STS-102 (103)

Discovery (29)

Pad 39-B (47)

103rd Shuttle Mission

29th Flight OV-103

KSC Landing (54)

Night Landing (17)

NOTE: Click Here for Countdown Homepage

Crew:

James D. Wetherbee (5), Commander

James M. Kelly (1), Pilot

Andrew S. W. Thomas (3), Mission Specialist

Paul Richards (1), Mission Specialist

James S. Voss (5), ISS up

Susan J. Helms (5), ISS up

Yuriy V. Usachev (4), (Russia) ISS Up

William M. Shepherd (4), ISS down

Yuri P. Gidzenko (2), (Russia) ISS Down

Sergei K. Krikalev (5), (Russia/RSA) ISS Down

Milestones:

OPF -- 10/24/00 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/24/2000)

VAB -- 02/01/01 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/01/2001)

PAD -- 02/12/01 (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 2/12/2001)

Payload:

ISS-07/5A1 (MPLM-1)

Mission Objectives:

Click here for Additional Info on STS-102

STS-102 was the eighth shuttle mission to visit the International Space Station and served as a crew rotation flight. Space Shuttle Discovery delivered the Expedition Two crew to the station and returned the Expedition One crew to Earth. The primary cargo for the mission was the Leonardo Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM), which contains six racks for the U.S.Destiny Laboratory Module, which was delivered and installed onto the station during STS-98. The STS-102 crew installed Leonardo onto the International Space Station in order to unload its contents and then return it to Earth. Also, two space walks were conducted to complete assembly operations.

Mission Objectives for the first spacewalk have astronauts Susan Helms and Jim Voss moving the shuttle docking port to make room for the MPLM and attach the Lab Cradle Assembly to the top of the lab. The assembly will be used on STS-100 when the Canadian built Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) is atttached to the station. On the 2nd spacewalk, astronauts Andy Thomas and Paul Richards attach a stowage platform and coolant pump to the outside of the US Lab Destiny module.

Launch:

March 8, 2001, 6:42 a.m. EST at the begining of a 10 minute launch window.

Tanking operations began at 9:30 p.m. EST on March 7, 2001 and were completed by 2:45 a.m. EST. At 2:57 a.m., the crew departed the O&C building for Pad 39-B. At At 4:22 a.m EST the hatch was closed and locked for flight. Launch countdown proceeded smoothly. Liftoff at 6:42 a.m. EST

The launch countdown continues on schedule this morning leading toward a liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery at 6:42 a.m. on Thursday morning. The weather forecast remains unchanged with a 30% chance of not meeting the launch weather criteria due to cold temperatures. On Thursday, they will have a light snack at 1:45 a.m., then a weather briefing followed by suit up. Departure for Pad 39-B will occur at 2:55 a.m. and they will begin boarding Discovery just before 3:00 in the morning. The orbiter crew access hatch will be closed for launch at 4:40 a.m. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/07/2001)

On Sunday, March 4, the crew arrived at KSC and the countdown clock began at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 5. On March 6th, at Pad 39B the cryogenic reactants that Discovery will use to generate power during the mission were loaded onboard the vehicle. On Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. the gantry-like rotating service structure that provides the primary access and weather protection for the Space Shuttle at the pad will be retracted. Fueling of the external tank is scheduled to begin at 9:45 p.m. Wednesday. The astronauts will arrive at the launch pad at 3:20 a.m. on Thursday morning to begin boarding Discovery. Weather forecasters indicate a 30 percent chance of not meeting the launch weather criteria due to cold temperatures. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 3/06/2001)

On Thursday, January 25, 2001, In the OPF, technicians are closing out Discovery's forward, midbody and aft compartments in preparation to roll to the VAB next Thursday. Workers plan to close the payload bay doors today and begin orbiter weight and center of gravity tests next week. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 1/25/2001)

This launch was previously scheduled for no earlier than October 19, 2000, rescheduled to February 15, 2001 and then to March 1, 2001 at 4:24 p.m. EST. Due to the rollback of STS-98, the March 1st date was moved to March 8, 2001 at 7:00am.EST.

Orbit:

Altitude: 122nm

Inclination: 51.6 degrees

Orbits: 201

Duration: 12 days, 19 hours, 51 minutes, 57 seconds.

Distance: 5.3 Million miles

Hardware:

SRB:

SRM:

ET :

MLP : 3

SSME-1: SN-2048

SSME-2: SN-2053

SSME-3: SN-2045

Landing:

March 21, 2001 at 2:33:06 am EST (7:33:06 GMT) KSC Runway 15. The first landing opportunity of 1:56 a.m EST on March 21, 2001 was waived off due to weather concerns.

Main Gear Touchdown: 2:31:41 EST (MET: 12 days 19 hours 49min 32 sec)

Nose Gear Touchdown: 2:31:52 EST (MET: 12 days 19 hours 49min 43 sec)

Wheel Stop: 2:33:06 EST (MET: 12 days 19 hours 51min 57 sec)

Mission Highlights:

STS-102 Flight Day 1 Highlights:
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