Space Shuttle Status Report 6 Feb 2001

MISSION: STS-98 – 7th ISS Flight (5A) – U.S. Laboratory

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104

LOCATION: Launch Pad 39A

TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Feb. 7, 2001 at 6:11 p.m. EST

TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Feb. 18, 2001 at about 12:58 p.m. EST

LAUNCH WINDOW: less than 5 minutes

MISSION DURATION: 10 days, 18 hours and 47 minutes

CREW: Cockrell, Polansky, Curbeam, Jones, Ivins

ORBITAL ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 177 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: The KSC launch team proceeds on schedule with
STS-98 launch preparations. Last night, workers loaded cryogenic reactants
into Space Shuttle Atlantis’ onboard storage tanks. Shuttle pyrotechnic
tests concluded yesterday afternoon.

At the launch pad early this morning, the orbiter’s midbody umbilical unit
was demated and the sound suppression system water tank was filled. Final
Shuttle main engine preparations are in work. Flight crew equipment late
stow remains scheduled for this evening, and the Rotating Service Structure
moves away from Shuttle Atlantis tonight at 10 p.m.

Early tomorrow, engineers will activate Atlantis’ three fuel cells and
switch the orbiter’s purge air to gaseous nitrogen. Loading of the external
tank is schedule to begin at about 9:16 a.m. Wednesday and proceeds into a
stable replenish mode about three hours later.

Forecasters indicate a 10 percent chance of weather violating launch commit
criteria on Wednesday. The forecast calls for few clouds at 3,000 and
25,000 feet; visibility at 7 miles; launch pad winds from the east-southeast
at 8 peaking to 14 knots; Shuttle Landing Facility winds at 7 peaking to 12
knots; temperature at 68 degrees F; dewpoint 56 degrees F; relative humidity
at 65 percent and a slight chance of coastal showers. The 24-hour delay
forecast predicts a 20 percent chance of weather violation.

SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-98

    T-TIME            LENGTH OF HOLD        HOLD BEGINS        HOLD ENDS

T-27 hours	4 hours	2 p.m. Mon.	6 p.m. Mon.

T-19 hours	4 hours	2 a.m. Tues. 	6 a.m. Tues.

T-11 hours	12 hours, 16 minutes	2 p.m. Tues.	2:16 a.m. Wed.

T-6 hours	2 hours	7:16 a.m. Wed.	9:16 a.m. Wed.

T-3 hours	2 hours	12:16 p.m. Wed.	2:16 p.m. Wed.

T-20 minutes	10 minutes	4:56 p.m. Wed.	5:06 p.m. Wed.

T-9 minutes	about 45 minutes	5:17 p.m. Wed. 	6:02 p.m. Wed.	

CREW FOR MISSION STS-98

Commander (CDR): Kenneth Cockrell

Pilot (PLT): Mark Polansky

Mission Specialist (MS1): Robert Curbeam

Mission Specialist (MS2): Marsha Ivins

Mission Specialist (MS3): Thomas Jones

SUMMARY OF STS-98 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES

Wednesday, Feb. 7

6:30 a.m. Crew wake up

7 a.m. Breakfast

7:30 a.m. Medical Checks

12:30 p.m. Lunch

*1:10 p.m. Photo opportunity

1:41 p.m. Weather Briefing(CDR, PLT, MS2)

1:41 p.m. Don flight suits (MS1, MS3)

*1:51 p.m. Don flight suits (CDR, PLT, MS2)

*2:21 p.m. Depart for launch pad

*2:51 p.m. Arrive at white room and begin ingress

*4:06 p.m. Close crew hatch

*6:11 p.m. Launch

* Televised events (times may vary slightly)

All times Eastern