Note: The links below will
open up in one new browser window. For best viewing, size the two web
browsers so that they don't take up the entire screen - this way, you will be
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Atlantis lands at KSC on first
attempt!
20 September 2000 - 11PM EDT - on this morning's
.
Video clips
and .
UPI: .
[Bottom of page]. The countdown starts for STS-92!
20 September - 7AM EDT - Landing! Atlantis is at KSC,
iffy weather to
on the . NASA :
At 2:56 a.m. CDT, or 7:56 GMT, Space Shuttle Atlantis and
its seven-member crew landed at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., ending STS-106.
While in orbit, the STS-106 crew successfully prepared the International
Space Station for the arrival of the first permanent crew. The five
astronauts and two cosmonauts performed a space walk to connect power, data
and communications cables to the newly arrived Zvezda Service Module and the
station. The crew also delivered more than 2,993 kilograms (6,600 pounds) of
supplies and installed batteries, power converters, a toilet and a treadmill
on the station. STS-106, which launched Sept. 8, logged 7.9 million
kilometers (4.9 million miles).
Watch streaming video on
to see continuing coverage of STS-106. Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. CDT,
14:30 GMT, the astronaut post-landing news conference is scheduled to
begin. The is available online.
was the for the Shuttle program, with more expected as the . Atlantis touched down at KSC at .
Check back tonight for video clips.
20 September - 12:30AM EDT - Atlantis' on-board computers are being loaded with the software they need to go from general-purpose mode to re-entry mode. No Quake Deathmatches up there, you guys!
Watch the action on .
Follow the play-by-play at , , and .
Video clips, including Flight
Day highlights, are available at the and at .
20 September - 12:15AM EDT - The clamshell-shaped Payload Bay doors are
closed and latched, in preparation for the de-orbit burn, which is the firing of
thrusters that will slow the enough to initiate
, where it will behave like an airplane (more like a giant
glider - the engines only work in space or on launch). Everything is
reported to be proceeding ahead of schedule, as Atlantis flies the 184th
orbit of the mission. A band of cirrus clouds is approaching the 3-mile (the longest runway in the world!), and
officials are keeping an eye on that.
19 September 2000 - MIDNIGHT EDT - Flight Director Wayne Hale has given the "go" for closure of the
Orbiter's payload bay doors. Weather is go (so far).
19 September - 11:40PM EDT - Atlantis continues , with the next mission event, the de-orbit
burn, scheduled for 2:50AM EDT (Wednesday morning). Chief astronaut is flying a T-38 jet
around the landing facility to gauge the weather, and he reports that showers are settling down. NASA
states:
The STS-106 astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis are preparing for their
return to Earth with a planned predawn touchdown on the 3-mile long Shuttle
Landing Facility runway at the Kennedy Space Center at 2:56 a.m. CDT
Wednesday. The forecasted weather for early Wednesday shows essentially
favorable conditions with some concern for rain showers in the vicinity of
the Florida spaceport.
Just before 10 p.m. [Houston time],
the astronauts will begin their deorbit preparations. After closing
Atlantis' payload bay doors at 11:10 p.m., the crew will put on their
pressurized launch and entry suits and strap into their seats shortly before
1 a.m. Entry Flight Director Wayne Hale is expected to poll the flight
control team for the final decision for the deorbit burn 20 minutes prior to
the planned firing of Atlantis' orbital maneuvering system engines at 1:50
a.m. Central which would result in a landing for Atlantis at 2:56 a.m.
Spaceflight Now has online.
19 September - 9PM EDT - The of Shuttle mission
have begun Flight Day 13, their last day in orbit. Just 7 hours from now, the of
Atlantis is scheduled to at the
at KSC
in Florida. is a minor concern, though
has passed
out of the area. There will be two opportunities to land (Wednesday
morning - 3:35AM EDT, and one orbit later at 5:33AM EDT). is available as a backup landing
site for Thursday. NASA reports:
The mission to prepare the International Space Station for the arrival of
the first resident crew is about to wrap up. During its final full day in
orbit, the STS-106 crew began preparing Space Shuttle Atlantis for its
return home to Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Commander Terry Wilcutt and Pilot
Scott Altman tested the orbiter's 44 thruster jets and flight control
surfaces. Also in preparation for the landing, the crew deactivated the
SPACEHAB module and stowed equipment.
Forecasts indicate
favorable weather conditions for Atlantis' first landing opportunity, which
is at 2:56 a.m. CDT, or 7:56 GMT, Wednesday. A second landing opportunity at
Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday is available at 4:33 a.m. CDT, or 9:33
GMT. The for Wednesday's landing opportunities are now available.
from the STS-106 crew and flight controllers in the
MCC are available.
19 September - 7:30AM EDT - Flight Day 12 is almost over, with the of
turning their
towards their
early tomorrow.
has
the . Check back with us tonight for updates.
18 September 2000 - 8PM EDT - , the Atlantis crew are beginning . They have made the ready for its first permanent crew,
, and are preparing to . Live coverage on .
Having departed the International Space Station last night,
Atlantis' crew will now spend a day checking the shuttle's equipment and stowing
away gear in preparation for the trip home, aiming for a 2:56 a.m. CDT landing
on Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This evening Wilcutt and
Altman will test the systems that will be used during the return home to Kennedy
Space Center to ensure that equipment remains in good condition. Around 8:45
p.m. Central, a test of the flight control systems that maneuver the shuttle
once it re-enters the atmosphere and begins to operate like an airplane will be
conducted. Just before 10 p.m., a test fire of all 44 thruster jets on Atlantis
will be performed to verify they are in good working order.
18 September 2000 - 6PM EDT - The crew is sleeping now, with
tonight's work ahead. for an early Wednesday landing at KSC. Live coverage on .
News updates at .
NASA reports:
Space Shuttle Atlantis undocks from the International Space
Station to begin its journey back home. The STS-106 crew leaves the
station ready for the arrival of the first resident crew in November.
Atlantis is slated to land Wednesday at 2:56 a.m. CDT, or 7:56 GMT. are now available for Wednesday's scheduled landing.
answers from the
and
are
available. STS-106
are now available in the .
Check out images. STS-106 also are available.
While the Atlantis crew is getting ready to their successful flight,
rages on. The astronauts, for their part, have declared the station .
18 September 2000 - 10AM EDT - At last night's press conference, deputy manager said, "This crew has certainly laid
out the red carpet for the first crew to come aboard the International Space
Station." Continuing coverage on .
NASA reports:
The STS-106 crew is now in the last leg of its mission after Space
Shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station at 10:46
p.m. CDT Sunday, or 3:46 GMT Monday. While at the station, the STS-106
astronauts and cosmonauts prepared it for the arrival of the first
resident crew. Early Monday, the five astronauts and two cosmonauts
answered questions from media at NASA centers and the Russian mission
control center. The remainder of their time awake during Flight Day 11
will be spent off duty. After they wake up Monday afternoon, the crew
members will begin preparing the shuttle for landing. Atlantis is
scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Florida Wednesday morning at
2:56 CDT, or 7:56 GMT.
18 September - 1:35AM EDT - Atlantis has completed its fly-around inspection of the International Space Station, and has performed a separation burn that will let it move away from the Station, in preparation
for an . Crew news briefing at 3:11AM EDT. Live coverage on .
Check back with us later today for more updates.
18 September - 12:50AM EDT - Atlantis continues to move around the
,
about 440 feet away. Pilot has completed the first of two laps around the ISS, allowing the crew to
the Station's exterior, to be evaluated by engineers in
and (Russia).
Final separation burn scheduled for about 45 minutes from now. The Station's
maneuvering system is back on-line. Mission Status Briefing is
scheduled at 1:45AM EDT. NASA reports:
The International Space Station is operating in good condition and is ready
to become the home to the Expedition 1 crew in November. Space Shuttle
Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station at 10:46 p.m. CDT
Sunday, or 3:46 GMT Monday. The seven STS-106 astronauts and cosmonauts
turned out the lights and closed the doors on a new home in space after
spending a week working as movers, cleaners, plumbers, electricians and
cable installers. Inside the station, the crew transferred more than 2,994
kilograms (6,600 pounds) of supplies and installed batteries, power
converters, the treadmill and the toilet. Also, two astronauts rode the
shuttle's robotic arm to the Zvezda Service Module for a 6-hour, 14-minute
space walk.
Prior to arrival of the station's first resident crew,
will deliver the Z1 Truss, four Control Moment Gyroscopes and Pressurized
Mating Adapter-3 in October.
18 September - 12:20AM EDT - Atlantis continues to from the
,
and the Orbiter docking systems are powering down. Check the play-by-play at
(although for once, we seem to be more up-to-date!). Pilot Scott
Altman is performing the nose-first, clockwise fly-around of the Station, so
that the Atlantis crew can document the exterior appearance. Russian flight
controllers are especially interested in the appearance of the , which is a new version "M1-3" modification. The
Progress is an unmanned cargo ship, somewhat resembling a Soyuz capsule (and
launched via Soyuz rocket from ).
Progress vehicles are used to bring supplies up to the Station, and can be
filled with trash for re-entry, where they burn up in the atmosphere.
18 September 2000 - 12:05AM EDT - Atlantis continues to from the ISS (currently 375 feet away), with Mission Control reporting that things are going very smoothly.
NASA reports:
The STS-106 crew is now in the last leg of its mission after Space Shuttle
Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station at 10:46 p.m. CDT
Sunday, or 3:46 GMT Monday. While at the station, the STS-106 astronauts and
cosmonauts prepared it for the arrival of the first resident crew. Among the
tasks performed was a 6-hour, 14-minute space walk to connect the newly
arrived Zvezda Service Module to the station with nine power, data and
communication cables. Inside the station, the crew transferred more than
2,994 kilograms (6,600 pounds) of supplies and installed batteries, power
converters, the treadmill and the toilet. Atlantis is scheduled to land at
Kennedy Space Center, Florida Wednesday morning at 2:56 CDT, or 7:56 GMT.
17 September 2000 - 11:55PM EDT - The Station's docking system has been powered down, as Atlantis continues to separate from the ISS. Now at 136 feet away.
17 September - 11:46PM EDT - Undocking confirmed! Live coverage on .
17 September - 11:40PM EDT - Houston gave the green light to Atlantis to undock a few minutes ago.
The crew has requested a 2-minute delay in order to reboot some on-board computers.
This is well within the 13-minute window available for the maneuver.
17 September - 11:20PM EDT - Pilot is prepping for undocking and fly-around of the
Station in less 25 minutes from now. The docking interface is powered up, and
software is ready to go. Live coverage on .
17 September 2000 - 10:40PM EDT - The Shuttle crew at 11:44PM EDT. NASA reports:
Following a successful week of docked operations, the seven astronauts
aboard shuttle Atlantis prepare to depart the International Space Station
later this evening, leaving behind the more than 2,990 kilograms (6,600
pounds) of supplies and equipment that was transferred to the orbiting
facility.
Atlantis is scheduled to separate from the station at 10:44 p.m.
[Houston time] while the two
spacecraft are flying over the northeastern portion of the Ukraine.
Pilot Scott Altman will perform a fly-around of the Station following the
. The Station's solar arrays have been angled to avoid damage from
the Orbiter's thrusters. Atlantis is scheduled to land at KSC Wednesday
morning at 3:56AM EDT.
17 September 2000 - 11AM EDT - The Shuttle crew has and are preparing to undock
tonight. NASA reports:
The crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis finished its work inside the
and has exited the orbital outpost. The crew closed the
final hatch between Atlantis and the station at about 7 a.m. CDT, or 12
GMT, Sunday. While inside the station, the STS-106 astronauts and
cosmonauts prepared it for the arrival of its first permanent crew, which
is scheduled to arrive in early November. Among the duties performed was
the transfer of more than 3 tons of supplies and equipment from Atlantis
and the Progress cargo ship. Also, the crew installed batteries, power
converters and the station's treadmill. Now, the attention of the STS-106
crew and flight controllers shifts toward Sunday night's undocking, which
is scheduled for Sunday at 10:44 p.m. CDT, or Monday at 3:44 GMT.
It was a busy day for the STS-106 crew during its last day on
the International Space Station. The fourth and final maneuver to reboost
the station's orbit by using the thruster jets of Space Shuttle Atlantis
was performed. The hour-long maneuver lifted the complex 5.6 kilometers
(3.5 statute miles). All told, the four reboosts raised the station's
orbit by 22.5 kilometers (14 statute miles).
Watch streaming video on to see continuing coverage of STS-106. Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the station
at 10:44 p.m. CDT Sunday, or 03:44 GMT. The undocking may not be carried live.
is available online.
from the STS-106 crew and flight controllers in the
MCC are available.
The is available.
Check continuing coverage at and .
16 September 2000 - Update 11:20PM EDT - Just minutes from now, the
with
their fourth reboost procedure of the week, firing the Reaction Control
System jets with a one-hour series of pulses (at 100-second intervals) to increase the altitude of the
ISS. NASA reports:
The STS-106 astronauts and cosmonauts begin their final workday
on the International Space Station, finishing their efforts of making the
orbiting facility a home for the arrival of its first permanent residents.
The Atlantis
astronauts will finish checking the three tons of supplies and equipment
that have been transferred to the station in preparation for the arrival of
the its first crew in November. Then, the crew will close and secure the
hatches that connect each of the station components. The final hatch between
the station and Atlantis will be secured around 7:30 a.m. CDT, or 12:30 GMT,
on Sunday.
16 September 2000 - Update 8:45PM EDT - The crew of Atlantis woke up
about an hour ago, to begin their last full day of docked operations with the ISS.
There will be another thruster firing tonight around 11:30PM EDT, which will
bring the Station's orbit a total of 14 miles higher than it was at the
start of this mission. NASA reports:
[Last night,] the STS-106 crew installed
a treadmill in the Zvezda Service Module. The treadmill has a sophisticated
system that will prevent exercise-induced vibrations from disturbing
experiments that will be performed on the station. Also, the crew
reinstalled four Common Berthing Mechanism controllers in the port that
leads to the docking port that Atlantis is occupying. The astronauts and
cosmonauts continued the transfer of supplies. The STS-106 crew is slated to
leave the station Sunday.
Watch streaming
video on to see continuing coverage of STS-106. Saturday at 10:11 p.m. CDT,
or Sunday at 03:11 GMT, the STS-106 crew will begin leaving the
International Space Station. Final hatch closure is scheduled for 7:31
a.m., or 12:31 GMT, Sunday. Some of these events may not be televised
live. The is available online.
Check continuing coverage at and .
16 September 2000 - Another . NASA reports:
Onboard the International Space Station, the STS-106 crew continued its
work to prepare the station for the arrival of the Expedition 1 crew.
During Flight Day 9, the crew installed a treadmill on the Zvezda Service
Module. Also, four Common Berthing Mechanism controllers were reinstalled
on the station's port that leads to the docking port that is currently
occupied by Space Shuttle Atlantis. Also, the transfer of supplies
continued.
Tonight at 10:11 CDT, or Sunday at 3:11 GMT, the crew is slated to begin leaving the
station when it closes the hatch to the Progress cargo ship. The final
hatch closure between the station and Atlantis is scheduled for 7:31 a.m. CDT, or 12:31 GMT, Sunday.
More on the treadmill installation from ,
and on the electrical work from .
Check continuing coverage at and .
15 September 2000 - Another .
Let's go through the day's events from NASA...
Friday AM:
The astronauts and cosmonauts of STS-106 resume their transfer activities to begin the
fifth day of docked operations on the Atlantis-International Space Station complex.
Having already unloaded 590 kilograms (1,300 pounds) of gear from the Progress spacecraft, they
continue unloading supplies from Atlantis. Work continues on the International Space Station for the
arrival of the Expedition 1 crew, which is slated to arrive in early November.
The third in a series of four scheduled maneuvers to raise the station's orbit was performed during
Flight Day 7. STS-106 Commander Terry Wilcutt and Pilot Scott Altman fired Atlantis' thruster jets to raise the
station's orbit by 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles).
Meanwhile, Mission Specialists Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko installed power converters in the
Zvezda Service Module.
from the STS-106 crew and flight controllers in the MCC are available.
Friday afternoon:
During Flight Day 8, the STS-106 astronauts and cosmonauts continued their work on the International Space
Station to prepare it for the arrival of its first permanent resident crew. Mission Specialists Ed Lu and
installed four power converters in the Zvezda Service Module. The converters will allow
currents from the U.S. solar power arrays, which will be installed during STS-97, to be used in Zvezda and the
Zarya Control Module. Malenchenko and Lu also installed components of the station's air replenishing system.
Meanwhile, the crew continued to transfer supplies from Space Shuttle Atlantis and began to store trash in the
Progress cargo ship.
Check continuing coverage at and .
Here's the latest and the evening .
14 September 2000 - 6PM EDT - keeps
on . A new
starts tonight. NASA reports:
The seven astronauts aboard the Atlantis-International Space Station will
soon resume their transfer activities as they start their 5th day of docked
operations inside the orbiting facility. As of the start of their workday
today, approximately one third of the almost three tons of supplies and
equipment have already been moved into the station.
Highlights of the day
include the continuing transfer of equipment and supplies from Atlantis to
the International Space Station and the organization and stowage of that
gear inside the ISS. The 1,300 pounds of ISS gear aboard the Progress cargo
spacecraft docked to the aft end of the Zvezda module already has been
unloaded.
As the seven members of the crew of Space Shuttle Mission continue their work aboard the
International Space Station, they send us this beautiful view of the station and the Earth below.
for a larger view. Do you have a question for the crew or experts at Mission Control?
Have you always wondered about some aspect of space travel? If so, and get answers from
the experts. from the MCC are available.
Live TV interviews Friday morning at 8:31AM EDT on .
14 September 2000 - 9AM EDT - The Atlantis mission to the the ISS
remains on schedule. NASA reports (from late last night):
As part of their activities, STS-106 crew members will install a
battery charger in the Zvezda Service Module. The device will be hooked into
Zvezda's electrical power system to allow batteries in visiting Progress or
Soyuz vehicles to be charged, using the station's power system. The crew
will also complete the installation of a final battery in the Zarya Control
Module before installing the two Russian Orlan spacesuits that will be used
by resident crews to perform space walks outside the station.
Atlantis will undock from the ISS this Sunday.
14 September 2000 - 7:15AM EDT - Shuttle mission to the the ISS continues, with Flight Day 7 winding
down. The crew had to do a little yesterday, when they found a bolted
plate obstructing one of the voltage regulators they were replacing. The
solution? ! What's next, duct tape?? Live TV interviews this morning at
8:11AM EDT on .
Flight Day Highlights at .
Here's the latest .
13 September 2000 - 11:30PM EDT - The 7-man crew of Shuttle Atlantis
continue their and equipment moving, on the International
Space Station. NASA reports:
The STS-106 astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis were awakened just
before 7 p.m. Central to begin another day of electrical work and transfer
activities as they near the halfway point of docked operations with the
International Space Station. With 189 hours, 40 minutes of planned
Atlantis-ISS docked time, the halfway point of docked operations will be
reached at 11:45 p.m. this evening.
After finishing
their post-sleep activities, Commander Terry Wilcutt and his crew - Pilot
Scott Altman and Mission Specialists Ed Lu, Rick Mastracchio, Dan Burbank,
Yuri Malenchenko and Boris Morukov, will resume the transfer of almost three
tons of equipment and supplies from Atlantis and a Russian supply vehicle
to the newly expanded Station.
Lu and Malenchenko continued electrical
work inside the Zvezda Service Module. Because of weight, Zvezda was
launched in July aboard a Russian Proton rocket with only five of its
eight batteries. Meanwhile, Cosmonaut Boris Morukov and Astronaut Dan
Burbank performed similar tasks inside the Zarya Control Module. The
five astronauts and two cosmonauts are also transferring supplies from
Atlantis and the Progress cargo ship, preparing the inside of the
station for the arrival of its first permanent crew.
Watch streaming video on
to see continuing coverage of STS-106.
Thursday at 7:11 a.m., or 12:11 GMT, Commander Terry Wilcutt and
Mission Specialist Dan Burbank will participate in interviews with CNBC's
"Squawk Box", ABC's "Good Morning America" and the AP Radio Network.
The is available online.
Video clips, including Flight Day 6 highlights, are available at
. Live coverage on .
13 September 2000 - 2PM EDT - The mission continues, with progressing well. NASA reports:
STS-106's five astronauts and two cosmonauts were busy with electronics and the transfer of supplies during Flight Day 6 as they continued to prepare the International Space Station for the arrival of the Expedition 1 crew. Mission Specialists Boris Morukov and Dan Burbank replaced a battery on the Zarya Control Module. They will replace a second battery Wednesday night. Mission Specialists Yuri Malenchenko and Ed Lu installed three batteries and associated electrical equipment on the Zvezda Service Module.
Because of weight, Zvezda was launched in July aboard a Russian Proton rocket with only five of its eight batteries.
Meanwhile, Commander Terry Wilcutt, Pilot Scott Altman and Mission Specialist Rick Mastracchio continued to transfer supplies and equipment to the station from Space Shuttle Atlantis and a Russian Progress cargo ship docked to Zvezda.
13 September 2000 - 7AM EDT - The 5 astronauts and 2 cosmonauts of continue the
and the into the International
Space Station.
Just before Commander Terry Wilcutt and his crew went to bed Tuesday,
Mission Control radioed up the news that mission managers had given their
approval to an additional day of docked operations for Atlantis' crew and
its efforts aboard the International Space Station. The STS-106 crew will
now depart the station late Sunday evening just after 10:30 p.m. CDT.
The additional
mission day will give Wilcutt, Pilot Scott Altman and Mission Specialists Ed
Lu, Rick Mastracchio, Dan Burbank, Yuri Malenchenko and Boris Morukov more
time to prepare the orbiting facility for the arrival of the first station
crew when it docks to the station in early November.
Did You Know? Mission Commander Terry Wilcutt is a Colonel in the - but before he joined the Service, he was a ! He will be giving an interview this morning at 7:46AM with TV
stations from his Kentucky hometown - and we can watch it live on .
12 September 2000 - 7:50PM EDT - The of Atlantis woke up a few
minutes ago, to the tune of Van Morrison's "Brown-Eyed Girl." has lots more
"" in store, with the of
,
and from the Orbiter (and the supply vehicle) to the Station, for November's Expedition 1 crew.
The crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis entered the [last night]. The STS-106 crewmembers
became the first humans to enter the Zvezda Service Module in orbit Tuesday
at 12:20 a.m. CDT, or 5:20 GMT. Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the
STS-106 astronauts and cosmonauts will install three new batteries in Zvezda
and replace two existing batteries in the Zarya Control Module.
Tuesday, shuttle
managers announced that STS-106 has been extended by one day to give the
crew more time to transfer supplies from the orbiter and the Progress cargo
ship. Atlantis is now scheduled to land Sept. 20 at 3:26 a.m. CDT, or 8:26 GMT.
The additional mission day will bring the total time that Atlantis is
docked with the ISS to six days. Video clips, including , are available at the and at . Live coverage on .
12 September 2000 - STS-106's first into the ISS is . The the newly expanded space station
, opening and . They moved in from the docked Atlantis orbiter, for the
Expedition 1 crew who will begin . NASA reports:
The crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis entered the International Space Station at
9:40 p.m. CDT Monday, or 2:40 GMT Tuesday, when it opened the hatch to the
Pressurized Mating Adapter 2. The crew entered all of the station's modules and
began preparing the inside of the station for the arrival of its first permanent
crew. The five astronauts and two cosmonauts began transferring supplies from
Atlantis and the Progress cargo ship. Also, they activated systems on the
station's newest module, the Zvezda Service Module.
Shuttle on Monday, in preparation for next month's STS-92
flight - the 100th Shuttle mission! NASA reports:
At Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., preparations are under way for STS-92, a mission to deliver
the Z-1 Truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 to the International Space
Station. Space Shuttle Discovery left the Vehicle Assembly Building and . The Z-1 Truss is scheduled to
arrive at the launch pad Wednesday for installation into ’s
payload bay. The STS-92 flight crew will participate in the Terminal
Countdown Demonstration Test on Sept. 14-15.
11 September 2000 - 11:45PM EDT - The crew of Atlantis have a little early - 10:47PM EDT - and are now going into the Zarya module. The Station is orbiting the Earth at 232 statute miles altitude.
(the third day of docked operations) began at 7:46PM EDT. This
evening's Status Report .
Follow mission progress with .
Did you know? Mission Specialist is only the to enter the Astronaut Corps ( was the first). Burbank, an , holds the rank of Commander in the U.S. . Go !
11 September 2000 - 7PM EDT - More on the (the 50th in ), which saw two spacewalkers of the
ISS to
between the two Russian components, and for a magnetometer. This morning's Mission
Control Center Status Report .
The Atlantis crew is to enter the Station tonight at 11:01PM EDT. NASA reports:
Atlantis Crew Completes Space Walk; Will Board Station Tonight
Early this morning Astronaut Ed Lu and Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko
completed a six-hour, 14-minute outside the International
Space Station after Atlantis docked with the station early Sunday. Lu and Malenchenko
attached nine power, data and communication cables to the International
Space Station's newest component -- the Zvezda Service Module -- and the
Zarya Control Module. Also, they assembled a magnetometer boom on the
outside of Zvezda.
Following the space walk, STS-106 Commander Terry Wilcutt and
Pilot Scott Altman fired Space Shuttle Atlantis' thruster jets to perform
the first of three one-hour maneuvers to raise the station's orbit.
STS-106 crew members will begin entering the station shortly
after 11 p.m. EDT tonight (3:01 GMT Tuesday) to start tasks to ready the outpost for the
arrival of the first resident crew--Expedition One--in early November.
Videos, including , are available at the and at . Live coverage on .
11 September 2000 - 7:30AM EDT - The is ,
clocking in at 6 hours, 14 minutes. All objectives for the spacewalk were
accomplished, with crewmembers Lu and Malenchenko installing 9 cables
between the and
modules, installing a magnetometer on a 6-ft
boom, and venturing further from the
- over 105 feet - than any tethered spacewalkers ever have.
With everyone now back in the Orbiter's cabin, the next
will be a 3-mile orbital boost, with Atlantis firing 36 small pulses over
the course of an hour. Live telemetry .
There will be a Mission Status briefing at 8AM EDT. Live coverage on .
Last night's Mission Control Center Status Report .
11 September 2000 - 2:10AM EDT - The 6-hour-and-30-minute is , with an
and a
working
the
. reports:
Astronaut and Cosmonaut Begin Space Walk
STS-106 mission specialists Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko began their space
walk at Sunday 11:47 p.m. CDT (or Monday at 4:47 a.m. GMT). During their
6.5-hour space walk, their tasks will include attaching nine power, data and
communication cables that will connect the station's newest component, the
Zvezda Service Module, to the Zarya Control Module. Also, they will be
assembling a magnetometer boom on the outside of Zvezda. The astronauts
onboard Atlantis will assist the space walkers by transferring equipment
from the orbiter's payload bay to the station using the shuttle's robotic
arm.
While Shuttle Atlantis at 17000MPH, Shuttle Discovery is
moving a little more slowly - it has begun its 1MPH trek to the launch pad,
and should arrive by sunrise.
11 September 2000 - 12:30AM EDT - STS-106
Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko are a 6.5-hour
at . Live coverage on .
Minute-by-minute
at Florida Today.
10 September 2000 - 3PM EDT - ":" More on 's docking of
with the
.
The crew is currently in their sleep period, and , to begin . Morning Mission Control Center Status .
Videos, including , are available at the and at .
NASA reports:
Space Shuttle Atlantis docked with the International Space Station at 12:51 a.m.
CDT, or 5:51 GMT, Sunday. Now the attention of the STS-106 crew and flight
controllers has turned toward a 6.5-hour that will be conducted by Mission Specialists Ed Lu and Yuri
Malenchenko, which is scheduled to begin at 12:06 a.m. CDT, or 5:06 GMT,
Monday. Their tasks include connecting nine power, data and communication
cables between the station's Zvezda Service Module and the Zarya Control
Module. The five astronauts and two cosmonauts will enter the space
station Monday night.
The International Space Station is operating in good condition and is
ready for the space walk and the delivery of supplies that will occur
during ,
a mission that will prepare the station for the arrival of its first crew
in November. STS-106's five astronauts and two cosmonauts are the first
humans to visit the station since the arrival of its third major
component, the Zvezda Service Module, in July.
10 September - 2:10AM EDT - Mission Commander completed a "" with the . Docking rings are
retracted, and latches are confirmed locked. The docking mechanism is
powering down. Less than 2 hours from now, Colonel Wilcutt and Dr. will take an air sample from the vestibule, which will begin pressurizing
within the hour- but astronauts will not enter the Station until Monday morning. Mission
Control has declared the Docking Checklist complete, and are returning to
the .
10 September - 1:52AM EDT - Contact & capture CONFIRMED - DOCKING COMPLETE at 1:15:37AM EDT!
The Station/Orbiter complex is in "free drift" mode, to allow each other's relative motion to dampen out, and to avoid inadvertent thruster firings.
10 September - 1:50AM EDT - Range < 10ft, Post contact maneuver thrusters are armed. Capture light is ON!
10 September - 1:48AM EDT - Range 20ft, closing at 1/10th foot per second. Flying over western Europe.
10 September - 1:45AM EDT - Range 30ft, closing at 2/100ths foot per second. Docking should be 8 minutes from now.
10 September - 1:40AM EDT - Range 40ft, closing at less than 1/10th foot per second.
10 September - 1:35AM EDT - Range 60ft, flying over western Africa and the Equator. Closing at 1/10th foot per second.
10 September - 1:30AM EDT - Mission Commander is maneuvering towards the ,
high above the Earth. Range 110ft. The Unity docking module
(Pressurized Mating Adapter) is now clearly visible through the Orbiter's still camera.
10 September 2000 - 1:15AM EDT - Shuttle Atlantis is approaching the ,
for a docking . Range 150ft. Watch live video on !
9 September 2000 - UPDATE 10PM EDT - Shuttle Atlantis continues its on-orbit operations, prepping
for with the . NASA reports:
The STS-106 crew and Space Shuttle Atlantis have almost reached their objective, the International Space
Station. The crew has begun rendezvous operations as it prepares to dock with the station. Atlantis is
scheduled to dock with the station at 12:52 a.m. CDT, or 5:52 a.m. GMT, Sunday.
The five astronauts and two cosmonauts will be the first humans to visit the
station since the arrival of the Zvezda Service Module. While at the station,
the crew will perform a 6.5-hour space walk and prepare the station for the
arrival of its first permanent crew.
The crew were scheduled to wake up at 6:45PM EDT, beginning Flight Day 3.
The Sunday morning (Saturday night), but
is not
saying whether
will be .
Evening Mission Control Center Status .
Flight Day 2 highlights video (from The )
(or at ).
9 September 2000 - Shuttle Atlantis continues its on-orbit operations,
with the Space Station. NASA reports:
During its first full day in space, the crew of STS-106 prepared for Space Shuttle Atlantis' docking with the
International Space Station, which is slated for 12:52 a.m. CDT, or 5:32 GMT, Sunday.
Also, the astronauts and cosmonauts checked out the equipment and the spacesuits that will be used in Monday's
space walk. Today, flight controllers reported that one of Atlantis' two star trackers has failed.
The failure will have no impact on the rendezvous and docking with the station.
At the time of docking on Sunday, the space station and Atlantis will be over western Kazakhstan.
They will be located at 49.6 degrees north latitude and 57.1 degrees east longitude.
Overnight, requested that the faulty star tracker be
powered down, after several attempts to get it working failed. They assure that the
remaining one will be sufficient for this flight. Morning Mission Control Center Status
.
The was powered up, and put though its paces by Mission
Specialist .
8 September 2000 - UPDATE 11PM EDT - Atlantis blasted into space
today, on the 99th Shuttle mission (the third this year), .
Evening Mission Control Center Status .
KSC photos .
Videos
[requires , available for free]
and at .
After a flawless launch at
7:46 this morning, the Space Shuttle Atlantis began its 6600-statute-mile
orbital chase to catch the International Space Station where the crew will
undertake a full menu of outfitting tasks to prepare the station for its
permanent crew. Following the climb to orbit and initial on-orbit activities,
the Mission Control Center has settled into working normal operations without
any significant issues.
During their first full day
in space the crew will prepare for Sunday's rendezvous and docking with the
station and Monday's early-morning space walk by astronaut Ed Lu and cosmonaut
Yuri Malenchenko.
8 September - UPDATE 8PM EDT -
A "picture-perfect" launch , from Florida's Kennedy Space Center. It was a busy day for NASA
webmasters! Let's go back through the day's
events [all photos courtesy of NASA]:
Friday, 8PM EDT ()
Shuttle Atlantis launch successful Friday
Space Shuttle Atlantis headed to the International Space Station on Friday after
a successful 8:45 a.m. EDT launch. Docking with the Station is scheduled
Sunday. Atlantis is carrying two Marshall-sponsored microgravity experiments
to the Space Station. The Marshall Center is responsible for the Shuttle’s
Main Engines, External Tank, Solid Rocket Motors and Solid Rocket Boosters.
Friday, 3PM EDT
Atlantis to Dock with Space Station on Sunday
The crew of Space Shuttle Atlantis is on its way to the International Space Station. Docking is scheduled for shortly before 2 a.m. EDT Sunday, the third day of the 11-day mission. The primary job of the crew--Commander Terry Wilcutt, Pilot Scott Altman and Mission Specialists Ed Lu, Rick Mastracchio, Dan Burbank, Yuri Malenchenko and Boris Morukov--is to unload cargo and supplies in preparation for arrival of the first resident crew--Expedition One--in early November. They will also conduct a spacewalk and several experiments. You can
live on NASA Television and on your computer.
Friday, 1PM EDT - with
Space Shuttle Atlantis blasts off from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Atlantis and its seven-member crew are on their way to prepare the International Space Station for the arrival of its first permanent crew.
Atlantis is now in orbit and the payload bay doors are open.
CNN: .
Friday, mid-morning - with first
Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center, FL, this morning sending its crew on an 11-day mission to the International Space Station. The American and Russian crew will dock with the Station and transfer supplies and other equipment to the orbiting outpost in preparation for the arrival of the first permanent habitation crew, scheduled to arrive in November.
One spacewalk is planned to install a six-foot long magnetometer and a boom that will serve as a three-dimensional "compass" for the station, and connect telemetry, electrical, and communications cables.
Friday, 9AM
At 7:46 CDT, or 12:46 GMT, Space Shuttle Atlantis and its seven-member crew launched from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. STS-106 is now on its way to rendezvous and dock with the
on Sept. 10. While at the station, the five astronauts and two cosmonauts will prepare the station for the arrival of its first permanent crew, which is slated for early November. Atlantis is scheduled to open its payload bay doors today at 9:10 a.m. CDT, or 14:10 GMT.
CNN:
Friday, early morning - with
.
A new era in human space flight begins with the launch of STS-106, a mission to the International Space Station.
The five astronauts and two cosmonauts aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis will begin preparations necessary to declare the international outpost open for business.
While at the station, the crew will conduct a 6.5-hour space walk and unload supplies, unpack gear and hook up equipment in preparation for the
arrival of the station's first crew, Expedition 1.
Friday, early, early morning - with last night's
Launch preparations for STS-106, a mission to prepare the International Space Station for the arrival of its first permanent crew, remain on track.
The STS-106 flight crew was loaded onboard Atlantis at 5 a.m. CDT or, 10 GMT, and the hatch was closed by 5:40 a.m. CDT, or 10:40 GMT. Forecasts for today's scheduled launch at 7:46 a.m. CDT, or 12:46 GMT, indicate a 60-percent chance of favorable weather.
CNN: .
8 September - Launch Day! is due to lift off
at 8:45AM EDT, but is a
. NASA gives us
:
When Atlantis launches Friday
morning, the space station will be orbiting the Earth over Southwest Hungary
near the Croatian Border. The station will be at 46.34 degrees north latitude
and 17.59 degrees east longitude, which will place it 10,622 kilometers (6,600
miles) in front of the shuttle.
Watch the launch live on !
(Check schedule ).
Check out 's up-to-the-minute
,
and 's
live coverage. CNN has an STS-106
,
and
is following closely, too. NASA's countdown page is .
Pre-flight video clips available from .
Check back with us tonight for Flight Day highlights!
7 September 2000 - More on Tuesday's . that
the lightning arrestor system (a 100-ft-tall mast) did its job, and - unlike the at the runway, which damaged a navigation system (which was quickly
repaired). Atlantis yesterday, despite at the launch site.
Here is tonight's . NASA assures "All Systems Go for Shuttle Launch Friday Morning":
Friday's launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis begins an odyssey unique
in the history of human space flight. If all goes as planned, at 8:45 a.m. EDT
Friday, Sept. 8, five American astronauts and two Russian cosmonauts will
soar into orbit and begin preparations necessary to declare the
International Space Station -- the largest building in space -- open for
business. Space Shuttle mission STS-106 includes a six-and-a-half hour
spacewalk by Astronaut Ed Lu and Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko to a point 100
feet above the Shuttle's cargo bay, the farthest any tethered spacewalker
has ever ventured.
Watch streaming video on to see the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis Friday at 7:45 a.m. CDT [8:45AM
Eastern]. NASA TV's coverage begins at 2:30 a.m. CDT [3:30AM Eastern]. The is available online.
6 September 2000 - No damage . Shuttle Status
report . NASA states:
Launch preparations for STS-106, a mission to prepare the International Space
Station for the arrival of its first permanent crew, remain on track. The
Lightning Protection System at Launch Pad 39B was struck by lightning
Tuesday afternoon. The system did its job and no shuttle or ground support
systems were damaged. The weather did cause a delay in routine work at the
Pad. Wednesday, workers began loading fuel into Space Shuttle Atlantis at
11 a.m. CDT. Preliminary forecasts for Friday's scheduled launch at 7:45
a.m. CDT indicate a 60-percent chance of favorable weather.
also reported on this week's arrival of the , who will leave the empty for one of the last times:
An enthusiastic STS-106 astronaut crew flew
into Kennedy Space Center aboard T-38 jets at about 8:00 p.m. EDT on Labor
Day to make final preparations for their launch. The STS-106 mission to
the International Space Station is scheduled for launch aboard Space
Shuttle Atlantis on Friday, Sept. 8 at 8:45 a.m. EDT. The countdown to
launch began at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at the T-43 hour mark.
When the of the
finally arrive next month, they . That's life in orbit!
5 September 2000 - The
clock for
week's
of Shuttle Atlantis.
Shuttle Status report .
NASA states:
At Kennedy Space Center, Fla., preparations continue to go well for the launch of STS-106,
which will be the fourth shuttle mission to the International Space Station.
Tuesday morning, the launch countdown began for STS-106, a mission to prepare
the International Space Station for the arrival of its first permanent crew. The
Kennedy Space Center, Fla., launch team is making final preparations for Friday
morning's launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis, which is scheduled for 7:45 CDT. The
seven-member STS-106 crew arrived at KSC Monday night. According to preliminary
weather forecasts there is a 60 percent chance of favorable weather conditions
for Friday morning's launch.
4 September 2000 - Happy Labor Day! Now that the is ready for long-term habitation, NASA is is getting ready for a
to the Station. Three remain for this year, with more in quick succession
for years to come.
3 September 2000 - The for the launch of Shuttle
Atlantis - on mission STS-106 - . NASA has loaded (which were discovered to be at risk of fire
due to an oily residue in the emergency oxygen system) aboard Atlantis.
Lots of photos at .
2 September 2000 - Shuttle Discovery, set to launch next month, will remain in the gigantic Vehicle Assemble Building until after Atlantis' launch next week. This will
during Florida's unpredictable hurricane season.
NASA has for the to the International Space Station, set to launch on 8 Sep 2000.
1 September 2000 - NASA is prepping for next week's launch. Shuttle Status report
.
At Kennedy Space Center, Fla., preparations continue for STS-106, a mission that will
deliver supplies and outfit the International Space Station in preparation
for the arrival of the Expedition 1 crew. Workers finished solid rocket
booster closeouts on Space Shuttle Atlantis and installed the explosive
bolts at Launch Pad 39B. Wednesday, the space walk spacesuits were
installed into the Atlantis. Also, the orbiter's payload bay doors were
closed Wednesday night. The STS-106 flight crew is scheduled to arrive at
Kennedy Space Center on Monday, and the is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. CDT Tuesday.
announced that the next component, the
module, has at .
At 2:56 a.m. CDT, or 7:56 GMT, Space Shuttle Atlantis and
its seven-member crew landed at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., ending STS-106.
While in orbit, the STS-106 crew successfully prepared the International
Space Station for the arrival of the first permanent crew. The five
astronauts and two cosmonauts performed a space walk to connect power, data
and communications cables to the newly arrived Zvezda Service Module and the
station. The crew also delivered more than 2,993 kilograms (6,600 pounds) of
supplies and installed batteries, power converters, a toilet and a treadmill
on the station. STS-106, which launched Sept. 8, logged 7.9 million
kilometers (4.9 million miles).
[Last night,] the STS-106 crew installed
a treadmill in the Zvezda Service Module. The treadmill has a sophisticated
system that will prevent exercise-induced vibrations from disturbing
experiments that will be performed on the station. Also, the crew
reinstalled four Common Berthing Mechanism controllers in the port that
leads to the docking port that Atlantis is occupying. The astronauts and
cosmonauts continued the transfer of supplies. The STS-106 crew is slated to
leave the station Sunday.
The third in a series of four scheduled maneuvers to raise the station's orbit was performed during
Flight Day 7. STS-106 Commander Terry Wilcutt and Pilot Scott Altman fired Atlantis' thruster jets to raise the
station's orbit by 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles).
STS-106's five astronauts and two cosmonauts were busy with electronics and the transfer of supplies during Flight Day 6 as they continued to prepare the International Space Station for the arrival of the Expedition 1 crew. Mission Specialists Boris Morukov and Dan Burbank replaced a battery on the Zarya Control Module. They will replace a second battery Wednesday night. Mission Specialists Yuri Malenchenko and Ed Lu installed three batteries and associated electrical equipment on the Zvezda Service Module.