STS-111 Mission Journal  

STS-111 Mission Journal - Part 1

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The STS-111 crew, preflight. Photo courtesy of NASA

Shuttle Endeavour will launch on mission STS-111 to Space Station Alpha!

NASA image of STS-111 crew patch


UPDATE: Launch time revealed - 7:39PM EDT (2339 GMT). Thunderstorms threaten tomorrow's liftoff. Details to follow.


  • 28 May 2002 - OK, it's official - the countdown for STS-111 is underway! Ground personnel worked through the holiday weekend to repair a valve in one of Endeavour's Auxiliary Power Units, enabling the Shuttle to launch this Thursday. Now if we could only get rid of the thunderstorms that threaten to push back the flight. NASA reports:

    Countdown Under Way
    ISS Expedition 5 Flight Engineer Peggy Whitson will be staying aboard Space Station Alpha for over 4 months. NASA Photo Number: KSC-02PD-0760, Date: 05/27/02 The countdown clock has started for STS-111, the 14th space shuttle mission to the International Space Station. Space Shuttle Endeavour is slated to lift off May 30. It will deliver the Expedition Five crew and Mobile Remote Servicer Base System to the station.
    All seven crewmembers -- Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Paul Lockhart and Mission Specialists Philippe Perrin, Franklin Chang-Díaz, Valery Korzun, Peggy Whitson and Sergei Treschev -- arrived at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Monday in preparation for Thursday's launch.
    During the holiday weekend, workers entered Endeavour's aft engine compartment and successfully replaced a valve in the Auxiliary Power Unit's coolant system. Tests of the new valve and a 24-hour leak check proved the new valve to be functional. Technicians closed out the aft engine compartment Monday night, and the countdown clock began on schedule.
    Forecasts call for a 40 percent chance of acceptable weather for Thursday's launch attempt. The main concern is a threat of thunderstorms.

    Click here for a NASA Flash animation of the Space Shuttle's second decade.




  • 23 May 2002 - Launchpad work continues at KSCNASA reports:

    Launch Preparations Under Way; Workers to Check Coolant System
    STS-111 Mission Specialist Philippe Perrin participates in an Extravehicular Mobility Unit fit check in a Space Station Airlock Test Article in the Crew Systems Laboratory at Johnson Space Center.  NASA photo.STS-111 launch preparations continue at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Space Shuttle Endeavour is slated to lift off May 30 to begin its journey to the International Space Station. STS-111 will deliver the Expedition Five crew and Mobile Remote Servicer Base System to the station.
    Thursday night, workers will enter Endeavour's aft engine compartment to inspect Water Spray Boiler No. 3 and look for leaks. The inspection is being conducted because temperatures in the Auxiliary Power Unit's coolant system failed to reach proper levels in the required times during routine testing. Currently, no impact to the May 30 launch date is expected.
    Thursday afternoon, launch countdown preparations were under way and late-stow items were being placed into the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module.

    Let's hope the ground crew gets a break for Memorial Day!


  • 22 May 2002 - Aboard the International Space Station, the three long-haul space explorers are getting ready to join the STS-111 crew. NASA reports:

    ISS Crew Prepares for STS-111
    The ISS, as seen from Shuttle Atlantis last month. NASA photo.Wednesday, the Expedition Four crew continued to prepare for its return home on Space Shuttle Endeavour. Commander Yury Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Dan Bursch and Carl Walz took inventory and prepacked cargo that will return to Earth with them in June. They also configured tools that will be used during the STS-111 spacewalks. Endeavour is slated to launch from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on May 30 and arrive at the station June 1.

    Watch NASA TV on Monday for special Memorial Day statements from the Expedition Four astronauts.


  • 21 May 2002 - Preparations continue, both on orbit and on the ground, for May 30th's Shuttle launch. NASA reports:

    Crew Prepares for STS-111
    The Endeavour crew at the launchpad, with the tops of the External Tank and a Solid Rocket Booster in the background. Standing, left to right, are STS-111 Pilot Paul Lockhart and the Expedition Five crew -- Peggy Whitson, Commander Valery Korzun and Sergei Treschev. Kneeling in front are STS-111 Mission Specialist Philippe Perrin, Commander Kenneth Cockrell and Mission Specialist Franklin Chang-Diaz. NASA Photo Number: KSC-02PD-0705, Date: 05/17/02As they orbited the Earth on Monday, the Expedition Four crew continued to prepare for STS-111's arrival at the International Space Station. They spent time prepacking items that will return to Earth, completed the pre-EVA configuration of the Quest Airlock and checked out spacesuits that will be used by STS-111 spacewalkers.
    Meanwhile, the STS-111 and Expedition Five crews were at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., last week to participate in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities. This week, late-stow items will be placed in the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and the Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuits will be checked out and installed.

    The Press Kits for STS-111 and Expedition 5 are now available at ShuttlePressKit.com.


  • 20 May 2002 - Evening Update - The folks who run Space Station Alpha say, "Don't Panic!" NASA reports:

    Space Station Systems Operating Smoothly
    NASA photo of ISS Expedition Four commander Yury Onufrienko. The International Space Station experienced an automatic and orderly system shut-down on Sunday for three hours. All systems are currently operating smoothly and the space station crew experienced no danger or discomfort. The lights and navigation control operated continuously. NASA managers believe bad computer data triggered the shut-down to compensate for problems with the cooling system in the Russian-built living quarters.
    STS-111 is slated to lift off from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on May 30. Space Shuttle Endeavour is delivering the Expedition Five crew to the station and will return Expedition Four to Earth.

    The cooling-system problem follows a recent glitch, now corrected, with the Station's oxygen-producing system.


  • 20 May 2002 - Don't forget to tune into NASA TV at 9:00AM EDT today (1300 GMT) to catch STS-111 crew news briefings. Space Shuttle Endeavour will launch in less than two weeks on a mission to the International Space Station.



  • 17 May 2002 - The STS-111 crew has been at Kennedy Space Center this week to conduct a "dress rehearsal" of the launch sequence. NASA reports:

    STS-111 Preparations Continue
    The STS-111 crew atop an M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier during TCDT this week. NASA photo.During the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) at KSC, the STS-111 and Expedition Five crews try on their flight suits and take part in M113 armored vehicle training. TCDT includes several safety training activities and a simulated launch countdown.
    Known as Utilization Flight -2, the mission includes attaching a Canadian-built mobile base system to the International Space Station that will enable the Canadarm2 robotic arm to move along a railway on the Station's truss to build and maintain the outpost. The crew will also replace a faulty wrist/roll joint on the Canadarm2 as well as unload almost three tons of experiments and supplies from the Italian-built Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo.
    The STS-111 Preflight Briefings are scheduled to occur Monday. NASA TV will carry the events live, beginning at 8 a.m. CDT [9AM EDT/1300 GMT].

    You can see TCDT videos here.


  • 16 May 2002 - Endeavour will launch May 30th, and dock with the International Space Station on June 1st. NASA reports:

    Space Station Crew Reviews STS-111 Timeline
    The crew of Space Station Alpha will be coming home on Shuttle Endeavour, to be replaced by  a new threesome. NASA photo.Thursday was another busy workday aboard the International Space Station for the Expedition Four crew. Commander Yury Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Dan Bursch and Carl Walz reviewed the timeline for when STS-111 visits the station in early June. STS-111, which is also known as Space Station Assembly Flight UF-2, will deliver the Expedition Five crew to the station and return the Expedition Four crew to Earth.

    Meanwhile, the ISS crew is fighting to get their primary oxygen system back online. They are using backup supplies, and officials in Russia and the US contend that the space trio is in no danger.


  • 14 May 2002 - Long-distance conference call: The Space Station crew discussed the timeline for Shuttle Endeavour's flight to the ISS with the STS-111 crew today. NASA reports:

    Expedition Four Talks to STS-111, Expedition Five Crews
    The ISS Expedition Five crew will arrive aboard Endeavour. NASA photo. Aboard the International Space Station, the Expedition Four crewmembers spent time Tuesday focusing on the arrival of their replacements. Expedition Four Commander Yury Onufrienko and Flight Engineers Carl Walz and Dan Bursch held a teleconference with the Expedition Five and STS-111 crews. During the one-hour conference, the crews discussed the STS-111 timeline, spacewalks and cargo transfers. Expedition Five Commander Valery Korzun and Flight Engineers Peggy Whitson and Sergei Treschev will take command of the station from Expedition Four during STS-111's stay at the orbital outpost in early June.

    The Space Shuttle is scheduled to launch on May 30th.


  • 13 May 2002 - Endeavour's payload bay is buttoned up for this month's launch. NASA reports:

    STS-111 Launch Preparations Continue
    Endeavour, shortly after her April rollout. NASA photo KSC-02PD-0589With Space Shuttle Endeavour's launch day drawing closer, preparations continue to roll along at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Workers have completed the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module interface verification test and inspections of 13 T-0 umbilical connector savers -- metal coverings that protect the umbilicals. Only one of the savers needed to be replaced. Meanwhile, Endeavour's payload bay doors are now closed and the payload closeouts were set to begin Monday.
    Endeavour will deliver the Expedition Five crew to the International Space Station and return the Expedition Four crew to Earth. STS-111 is slated to lift off May 30.

    While at the ISS, astronauts will make repairs and additions to the Station's robotic arm.


  • 10 May 2002 - More ground work to get Endeavour ready. NASA reports:

    STS-111 Preparations Continue
    NASA photo of STS-111 Pilot Paul Lockhart training for the mission.Preparations continue at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., for the launch of STS-111, an International Space Station assembly mission. Workers have installed a replacement wrist roll joint for the station's robotic arm into Space Shuttle Endeavour's payload bay. STS-111 Mission Specialists Franklin Chang-Díaz and Philippe Perrin will install it onto the arm during one of the mission's three spacewalks. The Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module verification test and verification of 13 connector savers in Endeavour's T-0 umbilicals are slated to begin Friday.
    STS-111 is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy on May 30 between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. CDT (2000 and 0000 GMT). In addition to delivering Leonardo and the wrist roll joint, STS-111 will carry the Expedition Five crew to the station, return the Expedition Four crew to Earth and install the Mobile Base System onto the orbital outpost.


  • 06 May 2002 - Preparations continue for this month's launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour. NASA reports:

    Workers to Install Leonardo into Endeavour's Payload Bay
    No, this is not Leonardo. This is Franklin. STS-111 Mission Specialist Franklin Chang-Diaz will be making his seventh trip into space. NASA photo.At Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Space Shuttle Endeavour continues to undergo preparations for its next mission, STS-111. Workers have completed the Helium Signature Test. Monday's scheduled activities included the installation of the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module into Endeavour's payload bay.

  • 02 May 2002 - Endeavour is on the pad, and preparations continue for launch at the end of this month. NASA reports:

    Main Engine Flight Test Complete
    NASA photo of Space Shuttle Endeavour on the launchpad.At Kennedy Space Center, Fla., workers continue to prepare Space Shuttle Endeavour for STS-111. They have completed launch pad validations and the Space Shuttle Main Engine Flight Readiness Test. Currently, helium signature test preparations are under way. One of STS-111's payloads, the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, is scheduled to be installed into Endeavour's payload bay Monday.
    STS-111, an International Space Station assembly mission, is slated to lift off from Kennedy on May 30 between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. CDT [4PM-8PM EDT/2000- 0000 GMT]. In addition to delivering Leonardo, STS-111 will ferry the Expedition Five crew to the station, return the Expedition Four crew to Earth and install the Mobile Base System onto the orbital outpost.

    Preflight photos here. Rollout video here.


  • 01 May 2002 - Space Shuttle Endeavour has taken the slow journey to Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center. NASA reports:

    Endeavour Rolls to Launch Pad
    Endeavour crawling to the launchpad. NASA Photo Number: KSC-02PD-0587, Date: 04/29/02Space Shuttle Endeavour rolled out to Launch Pad 39A Monday morning. STS-111, the 14th shuttle flight to the International Space Station, is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., no earlier than May 30. Between now and launch, the shuttle will undergo final processing operations. The Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module will be installed into Endeavour's payload bay on Wednesday.
    In addition to delivering Leonardo, STS-111 will ferry the Expedition Five crew to the station and return the Expedition Four crew to Earth. Also, the STS-111 crew will perform three spacewalks and install the Mobile Base System onto the orbital outpost.

    The Leonardo module will be making its third trip to Space Station Alpha.


  • 23 April 2002 - Endeavour, the newest of NASA's four-orbiter fleet, has been moved from the OPF to the VAB for assembly. NASA reports:

    Space Shuttle Endeavour Moves to Vehicle Assembly Building
    STS-111 will be the seventh space shuttle mission for Astronaut Franklin Chang-Díaz. NASA photo.Preparations are under way at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., for the launch of STS-111. On Monday, Space Shuttle Endeavour moved from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it will be attached to the External Tank and the Solid Rocket Boosters. Meanwhile, the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module has arrived at Launch Pad 39A.
    STS-111 will be the 14th shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station. It will deliver the Expedition Five crew, Leonardo and the Mobile Base System to the orbital outpost. Endeavour is slated to lift off no earlier than May 30.

    Orbiter prep began in December 2001, after Endeavour's return from her STS-108 flight.


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