STS-112 Mission Journal  

STS-112 Mission Journal - Part 1

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Shuttle Atlantis rolls out to Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B on 10 Sep 2002. Photo courtesy of NASA
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Atlantis mission STS-112 to Space Station Alpha.
The Shuttle has landed. Latest coverage here!
NASA image of STS-112 crew patch, representing the addition of the S1 Truss to Space Station Alpha's structure.

 

  • 05 October 2002 - Saturday - We should be hearing the exact launch time tomorrow afternoon. Since the terrorist attacks of 11 Sep 2001, NASA has withheld the exact launch time until 24 hours prior to liftoff. For now, all we know is that it's between 2PM and 6PM EDT (1800 and 2200 GMT) on Monday the 7th.

 

  • 04 October 2002 - Friday - Mission Control is coming back online after shutting down due to an impending hurricane. NASA reports:

    Mission Control Center Powering up for Monday Launch
    STS-112 Pilot Pamela Melroy prepares to taxi the Shuttle Training Aircraft to the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., as part of landing exercises. NASA photo.The Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, continues power-up procedures in preparation for the launch of STS-112. Space Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to lift off from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Monday between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. CDT (1800 and 2200 GMT).
    Mission Control had been shut down earlier in the week due to the potential threat from Hurricane Lili. It is scheduled to be ready to support countdown activities Sunday.
    During the past week, the STS-112 crew reviewed flight plans and practiced re-entry procedures.
    STS-112 will be the 15th shuttle flight to the International Space Station. STS-112 will continue the outward expansion of the station with the delivery of the S1 (S-One) Truss. The STS-112 crew will perform three spacewalks to attach and activate the S1.

    Flight control of the International Space Station also returned to Houston. Control had been transferred to Moscow until the threat from Lili was deemed to be over.

 

  • 03 October 2002 - Thursday - Hurricane Lili's path spared the Houston area, so now Mission Control can power up and get ready to support Monday's launch at KSC in Florida. Atlantis was originally supposed to lift off yesterday, and then weather pushed it back further to today. Finally, NASA rescheduled for next week to avoid ground-support problems. NASA reports:

    New Launch Date
    NASA photo of Dave Wolfe in preflight, being assisted with his Launch and Entry suit.STS-112 is scheduled to launch on Monday, October 7. Space Shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew, led Commander Jeff Ashby and Pilot Pam Melroy, will deliver the S1 Truss to the International Space Station. Mission specialists are astronauts Sandra Magnus, David Wolf and Piers Sellers and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin. Visit the crew preflight photo gallery of images and videos.

 

  • 02 October 2002 - Evening Update - With the shutdown of Houston's Mission Control Center, flight control of the International Space Station has switched over to MoscowNASA reports:

    Hurricane Threat to Mission Control Forces Launch Delay
    Hurricane Lili churns in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. NASA satellite image.The potential threat of Hurricane Lili to the Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, forced Space Shuttle Program managers to push the launch of STS-112 back to Monday. Space Shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew are now slated to lift off no earlier than 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. CDT (1800 to 2200 GMT) Monday.
    In preparation for the effects of Lili, the Mission Control Center ... has been powered down, [forcing] managers to shift U.S. flight control of the International Space Station from Houston to the NASA support team in Moscow. The support group in Russia consists of flight controllers and others who will continue reduced flight control operations out of Mission Control Moscow and will remain in contact with Houston.
    Forecasters and managers will continue to monitor the storm as it tracks toward the U.S. Gulf Coast and assess the threat to Johnson Space Center.

    Keep an eye on the play-by-play links at right and watch NASA TV to hear the latest on the launch status.


  • 02 October - Afternoon Update - With the move of Atlantis' launch to Thursday, here is how the timeline is shaping up:

    Launch Date:   Monday, 07 October 2002
    Launch Time: Unknown, but expect between 2 and 6PM EDT (1800-2200 GMT)
    Launch Window: 5-10 minutes (currently unknown due to NASA security policy)
    Docking: 09 October 2002
    Undocking: 16 October 2002
    Landing: 18 October 2002

  • 02 October 2002 - Wednesday - NASA managers met this morning and decided to push the launch of Shuttle Atlantis back to at least Monday, 7 Oct 2002. This is due to the impending hurricane coming towards the Gulf Coast, which prompted NASA to shut down computer systems at the Texas Mission Control Center. Check the play-by-play links at top right for the latest status.

 

 

  • 30 September 2002 - Monday - OK, it's official - the countdown for STS-112 is underway! Security concerns don't permit the exact launch time to be announced until 24 hours prior to liftoff, but we do know it's between 2 and 6PM EDT this Wednesday. NASA reports:

    Launch Countdown Under Way
    STS-112 Mission Specialist Sandy Magnus. NASA Photo No: KSC-02pd-1379 STS-112's launch countdown began over the weekend at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., and preparations remain on schedule for lift off. The STS-112 crew arrived at KSC Sunday morning. Space Shuttle Atlantis is slated to launch Wednesday between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. CDT [2PM to 6PM EDT, 1800 to 2200 GMT].
    Weather forecasts call for a 60-percent chance of favorable weather at launch, with the main concerns being showers and thunderstorms in the vicinity. Meanwhile, managers continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Lili and will discuss contingency plans if Lili threatens the Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Currently, Lili poses no immediate threat to KSC.
    Atlantis and its six-member crew will deliver the S-1 (S-One) Truss to the International Space Station. The crew will perform three spacewalks at the station and will transfer supplies and equipment between the two vehicles.

    Hurricane Lili is threatening to delay the launch, even though KSC is in no danger. This time, it's Mission control in Houston, Texas that is in for a beating from Mother Nature.

 

 

STS-112 Flight Facts:
Launch Date:   Wednesday, 02 October 2002
Launch Time: Unknown, but expect between 2 and 6PM EDT (1800-2200 GMT)
Launch Window: 5-10 minutes (currently unknown due to NASA security policy)
Docking: 04 October 2002
Undocking: 11 October 2002
Landing: 13 October 2002

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