News From Space - STS-107 Mission Journal Part 5

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Coverage continues at Part 6 of our Mission Journal.

31 January 2003 - Evening Update - We wrap up Friday, Columbia's last full day in space, preparing for the seven scientists to come home. NASA reports:

Crew Prepares for Landing
The seven-member STS-107 crew spent its last full day in orbit shutting down experiments and preparing for Space Shuttle Columbia's return to Earth. Crewmembers completed the final observation of electrical activity above thunderstorms for the Mediterranean Israeli Dust Experiment, which is also known as MEIDEX. They also shut down the Bioreactor Demonstration System where bone and prostate cancer cells were grown.

Friday morning, the crew checked Columbia's systems and equipment that will be used for landing, which included firing the orbiter's Reaction Control System jets. Overnight, the crew will deactivate the SPACEHAB Research Double Module.

Columbia has two landing opportunities available at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Saturday. The first is at [9:16AM EST/1416 GMT], with a deorbit burn occurring at [8:15AM EST/1315 GMT]. The second begins with a deorbit burn at [9:50AM EST/1450 GMT] and culminates with a [10:50AM EST/1550 GMT] touchdown. Forecasts are predicting good weather conditions for Saturday's landing attempts.

Ask the MCC and STS-107 Crew answers are available. The STS-107 Landing Ground Tracks are available.

Flight Day 15 videos are now available in the NASA Gallery.
31 January 2003 - Flight Day 16 - The seven astronauts aboard Columbia are packing up, in preparation for tomorrow morning's landing. Security will be tight (as it was during launch). The crew could remain in space until Wednesday if they had to, but weather looks good, and no extension of this successful mission will be necessary. NASA reports:

Shuttle Crew Prepares for Landing
The STS 107 crew aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia will land on Saturday, Feb. 1 in Florida after 16 days in orbit conducting scientific research.

Columbia crewmembers deactivated experiments and began stowing gear to get ready for their scheduled landing [tomorrow] at Kennedy Space Center. Early this morning crewmembers did checkouts on the flight control surfaces of Columbia, the wing flaps and rudder, and the attitude control jets that will keep Columbia stable as it begins its fiery re-entry through the atmosphere.

Columbia has two opportunities to land at KSC Saturday, the first at [9:16AM EST/1416 GMT], and the second at [10:50AM EST/1550 GMT]. Weather forecasts are favorable.

The STS-107 Landing Ground Tracks are available.

Watch NASA TV to see the Flight Day 16 Highlights that will air at the top of every hour between [7PM EST/2300 GMT] Friday and [1AM EST/0600 GMT] Saturday. NASA TV Schedule

Keep an eye on the play-by-play links at top right for commentary, and watch live video on NASA TV. Check back later tonight for more updates.

30 January 2003 - Evening Update - Thursday saw the Columbia crew start to wind things down, in preparation for Saturday's landing. NASA reports:

Experiments Wrap Up, Landing Preparations Begin
With their scientific research winding down, the STS-107 crewmembers began preparing for their return to Earth, which is slated for Saturday. During their stay in orbit, Space Shuttle Columbia's astronauts have worked with or monitored more than 80 experiments. Among the investigations still active Thursday were: the Water Mist Fire Suppression Experiment, or Mist; the Mediterranean Israeli Dust Experiment, or MEIDEX; and the Advanced Respiratory Monitoring System, or ARMS, experiment.

In preparation for landing, Commander Rick Husband and Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, both members of the Red Team, conducted computer-based landing simulations. Pilot Willie McCool, who is a member of the Blue Team, will work with the simulator during his overnight shift.

Columbia is slated to land at [9:16AM EST/1416 GMT] Saturday. Forecasts call for favorable weather at landing. The STS-107 Landing Ground Tracks are available. Ask the MCC and STS-107 Crew answers are now available.

Watch NASA TV to see the Flight Day 15 Highlights that will air at the top of every hour between [6PM EST/2300 GMT] Thursday and [1AM EST/0600 GMT] Friday.

The STS-107 Mission Status Briefing will take place at [Noon EST/1700 GMT] Friday. Then, the International Space Station Commentary Update will take place at [2PM EST/1900 GMT] Friday. NASA TV Schedule

Flight Day 12 photos and Flight Day 14 videos are now available in the NASA Gallery.
30 January 2003 - Flight Day 15 - Keep an eye out for Columbia as it orbits the Earth this week (don't worry, no "blue ice" will fall on you). The STS-107 flight will continue until Saturday. NASA reports:

Spaceship Overhead
It's dark, the stars are out, you're all alone. Suddenly an eerie light soars over the horizon. It glides noiselessly overhead—a spaceship! This week, the Shuttle Columbia will fly over many US towns and cities. Daybreak is the best time to watch, but if you oversleep and miss it one day—no problem. You can see it the next day at almost exactly the same time.

Science and Art...and Urine?
Among the more than 80 science experiments aboard Space Shuttle Columbia, one was designed by Native American students from a rural Idaho reservation. And it wouldn't have gotten off the ground (literally) without the imagination of their teacher, Ed Galindo, who knows that "goofy" and "gross" can sell kids on science. Their experiment may help future astronauts fight off depression on long missions (perhaps to Mars?) by creating art in space...with URINE! No kidding!

Flight Day 12 pics are now available in the NASA Gallery.

29 January 2003 - Flight Day 14 - Things are just chugging along aboard Columbia. In today's news conference, the astros discussed the success of the mission so far, and what it's like working in space. NASA reports:

STS-107 Crew Conducts Mist, Talks to Reporters
The STS-107 crewmembers had another busy day aboard Space Shuttle Columbia on Wednesday. They continued to conduct the Water Mist Fire Suppression Experiment. The experiment, which also is known as Mist, is the third investigation to be performed in the Combustion Module. The experiment is studying how water mist keeps flames from spreading in order to design better fire suppression systems on Earth and for spacecraft. Fourteen Mist runs have been completed, and 20 more are planned.

Wednesday morning, all seven astronauts discussed the mission and its 80-plus experiments with reporters during the crew news conference.

"The science we're doing here is great and it's fantastic, it's leading edge," Payload Commander Michael Anderson said.

Watch NASA TV to see the Flight Day 14 Highlights that will air at [7PM EST Wednesday/0000 GMT Thursday]. The highlights will be replayed at the top of every hour until [2AM EST/0700 GMT] Thursday. Then at [11:29PM EST Wednesday/0429 GMT Thursday], the STS-107 Blue Team will participate in interviews with National Public Radio, KXLY-TV of Spokane, Wash., and KFMB-TV of San Diego, Calif.

The STS-107 Mission Status Briefing will take place at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, at [2PM EST/1900 GMT] Thursday. Then, the International Space Station Commentary Update will take place at [4PM EST/2100 GMT] Thursday. NASA TV Schedule

Flight Day 13 videos are now available in the NASA Gallery.

28 January 2003 - Flight Day 13 - Columbia's mission continues. Read our report on the anniversary of the Challenger and Apollo 1 tragedies here. NASA reports:

STS-107 Crewmembers Repair Mist Experiment
The STS-107 Red Team successfully repaired the Water Mist Fire Suppression Experiment on Tuesday. The experiment, which is also known as Mist, will be the third investigation to occur in the Combustion Module. The experiment is studying how water mist keeps flames from spreading in order to design better fire suppression systems on Earth and for spacecraft. The Blue Team is slated to begin the experiment during its overnight shift aboard Space Shuttle Columbia.

On the medical research front, work with the bone and prostate cancer studies continued in the Bioreactor Demonstration System, and crewmembers participated in experiments for the Physiology and Biochemistry suite. Also, the crew took observations for the Mediterranean Israeli Dust Experiment, or MEIDEX, which is studying dust storms in the Middle East.

Ask the MCC and STS-107 Crew answers are now available. Columbia is slated to land at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at [9:15AM EST/1415 GMT] Saturday.

Watch NASA TV to see the Flight Day 13 Highlights that will air at [7PM EST Tuesday/0100 GMT Tuesday]. The highlights will be replayed at the top of every hour until [2AM EST/0700 GMT] Wednesday. At [5:44AM EST/1044 GMT] Wednesday, the STS-107 astronauts will take part in the Crew News Conference.

The STS-107 Mission Status Briefing will take place at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, at [2PM EST/1900 GMT]. Then the International Space Station Commentary Update will take place at [5PM EST/2200 GMT] Wednesday. NASA TV Schedule

Photos from Flight Day 10 and Flight Day 11, as well as videos from Flight Day 11 and Flight Day 12, are now available in the NASA Gallery. Keep an eye on the play-by-play links at top right for commentary, and watch live video on NASA TV.