STS-92 Mission Control Status Report #01 11 October 2000

Discovery’s seven
astronauts blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center on the 100th mission
in Space Shuttle history tonight to deliver the first external framework
structure and a new docking port to the International Space Station.

Commander Brian
Duffy, Pilot Pam Melroy and Mission Specialists Leroy Chiao, Bill McArthur,
Jeff Wisoff, Mike Lopez-Alegria and Koichi Wakata rocketed away from
Launch Pad 39-A at 6:17 p.m. Central time, lighting up the central Florida
skies as they began their pursuit of the international complex. At the
time of launch, the ISS was orbiting at an altitude of about 230 statute
miles over the Indian Ocean, east of India.

Less than nine
minutes after liftoff, Discovery’s astronauts went to work to prepare
the Shuttle’s systems for their planned 11-day mission. The first major
task on the flight plan was to open Discovery’s cargo bay doors prior
to receiving a "go" for orbital operations from Ascent Flight
Director Wayne Hale. The astronauts are expected to set up computers
and flight deck gear before beginning an eight-hour sleep period at
11:17 p.m. Central time. The crew will be awakened at 7:17 a.m. Thursday
morning to begin its first full day in space.

With this evening’s
successful launch behind them, Discovery’s astronauts will turn their
attention to their chase of the International Space Station, performing
several firings of the ship’s jet thrusters over the next two days to
set up a docking with the outpost on Friday at 12:43 p.m. Central time.
Over the ensuing week, the crew will install the so-called Z1 truss
structure and a third Pressurized Mating Adapter to the Unity module
and will perform four space walks to electrically connect the new components.

The Station itself
continues to orbit the Earth every 90 minutes in good shape with the
exception of two sets of batteries in the Zvezda Service Module which
have been disconnected from the module’s electrical system because of
suspected problems with voltage converters. Battery component spares
are expected to be launched on the next unmanned Progress resupply ship
to the ISS in November for installation by the first resident crew.
Meanwhile, Zvezda is operating normally on six healthy batteries with
more than enough electrical power for ISS systems.

After an engine
firing to circularize its orbit, Discovery will be flying at an altitude
of about 190 statute miles in pursuit of the international station and
its linkup Friday afternoon. The next STS-92 status report is scheduled
at about 8 a.m. Central time Wednesday morning, or sooner, if developments
warrant.