Space Shuttle Processing Status Report 22 Feb 2002

MISSION: STS-109 – HST Servicing Mission 3B

VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102

TARGET KSC LAUNCH DATE: Feb. 28, 2002 at 6:48 a.m.

TARGET KSC LANDING DATE: March 11, 2002 at 5:01 a.m.

MISSION DURATION: 11 days

CREW: Altman, Carey, Grunsfeld, Currie, Newman, Linnehan, Massimino

ORBITAL INSERTION ALTITUDE and INCLINATION: 308 nautical miles/28.5 degrees

Shuttle Processing Note: Final pre-launch processing for Shuttle Columbia continues on schedule at Complex 39 Pad A . The Hubble payload Interface Verification Test is complete and the End-To-End Test is in progress. Work over the weekend includes completing aft closeouts prior to picking up the final countdown at the T-43 hour mark at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25. The seven STS-109 crewmembers are scheduled to land at KSC at 1 a.m. Monday, and shortly after their arrival they will spend about two hours at the launch pad participating in final Hubble payload configuration familiarization operations in preparation for the five spacewalks that will be conducted during the STS-109 servicing mission. The payload doors will be closed later in the day. The status of the Auxiliary Power Unit hydraulic pump bolts is still under evaluation.

Final countdown milestones include:

Launch – 3 Day (Monday, Feb. 25)

* Initiate final countdown at T-43 hour mark (10 a.m.)

Launch – 2 Day (Tuesday, Feb. 26)

* Load fuel cell cryogenic propellants (6 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Launch – 1 Day (Wednesday, Feb. 27)

* Move Rotating Service Structure (RSS) to park position (11 a.m.)

* External Tank cryogenic propellant loading (9:58 p.m. – 12: 58 a.m.)

Launch Day (Thursday, Feb. 28)

* Astronauts depart crew quarters (3:04 a.m.)

* Crew ingress (about 3:34 a.m.)

* Hatch closure (about 4:48 a.m.)

* Liftoff (6:48 a.m.)