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Coverage of Atlantis' flight continues at Part 3
of the STS-110 Mission Journal.
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11 April 2002 - Evening Update - We've wrapped up Flight
Day 4 with a major step towards the
expansion of Space Station Alpha.
NASA reports:
Crew
Completes First Spacewalk
The STS-110 crew began the process of permanently attaching the S0
(S-Zero) Truss onto the International Space Station during its first
spacewalk. Mission Specialists Steve Smith and Rex Walheim wrapped up the
7-hour, 48-minute excursion at 5:24 p.m. CDT [6:24PM EDT/2224 GMT] Thursday.
Smith and Walheim bolted the forward struts that will hold the S0 in place.
They also attached an avionics tray onto the S0. The truss is the first
component of a 350-foot long structural backbone for the station.
The next spacewalk is slated for Saturday and will be performed by Ross and
Mission Specialist Lee Morin. Among the tasks that Ross and Morin will perform is
the bolting of the final two struts that will hold the S0 in place.
Watch NASA
TV on Friday to see the STS-110 and Expedition Four crews participate in
interviews with MSNBC, CBS Radio Network-Newspath and WWJ-TV of Detroit, Michigan.
NASA TV Schedule
Smith and Walheim hit some
minor snags along the way, causing today's spacewalk
to run
long, but the EVA was definitely a success.
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11 April 2002 - Afternoon Update - Flight Day 4
continues, with EVA
#1 in progress.
NASA reports:
First Spacewalk Under Way
The STS-110 crew is conducting the mission's first spacewalk today.
Mission Specialists Steve Smith and Rex Walheim began the excursion at
9:36 a.m. CDT [10:36AM EDT/1436 GMT]. The spacewalk is slated to end about 4 p.m. CDT
[5PM EDT/2100 GMT] and is based out of the International
Space Station's Quest Airlock.
The
objective of the spacewalk is to begin the permanent attachment of the S0
(S-Zero) Truss onto the station's Destiny Laboratory Module. Smith and
Walheim will bolt the forward struts that will hold the S0 in place.
Another objective is the attachment of an avionics tray onto the S0.
Prior to the start of the spacewalk, STS-110 Mission Specialist
Ellen Ochoa, with assistance from Expedition Four Flight Engineer Dan
Bursch, used the station's robot arm to temporarily attach the S0 to
Destiny. Ochoa and Bursch are also commanding the station's robot arm to
support the spacewalkers. STS-110 Commander Mike Bloomfield and Pilot
Steve Frick are operating Space Shuttle Atlantis' robot arm. STS-110
Mission Specialist Jerry Ross will coordinate spacewalk activities.
Flight
Day 3 videos and images are now available in the NASA Gallery.
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11 April - Morning Update - The first spacewalk has
started, with astronauts Smith and
Walheim venturing outside the
Space
Station's airlock to begin permantly attaching the S-Zero Truss to the orbital outpost.
NASA reports:
First STS-110 Spacewalk Under Way
Steve
Smith and Rex Walheim placed their suits on internal battery power at 9:36
a.m. Central time [10:36AM EDT/1436 GMT] this morning to begin the first of four
spacewalks to electrically and structurally mate the new S0 (S-Zero) Truss
to the Destiny Laboratory of the International Space Station.
The spacewalk out of the Quest Airlock began after Ellen Ochoa
successfully latched the 13 1/2 ton truss to a capture device at the top
of Destiny this morning at 8:46 central time [9:46 EDT/1336 GMT].
Smith and Walheim will attach two of four struts on the truss to
Destiny and attach power cables from the U.S. Lab to the S-Zero to begin
to bring it to life. The other two struts will be attached to the Lab tomorrow
by Jerry Ross and Lee Morin during the second spacewalk of the mission.
Watch NASA
TV today to see coverage of STS-110's first spacewalk. Mission
Specialists Steve Smith and Rex Walheim are scheduled to wrap up the
excursion about 4 p.m. CDT [5PM EDT/2100 GMT].
NASA TV Schedule
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11 April 2002 - Four EVAs are planned for this mission,
and we're getting right down to business with the first one
this morning.
NASA reports:
STS-110
Astronauts to Perform First Spacewalk
The crews on board Atlantis and the International Space Station
awoke at 3:44 a.m. central time [4:44AM EDT/0844 GMT] today, with the main
focus of today's activities a planned 6 1/2 hour spacewalk by Steve Smith
and Rex Walheim.
Prior to the start of the spacewalk, STS-110 Mission Specialist
Ellen Ochoa, with assistance from Expedition Four Flight Engineer Dan
Bursch, will use the station's robot arm to temporarily attach the S0 to
Destiny. During the spacewalk, Ochoa and Bursch will command the station's
robot arm and STS-110 Commander Mike Bloomfield and Pilot Steve Frick will
operate Space Shuttle Atlantis' robot arm. STS-110 Mission Specialist
Jerry Ross will coordinate spacewalk activities.
Smith and Walheim will bolt the forward struts into place to
permanently attach the truss and begin connecting cables that provide
power to the S0 truss equipment and heaters. Another objective is the
attachment of an avionics tray onto the S0.
The first of STS-110's four EVAs will begin at about 11AM EDT today, after Atlantis
astronaut Ellen Ochoa works the Space Station's
robot arm, "Canadarm2,"
and grapples the 43-foot-long S-Zero Truss to take it out of the
Shuttle's
Payload Bay and place it temporarily
into a receiving claw on the Station's Destiny module.
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10 April 2002 - Evening Update - Flight Day 3 is
complete. The crew of
Space
Station Alpha welcomed their
first visitors as the
hatches between them and
Atlantis opened today.
NASA reports:
Expedition Four Welcomes STS-110 Crew
Hatches
swung open between Atlantis and the International Space
Station today, enabling the residents of the orbiting outpost to greet
their first visitors since they arrived on the ISS last December.
The hatches were opened between the two craft at 1:07 p.m.
Central time [2:07PM EDT/1807 GMT], and the ten shuttle and station crew members greeted one
another in the station's Destiny Laboratory. After a short safety
orientation session, the crew got down to work, running through a dress
rehearsal of robotic arm procedures which will be used tomorrow to move
the large S0 (S-Zero) Truss structure from Atlantis' payload bay for
mating to a capture device at the top of Destiny.
The joint phase of the flight got underway following a flawless
docking executed earlier today by Commander Mike Bloomfield, who guided
Atlantis to a linkup with the ISS at 11:05 a.m. Central time [12:05PM
EDT/1605 GMT].
The two crews are scheduled to begin an eight-hour sleep period at 7:44
this evening [8:44PM EDT Wednesday/0044 GMT Thursday], and will wake up at 3:44 Thursday morning
[4:44AM EDT/0844 GMT] to begin S-Zero
operations and the first of four spacewalks to electrically and structurally
mate the truss to Destiny.
Flight
Day 2 videos are now available in the NASA Gallery.
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10 April - Afternoon Update - Docked! - Atlantis and the
ISS are now linked
up, and the hatches between the two will open shortly.
NASA reports:
STS-110 Arrives at Space Station
Atlantis gently docked with the International Space Station this morning
over southern China, setting the stage for the installation of a 13 1/2
ton truss structure to the complex and the ultimate expansion of the ISS
to the length of a football field.
Commander Mike Bloomfield nestled Atlantis to a linkup with the
forward docking port of the station's Destiny Laboratory at 11:05 a.m.
Central time [12:05PM EDT/1605 GMT] as the two vehicles sailed over the Earth at an altitude of
240 statute miles. The docking culminated a textbook rendezvous executed
by Bloomfield and Pilot Steve Frick.
After
hatches are opened between Atlantis and the ISS this afternoon shortly
after 1 p.m. [2PM EDT/1600 GMT], the shuttle crew and the Expedition Four crew will go to
work, transferring supplies and running through a dress rehearsal of the
station robotic arm procedures which will be used tomorrow by Ellen Ochoa
to unberth the S0 (S-Zero) Truss from Atlantis' cargo bay and mate it to a
capture device at the top of Destiny. The first of four spacewalks will
follow by Steve Smith and Rex Walheim to begin to electrically and
structurally mate the new truss to Destiny.
Flight
Day 1 videos and Flight
Day 2 pics are now available in the NASA Gallery.
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10 April 2002 - Docking Day - Atlantis will dock with
the ISS shortly after noon EDT today.
NASA reports:
Atlantis
to Dock with Station
Shuttle
Atlantis and its seven astronauts are scheduled to conclude their pursuit
of the International Space Station by docking with the orbital outpost at
11:06 a.m. CDT (1606 GMT) today. STS-110 is delivering the S0 (S-Zero)
Truss to the station. The STS-110 and Expedition Four crews will spend a
week in joint operations.
Following
docking, Atlantis' astronauts are slated to enter the station about 1:04
CDT (1604 GMT) today. The two crews will spend time this afternoon
reviewing plans for the S0's installation and STS-110's first of four
spacewalks. They will also perform a rehearsal of the installation
procedures with the station's robotic arm.
If docking occurs as scheduled, the two spacecraft will be
flying over south-central China. Watch NASA
TV today to see coverage of STS-110's arrival at the International
Space Station. Space Shuttle Atlantis is slated to dock with the station
at 11:06 a.m. CDT (1606 GMT). Then, the hatches between the two spacecraft
will be opened about 1:04 p.m. CDT [2:04PM EDT/1804 GMT].
NASA TV Schedule
Watch NASA
TV for live coverage of the docking and hatch opening, and check the play-by-play links at top
right for up-to-the-minute status.
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09 April 2002 - Evening Update - Flight Day 2 is over.
Tomorrow will see Atlantis dock with the International Space
Station, where
Expedition 4 will receive their first visitors since they began their
tour 4 months
ago.
NASA reports:
Atlantis
Closes in on ISS
As
Space Shuttle Atlantis continued to chase the International Space Station,
the seven STS-110 astronauts spent Tuesday preparing for rendezvous and
docking with the station and the mission's four spacewalks. Activities for
the day included checking spacesuits, setting up television cameras and
powering up Atlantis' robot arm. Also, Commander Mike Bloomfield and Pilot Steve
Frick fired the shuttle's engines to refine its closing rate on the station.
Atlantis is scheduled to dock with the space station
at 11:06 a.m. CDT [12:06PM EDT/1606 GMT] Wednesday. STS-110's primary payload
is the S0 (S-Zero) Truss -- the centerpiece of the ISS' external framework.
While at the station, the STS-110 crew will install the S0.
More launch day video
clips are up at KSC.
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09 April - Afternoon Update - Catching up to the
Space
Station after yesterday's launch, Atlantis
will dock tomorrow.
NASA reports:
STS-110 Crew Prepare for
Arrival at ISS
Atlantis' astronauts spent a relatively quiet day in orbit
checking out their spacesuits, rendezvous tools, the shuttle's robotic arm
and other equipment in preparation for the orbiter's planned docking
tomorrow with the International Space Station.
With all systems operating perfectly on board, the astronauts
worked their way through a busy timeline in advance of their scheduled
linkup with the ISS Wednesday at 11:06 a.m. Central time as the two craft
fly over south central China.
Aboard the station, the Expedition Four crew prepared for the
arrival of their first visitors since their launch back in December by
completing some maintenance work and tidying up their outpost for Atlantis' crew.
Docking with the ISS is scheduled for tomorrow at 12:06PM EDT (1606 GMT).
Check out these Launch
Photos (showing heavy security).
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09 April 2002 - Flight Day 2 begins, with Atlantis
speeding towards a rendezvous with the
International Space
Station.
NASA reports:
Expedition
Four Waits For Atlantis
As Space Shuttle Atlantis continues to chase the International Space
Station, the seven STS-110 astronauts will spend Tuesday preparing for
rendezvous and docking with the station and the mission's four spacewalks.
Activities for the day include checking spacesuits, setting up television
camera and powering up Atlantis' robot arm. Also, Commander Mike
Bloomfield and Pilot Steve Frick will fire the shuttle's engines later
this afternoon to refine its closing rate on the station.
Atlantis
is scheduled to dock with the space station at 11:06 a.m. CDT [12:06PM
EDT/1606 GMT] Wednesday. STS-110's primary payload is the S0 (S-Zero)
Truss - the centerpiece of the ISS' external framework. While the station,
the STS-110 crew will install the S0.
Watch NASA
TV at 10:44 a.m. CDT [11:44AM EDT/1544 GMT] today to see STS-110
Mission Specialists Ellen Ochoa and Jerry Ross participate in interviews
with the Associated Press and WISH-TV and WTHR-TV of Indianapolis, Ind.
With his 7th launch, Atlantis crewman Jerry Ross breaks the record of for most
space missions (and ties John
Young's record for most
liftoffs). Ross will also add 2 EVAs to his already-US-record 7
spacewalks (hey, this guy gets around!).
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08 April 2002 - Evening Update - Flight Day 1 draws to a
close.
NASA reports:
STS-110 Launches, Heads
to Space Station
After successfully reaching orbit today, Atlantis' astronauts opened the
ship's payload bay doors, deployed the shuttle's KU-band communications
antenna and began to set up equipment they will use during their mission to deliver
the S0 (S-Zero) truss structure to the International Space Station.
After their flawless launch, the astronauts geared up for an
eight-hour sleep period, beginning at 8:44 p.m. Central time tonight. Once
they are awakened tomorrow just before 5 a.m. Central time, the crew will
begin preparations for Wednesday's docking to the ISS, testing the
Shuttle's robot arm, the spacesuits which will be worn by two teams of
spacewalkers during four excursions to mate and activate the S0 Truss to
the Destiny Laboratory and other rendezvous tools which will be used to
enable Atlantis to approach the station for linkup around 11:11 a.m.
Central time on Wednesday.
With the successful launch, Mission Specialist Jerry Ross set the record
for the most space flights by a human. This is Ross' seventh trip into space.
Launch
videos and Flight
Day 1 images are now available in the NASA Gallery.
More videos
and photos
at KSC.
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08 April - LIFTOFF! - Shuttle Atlantis roared into
orbit near the end of its launch
window, at
4:44PM EDT today. A last-minute computer glitch nearly caused a scrub, but
the software was
reloaded, and the 7 astronauts rode a column of flame into
space.
NASA reports:
STS-110
Heads for Station
After
three days of repairs to its launch pad and a late computer
glitch, the Space Shuttle Atlantis is headed for its Wednesday rendezvous
with the International Space Station. The shuttle lifted off on mission
STS-110 at approximately 4:45 p.m. EDT Monday. Launch controllers held the
countdown with 5 minutes to go while they reloaded launch software that
had given them erroneous readings. Once the software was reloaded the
count proceeded. Ground crews had spent the weekend welding and testing a
hydrogen vent pipe on the side of the shuttle's mobile launch pad. A leak
in the pipe prevented a launch attempt last Thursday.
STS-110 is delivering the S0 (S-Zero) Truss to the orbital outpost.
The S0 is the first of nine pieces that will serve as the station's exterior framework.
The crew will perform four spacewalks to install the S0 onto the station
and install the Mobile Transporter onto the S0. This will be the 13th
shuttle mission to visit the station.
Launch
video and photos are now available
at The Houston
Chronicle.
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08 April - Afternoon Update - At the launchpad, winds
are high, but within acceptable
limits. NASA reports:
Launch Preparations Continue
Shortly after 11 a.m. CDT, the crew of Atlantis is receiving a final
weather briefing on conditions surrounding the Kennedy Space Center and at
the Trans-Atlantic Abort Landing (TAL) sites.
Atlantis' external tank is now full of its liquid hydrogen fuel
and liquid oxygen oxidizer. Fueling was completed about 9:45 a.m. CDT, and
the fuel levels in the tanks are being maintained in what is known as the
stable replenish mode.
In just a few minutes, the seven astronauts will begin putting
on their partial pressure launch and landing suits. They are scheduled to
depart for the launch pad at 11:48 a.m. CDT, and begin getting into their
seats aboard Atlantis about 12:18 p.m. CDT.
Note: CDT (Central Daylight Time) is one hour behind Florida's EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) and five
hours behind GMT (Greenwich Mean Time, AKA Universal Time).
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08 April 2002 - Launch Day - Tanking operations are underway,
and the countdown continues
towards today's
4:39PM EDT liftoff, but
high winds may force
another scrub. The fuel-up should be complete
at around 10:20AM EDT. NASA reports:
STS-110 Launch Set for Monday
Tanking of the Space Shuttle Atlantis began at 7:18 a.m. EDT in
preparation for a 4:40 p.m. launch to the International Space Station.
There is still a 40 percent chance of weather prohibiting launch due to
strong low-level winds at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Watch NASA
TV to see coverage of STS-110's launch at 3:40 p.m. CDT [4:40PM EDT/2040 GMT]
Monday, with coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. CDT [1:30PM EDT/1730 GMT].
NASA TV Schedule
Watch NASA
TV for live coverage of launch preparations, and check the play-by-play links at top
right for up-to-the-minute status.
For preflight reports, see Part 1
of the STS-110 Mission Journal.
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