Space Shuttle Processing Status 28 Feb 2001

MISSION: STS-102 – 8th ISS Flight (5A.1) – Leonardo MPLM

VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103

LOCATION: Launch Pad 39B

TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE/TIME: Mar. 8, 2001 at about 6:42 a.m. EST

TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Mar. 20, 2001 at about 1:13 a.m.

LAUNCH WINDOW: less than 5 minutes

MISSION DURATION: 11 days, 19 hours

CREW: Wetherbee, Kelly, Thomas, Richards; (up) Voss, Helms, Usachev; (down)
Shepherd, Gidzenko, Krikalev

ORBITAL INSERTION ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 122 nautical miles/51.6 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: At KSC’s launch pad 39B, preparations to ready
Discovery for mission STS-102 are on schedule for launch targeted for March
8 at 6:42 a.m. The Leonardo payload has been installed into Discovery’s
payload bay and aft engine compartment closeouts continue on schedule.
Yesterday, mission managers meet at KSC for the standard flight readiness
review. No serious technical issues were identified.
The crew for mission STS-102 is scheduled to arrive at KSC Sunday evening.
The countdown is set to begin at 10 a.m. Monday, March 5.

Upcoming Milestones:

Orbiter aft compartment closeouts complete Mar. 2

Begin
countdown .Mar. 5

SPACE SHUTTLES COLUMBIA and ATLANTIS FERRY FLIGHT STATUS

Space Shuttle orbiters Atlantis and Columbia, currently located in
California, will remain there through today and not begin their ferry flight
back to KSC any earlier than Thursday morning. Weather in California and
cross-country is prohibiting a departure today. Managers will meet again
Thursday morning to discuss departure plans and assess local weather
conditions, as well as weather conditions through the flight path back to
Florida. A two-day ferry is still planned, meaning neither vehicle will
return to KSC earlier than Friday.