment to the Destiny lab, which will serve as the point where the station's robot arm will be connected during a future shuttle mission.
Spacewalker Tom Jones will be riding on the end of the shuttle's robot arm with Marsha Ivins at the controls. Jones will release the PDGF from its launch location in Atlantis' payload bay and carry it to Destiny. Meanwhile, Curbeam is working at the attachment location on Destiny, removing two portions of the module's debris shielding to prepare to make electrical and computer connections for the PDGF. Jones will then
install the fixture and both spacewalkers will replace the lab debris shields.
1803 GMT (1:03 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are now removing and relocating some of the micrometeor shielding on the side of Destiny. The next major job will be installation of the future connection point for the station's robotic arm to Destiny's hull. The arm is due to arrive at the station this spring.
1754 GMT (12:54 p.m. EST)
Curbeam's current work is installing several foot platform mounts and handrails on Destiny for future use.
1745 GMT (12:45 p.m. EST)
The robot arm is ungrappling the PMA-2 now that is locked onto Destiny.
Meanwhile, spacewalker Jones is having some trouble fitting the socket to the bolts in attaching a non-propulsive vent on Destiny. Mission Control says that is not a major concern because the vent won't be used until the next shuttle mission.
1738 GMT (12:38 p.m. EST)
PMA ATTACHED. The Pressurized Mating Adapter No. 2 -- one of the first piece of the space station launched into orbit -- has been firmly mounted to the Destiny lab module's front end. The PMA served as the docking port for the first five shuttle mission, and will be used by the next several visits as the outpost's construction continues.
The initial bolt tightening has been completed by commander Ken Cockrell via laptop computer. After several hours of thermal equaling, ground controllers will finish torquing the electrically-driven bolts. This clears the way for the robot arm to release the PMA.
1735 GMT (12:35 p.m. EST)
As the bolt loading continues, 196 million miles from Earth the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft is on its way to landing on the asteroid Eros. See our status center for continuing updates on the descent, including new pictures!
1732 GMT (12:32 p.m. EST)
The 16 electrically-driven bolts are being tightened to firmly attach the PMA.
1730 GMT (12:30 p.m. EST)
Second stage capture of the PMA confirmed.
1728 GMT (12:28 p.m. EST)
First stage capture of the PMA confirmed.
1726 GMT (12:26 p.m. EST)
All for "ready-to-latch" indications have been tripped as the PMA is moved to docking with Destiny.
1721 GMT (12:21 p.m. EST)
The PMA is now 24 inches or so from its attachment.
1712 GMT (12:12 p.m. EST)
The computer-run Space Vision System is currently running an alignment calculation to ensure the PMA is lined up for its attachment to Destiny. Once that is completed, the robot arm will be set in motion again to mount the PMA to the station's new lab.
1704 GMT (12:04 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers have moved on to other quick chores. Jones will install thermal covers on the Destiny's four trunnions, the large pins which
held the module in Atlantis' payload bay during launch. Curbeam is installing a
slidewire along the length of Destiny's exterior that will used to attach spacewalkers' safety tethers in the future.
1657 GMT (11:57 a.m. EST)
The PMA is only inches away from its connecting point on Destiny. Spacewalker Curbeam will provide first-hand visual cues of the alignment as Marsha Ivins drives the robot arm to attach the docking port.
1648 GMT (11:48 a.m. EST)
While the PMA is being maneuvered, Curbeam reports the berthing port on Destiny is clear of any problems.
1635 GMT (11:35 a.m. EST)
As the PMA rides on the end of the robot arm, bound for its home on the Destiny lab, spacewalker Tom Jones is now re-closing the latches on the Z1.
1630 GMT (11:30 a.m. EST)
The PMA has been unlatched from the Z1 truss and the robot arm is now slowing moving the docking port away from its temporary parking spot on the international space station.
The shuttle and station jet thrusters have been temporarily disabled to prevent any sudden movement during this crucial event.
Also, spacewalker Bob Curbeam reports he has removed the "shower cap" thermal cover on the berthing mechanism on Destiny where PMA will be attached in about an hour.
1628 GMT (11:28 a.m. EST)
Using a special tool, similar to a cordless screw-driver, spacewalker Tom Jones is releasing the latches that have held the Pressurized Mating Adapter No. 2 to the station's Z1 truss since Saturday.
1621 GMT (11:21 a.m. EST)
Spacewalker Bob Curbeam is beginning to make his way to the front end of Destiny. Once there he will remove a cover -- nicknamed the "shower cap" -- on the module's open berthing mechanism. Tom Jones has already reached the Z1 truss for releasing the PMA.
During this spacewalk, Jones can be distinguished as his spacesuit has red stripes on the legs. Curbeam's is solid white.
1611 GMT (11:11 a.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are outside the airlock. They are gathering the tools and equipment needed for their work while also getting acclimated.
Today's spacewalk is the second of three spacewalks planned for shuttle mission STS-98, the 99th in the history of the U.S. space program and 59th from a space shuttle. It also marks the 15th spacewalk dedicated to assembly of the international space station. And it is the second spacewalk for both Jones and Curbeam.
1559 GMT (10:59 a.m. EST)
EVA BEGINS. Astronauts Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam switched their spacesuits from shuttle-provided powered to internal batteries at 10:59 a.m. EST, signalling the official start of today's planned 6-hour, 30-minute space station construction spacewalk.
The two men will float outside the shuttle's airlock hatch in the next few minutes. Jones will climb up to the Z1 truss of the space station -- about 40 feet above Atlantis' payload bay -- to release the latches holding the PMA docking port.
Meanwhile, Curbeam will head to the front end of the Destiny lab to remove a large thermal cover on the berthing mechanism where the PMA will be attached later today.
1555 GMT (10:55 a.m. EST)
Pressure in the airlock has reached zero psi. The spacewalkers will now perform a complete checkout of their suits.
1551 GMT (10:51 a.m. EST)
After holding the airlock pressure at about to 4 psi for a leak check of the spacewalker's suits, the pressure is now dropping to vacuum.
1542 GMT (10:42 a.m. EST)
The spacewalkers -- Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam -- are wrapping up their pre-breath of pure oxygen and will soon begin depressurizing the airlock. Preparations are running several minutes behind schedule, so the EVA won't be starting until the top of the hour or so.
1537 GMT (10:37 a.m. EST)
PMA GRAPPLED. The robot arm has a firm grasp on the Pressurized Mating Adapter's grapple fixture. Once the spacewalk gets underway shortly, the latches holding the PMA in place will be manually released. The robot arm then will be free to move the docking port.
1520 GMT (10:20 a.m. EST)
Atlantis' robot arm is now in motion as operator Marsha Ivins controls the 50-foot structure from inside the shuttle's cabin. The arm is being moved into position to grapple the Pressurized Mating Adapter No. 2 currently locked to the side of the international space station's Z1 truss.
The docking port was removed from the station's Unity node and temporarily parked on the Z1 on Saturday to make way for the Destiny lab's attachment.
Today, the PMA will ride the arm from Z1 and be mounted to the open end of Destiny.
1500 GMT (10:00 a.m. EST)
As the start of today's spacewalk nears, be sure to check out a video report previewing the excursion. We also have a complete story describing the planned spacewalk activities.
1430 GMT (9:30 a.m. EST)
The spacewalkers have begun the preparatory step of breathing pure oxygen as activities continue for the start of today's EVA in about an hour.
Marsha Ivins, meanwhile, will soon power up Atlantis' 50-foot robot arm for today's work to relocate the Pressurized Mating Adapter No. 2 docking port to the end of Destiny.
1415 GMT (9:15 a.m. EST)
Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam have climbed into their spacesuits as preparations for the second EVA of the mission continue.
Meanwhile, at the Kennedy Space Center, the space shuttle Discovery left the vehicle assembly building in heavy fog headed for launch pad 39B at 1210 GMT (7:10 a.m. EST) this morning. The trip atop the slowly moving tracked transporter is expected to take about six hours.
1255 GMT (07:55 a.m. EST)
The Atlantis astronauts were awakened shortly after 5 a.m. to begin preparations for a spacewalk this morning by astronauts Thomas Jones and Robert Curbeam. The goal of the excursion is to attach the PMA-2 shuttle docking port to the front of the Destiny lab module and to mount a fixture on the lab's hull that will anchor the station's robot arm later in the assembly sequence.
This will be the 99th spacewalk in U.S. history, the 59th conducted during a shuttle mission and the 15th in seven flights devoted to space station assembly.
The spacewalk timeline is virtually unchanged from what was planned before launch. We also have posted an updated flight day 6 timeline and revision E of the NASA television schedule.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2001
The Atlantis astronauts and the international space station's three-man crew floated into the $1.4 billion Destiny module for the first time Sunday and sailed through the new laboratory's initial activation and check out. NASA officials were delighted by smooth Destiny lab activation. Read our full story.
1450 GMT (09:50 a.m. EST)
Marking another historic milestone in the history of the international space station, the hatch leading into the newly installed $1.4 billion Destiny laboratory module was cranked open at 9:38 a.m. EST (1438 GMT) today, opening a new era in station operations.
With a large-format IMAX camera recording the scene, Atlantis commander Kenneth Cockrell and station skipper William Shepherd took a moment to mark the occasion before floating into the roomy new module to kick off eight hours of work to activate and check out critical systems.
"We're in Node One for a really happy moment," Cockrell said before entering the lab. "It's been a lot of hard work on thousands of people's parts and a long number of years getting ready to bring the Destiny laboratory to the international space station.
"It's finally here, it's gone through a lot of wickets, we've gone through a lot of effort to get it attached and now we'd like to turn it over to Shep so he and his crew and subsequent crews can begin the process of scientific research and better living in space."
Turning to Shepherd, Cockrell said "Shep, before we hand it over to you, we have a little paperwork for you. What we have here is a copy of the DD 250 by which the government took possession of the laboratory from the prime contractor. And Shep is signing it in the spot that says 'received by.'"
The astronauts then donned eye goggles as a precaution in case any fine debris had shaken loose in the lab during launch and floated into the pristine module.
"And Houston, Atlantis, broadcasting from Destiny!" Cockrell reported, floating in the module.
"Copy, a great first moment here," called astronaut Mario Runco from shuttle mission control.
"And the lab looks and feels and smells great and it looks like all the hard work really paid off, it's a beautiful piece of hardware in here," Cockrell said.
"And from Houston-station, we're watching it down here and it looks awesome and we hope you guys enjoy your new room on your house," called Sandra Magnus from the space station mission control room.
"Thanks, Sandy. And we do not see anything floating free in here, it's completely debris empty. So we're going to take off our goggles."
Video from inside the lab module showed the astronauts cavorting and spinning about in the brightly lighted lab, clearly enjoying the additional volume. A few moments later, they began turning their attention to the complex lab activation process.
1210 GMT (7:10 a.m. EST)
The Atlantis astronauts were awakened this morning at 6:13 a.m. (1113 GMT), an hour later than originally planned to make up for a late night Friday completing initial activation of the Destiny laboratory module.
Appropriately enough, today's wakeup music from mission control was "The Blue Danube," a theme familiar to fans of "2001: A Space Odyssey." The waltz was played for astronaut and "Space Odyssey" buff Thomas Jones, who said before launch he has seen the movie more than a dozen times.
The shuttle-station crew plan to enter Destiny for the first time around 9:13 a.m. (1413 GMT) to continue activation and checkout of its internal computer, life support and communications systems.
The shuttle's small maneuvering jets will be fired starting at 12:13 p.m. (1713 GMT) to continue on-going work to raise the space station's altitude. The first such reboost operation was carried out ahead of schedule Saturday as part of a collision avoidance maneuver.
Hatches between Atlantis and the space station will be resealed this afternoon around 5 p.m. (2200 GMT) to allow the shuttle crew to lower Atlantis' cabin air pressure from 14.7 pounds per square inch to 10.2 psi. This is a routine procedure to help astronauts Jones and Robert Curbeam avoid the bends when staging a second spacewalk in their 5-psi spacesuits Monday.
0350 GMT (10:50 p.m. EST Sat.)
The shuttle and station crews have completed this first round of Destiny lab activation tonight -- a 35-step procedure. The eight astronauts will now get ready to turn in for the night. Their sleep period is starting nearly two hours later than planned.
Ground controllers will continue with some activation chores overnight. The astronauts are expected to enter Destiny on Sunday morning for more extensive work.
So after more than 14 hours of continuous coverage today, we are going to call it a day, too. We will resume our coverage on Sunday when the astronauts are awakened.
0310 GMT (10:10 p.m. EST)
Atlantis commander Ken Cockrell reports the thermal control system of the Destiny laboratory has been started successfully. This means the module's activation is no longer a time-critical operation because of cooling system is functioning and the warm temperatures are already decreasing in the lab, as described earlier.
0234 GMT (9:34 p.m. EST Sat.)
NASA reports work to power up the Destiny lab is now underway and the astronauts are optimistic they can complete the critical initial activation job within the one-hour window available given cooling constraints. The start time for this particular sequence was 0225 GMT (9:25 p.m. EST).
0145 GMT (8:45 p.m. EST Sat.)
Mission Control is reviewing the schedule for the remainder of tonight and tomorrow as Destiny activation planning continues. The astronauts are supposed to go to bed in about a half-hour. But the crew has suggested staying up an extra hour or so, and then sleeping in tomorrow.
0137 GMT (8:37 p.m. EST Sat.)
The shuttle and station crews are making final preparations to open the hatchway between the two craft.
For those of you keeping score at home, we have updated our Spacewalk Statistics page with numbers updated to reflect today's EVA.
0115 GMT (8:15 p.m. EST Sat.)
The astronauts are working on a tight schedule tonight to get the critical first steps completed to bring the Destiny module to life. Because the lab's temperature is above 100 degrees -- much warmer than expected after heaters failed to cycle off -- the crew has an hour or so to get the work done instead of the four-hour window planned.
The activities will start by turning on the DC-to-DC converter units that are providing power to the systems in the lab, then four onboard computers. Those electronics require cooling, which needs to be started in the next hour.
If the cooling is not activated by the time the electronics start to overheat, the components will have to be turned off and the lab allowed to cool naturally, which could take until sometime Sunday.
But to start the coolant loops, all the electronics have to be power up, so things need to go well for the astronauts for the activation to be pulled off today.
In any event, the crew won't actually enter Destiny until Sunday.
Inside Atlantis, meanwhile, the spacewalkers are getting out of their suits following today's successful 7-hour, 34-minute excursion that connected the $1.4 billion, 16-ton Destiny lab module to the space station.
The spacewalk did run about an hour longer than planned, and time spent in the airlock afterwards was much greater than normal because of the ammonia leak expected during the EVA by Bob Curbeam while he was routing a cooling line to Destiny. The incident did not harm any station equipment or the crew, and the lose of ammonia was only 5 percent of that in the cooling system.
0057 GMT (7:57 p.m. EST Sat.)
Mission Control has given the space station crew the clearance to begin Destiny lab activation this evening.
0037 GMT (7:37 p.m. EST Sat.)
Wearing protective maskets as a precaution, the three Atlantis astronauts inside the cabin report there isn't any current evidence of ammonia contamination from Curbeam's suit. So Mission Control has given the astronauts a "go" for opening the airlock hatch.
0015 GMT (7:15 p.m. EST Sat.)
The decontamination effort -- to partially repressurized the airlock, then depressurize to vacuum and reopen the outer hatch to permit any any sublimated ammonia vapors to escape into space -- has been completed. The airlock will be fully repressurized so the inner hatch can be opened and the spacewalkers to rejoin their fellow Atlantis crewmates.
Meanwhile, the Atlantis crew's entry into the station will be delayed some tonight because of the extra airlock activities.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2001
2324 GMT (6:24 p.m. EST)
EVA ENDS. Repressurization of Atlantis' airlock has begun, officially marking the end of today's 7-hour, 34-minute spacewalk by astronauts Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam. Once the airlock pressure reaches 5 psi, depressurization will reoccur and the outer airlock hatch reopened to vent any residual ammonia from Curbeam's suit. Then the hatch will be closed and the airlock completely repressurized.
Today's successful excursion -- the 14th dedicated to space station construction -- saw the U.S. Destiny laboratory module attached to the orbiting complex.
But the astronauts' work day is not yet over. The hatches between the shuttle and station are scheduled to be opened later tonight and the critical initial activation of Destiny will commence.
Activities will include connecting internal electrical grounding straps between Destiny and the Unity node. Avionics powerup and coolant system activation will begin shortly thereafter.
Flight controllers in Houston will continue Destiny's activation and checkout while the crew sleeps tonight. On Sunday, the astronauts and cosmonauts will finally float inside and lab activation will begin in earnest.
2317 GMT (6:17 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers have returned to the airlock, and the hatch is closed and locked. Repressurization will begin shortly.
2250 GMT (5:50 p.m. EST)
We have posted a video clip of Curbeam's suit being brushed off.
2245 GMT (5:45 p.m. EST)
Curbeam's "bake out" is completed and he is headed to Atlantis' airlock as the spacewalk nears seven hours in duration.
2234 GMT (5:34 p.m. EST)
Tom Jones continues with activities to put away tools and equipment to clean up Atlantis' payload bay as Bob Curbeam remains in the sunlight to "bake out" his suit.
2220 GMT (5:20 p.m. EST)
Now approaching the 6-hour, 30-minute point of the spacewalk, which had been the advertised time for the EVA to conclude. However, the excursion will run a little while longer with the spacewalkers still having their payload bay clean up chores to finish.
2207 GMT (5:07 p.m. EST)
The Atlantis crew reports they have completed the last cable and circuit interrupt device connections. The last major task of the event will be brushing Curbeam's suit as a precaution to removal any residual ammonia crystals from the leaky fluid line the spacewalker handled earlier today. He is also spending some time in direct sunlight to help boil off the ammonia. Once back in the airlock, the repressurization procedure will be altered to keep the ammonia from entering the crew module's air.
2150 GMT (4:50 p.m. EST)
Now six hours into the spacewalk, which is beginning to wind down. Meanwhile, Mission Control and the crew are reviewing procedures to deal with spacewalker Bob Curbeam's suit. It is considered contaminated with ammonia. So he will brush the suit before returning to the airlock, then some changes are planned for repressurizing the airlock later.
2131 GMT (4:31 p.m. EST)
With Tom Jones continuing the final cable connections, Curbeam is working to relocate a portable foot restraint and will then get a special "hydrazine brush" to clean his suit of any residual ammonia from the leak earlier.
2112 GMT (4:12 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are now making the final connections of electrical and data cables between the station and Destiny that are planned today.
2050 GMT (3:50 p.m. EST)
Now passing the five-hour mark in today's spacewalk.
2043 GMT (3:43 p.m. EST)
The second pair of ammonia cooling lines have been connected, with this loop not experiencing the leakage seen with the first loop earlier. The lines route the Destiny module's heat up to the radiators on the P6 truss of the space station.
Meanwhile, the robot arm is now ungrappling the Destiny module.
2026 GMT (3:26 p.m. EST)
The first two of four ammonia fluid cooling lines from the space station have been successfully connect to Destiny.
2020 GMT (3:20 p.m. EST)
The plan devised by Mission Control on the ammonia fluid lines will start with the spacewalkers to disconnect the one line already hooked to Destiny. The spacewalkers need to inspect the connector to ensure they isn't any ice in it. If there is ice, they will have to use a brush and to dislodge the crystals before reconnecting the line.
2016 GMT (3:16 p.m. EST)
Part one of the electrical and data cable connection has been completed between the station and Destiny. The second part will come later in the EVA. The spacewalkers are now heading back to work on the ammonia line connections.
1951 GMT (2:51 p.m. EST)
The final "bolt loading" has been completed to put about 19,000 pounds of torque on the 16 bolts holding Destiny to the space station.
1946 GMT (2:46 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are told to press ahead with electrical connections while Mission Control continues to think about how to deal with the other ammonia lines. The first one was difficult to remove from its port, then had some leakage and crystals formed around the quick-disconnect before being attached to Destiny.
1941 GMT (2:41 p.m. EST)
Flight controllers are discussing how to proceed with connection of the rest of the ammonia fluid lines. The first one was leaking ammonia that turned to crystals.
1936 GMT (2:36 p.m. EST)
Curbeam has connected the one ammonia line to Destiny, and Mission Control reports the leak appears to have stopped as expected.
1934 GMT (2:34 p.m. EST)
A troublesome quick-disconnect on an ammonia line is leaking and creating a bit of spray. Curbeam needs to get the line connected to stop the leak.
1931 GMT (2:31 p.m. EST)
Jones has completed connection of the heater line. In all, the plan today calls for the spacewalkers will hook up nine electrical connectors between the lab and the Z1 truss and four fluid jumpers that will allow ammonia coolant to flow between Destiny and the P6 radiators.
1920 GMT (2:20 p.m. EST)
Spacewalker Tom Jones has opened one of the panels on the side of Destiny to hook up a heater cable needed to provide thermal control to the module.
1912 GMT (2:12 p.m. EST)
DESTINY IS CONNECTED! The 16-ton, $1.38 billion U.S. laboratory module is now bolted to the international space station's Unity node. The Destiny module, built by Boeing, will serve as the station's primary research center and provide the computer systems needed for NASA to take over day-to-day operation of the complex from Russian controllers in Moscow. The 28-foot-long Destiny also will supply an additional 3,750 cubic feet of pressurized volume to the station, pushing the total to more than 13,000 cubic feet.
The spacewalkers will now spend the next couple of hours connecting electrical, data and cooling lines between Destiny and the station.
1907 GMT (2:07 p.m. EST)
The 16 bolts are being electrically-driven to seal Destiny to the station.
1900 GMT (2:00 p.m. EST)
The first stage capture has been completed between Destiny and Unity. Still to come will be driving 16 bolts on the capture mechanism to permanently attach Destiny to the orbiting complex.
See a snapshot from earlier of Destiny hanging above the payload bay on the robot arm as Marsha Ivins rotates it into position for docking.
1857 GMT (1:57 p.m. EST)
All four "ready-to-latch" indications reported. Destiny is ready to be firmly locked onto the international space station.
1852 GMT (1:52 p.m. EST)
Destiny is just a matter of inches away from connection to the international space station.
1850 GMT (1:50 p.m. EST)
The Alantis crew is now ready to move Destiny to the ready-to-latch position.
1839 GMT (1:39 p.m. EST)
Ivins has put the breaks on the robot arm now that Destiny is in the pre-installation position. The astronauts will now verify visual aides and equipment for aligning the lab for its upcoming attachment to the station.
1830 GMT (1:30 p.m. EST)
With the 180-degree flip completed, Marsha Ivins is moving the robot arm with Destiny into the "pre-install" position.
1824 GMT (1:24 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are wrapping up work releasing all the locking plates on the Ku-band antenna assembly on the space station.
1820 GMT (1:20 p.m. EST)
Now 2 hours, 30 minutes into today's spacewalk.
1814 GMT (1:14 p.m. EST)
Destiny continues its flip and is now vertical above the payload bay. Robot arm operations have been proceeding normally today with no problems reported.
1758 GMT (12:58 p.m. EST)
Riding on the end of the shuttle's robot arm, the Destiny lab is now about to begin its 180-degree end-over-end flip for attachment to the international space station.
Meanwhile, Curbeam has returned to the Ku-band antenna to finished up some work there as Jones continues the radiator restraint unlocking.
1751 GMT (12:51 p.m. EST)
The 16-ton Destiny module is now free and clear of the retention latches in the payload bay after arm operator Ivins got some helps by spacewalker Curbeam on the clearance and alignment of the lab.
1742 GMT (12:42 p.m. EST)
Taking a break in work to release locking pins on the space-to-ground communications antenna on the space station, spacewalker Bob Curbeam is heading back into the shuttle's payload bay to assist robot arm operator Marsha Ivins with visual cues in moving the Destiny lab.
1735 GMT (12:35 p.m. EST)
The Boeing-built, 28-foot long Destiny module is now leaving space shuttle Atlantis' payload bay. This work by robot arm operator Marsha Ivins is tension filled since is only two-and-a-half inches of clearance between the sides of the lab at its widest point and the walls of the shuttle's bay.
Keeping the lab properly oriented and within this tight tolerance would be a challenge to any arm operator. But it's even more so for Ivins because she will not be able to directly see the lab and its attachment fittings.
"When we attach to the station, when you look out the aft window and the overhead window of the flight deck, all you see is station," she said in a NASA interview. "I mean, the station is six feet (away) out the window.
"So unlike most flights where there is a robotics operator who's manipulating a large structure in the payload bay, we have no direct eye contact with the payload. We can't see it at all."
Instead, she will use two television monitors on the shuttle's aft flight deck to display the output of four television cameras mounted in each corner of the cargo bay.
"The lab is about as wide as the payload bay is," Ivins said. "I'm going to pull it out of the bay at about a tenth of a foot per second. So, it will take 20 minutes to get this thing out of the bay.
"Then I have to flip it 180 degrees. Now, as it turns out, there is a keel pin on the bottom of the lab that holds it into the payload bay when we launch. I have to flip it over because a few flights from ours they will attach something to that keel pin."
Because of limitations on the range of movement of each joint in the robot arm, Ivins cannot simply flip the lab over. She must move the arm through a complex pattern to accomplish her goal.
"It's taken us about a year and a half to figure out what that path is," she said. "I can do that. So we flip this thing over and bring it down to the position of the node."
At this point, Ivins will be able to take advantage of the view from a camera mounted by the station crew in Unity's hatch. She will see the lab from Unity's perspective, allowing her to fine-tune the final approach.
If the lab is properly aligned, the cockpit crew will see four "ready to l | 
