Space Shuttle Processing Status 3 Apr 2002

MISSION: STS-110 – 13th ISS Flight (8A) – ITS S0 TRUSS AND MOBILE TRANSPORTER

VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104

KSC LAUNCH DATE: April 4, 2002

PREFERRED LAUNCH TIME: About 5:13 p.m. EST

TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: April 15, 2002 at 1:21 p.m. EDT

MISSION DURATION: 11 days

CREW: Bloomfield, Frick, Ross, Smith, Ochoa, Morin, Walheim

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

Shuttle Processing Note: The L-1 day countdown for Shuttle Atlantis
continues on schedule today for Thursday’s launch of the STS-110 mission to
the International Space Station. The Mission Management Team met at 4 p.m.
and gave the go to proceed after clearing the power drive units of the
External Tank (ET) doors on the orbiter for flight. At Pad B, the
NASA/United Space Alliance launch team completed loading the cryogenics
aboard the fuel cells, worked final checkouts of the Shuttle main engines
and activated the communication systems. The mid-deck payloads will be
brought on board tonight and the pad will be cleared for rollback of the
Rotating Service Structure about 9:30 p.m. A pre-tanking meeting is
scheduled for 7:15 a.m. Thursday to give the final go-ahead for ET
propellant loading.

The seven members of the STS-110 flight crew were able to spend some time
with their families today as they made final preparations for the flight.
STS-110 Commander Mike Bloomfield and Pilot Steve Frick took a final flight
in the Shuttle Training Aircraft this morning and the crew was updated on
countdown status and launch weather during the day. They will have dinner
with their families this evening.

The weather forecast for Thursday has a 40% probability against launch
because of the possibility of low cloud ceilings and thunderstorms in the
area at liftoff time. The temperature will be 77 degrees, relative humidity
76 percent, with winds from the north-northeast at 12 knots.

Booster retrieval ships Freedom Star and Liberty Star left their berths at
Hangar AF, Cape Canaveral, at noon, enroute to the Solid Rocket Booster
impact area. The weather forecast for the recovery area calls for a sea
state of 4-5 feet with a water temperature of 75 degrees.