STS-110 Mission Journal  

STS-110 Mission Journal - Part 2

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NASA photo of STS-110 liftoff

Shuttle Atlantis has launched on mission STS-110 to Space Station Alpha!


(Left): Atlantis roars into the Florida sky to begin mission STS-110.

NASA image of STS-110 Insignia
The mission patch is shaped like a cross-section of the S0 Truss that will be installed on the International Space Station.


  • 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
    Atlantis crewman Steve Smith with ISS skipper Yuri Onufrienko aboard the Space Station. NASA photo.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.


  • 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.
    An astronaut (either Smith or Walheim) waves to the camera from inside the International Space Station Quest Airlock just before the start of STS-110's first spacewalk. NASA image.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.


  • 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
    NASA image of spacewalker Steve Smith
    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

  • 11 April 2002 - Four EVAs are planned for this mission, and we're getting right down to business with the first one this morningNASA reports:

    STS-110 Astronauts to Perform First Spacewalk
    NASA photo of Rex Walheim on the aft flight deck of AtlantisThe 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.

 

  • 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
    STS-110 Commander Michael Bloomfield, left, and Expedition Four Commander Yury Onufrienko. NASA image.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.


  • 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
    Another NASA photo of STS-110 Commander Mike Bloomfield 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.
    NASA TV image of Space Shuttle Atlantis approaching the ISS. The S0 Truss can be seen in the open payload bay.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.


  • 10 April 2002 - Docking Day - Atlantis will dock with the ISS shortly after noon EDT today. NASA reports:

    Atlantis to Dock with Station
    STS-110 Commander Mike Bloomfield is at the controls of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Wednesday during an engine burn to refine the orbiter's approach to the Interntional Space Station. NASA image.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.

 

  • 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
    LIFTOFF! Two Solid Rocket Boosters and three new Space Shuttle Main Engines propel Atlantis towards her goal. NASA Photo Number: KSC-02PP-0479As 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.


  • 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 leaves a twisted contrail behind as it roars toward Earth orbit. NASA photo.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).


  • 09 April 2002 - Flight Day 2 begins, with Atlantis speeding towards a rendezvous with the International Space StationNASA 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.
    NASA image of STS-110 LaunchAtlantis 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!).

 

  • 08 April 2002 - Evening Update - Flight Day 1 draws to a closeNASA reports:

    STS-110 Launches, Heads to Space Station
    The Solid Rocket Boosters separate from the External Tank as Space Shuttle Atlantis heads to space. NASA image. 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.


  • 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
    NASA image of STS-110 LaunchAfter 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.


  • 08 April - Afternoon Update - At the launchpad, winds are high, but within acceptable limitsNASA reports:

    Launch Preparations Continue
    The STS-110 crew at the traditional Launch Day breakfast. NASA photo KSC-02PD-0438Shortly 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).


  • 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
    Shuttle Atlantis is bathed in the high-intensity lights of Launch pad 39B last Wednesday. NASA Photo KSC-02PD-0392.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.

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