Space Shuttle Status Rpeort 7 Feb 2001
MISSION: STS-98 – 7th ISS Flight (5A) – U.S. Laboratory
VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
LOCATION: On orbit
KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Feb. 7, 2001 at 6:13:02 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: Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted-off from KSC’s Launch
Pad 39A today at 6:13:02 p.m. EST. The launch team successfully troubleshot
a minor issue with one of the orbiter’s multiplexer-demultiplexers located
in the aft compartment leading to a launch about 2 minutes later than
initially targeted.
Also, weather conditions at the Transoceanic Abort Landing sites had
improved by launch time allowing Atlantis and a 5-member crew to begin the
102nd Shuttle mission in history and the 23rd flight of Space Shuttle
Atlantis.
KSC’s two solid rocket booster recovery ships, Freedom Star and Liberty
Star, deployed into the Atlantic Ocean Tuesday afternoon. Booster recovery
operations begin tomorrow and the ships are expected to return to Port
Canaveral Friday afternoon with both boosters in tow.