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Landing coverage is at Part 7 of our Mission Journal.
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05 December - WAVE-OFF -
Make that
two
extra days in
space.
Thursday's landing
opportunities,
like yesterday's, have
also been waved
off due to
bad weather at the
primary landing site
(not to
mention the whole
East Coast). They are
trying to
avoid landing at the
backup site in
California,
thanks to the
cool million it costs to
ferry the orbiter
back to
KSC.
NASA reports:
Cloud Cover, Rain Force Wave Off; STS-113 to Try Landing Friday
 For
the second day in a row, unacceptable weather conditions at Kennedy
Space Center, Fla., forced NASA to wave off STS-113's two landing attempts
for today. The decision was due to low cloud ceilings and rain in the
vicinity of the Shuttle Landing Facility at KSC.
Space Shuttle Endeavour has two opportunities available in Florida on Friday.
The first is at [1:57PM EST/1857 GMT], with the deorbit burn occurring
at [12:51PM EST/1751 GMT]. The second opportunity begins with a deorbit
burn at [2:27PM EST/1931 GMT] ... culminating with a [3:33PM EST/2033 GMT]
landing. Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., will not be activated for Friday.
Friday's forecast calls for the chance of unacceptable cloud cover and rain. Flight
controllers and forecasters will continue to monitor the situation.
Flight
Day 11 videos are now available in the NASA Gallery.
-
05 December 2002 - Flight Day 13 - We don't expect the
Shuttle to
land this
afternoon, since the conditions that caused
yesterday's
wave-offs are no better today.
NASA reports:
STS-113 Looks to Thursday Landing
 Flight
controllers are carefully watching weather conditions at the
Kennedy Space Center today in the hopes of bringing Endeavour and its crew
of seven home this afternoon.
Current forecasts are not promising, with the possibility of
clouds, rain and thundershowers predicted at landing time. A final
decision on whether today's landing opportunities will be pursued, is
expected mid-morning.
Stay tuned...
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04 December 2002 - Wednesday Evening Update - Both
of today's landing opportunities have been waved
off. Tomorrow's weather doesn't look good either, but mission managers will
make a decision in the morning.
NASA reports:
Too Cloudy for Wednesday Landing; Focus Turns to Thursday
 The
crew of Endeavour will spend another 24 hours in space
after poor weather conditions at the Kennedy Space Center caused a
wave-off of today's landing opportunities.
NASA managers [had to cancel] STS-113's two landing opportunities for
Wednesday. The main culprit was increasing cloud cover.
Attention now turns to Space Shuttle Endeavour's two
opportunities at Kennedy on Thursday. However, the weather forecast for
Thursday is not favorable due to a weather system pushing in from the
northwest ... with rain showers and clouds expected in the vicinity of the
landing strip. STS-113's first opportunity Thursday is at [2:54PM EST/1954 GMT] on orbit 184, and the second is during orbit 185 at
[4:30PM EST/2130 GMT]. Forecasters and flight controllers will continue to
monitor the weather conditions at KSC.
 Flight controllers will receive a weather briefing about 8:15
a.m. central [9:15AM EST/1415 GMT] Thursday to review forecasts before deciding whether to
proceed with landing preparations.
The STS-113 crew will awaken just before 5 a.m. central time [6:00AM EST/1100 GMT] Thursday.
With a landing tomorrow, the Expedition Five crew will have spent 183 days in space.
Watch the Expedition 6 crew
light the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller
Center tonight!
-
04 December - First Wave-Off - No-go on the first
landing opportunity.
NASA reports:
First Landing Attempt Waved; STS-113 to try Second Opportunity
 The threat of cloud cover forced NASA managers to wave off STS-113's first
landing attempt for today at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Attention now
turns to Space Shuttle Endeavour's second opportunity of the day. If it is
selected, the de-orbit burn will occur during orbit 170 at [4:19PM EST/2119 GMT]
and landing at [5:26PM EST/2226 GMT].
Forecasters and flight controllers are continuing to monitor the
weather conditions at KSC.
If the second opportunity is waved off, efforts will turn toward
two opportunities that exist for a landing in Florida on Thursday.
Endeavour has enough supplies to remain in orbit until Sunday if necessary.
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04 December - Afternoon Update - We should hear a go/no go
decision by about 2:30PM EST/1930 GMT for the deorbit burn to
bring Endeavour
home.
NASA reports:
STS-113
to Return Home
 The
16th shuttle mission to the International Space Station will conclude
today with a landing in Florida, weather permitting. Two landing
opportunities are available to STS-113 at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The
first is at [3:48PM EST/2048 GMT], with the deorbit burn occurring at [2:41PM
EST/1941 GMT]. The second would begin with a deorbit burn at [4:20PM
EST/2120 GMT] and end with a landing at [5:26PM EST/2226 GMT].
Forecasts call for a 70-percent chance of favorable weather for
landing today. The main concerns are cloud cover and rain within the
vicinity of KSC. The flight control team and forecasters will continue to
monitor the situation.
Flight
Day 10 pics are now available in the NASA Gallery.
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04 December 2002 - LANDING DAY? - Flight Day 12 should see Endeavour
end its journey - if
weather at Florida's Kennedy Space Center cooperates.
NASA reports:
STS-113 to
Return to Earth Today
 Flight
controllers remain cautiously optimistic that weather
conditions in Florida will support Endeavour's planned return to the
Kennedy Space Center today.
Endeavour is slated to land at 2:48 p.m. central time [3:48PM
EST/2048 GMT] today, weather permitting. The primary concern is with cloud
cover in the vicinity of the landing site. Entry Flight Director Wayne
Hale will receive updated weather predictions throughout the day.
Check the play-by-play links at
top right for up-to-the-minute commentary, and follow the
action live on NASA TV!
-
03 December 2002 - Evening Update - Hope they packed umbrellas on the Space Shuttle, 'cause it's rainy
where they're going!
Today, Flight Day 11, should
have been the
last full day in space for the
returning Endeavour crew, but
landing conditions look iffy.
NASA reports:
Crewmembers Prepare for Landing
 In
their final scheduled full day in space, the seven crewmembers aboard
Space Shuttle Endeavour prepared for landing. They stowed equipment and
prepared the orbiter for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
Weather forecasts call for a chance of cloud cover and rain in
the vicinity of KSC at landing time.
 Stay
tuned to our
live landing coverage as Endeavour returns to KSC, concluding
mission STS-113! This is also your last chance to test your knowledge with
our Mission Quiz!
Watch
NASA TV on Wednesday to see coverage of STS-113's return to Earth.
Space Shuttle Endeavour is slated to land at 2:48 p.m. CST [3:48PM
EST/2048 GMT], ending Expedition Five's six-month stay in space.
Flight
Day 10 videos are now available in the NASA Gallery.
-
03 December - Afternoon Update - Will the weather
cooperate for Endeavour's landing
tomorrow?
NASA reports:
Crewmembers
to Prepare for Landing
In their final scheduled full day in space, the seven crewmembers aboard
Space Shuttle Endeavour will prepare for landing. They will stow equipment
and prepare the orbiter for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
Returning home will be STS-113 Commander Jim Wetherbee, Pilot
Paul Lockhart, Mission Specialists Mike Lopez-Alegria and John Herrington;
Expedition Five Commander Valery Korzun, NASA ISS Science Officer Peggy
Whitson and Flight Engineer Sergei Treschev.
 Aboard
the International Space Station, the Expedition Six crew
will spend its first full day alone settling in to their new home.
Commander Ken Bowersox, Flight Engineer Nikolai Budarin and NASA ISS
Science Officer Don Pettit will unpack items that arrived on the station
during STS-113.
Endeavour is slated to return to Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on
Wednesday. The first of two landing opportunities is available at [3:48PM EST/2048 GMT],
with the de-orbit burn occurring at [2:42PM EST/1742 GMT]. Endeavour's second opportunity Wednesday is at
[5:26PM EST/2226 GMT], with the de-orbit burn at [4:20PM EST/2120 GMT].
Preliminary forecasts for Wednesday's ... landing show a slight chance of showers
or thunderstorms in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Center.
Flight Controllers are cautiously optimistic
that weather will support an on-time landing for Endeavour and its returning crew.
-
03 December 2002 - Flight Day 11 -
Today,
Tuesday, will be spent checking out
Endeavour's landing systems
in preparation for the
return to Earth this
Wednesday (weather permitting).
NASA reports:
Endeavour Undocks, Begins Journey Home
 The
International Space Station [has changed] hands again. Expedition Six
crew — Ken Bowersox, Nikolai Budarin and Don Pettit — [took] residence in
their new home away from home as they bid farewell to the Expedition Five
and STS-113 crews on Monday. Space Shuttle Endeavour will return to Earth
with the Microgravity Science Glovebox which experienced trouble with its
power distribution and conversion box.
The STS-113 crew delivered the
P1 (P-One)
Truss to the station and performed three spacewalks to activate and
outfit the new component. Also, more than 1,134 kilograms (2,500 pounds)
of cargo were transferred between the shuttle and station. Endeavour
delivered the
Expedition Six crew to the station and is returning Expedition Five
Commander Valery Korzun, Flight Engineer Sergei Treschev and NASA ISS
Science Officer Peggy Whitson to Earth.
Watch
NASA TV on Tuesday at 2 p.m. CST [3PM EST/2000 GMT] to see STS-113 and
Expedition Five crew participate in interviews with CBS' "Up to the
Minute, TV-E of Spain and the Tulsa World newspaper.
Stay tuned...
-
02 December 2002 - Evening Update -
Endeavour is
undocked from
Space Station Alpha, and
heading home.
NASA reports:
Endeavour Undocks from ISS
 The
STS-113 and
Expedition Five crews began their journey home Monday when Space
Shuttle Endeavour undocked from the International Space Station ...
leaving behind the Expedition Six crew to begin its on-orbit stay.
Undocking occurred at [3:05PM EST/2005 GMT] as the two spacecraft flew
over northwestern Australia.
As [the orbiter] slowly backed away from the station, Expedition
Six Commander Ken Bowersox rang the ship's bell aboard the station and
announced ENDEAVOUR, DEPARTING. As Bowersox and his crewmates, Nikolai
Budarin and Don Pettit, settle into their new home, Endeavour's crew will
turn its attention to a return trip to Earth, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
 [Also
today], the STS-113 crew released two
miniature satellites as part of the MEMS-based PICOSAT Inspector, or MEPSI,
experiment. The satellites, which are tethered, will fly for three days to
demonstrate the launcher assembly and the use of micro technologies in space.
Endeavour is scheduled to touch down at Kennedy Space Center,
Fla., at [3:48PM EST/2048 GMT] Wednesday. Early forecasts call for a
threat of thunderstorms and rain in the vicinity of the landing facility Wednesday.
The
STS-113 Landing Ground Tracks for Wednesday are available.
Flight
Day 9 videos are now available in the NASA Gallery.
-
02 December - Afternoon Update - The hatches are closed and the two spacecraft are
going to separate
this afternoon.
NASA reports:
STS-113 to Undock Today
 The
STS-113 and Expedition Five crews will begin their journey home today after Space
Shuttle Endeavour undocks from the International Space Station. Undocking
is slated to occur at 2:05 p.m. CST [3:05PM EST/2005 GMT] today as the two spacecraft fly over
Western Australia.
The last hatch connecting [the orbiter] to the International Space Station
was closed and secured at 11:57 a.m. central time [12:57PM EST/1757 GMT] today,
concluding almost one week of joint operations between the crews.
 Endeavour
spent a total of six days 18 hours 26 minutes docked to the space station, with hatches open, to
allow the 10 astronauts and cosmonauts to work together.
STS-113 delivered the fourth component of the station's 11-piece
Integrated Truss Structure. The crew performed three spacewalks to
activate and outfit the new component. Also, more than 1,134 kilograms
(2,500 pounds) of cargo were transferred between the shuttle and station.
Flight
Day 8 videos are now available in the NASA Gallery.
-
02 December 2002 - Flight Day 10 -
Today will see Endeavour
part ways with the
International Space Station.
Everyone is
packed up and
ready to go - except the new
ISS crew, Expedition
Six - they'll be staying behind for another
4 months or so.
NASA reports:
STS-113
Prepares to Leave ISS
 The crew of Endeavour is scheduled to be awakened at 6:50 a.m. CST
[7:50AM EST/1250 GMT] and the Expedition Six crew aboard the International
Space Station is scheduled to awaken at 7:20 a.m. [8:20AM EST/1320 GMT].
Expedition Five Commander Valery Korzun, Flight Engineer Sergei Treschev
and NASA ISS Science Officer Peggy Whitson will depart the International Space Station
for the final time today. Along with the STS-113 crew, they will bid farewell
to the Expedition Six crew before the hatches are closed between the station and
Space Shuttle Endeavour about 11:15 a.m. CST [12:15PM EST/1715 GMT].
A new NASA TV schedule is now available -
Rev. J
See last night's entry for
today's events. Pilot
Paul Lockhart will only
fly a quarter-lap around the
ISS after
undocking
today, since more
propellant
than usual was needed
for raising the Station
over the course of the
mission.
Check the play-by-play links at
top right for
up-to-the-minute commentary, and follow the
action live on NASA TV!.
Here's the latest profile:
Earlier coverage is at Part 5 of our Mission Journal.
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