SPACE.com -- STS-108 Mission Update Archive


	STS-108 Mission Update Archive By Jim Banke Senior Producer, posted: 06:30 pm ET 17 December 2001

Managers approve mission extension
Update for Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2001 at 10:20 a.m.

NASA's Mission Management Team has just concluded a morning gathering in which they have officially approved a one-day extension to Endeavour's stay at the International Space Station, according to Kennedy Space Center spokesman Bruce Buckingham.

Landing is now targeted for Monday, Dec. 17, at 1:03 p.m. EST, about two days after the shuttle is to undock on Saturday.

The extra day was made possible by conserving supplies and electricity aboard shuttle Endeavour. The extra day will allow the crews a little more time to finish their stowing and packing, as well as replace an exercise treadmill on the outpost that is beginning to wear out.

Later today, the 10 humans now in space will gather in the Destiny science laboratory for a formal change-in-command ceremony in which Yuri Onufrienko will take command of the space station from Frank Culbertson.

That event is scheduled for 3:48 p.m. EST, just moments after the conclusion of the crew news conference, which is scheduled for 3:04 p.m. EST. Both events will be broadcast on NASA TV.

The work day in space is scheduled to end at 11:19 p.m. EST.

Stay tuned to this page for updates and new stories throughout the day.

Transfer ops continue
Update for Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2001 at 8:30 a.m.

While it is true that not every day of every space mission can include high profile spacewalks, dockings, ceremonies or other space spectaculars, it shouldn't be possible yet in the still-relatively-brief history of space exploration for there to be a dull day in orbit.

Today and tomorrow, however, will challenge even the most ardent space fans to find something exciting about what's scheduled for the astronauts and cosmonauts aboard shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station.

While still an impressive achievement just to be up there -- and can you even begin to imagine what kind of incredible view there is out the window -- how interesting is it to read that the crew will be spending all day today and tomorrow stowing gear brought up by Endeavour and packing the Raffaello supply module with luggage, unneeded equipment and trash for the return to Earth?

Not exactly the stuff that inspires kids to grow up and become astronauts.

But that's OK. As humans move into space to live and work for longer periods of time, the everyday tasks we don't think twice about doing on the ground are quickly becoming the everyday tasks we don't think twice about in space. And that's as it should be.

So, sure, it's going to be a quiet couple of days in space. But don't say it's boring.

New commander on deck
Update for Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001 at 8:30 a.m.

With the late George Harrison's tune "Here Comes the Sun" playing as this morning's wake up song at the exact moment Endeavour and the International Space Station was flying into an orbital sunrise, NASA officially began Flight Day 9 of the STS-108 mission at 8:17 a.m. EST.

Today's schedule is very similar to yesterday's: Perform some maintenance on space station equipment, stow the supplies carried up into orbit inside the Raffaello cargo module and re-pack the Italian moving van with baggage and trash for the return to Earth.

Another opportunity for an emotional moment in space is currently on the NASA TV schedule for 4:09 p.m. EST today when Expedition Three commander Frank Culbertson is to ceremonially turn command of space station Alpha over to Expedition Four commander Yuri Onufrienko. That event was previously scheduled for Tuesday but was delayed at the last minute.

Officially the two station expedition crews swapped places the day after Endeavour docked to the outpost, but this ceremony -- filled with nautical tradition -- is an important symbol for the participants in the station program, both in space and on the ground.

Stay tuned to this page for any changes or updates to the mission today.

Raffaello heading back to cargo bay
Update for Friday, Dec. 14, 2001 at 9 a.m.

One way to look at today's events in space is that they mark the beginning of the end for Endeavour's STS-108 mission.

Today the 10 astronauts and cosmonauts are to detach the Raffaello module from the Unity node of the space station and place it back inside Endeavour's cargo bay, where it will be returned to Earth. The shuttle's robot arm will be the principal tool for the job.

The schedule calls for Raffaello's hatch to be closed a final time at 10:59 a.m. EST. Endeavour's arm is then to grapple the Italian moving van at 2:19 p.m. EST, move it away from the Unity node at 4:09 p.m. EST and have the module safely berthed in the shuttle's cargo bay at 4:39 p.m. EST.

Once complete, it's essentially all down hill from there as Endeavour is scheduled to undock from the station on Saturday, complete a routine series of pre-landing checks on Sunday and then make the hour-long dive back into Earth's atmosphere aiming for a Monday touchdown.

Stay tuned to this page for updates on the day's activity.

Cargo module grappled
Update for Friday, Dec. 14, 2001 at 2:30 p.m.

The joint station and shuttle crews are methodically working through their schedule to return the Raffaello supply module to Endeavour's cargo bay this afternoon.

Although the crew was a little behind the timeline in getting the Italian module's hatches closed, all is going well now as Endeavour pilot Mark Kelly has just moved the shuttle's robot arm to grapple Raffaello, grabbing hold at 2:23 p.m. EST.

Inside the station, the area between Raffaello's hatch and the Unity node's hatch is being depressurized. A leak check will follow and then a 'go' will be given to remove the canister from the station and lower it into the shuttle's payload bay.

If the crew remains on the timeline, the removal will take place at 4:09 p.m. EST and the module will be safely inside the shuttle cargo bay by 4:39 p.m. EST.

We will next update this page following Raffaello's berthing in the cargo bay.

Raffaello secure in shuttle bay
Update for Friday, Dec. 14, 2001 at 5:45 p.m.

Endeavour pilot Mark Kelly has just put the Italian moving van known as Raffaello back inside the shuttle's cargo bay as this mission begins to wind down with the routine of preparing to come home.

Today's major task took longer than planned, mostly because of delays in confirming that the seals between the supply module and the Unity node were not leaking after both hatches had been closed and the space between the doors emptied of its air.

The module began its slow move away from the station at 4:57 p.m. EST and was declared firmly secure inside Endeavour's payload bay at 5:44 p.m. EST.

The next major events will be those surrounding the shuttle's departure from the station right away tomorrow morning. A farewell ceremony, the undocking and the fly around of the station should all be complete shortly after noon.

Looking a little farther ahead, on Sunday the shuttle crew will run through their pre-landing checks of systems, as well as deploy an interesting student experiment known as Starshine 3. Then the return home to Earth is planned for Monday, but the forecast isn't good at this point so a mission extension to Tuesday is likely.

Stay tuned to this page as we'll have complete coverage of each milestone along the way.

Crews say good bye, hatches closed
Update for Saturday, Dec. 15, 2001 at 8:30 a.m.

A holiday-themed farewell ceremony was held aboard the International Space Station this morning as the Expedition Four crew said "dosvidanya" to the STS-108 crew, who are scheduled to undock with the outpost later this morning and return to Earth on Monday.

Former station skipper Frank Culbertson presented the new tenants with a countdown to Christmas "tree," candy canes and Expedition Three mission pins. Then it was time for handshakes and hugs goodbye, with Culbertson the last to depart the Destiny science laboratory but not before snapping off a salute to new commander Yuri Onufrienko.

The station bell was then rung with the words "Expedition Three departing."

The ceremony began at 8 a.m. EST and within minutes the hatches were closed, an event officially marked at 8:16 a.m. EST.

Next task: firing shuttle Endeavour's steering jets at 9:55 a.m. EST to boost the station complex to a slightly higher orbit, a maneuver that will prevent any possibility of a spent Russian rocket stage launched in 1971 from flying too close to the outpost sometime on Sunday.

Undocking is now scheduled for 11:37 a.m. EST.

Stay tuned to this page throughout the morning as we update Endeavour's progress in departing the space station.

Station dodges debris, docking delayed
Update for Saturday, Dec. 15, 2001 at 10:30 a.m. EST

Shuttle Endeavour's steering jets have just completed a small orbit raising maneuver for the International Space Station that will result in an old Russian rocket stage miss hitting the outpost by some 40 miles. Had the maneuver not been performed the old booster part would have come within three miles of the station on Sunday -- too close for comfort.

With the hatches closed between the shuttle and the station since 8:16 a.m. EST today, and the reboost maneuver out of the way, flight controllers have crunched numbers that will result in today's undocking slipping by about 51 minutes to 12:28 p.m. EST.

The reason: the delay, along with some other sacrifices by the crew, will allow Endeavour to have enough fuel to make a half-lap around the station before departing for good -- something that is highly desirable for some good technical but also emotional reasons because it is such a pretty sight for the crew.

A full lap originally was planned, but that was cut short to a quarter-lap because of the emergency reboost. However, resourceful engineers have come up with a plan that will add another quarter of a lap. The crew's sacrifice: be willing to delay the docking, stay up an extra hour today and sleep overnight without the shuttle's windows facing the scenic Earth below.

Stay tuned to this page for updates following the undocking.

Endeavour undocks from space station
Update for Saturday, Dec. 15, 2001 at 12:30 p.m. EST

Shuttle Endeavour has undocked from the International Space Station, separating at 12:28 a.m. EST with the station crew ringing the bell inside the Destiny science laboratory and proclaiming "Endeavour departing."

Pilot Mark Kelly is at the controls of the orbiter now as it backs away from the outpost. Soon he will begin a half-circle fly around of the station, going up and over the station with the Earth below.

It will take a little less than an hour to complete the inspection maneuver and then a final separation burn will take place to move the two spacecraft well away from each other and set Endeavour up for its return to Earth on Monday.

Stay tuned to this page for updates.

Shuttle maneuvers away from station
Update for Saturday, Dec. 15, 2001 at 2 p.m. EST

A final burn of Endeavour's steering jets was made at 1:52 p.m. EST to separate the shuttle from the International Space Station, leaving the outpost manned with three new tenants and sending Endeavour on a course that sets up a landing back in Florida on Monday.

The schedule was a little confusing this morning due to several last-minute changes prompted by the need to boost the orbital workshop a little higher so as to avoid the possibility that it would be struck by a spent Russian rocket stage on Sunday. The ultimate effect of that move was to delay the docking a bit and alter the shuttle crew's timeline somewhat.

While the Expedition Four crew settles into their new home for the next five months, the shuttle crew faces at least two more days in space running through a routine drill of pre-landing systems checks, as well as deploying on Sunday a student science experiment known as Starshine 3.

The early look for a landing on Monday is not optimistic so it's quite possible this mission will be extended another day. That call won't be made until it has to be on Monday.

In the meantime, stay tuned to this page for updates. We will post one more story shortly and then our next update will be on Sunday morning.

Landing checks and satellite deploy
Update for Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001 at 7:30 a.m. EST

Endeavour's seven-member team, which now includes the homebound Expedition Three crew, were awakened at 4:19 a.m. EST this morning and after some post-sleep housekeeping began their final packing for the planned trip home to Earth on Monday.

The shuttle undocked from the International Space Station on Sunday to begin the flight back to Florida.

This morning Endeavour's commander and pilot will step through a routine check of landing systems that includes test firing the orbiter's steering jets, and activating the hydraulic units to test the flight control systems such as the wing flaps and elevon.

A little bit later, at 10:02 a.m. EST, the crew is deploy a disco-ball-like experiment known as Starshine. Covered with hundreds of mirrors, the sphere will be observed by students on the ground as part of a study of orbital mechanics.

Other features of the day include news media interviews at 11:49 p.m. EST, an off duty period beginning at 2:04 p.m. EST and then stowing the Ku-band antenna at 5:34 p.m. EST.

Stay tuned to this page this afternoon when we post a landing preview with a full update on the weather forecast for Florida on Monday.

Payload bay doors are closed
Update for Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 at 9:20 a.m. EST

Shuttle Endeavour's payload bay doors are fully closed and latched as preparations continue to bring the orbiter and its crew home to the Kennedy Space Center.

Countdown clocks are ticking toward the deorbit burn at 11:47 a.m. EST, a maneuver that would committ Endeavour to a Florida landing at 12:55 p.m. EST.

The weather situation looks fairly good, but once again it will take a last-minute call before Mission Control will be able to give a go for landing. Skies are more or less clear now, but clouds are expected to build as the day progresses and a cold front moves ever closer to Central Florida.

Stay tuned to this page for updates throughout the day.

Watching the weather situation
Update for Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 at 11:15 a.m. EST

Clouds are building over the Kennedy Space Center and another patch of clouds that are developing with rainshowers are moving toward the 30-mile-wide circle that would force NASA to waive off a landing attempt.

Officially the conditions at this writing are observed go but forecast no go.

Meanwhile, in space, the seven astronauts inside Endeavour are dressed in their orange spacesuits and are strapped into their seats. The four shuttle astronauts are on the flight deck, while the three former space station residents are on the middeck strapped into couches.

The shuttle's cargo bay doors are closed and we're just waiting to see what happens.

The deorbit burn is expected at 11:47 p.m. EST with a landing at 12:55 p.m. EST. A second opportunity would have the deorbit burn at 1:28 p.m. EST with a landing at 2:32 p.m. EST.

Stay tuned for updates.

Endeavour told to come on home
Update for Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 at 11:40 a.m. EST

Mission managers have given a last-minute 'go' for the deorbit burn.

Endeavour's twin orbital maneuvering engines will be fired at 11:47 p.m. EST for three minutes and six seconds to send the shuttle on its hour-long glide to a touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center.

Landing is expected at 12:55 p.m. EST.

The weather situation remained a concern until the very last moment possible, but optimistic observations by chief astronaut Charlie Precourt flying in a Shuttle Training Aircraft over the space center seemed to be a key factor in the decision to allow the shuttle to land.

Weather officials at the Spaceflight Meteorology Group in Houston watched clouds in the area via radar and did not see rainshowers developing enough in those threatening clouds to be a concern for a safe approach and landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility, so they gave a 'go' forecast.

Stay tuned to this page for updates and you also are invited to click on the link above to watch our feed of NASA TV as the space agency continues its commentary and coverage of Endeavour's return to Earth.

Shuttle on its way to KSC landing
Update for Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 at 11:55 a.m. EST

After a three-minute, six-second firing of Endeavour's braking rockets, the shuttle and its seven passengers have committed themselves to an hour-long hypersonic plunge through Earth's atmosphere that will end with a touchdown on the runway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Landing is expected at 12:55 p.m. EST.

For Expedition Three crewmembers Frank Culbertson, Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Turin, this final leg of their journey wraps up a 129-day stay in space.

The weather situation in Florida was uncertain until the very last moment, but mission managers are confident that the developing clouds in the area will not become too close, too dense, too thick or too wet to prevent a safe touchdown on at least one end of the runway.

A runway decision -- whether from the 15 end of 33 end -- hasn't been made definite yet. As of this writing Runway 33 is the more desirable based on observations from chief astronaut Charlie Precourt. The shuttle can change its runway approach up until the final 15 minutes or so, but a decision is expected in about 30 minutes.

Endeavour now in Earth's atmosphere
Update for Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 at 12:35 p.m. EST

Shuttle Endeavour is now past the point NASA calls "Entry Interface," the altitude about 400,000 feet up where it is said that Earth's atmosphere officially begins for the shuttle. Endeavour reached this point at 12:23 p.m. EST and things will start getting exciting for the crew.

As the air now grows increasingly thick around the shuttle, the friction from its speed of Mach 25 -- 25 times the speed of sound -- creates great heat and a spectacular plasma trail streaming away from Endeavour. That same thickening blanket of air will slow the shuttle as it drops towards Florida.

Steering jets will be used to maneuver the shuttle as it makes wide sweeping banks to the right and the left to help burn off excess energy, and then as the shuttle makes its final approach the air will be thick enough for Endeavour's wing flaps and elevons to guide the spaceplane.

Meanwhile, mission managers have decided that Endeavour will land on Runway 15, which means that the final approach to the runway will be from the northwest and that the shuttle will be making a wide left-hand overhead turn to align itself with the runway centerline.

This will be the 57th landing of a shuttle at Kennedy Space Center. Shuttles have landed 48 times in California and once in New Mexico.

Shuttle Endeavour safely lands in Florida
Update for Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 at 12:57 p.m. EST

Shuttle Endeavour has safely landed at the Kennedy Space Center at 12:55 p.m. EST and now sits still on the concrete runway surface, its seven passengers home from a journey none of them will ever forget.

And for the three Expedition Three crewmembers now resting on their backs in the shuttle's middeck, this is the first time in 129 days that they are experiencing Earth's full gravity.

A convoy of trucks and service vehicles are now racing to greet the shuttle on the runway, carrying a team of KSC technicians and engineers who will quickly make sure Endeavour is not leaking any toxic vapors. Air conditioning lines will be connected to the vehicle very soon and the crew hatch is expected to be opened within 25 minutes.

All seven crewmembers will begin departing the shuttle about 30 minutes after landing. The four STS-108 astronauts likely will take a walk around the vehicle on the runway, while the former station crewmembers will be attended to by medical specialists.

Within an hour or so of the landing the veteran astronauts should be back at crew quarters for a brief family reunion. Then a series of standard post-flight medical checks, tests and briefings are scheduled before they will have some more quality time with family and close friends.

About six hours or so after the landing, some members of the shuttle crew will appear in a press conference, while the station crewmembers will be interviewed by a NASA public affairs officer and the interview then replayed on NASA TV.

We will post our landing story almost immediately, and then update this page again for a final time for this mission later this afternoon.

That's a wrap for STS-108
Update for Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 at 6:30 p.m. EST

All seven crew members are in good shape following their spaceflight that ended earlier today with Endeavour's landing at the Kennedy Space Center.

Three of the shuttle astronauts appeared before news reporters just a few minutes ago and said that everyone was feeling fine, had enjoyed being reunited with their families and were looking forward to returning home to Houston on Wednesday.

The three Expedition Three space station crewmembers are expected tomorrow to make their first public appearance after spending 129 days in space. Brief interviews with them are expected to be broadcast on NASA TV sometime in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, shuttle Endeavour was to be returned to the Orbiter Processing Facility by now, where it will be readied for a mission next May that will look very familiar as it is to ferry the Expedition Five crew to the station to replace the Expedition Four crew just delivered.

This will conclude our journal of the STS-108 mission. Happy holidays to everyone.

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