STS-105 Status Report #23 – 21 Aug 2001 – 6:00 PM CDT
With its systems
checked out in excellent shape, Space Shuttle Discovery with its seven-person
crew that includes the Expedition Two crew, is set to return home at
11:46 a.m. Central time to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, wrapping
up a five and a half month stay on the International Space Station.
A second landing opportunity is available an hour and a half later at
1:23 p.m. CDT.
Leading the station
now by more than a thousand miles, Discoverys aero surfaces and maneuvering
engines were tested early today by the shuttles Commander Scott Horowitz
and Pilot Rick Sturckow while the remaining crewmembers busily prepared
the cabin for the high-speed reentry.
Late in the day,
the reclining seats that will be occupied by Expedition Two Commander
Yury Usachev, and Flight Engineers Jim Voss and Susan Helms were put
into position on the orbiters middeck. The reclined position has been
proven to be the most comfortable method of return to Earth from space
by long duration crewmembers.
Weather forecasters
are predicting favorable conditions in Central Florida for Discoverys
return to Earth, prompting mission managers to forego calling up support
at the backup landing site in California.
To prepare for
deorbit and landing activities, the shuttle crew will awaken at 3:10
a.m. Wednesday and start deorbit preparations about 6:45 a.m. The payload
bay doors are to be closed at about 8 a.m. with the deorbit firing of
the twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines on the tail of Discovery
targeted for 10:37 a.m.
While Discovery
was readied for the trip home, the Expedition Three crew of Frank Culbertson,
Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Tyurin activated one of the two scientific
racks delivered by Discoverys crew. The crew also prepared for the
undocking of a Progress supply vehicle docked to the station since late
May. The undocking is set for 1:05 a.m. Wednesday to make room for the
next Progress already on its way following launch at 4:24 a.m. today
from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. As was its four predecessors,
the 5 Progress is loaded with fuel, food and other equipment for use
by the Expedition Three crew.
The launch pad
now is free for the next launch of a Soyuz Sept. 15 delivering the Russian
Docking Compartment to the station.
Discovery is circling
the Earth every 90 minutes at an average altitude of about 240 statute
miles. Systems aboard it and the International Space Station are in
excellent shape. The next mission status report will be issued about
6 a.m. Wednesday, or as events warrant.
