Astronauts prepare for final spacewalk
Tuesday, April 16, 2002 at 7:55 a.m. EDT

Atlantis astronauts Jerry Ross and Lee Morin are making final preparations to conduct their second, and the mission's fourth and final, spacewalk. Ross and Morin are scheduled to step outside the International Space Station's Quest airlock at about 10:30 a.m. EDT to begin a planned 6 ½ hour excursion outside the station.

The spacewalking grandfathers' primary task will be the installation of the Airlock Spur - a 14-foot long beam with handrails that will extend from the Quest airlock to the forward side of the S0 Truss to act as a "pathway" for future spacewalks.

The pair will also install halogen external lights on the Unity and Destiny modules, test micro-switches on the sides of the S0 Truss, troubleshoot a bolt on a cable-cutting system on the Mobile Transporter and secure a piece of insulation on one of four GPS antennas on the Truss.

Ross, wearing the spacesuit with broken red stripes, will work from the station’s Canadarm 2 robotic arm, installing shock absorbers on the Mobile Transporter. He will also add to his record as NASA's most experienced spacewalker - this will be his ninth time working outside in space. Morin will be wearing the spacesuit with diagonal broken stripes.

The Atlantis crew was awakened at 4:44 a.m. EDT to the sounds of "I am an American," performed by the Purdue University marching band, dedicated to Purdue grad Ross.

Mission's final spacewalk under way
Tuesday, April 16, 2002 at 10:40 a.m. EDT

Atlantis astronauts Jerry Ross and Lee Morin have stepped outside the International Space Station's Quest airlock to begin a planned 6 ½ hour excursion outside the station - the fourth and final spacewalk of this mission. Today's excursion officially commenced at 10:29 a.m. EDT.

The spacewalking grandfathers' primary task will be the installation of the Airlock Spur - a 14-foot long beam with handrails that will extend from the Quest airlock to the forward side of the S0 Truss to act as a "pathway" for future spacewalks.

The pair will also install halogen external lights on the Unity and Destiny modules, test micro-switches on the sides of the S0 Truss, troubleshoot a bolt on a cable-cutting system on the Mobile Transporter and secure a piece of insulation on one of four GPS antennas on the Truss.

Ross, wearing the spacesuit with broken red stripes, will work from the station’s Canadarm 2 robotic arm to install shock absorbers on the Mobile Transporter, the so-called "railcar." This excursion also adds to Ross' record as NASA's most experienced spacewalker - this is his ninth time working outside in space. Morin is wearing the spacesuit with diagonal broken stripes.

Final spacewalk proceeding as planned
Tuesday, April 16, 2002 at 1 p.m. EDT

Astronauts Jerry Ross and Lee Morin are making steady progress on their assigned tasks for today's spacewalk - the final one planned for this mission. The pair have completed about one-third of the planned 6 1/2 hour excursion outside the International Space Station that officially started at 10:29 a.m. EDT.

The spacewalking grandfathers' have already completed their primary task - the installation of the Airlock Spur - a 14-foot long beam with handrails that will extend from the Quest airlock to the forward side of the S0 Truss to act as a "pathway" for future spacewalks, and also tested micro-switches on the sides of the S0 Truss.

Ross and Morin are currently installing halogen external lights on the Unity and Destiny modules; then, they will troubleshoot a bolt on a cable-cutting system on the Mobile Transporter and secure a piece of insulation on one of four GPS antennas on the Truss.

Ross, wearing the spacesuit with broken red stripes, will work from the station’s Canadarm 2 robotic arm to install shock absorbers on the Mobile Transporter, the so-called "railcar." Morin is wearing the spacesuit with diagonal broken stripes. Today's excursion adds to Ross' record as NASA's most experienced spacewalker - this is his ninth time working outside in space.

Astronauts nearing end of final spacewalk
Tuesday, April 16, 2002 at 3:45 p.m. EDT

Spacewalking grandfathers Jerry Ross and Lee Morin are starting to wrap-up their activities outside the International Space Station, bringing to an end the fourth and final Extra Vehicular Activity of this mission. The pair have about an hour remaining in the 6 1/2 hour spacewalk, which started at 10:29 a.m. EDT.

All of the major goals for the spacewalk have been accomplished. These activities included the installation of the Airlock Spur - a 14-foot long beam with handrails that now extends from the Quest airlock to the forward side of the S0 Truss;  testing micro-switches on the sides of the S0 Truss; installation of halogen external lights on the Unity and Destiny modules and shock absorbers on the Mobile Transporter; and securing a piece of insulation on one of four GPS antennas on the Truss.

The two astronauts also deployed a device to measure radiation outside the station. Only one task evaded them - releasing a safing bolt on one of the trailing umbilical units on the Mobile Transporter.

NASA TV coverage of today's spacewalk continues and you are invited to watch by clicking on the link above to our video feed.

Astronauts complete final spacewalk
Tuesday, April 16, 2002 at 5:15 p.m. EDT

Completing his NASA record ninth walk in space, Atlantis astronaut Jerry Ross and crewmate Lee Morin have just concluded a 6 hour, 37 minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station - the fourth and final Extra Vehicular Activity of this mission and the 38th in the history of the station. Today's spacewalk began at 10:29 a.m. EDT and concluded at 5:06 p.m. EDT.

Ross and Morin accomplished all of the major goals for today's spacewalk. These activities included the installation of the Airlock Spur - a 14-foot long beam with handrails that now extends from the Quest airlock to the forward side of the S0 Truss; testing micro-switches on the sides of the S0 Truss; installation of halogen external lights on the Unity and Destiny modules and shock absorbers on the Mobile Transporter; and securing a piece of insulation on one of four GPS antennas on the Truss.

The two astronauts also deployed a device to measure radiation outside the station and collected a variety of construction tools from this and previous spacewalks. Only one task eluded them - releasing a safing bolt on one of the trailing umbilical units on the Mobile Transporter which is not expected to create any operational concerns.

A complete wrap-up story will be posted shortly .We will next update this page later this evening after the crew begins a sleep period - sooner if circumstances warrant.

Atlantis crew prepares for undocking
Tuesday, April 16, 2002 at 10 p.m. EDT

Their work completed, the seven Atlantis astronauts are preparing to bid farewell to the Expedition Four crew and the International Space Station. With all of the mission objectives successfully accomplished, Atlantis will undock from the station at 2:31 p.m. EDT as the two spacecraft orbit some 244 miles above the north Atlantic due west of Ireland. 

Atlantis is scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Center early Friday afternoon and the early weather forecasts are favorable.

Tuesday's fourth and final spacewalk by Jerry Ross and Lee Morin completed a busy day's work outside the orbiting complex. The spacewalking grandfathers installed the Airlock Spur - a 14-foot long beam with handrails that now extends from the Quest airlock to the forward side of the S0 Truss; tested micro-switches on the sides of the S0 Truss; installed halogen external lights on the Unity and Destiny modules and shock absorbers on the Mobile Transporter; and secured a piece of insulation on one of four GPS antennas on the Truss.

The only tasks not accomplished were the removal of a balky bolt from a backup cable cutting device on one of two umbilical systems for the Mobile Transporter and the installation of a gas analyzer on the truss which proved to be faulty.

Atlantis astronauts Mike Bloomfield, Steve Frick, Steve Smith and ISS Expedition Four commander Yury Onufrienko transferred equipment to and from both Atlantis and the ISS and provided photographic and television support to Ross and Morin.

Our next update will be Wednesday morning after the crew awakens.

Astronauts prepare to depart station
Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 8 a.m. EDT

Shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronaut crew are preparing to bid farewell to the Expedition Four crew and the International Space Station after a successful mission that featured four spacewalks and included the installation of the station's "backbone," the S0 Truss, and its "railcar," the Mobile Transporter.

The hatches between Atlantis and the station will be closed at about 11:30 a.m. EDT and the two spacecraft will undock at 2:31 p.m. EDT as the two spacecraft orbit some 244 miles above the north Atlantic, due west of Ireland.

Atlantis is scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Center Friday afternoon at 12:26 p.m. EDT and the early weather forecasts are favorable.

We will next update this page around 11:30 a.m. EDT after the hatches are closed - sooner if circumstances warrant.

Atlantis hatch closed for undocking
Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 11:45 a.m. EDT

Following the traditonal farewell formalities, the last hatch separating shuttle Atlantis and the International Space Station has been closed as the shuttle's seven astronaut crew make final preparations to undock from the station.

The undocking is scheduled for 2:31 p.m. EDT as the two spacecraft orbit some 244 miles above the north Atlantic, due west of Ireland.

Atlantis astronaut Jerry Ross will send a series of commands to release the docking mechanism connecting the orbiter and the station, releasing a number of springs that will gently push the shuttle away. After the vehicles separate and clear one another, Pilot Steve Frick will fire Atlantis' steering jets to begin pulling away from the orbital complex.

Atlantis is scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Center Friday afternoon at 12:26 p.m. EDT and the early weather forecasts are favorable.

Atlantis undocks from space station
Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 2:45 p.m. EDT

With a ring of the ship's bell and the call of "Atlantis, departing," the Expedition Four crew of the International Space Station bid farewell to shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts as the two vehicles parted ways. The undocking occurred at 2:31 p.m. EDT as the two spacecraft orbited some 244 miles above the north Atlantic, due west of Ireland.

Atlantis astronaut Jerry Ross sent a series of commands to release the docking mechanism connecting the orbiter and the station, releasing a number of springs that gently pushed the shuttle away. Pilot Steve Frick briefly fired Atlantis' steering jets to begin pulling away from the orbital complex once the vehicles separated and cleared one another.

When Atlantis is about 450 feet away from the station, the shuttle will conduct a "fly-around," circling the station 1 1/4 times. This maneuver is scheduled for about 3:16 p.m. EDT. Atlantis will circumnavigate the orbiting complex to observe it from all angles, eventually returning to its original starting point. Finally, the orbiter’s jets will be fired one more time to depart from the outpost at about 4:15 p.m. EDT.

Atlantis is scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Center Friday afternoon at 12:26 p.m. EDT and the early weather forecasts are favorable.

Atlantis departs from space station
Wednesday, April 17, 2002 at 10:30 p.m. EDT

Completing the 13th shuttle mission assigned to station assembly and resupply, Atlantis and its crew of seven departed from the International Space Station to the ringing of the ISS ship's bell and the call of "Atlantis, departing. The undocking occurred at 2:31 p.m. EDT as the two spacecraft orbited some 247 miles above the north Atlantic, due west of Ireland.

Atlantis departed a lighter ship as well, offloading more than a ton of supplies, almost 200 pounds of oxygen and nitrogen for the the Quest Airlock, 1,463 pounds of water and the S0 Truss - the backbone for future expansion of the orbiting complex.

Pilot Steve Frick briefly fired Atlantis' steering jets to pull the orbiter away from the station once the vehicles separated and cleared one another, followed by a "fly-around," circling the station 1 1/4 times. Finally, Frick fired Atlantis' jets one last time at 4:15 p.m. EDT in a maneuver to separate the two spacecraft.

The seven astronauts will spend Thursday making final preparations for Atlantis' scheduled landing at the Kennedy Space Center. Touchdown is scheduled for Friday afternoon at 12:26 p.m. EDT and the early weather forecasts are favorable.

Astronauts spend final day in orbit
Thursday, April 18, 2002 at 8:30 a.m. EDT

The seven astronauts of shuttle Atlantis are spending their final full day in orbit packing up supplies and equipment and preparing the orbiter for Friday's scheduled re-entry and landing at the Kennedy Space Center. Atlantis has two Florida landing opportunities available tomorrow - the first at 12:26 p.m. EDT on orbit 171, and a backup at 2:02 p.m. EDT during orbit 172.

The Atlantis crew was awakened at 3:44 a.m. EDT today to the sounds of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," performed by commander Mike Bloomfield's daughter.

Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station Wednesday afternoon at 2:31 p.m. EDT; then, pilot Steve Frick fired the shuttle's steering jets to separate the spacecraft, the distance between the two increasing by about 12 miles with each orbit.

Today, the crew will test the shuttle's reaction control system system and flight control surfaces that are needed for tomorrow's re-entry and descent glide through the atmosphere. Atlantis' orbital maneuvering jets will also be fired twice today; once as a test for scientists to observe the exhaust’s effects on radar echoes and orbital kinetic energy on the ionosphere, the second to reduce the cross-range distance for the backup landing opportunity tomorrow.

The weather for both of tomorrow's landing opportunities at the Kennedy Space Space look ideal with only scattered clouds and a light breeze forecast.

Weather 'go' for Atlantis return
Thursday, April 18, 2002 at 10 p.m. EDT

Shuttle Atlantis and its seven member crew are ready for Friday's fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere and a long, gliding descent to the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The shuttle has two Florida landing opportunities available tomorrow - the first at 12:26 p.m. EDT on orbit 171, and a backup at 2:02 p.m. EDT during orbit 172.

Weather conditions for the landing look favorable, according to NASA's Spaceflight Meteorology Group. A Bermuda high dominates the Cape area and the forecast indicates scattered clouds at 4,000 and 20,000 feet, light easterly winds and a temperature of 81 degrees.

On Thursday, one of three hydraulic power units on Atlantis was activated and all of the shuttle’s flight control surfaces were tested to insure that the orbiter will have full controllability during its high-speed return to Earth. Commander Mike Bloomfield and pilot Steve Frick then test-fired Atlantis’ steering jets, which were declared ready to support entry and landing.

Atlantis ready for Florida landing
Friday, April 19, 2002 at 7:30 a.m. EDT

Shuttle Atlantis and its seven member crew are ready for a fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere and a long, gliding descent to the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The shuttle has two Florida landing opportunities available today - the first at 12:26 p.m. EDT on orbit 171, and a backup at 2:02 p.m. EDT during orbit 172.

Weather conditions for a Florida landing today look ideal. NASA's Spaceflight Meteorology Group is forecasting only scattered clouds at 4,000 and 20,000 feet, light easterly winds and a temperature of 81 degrees. The backup landing site at Edwards AFB, Calif. has not been activated because it is almost a certainty that Atlantis will touchdown in Florida on one of its landing opportunities today.

The orbiter's payload bay doors are scheduled to be closed at about 8:40 a.m. EDT, followed by the "go for de-orbit burn" command at about 11 a.m. EDT. Firing of Atlantis’ braking rockets will occur at 11:20 a.m. EDT for the first landing opportunity, enabling the shuttle to drop out of orbit for its hour-long descent back to Earth and a touchdown on the 3-mile long Shuttle Landing Facility runway.

The Atlantis crew awakened at 3:21 a.m. EDT to the sounds of "Message in a Bottle," performed by The Police.

Atlantis' doors closed for landing
Friday, April 19, 2002 at 8:55 a.m. EDT

Shuttle Atlantis' payload bay doors have been closed and latched in final preparation for its fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere and a long, gliding descent to the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The shuttle is expected to land on the first of two Florida landing opportunities available today at 12:27 p.m. EDT on orbit 171, with a backup slot at 2:02 p.m. EDT during orbit 172.

Weather conditions for a Florida landing today are ideal. NASA's Spaceflight Meteorology Group forecasts only scattered clouds at 4,000 and 20,000 feet, light easterly winds and a temperature of 81 degrees. The backup landing site at Edwards AFB, Calif. has not been activated because Atlantis' return to Florida today is almost a certainty.

Barring any unforeseen problems, Mission Control will issue the "go for de-orbit burn" command at about 11 a.m. EDT. Firing of Atlantis’ braking rockets will occur at 11:19 a.m. EDT for the first landing opportunity, enabling the shuttle to drop out of orbit for its hour-long descent back to Earth and a touchdown on the 3-mile long Shuttle Landing Facility runway.

The seven Atlantis astronauts were awakened at 3:21 a.m. EDT to the sounds of "Message in a Bottle," performed by The Police.

Atlantis headed for Florida landing
Friday, April 19, 2002 at 11:21 a.m. EDT

Shuttle Atlantis has ignited its braking rockets and started a fiery plunge through Earth's atmosphere and a long, gliding descent to the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The shuttle will land at 12:27 p.m. EDT.

Atlantis just completed a 2-minute, 19-second firing of its twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines that began at 11:19 a.m. EDT to reduce the shuttle's velocity sufficiently to drop it out of orbit and begin an hour-long free-fall descent back to Earth. The orbiter will encounter the upper fringes of the atmosphere at about 400,000 feet in altitude, followed by a series of turns and banking maneuvers to slow the vehicle for its powerless touchdown on the 3-mile long Shuttle Landing Facility runway 33.

Weather conditions for a Florida landing today are ideal with puffy, scattered clouds, a light breeze and warm temperatures. The backup landing site at Edwards AFB, Calif. was not activated today.

Atlantis lands safely in Florida
Friday, April 19, 2002 at 12:27 p.m. EDT

Shuttle Atlantis has landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The orbiter touched down at 12:27 p.m. EDT on runway 33, completing a successful assembly mission to the International Space Station.

The seven Atlantis astronauts return home after a mission that included four spacewalks, the installation of the station's "backbone," the S0 Truss and the activation of the first "railway" in space, the Mobile Transporter. Astronaut Jerry Ross also added to his NASA record for the most walks in space, completing his eight and ninth spacewalks during the mission.

The next station assembly flight will be shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-111, now scheduled for a May 30 launch.

Atlantis crew back on solid ground
Friday, April 19, 2002 at 2 p.m. EDT

Commander Mike Bloomfield, pilot Steve Frick and their five crewmates have exited shuttle Atlantis, conducted the traditional "walkaround" of the orbiter and made a few brief remarks at the microphone at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility.

Atlantis safely touched down at 12:27 p.m. EDT on runway 33, completing a successful assembly mission to the International Space Station lasting 10 days, 19 hours and 42 minutes.

The seven astronauts will be driven back to the crew quarters at the Kennedy Space Center for medical tests and reunions with their families. They will then return home to the Johnson Space Center in Houston at around 1 p.m. EDT Saturday for a welcome home ceremony.

Atlantis returns; Endeavour is next
Friday, April 19, 2002 at 11 p.m. EDT

Shuttle Atlantis safely touched down at 12:27 p.m. EDT at the Kennedy Space Center, completing a successful assembly mission to the International Space Station. Atlantis' flight lasted 10 days, 19 hours and 42 minutes, logging more than 4.5 million miles during 171 orbits of the Earth.

The seven astronauts will spend the night in the crew quarters at the Kennedy Space Center before returning home to the Johnson Space Center in Houston at around 1 p.m. EDT Saturday for a welcome home ceremony.

Atlantis' mission included four spacewalks, the installation of the station's "backbone," the S0 Truss and the activation of the first "railway" in space, the Mobile Transporter. Astronaut Jerry Ross also added to his NASA records for the most spaceflights (7), most walks in space (9) and the most space walking time (58 hours, 18 minutes).

The next space station construction flight will be shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-111, now scheduled for a May 30 launch.