BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW WRITERS

September 6, 2000 -- Follow the pre-flight preparations and mission of space shuttle Atlantis to outfit the International Space Station. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2000
0534 GMT (1:34 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis has performed its final separation thruster firing, sending the shuttle on a course away from the international space station's vicinity in Earth orbit. The shuttle did complete two flyaround laps to take pictures of the station.

Later today, the crew will hold its traditional in-flight news conference and then enjoy a few hours of off-duty time. When the astronauts wake up Monday night to begin Flight Day 12, they will start packing up the shuttle's crew compartment and Spacehab module in the payload bay for the return home. Landing at Florida's Kennedy Space Center is planned for Wednesday at around 3:56 a.m. EDT (0756 GMT). See our chart of deorbit and landing opportunities to bring Atlantis back to Earth along with an entry timeline.

0448 GMT (12:48 a.m. EDT)

Some 62 minutes after undocking, Atlantis has now made one complete loop around the international space station. Pilot Scott Altman is now guiding the shuttle around the station for a final time before performing a final separation maneuver at around 1:34 a.m. EDT.

Meanwhile, check out a video clip of the undocking.

0415 GMT (12:15 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis is now a quarter of the way through the first of two laps around the international space station.

0402 GMT (12:02 a.m. EDT)

The flyaround of the space station has started by Atlantis. The shuttle will circle the station two complete times, allowing the astronauts to photograph the outpost.

0400 GMT (12:00 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis now 300 feet above the international space station. The shuttle is headed to a point around 400 feet away before beginning the two-lap flyaround that will take nearly 90 minutes to complete.

0354 GMT (11:54 p.m. EDT)

The shuttle's Ku-band antenna system is switching from its television mode to the radar mode for use in the flyaround. Atlantis is currently over 130 feet above the station.

0349 GMT (11:49 p.m. EDT)

Moving away at a snail's pace, Atlantis is now 50 feet above the international space station after a smooth undocking. The shuttle is headed to a point about 400 feet away before beginning a two-lap flyaround of the station.

0346 GMT (11:46 p.m. EDT)

UNDOCKING CONFIRMED. "Physical separation. We are executing the sep burn."

Space shuttle Atlantis has separated from the international space station after eight docked days in Earth orbit. The undocking has occurred as the two craft fly 240 miles above Ukraine.

During their time at the outpost, the shuttle astronauts transferred over three tons of supplies and equipment into the station for use by the first residents when they arrive in two months. One spacewalk was also staged to connect cables between the two Russian modules of the station.

0344 GMT (11:44 p.m. EDT)

The hooks in the docking mechanism between Atlantis and the space station are now driving open. Standing by for undocking.

0342 GMT (11:42 p.m. EDT)

Undocking will now occur at about 11:45 p.m. EDT, or a minute behind schedule, after the astronauts needed to reboot an onboard computer.

0339 GMT (11:39 p.m. EDT)

Pilot Scott Altman, who will fly Atlantis during the undocking and flyaround tonight, is activating the joy-stick controller on the aft station of the shuttle's flight deck.

0332 GMT (11:32 p.m. EDT)

Now 12 minutes from the scheduled undocking of Atlantis from the station. There are no problems to report.

0324 GMT (11:24 p.m. EDT)

Lead Flight Director Phil Engelauf has given the astronauts the "go" for an on-time undocking of Atlantis from the international space station now 20 minutes away.

0318 GMT (11:18 p.m. EDT)

The Orbiter Docking System is now powered on for the undocking. The ODS is the mechanism that joins the shuttle and station together. The ODS will unhook from the station's docking port and springs will gently force the two craft apart when undocking occurs at 11:44 p.m. EDT.

0316 GMT (11:16 p.m. EDT)

Pilot Scott Altman, with the help of commander Terry Wilcutt, are maneuvering space shuttle Atlantis and the international space station stack to the proper position for the undocking -- which is now 28 minutes away. Meanwhile, mission specialist Dan Burbank is powering up the Orbiter Docking System in Atlantis' payload.

0300 GMT (11:00 p.m. EDT)

The astronauts aboard space shuttle Atlantis are setting up cameras and other tools they will use during the upcoming undocking from the space station and subsequent two-lap flyaround tonight. Physical separation between the two spacecraft remains scheduled to occur at 11:44 p.m. EDT while flying high above northeastern Ukraine. See our undocking timeline.

In addition, we have posted the revised flight plan for the astronauts, and we have a look at just today's agenda.

0020 GMT (8:20 p.m. EDT)

The astronauts aboard shuttle Atlantis are gearing up to undock from the international space station late this evening after six days of grueling work to move some three tons of supplies and equipment on board for use by the lab's first full-time crew. Read our full story previewing the night ahead.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2000
1259 GMT (8:59 a.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts re-sealed the international space station early today, turning out the lights and closing a series of hatches behind them as they wrapped up six days of work to outfit and activate the orbital outpost. Read our full story.

1015 GMT (6:15 a.m. EDT)

Seven of eleven hatches inside the international space station have been shut and latched as the Atlantis astronauts slowly make their way out of the oupost after a successful supply delivery visit. So far, the crew has egressed from the Russian Progress cargo ship and the Zvezda and Zarya modules. Still left to go are the docking adapter between Zarya and the U.S. Unity node, the node itself and the adapter connected to Atlantis.

0535 GMT (1:35 a.m. EDT)

Efforts are continuing smoothly in orbit as the astronauts step through their procedures to close up the international space station. The hatch leading to the Progress cargo freighter docked to the far end of the station has been closed and locked. In addition, the vestibule between the Progress and the Zvezda service module has been depressurized and a leak check has been completed successfully.

Zvezda, which will serve as the living quarters for the first permanent residents, is next to be buttoned up by the astronauts.

Meanwhile, the station is now flying a bit higher above the Earth now. Earlier tonight the shuttle's thrusters were fired repeatedly to boost the station's orbit by more than 14 miles. The space station is now in an orbit with a high point, or apogee, of 240 statute miles and a low point, or perigee, of 234.3 miles.

0225 GMT (10:25 p.m. EDT)

As the Atlantis astronauts begin their final day of work outfitting and assembling the international space station, we have a story previewing what's ahead.

In addition, we have posted the revised flight plan for the astronauts, and we have a look at just today's agenda.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2000
2348 GMT (7:48 p.m. EDT)

Mission Control just awakened the seven Atlantis astronauts. The crew's day will be spent closing up the international space station, turning off the lights and locking the hatches as they systematically egress from each module over the course of the night, with the astronauts completely out by 8:30 a.m. EDT.

Atlantis is due to undock from the station on Sunday night at around 11:44 p.m. EDT. Landing back at the Kennedy Space Center is currently scheduled for 3:56 a.m. EDT on Wednesday.

Meanwhile in other space shuttle news, NASA officials today ordered preparations to begin for rolling space shuttle Discovery off its launch pad and back to the safe confines of Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building on Sunday due to Hurricane Gordon. Read the latest.

1114 GMT (11:14 a.m. EDT)

After a bit of a struggle, the Atlantis astronauts successfully assembled a high-tech vibrationless exercise machine aboard the international space station today, setting the stage for a final day of cleanup work before undocking Sunday night. Read our full story.

0215 GMT (10:15 p.m. EDT)

We have posted the revised flight plan for the astronauts, and we have a look at just today's agenda. In addition, the latest version of the NASA TV Schedule, known as Rev. H, has been issued.

0130 GMT (9:30 p.m. EDT)

Wake up music for Atlantis' seven astronauts today came in the form of the University of Connecticut fight song. Mission Control played the tune at 7:46 p.m. EDT for Connecticut native Rick Mastracchio.

The crew's work today will be spent continuing the logistics transfers into the space station. One highlight will be the assembly a space-age treadmill inside the Zvezda module that future residents will use.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2000
1130 GMT (7:30 a.m. EDT)

After more overnight inspections by the Atlantis astronauts, Russian engineers decided to forego any additional work with a balky battery aboard the international space station's command module, deferring further troubleshooting until the lab's first full-time crew arrives in early November. Read our full story.

0220 GMT (10:20 p.m. EDT)

Ready to resume their job as movers, lugging equipment and supplies into the international space station, the seven Atlantis astronauts were awakened just before 8 p.m. EDT. Mission Control beamed the song "Haze Has Melted Away" by Konstantin Nikolsky's Group as today's wake up music.

So far, the crew has transferred about a third of the almost three tons of materials into the station.

Meanwhile, astronaut Ed Lu and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko will spend much of their day installing voltage and current stabilizers in the Zvezda service module. They also will install components of the Elektron system in Zvezda, which will produce oxygen for future station residents.

Also, the third in a series orbit reboost maneuvers to raise the station's altitude using the shuttle's thrusters is planned to begin at 2:46 a.m. EDT. Some 36 thruster pulses over an hour will raise the orbit by 3 1/2 statue miles.

Be sure to check out the revised flight plan for the astronauts, and we have posted today's agenda.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2000
1040 GMT (6:40 a.m. EDT)

In what is becoming a fairly common occurrence, engineers in Russia are troubleshooting apparent problems with one of the eight batteries aboard the international space station's new Zvezda command module. Read our full story that summarizes the news from overnight.

0300 GMT (11:00 p.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts, awakened at 7:55 p.m. EDT by a Russian recording of a tune called "Kombaht" beamed up from mission control, geared up for a busy day in orbit this evening, assembling the international space station's zero-G toilet, installing a final battery and transferring fresh water and supplies into the outpost. Read our full story on the day's planned activities.

We have posted a few new files. We have a new version of the mission's flight plan that was updated tonight, plus a look at just today's agenda and Revision F of the NASA TV schedule.

0100 GMT (9:00 p.m. EDT)

The seven shuttle Atlantis astronauts were awakened just before 8 p.m. EDT to begin Flight Day 7 of the STS-106 mission. Today will see the crew continue the transfer of equipment and supplies into the international space station from the Progress cargo ship and Atlantis. The remaining battery replacement and installation work is planned.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2000
1030 GMT (6:30 a.m. EDT)

Wielding a hammer and chisel, a U.S. astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut resorted to brute force early today to remove a poorly placed bracket that was blocking access to a space station electronics bay where a battery needed replacement. Read our full story on the day's activities.

0240 GMT (10:40 p.m. EDT)

The seven shuttle Atlantis astronauts are hard at work in space tonight, resuming their work inside the international space station. The crew was awakened at 7:46 p.m. EDT with the song "Brown-Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison.

On the crew's schedule today is the installation of three batteries inside the Russian-made Zvezda service module, launched in July without the batteries to save weight. Two batteries, meanwhile, will be replaced in the Zarya module. The last shuttle mission replaced four batteries in Zarya.

In addition the moving of supplies and equipment into the station from the shuttle and Progress cargo ship will continues.

We have posted a few new file. We have a new version of the mission's flight plan that was updated tonight, plus the Revision D of the NASA TV schedule.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2000
1700 GMT (1:00 p.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis will get an extra day in orbit. NASA's Mission Management Team today formally approved a one-day extension to the flight, giving the astronauts six days to complete their space station outfitting work instead of five. The lengthening from 11 to 12 days was made possible by the crew conserving fuel and other consumables. We have posted the new flight plan for the astronauts.

Atlantis' return to Earth is now scheduled for Sept. 20 at 3:40 a.m. EDT (0740 GMT) with landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

1100 GMT (7:00 a.m. EDT)

Wearing protective goggles and breathing masks as a precaution, the Atlantis astronauts floated into the international space station's new Zvezda command module for the first time early today, opening the door to a new era in space exploration. Read our full story on today's activities in Earth orbit.

0524 GMT (1:24 a.m. EDT)

Humans are inside the Russian Zvezda service module for the first time since the craft's launch into space two months ago. The shuttle Atlantis crew opened the hatch leading from Zarya to Zvezda at 1:20 a.m. EDT. Zvezda serves as the initial crew living quarters for the future expedition crews that will stay for months aboard the international space station.

0415 GMT (12:15 a.m. EDT)

The crewmembers entered the Russian Zarya module a short time ago, floating into the first piece of the international space station to be launched into orbit to begin construction of the new laboratory complex in the sky.

0248 GMT (10:48 p.m. EDT)

Continuing their swift progress, the crew has entered the U.S. Unity connecting node of the international space station. Commander Terry Wilcutt announced Unity ingress at 10:47 p.m.

0242 GMT (10:42 p.m. EDT)

Running nearly 20 minutes ahead of schedule, the Atlantis astronauts opened the hatch to enter the international space station at 10:40 p.m. EDT to begin several days of work to outfit the outpost for the first long-duration residents due to arrive in November. The crew swung open the hatch leading from Atlantis' docking mechanism to the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 -- the station's cone-like docking port the shuttle is firmly linked to. Over the next few hours, the astronauts will systematically open hatch after hatch as they move into the station.

0145 GMT (9:45 p.m. EDT)

The seven shuttle Atlantis astronauts were awakened at 7:46 p.m. EDT (2346 GMT) tonight, starting the day in which they will enter the international space station. Mission Control beamed the The Hukilau Song by Big Kahuna and the Copa Cat Pack to the crew as the wakeup music.

Commander Terry Wilcutt is slated to open the hatch into the station's docking port in just over an hour. The crew will proceed through 12 different hatches to gain access to the various modules and compartment of the station over the course of the day.

A key objective will be the removal of hardware that is no longer needed onboard the orbiting facility. Launch restraint hardware in Zvezda, the Zarya and Progress docking probe along with manual docking system hardware in Zarya will all be removed and brought back to Earth.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2000
1645 GMT (12:45 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis' crew has entered its sleep period after completing a smooth six-hour spacewalk outside the space station. Read our full report and checkout video clips from today's spacewalk.

1342 GMT (9:42 a.m. EDT)

The reboost maneuver is now complete.

1230 GMT (8:30 a.m. EDT)

The reboost maneuver is underway. Atlantis' reaction control system jets will be pulsed some 36 times to raise the station's orbit by about three miles. It is the first of two such maneuvers.

1140 GMT (7:40 a.m. EDT)

NASA has officially clocked today's spacewalk duration at six hours, 14 minutes. It was the 50th in shuttle program history and the sixth for the space station assembly.

1122 GMT (7:22 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle's robot arm is now powered down in its craddle on the left-hand side of the payload bay. The arm was used during the spacewalk to transport the spacewalkers and provide television views of their activities.

1116 GMT (7:16 a.m. EDT)

Later this morning Atlantis' thrusters will be used to raise the space station's orbit by about 3.5 miles. The hour-long reboost will begin at 1228 GMT (8:28 a.m. EDT). The shuttle's jets will be pulsed 36 times. It is the first of several reboosts planned during Atlantis' mission.

1106 GMT (7:06 a.m. EDT)

The airlock pressure has now reached 5 psi. As per standard proceedure, it will be held there for a short time before resuming repressurization.

1102 GMT (7:02 a.m. EDT)

Repressurization of the shuttle's airlock is now underway.

1100 GMT (7:00 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle's robot arm is being craddled in the cargo bay.

1051 GMT (6:51 a.m. EDT)

Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko are back inside Atlantis' airlock after a six-hour excursion outside the International Space Station.

1036 GMT (6:36 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis is now moving into its 47th sunrise since blasting off from Florida on Friday. The spacewalking astronauts are continuing to stow their equipment and tools.

1030 GMT (6:30 a.m. EDT)

The two spacewalkers are back in the shuttle's cargo bay, packing away their equipment into the SPACEHAB-Oceaneering Space System (SHOSS) tool box.

1019 GMT (6:19 a.m. EDT)

Lu and Malenchenko are now attached to the end of the robot arm and are being lowered toward the cargo bay.

1014 GMT (6:14 a.m. EDT)

The two spacewalkers are making their way down the towering space station stack to reach the shuttle's out-stretched robot arm.

1007 GMT (6:07 a.m. EDT)

Astronaut Rick Mastracchio is maneuvering the robot arm towards the forward end of the Zarya module to pick up Lu and Malenchenko and transport them back to the shuttle's cargo bay.

1000 GMT (6:00 a.m. EDT)

No more live television is expected from the shuttle Atlantis before the end of today's spacewalk. Mission control is receiving sequential still TV images about every 30 seconds as the astronauts prepare to return to the cabin.

0950 GMT (5:50 a.m. EDT)

Lu and Malenchenko are making slight adjustments to some of the cables they have installed and are also taking photographs to document their wiring job. We have a diagram that shows the location of the cables installed during today's spacewalk.

0940 GMT (5:40 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers have completed installation of the final cable between the Zarya and Zvezda modules. They will now start to pack up their equipment and tools before returning to the shuttle's airlock.

0910 GMT (5:10 a.m. EDT)

The 16-foot-long bundle of four TV and commanding cables have been strung and connected between the Zarya and Zvezda modules. The final significant event in today's spacewalk now begins -- the installation of a 20-foot fiber optic telemetry cable. This cable will relay data from future spacewalkers wearing Russian-made Orlan spacesuits during excursions from the U.S. airlock to be added to the station next year.

0833 GMT (4:33 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers have completed rigging four power cables between the Zarya and Zvezda modules of the international space station. The cables will allow electricity to flow from the U.S. solar arrays -- to be delivered on the STS-97 shuttle mission in December -- to boost the amount of power available to the Russian modules. The extra power will be needed since the arrays on the Russian modules will be shaded by the U.S. arrays, decreasing the amount of electricity they would be otherwise produce.

And now the next step in wiring the station begins as two other cables are connected to provide a commanding link from Zvezda to Zarya, allowing Zarya's solar arrays to be pointed under Zvezda's control. Also two video cables will be added to form an internal closed circuit television feed at the station.

0817 GMT (4:17 a.m. EDT)

Work goes on to connect four power cables between the Russian Zarya and Zvezda modules by cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko. Meanwhile, Ed Lu has been taking documentation photographs of cable clamps that have been installed.

Later the spacewalkers will install video and data cables, also in a strip of four, that stretch 16 feet. Finally a 20-foot-long fiber optic telemetry cable will be hooked up.

0747 GMT (3:47 a.m. EDT)

Now three hours into today's spacewalk, which is the sixth in the assembly sequence for the international space station and 50th of the space shuttle program.

Installation of the first four of nine cables between the Russian modules of the station continues. The spacewalk has been going extremely smoothly with no problems of any significance. Mission Control also reports the spacewalkers are as much as 45 minutes ahead of the timeline.

0732 GMT (3:32 a.m. EDT)

Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko are unrolling the bundle of four power cables, stretching some 26.9 feet, for connection between the Zarya and Zvezda modules. The cables are designed to route electricity generated by future U.S. solar arrays to power systems in Russian modules of the space station.

0728 GMT (3:28 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are currently installing clamps to the space station's exterior, a precurser job to unreeling the power and data cables between Zarya and Zvezda. The wiring work is scheduled to take around three hours to keep.

0701 GMT (3:01 a.m. EDT)

The next chore in today's spacewalk will be wiring up the Zarya and Zvezda modules of the international space station with the connection of nine cables. The EVA has been proceeding very well with no problems reported.

0655 GMT (2:55 a.m. EDT)

NASA officials report the spacewalkers are running as much as 45 minutes ahead of the timeline. Currently the duo has attached the magnetometer boom to Zvezda. The magnetometer is being added to the service module to improve its navigation capabilities for station control, aiding in determining orientation in space, which will ultimately save precious onboard fuel.

In other space shuttle news, Discovery has just emerged from the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center for its 6-hour trek to launch pad 39A. First motion of the crawler-transporter occurred at 2:33 a.m. EDT. Discovery is due for blastoff on the evening of October 5 to deliver the Z1 truss structure and another docking port to the international space station as construction of the outpost kicks into high gear.

0640 GMT (2:40 a.m. EDT)

Efforts are underway outside the Zvezda service module -- the initial crew living quarters aboard the international space station -- as spacewalker Ed Lu installs a base plate to the craft's exterior. Once that is completed, the 6 1/2-foot long magnetometer boom will be connected.

0617 GMT (2:17 a.m. EDT)

Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko are now setting up their equipment and foot restraints at the work site on the Zvezda module where the 6 1/2-foot long magnetometer boom will be installed next during the spacewalk.

0604 GMT (2:04 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers have successfully deployed the stuck docking target on the Russian Zvezda service module. Officials wanted the crew to get the object to pop up so it does not pose a problem for future spacewalkers, potentially deploying on its own and striking an astronaut.

0559 GMT (1:59 a.m. EDT)

Spacewalker Ed Lu has reported his first-hand inspections of a Zvezda docking target, which failed to deploy properly during the module's launch in July. He has taken two pictures of the small target object, and the pyrotechnics for the target's deployment mechanism has fired but nothing appears to be obstructing it from popping up.

0544 GMT (1:44 a.m. EDT)

Almost an hour into today's spacewalk, the crewmembers are manually climbing up the Russian Zarya module -- the first element of the international space station -- enroute to the Zvezda service module, which was launched in July.

0532 GMT (1:32 a.m. EDT)

Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko are riding on the end of Atlantis' robot arm, which is being controlled by Rick Mastracchio from the flight deck of the space shuttle. They are headed to a point about 50 feet above Atlantis to the Russian Zarya module of the international space station, which is as far as the arm can reach. The spacewalkers will then get off the arm and climb their way to a point 110 feet above the shuttle on the Zvezda service module. That is further than any shuttle spacewalker has traveled in a tethered excursion (not including untethered walks).

0524 GMT (1:24 a.m. EDT)

Comparing themselves mountain climbers carrying equipment on their backs, the spacewalkers are packing up tools, cable spools and the magnetometer boom for transport from Atlantis' payload bay up to the Russian modules of the international space station. The shuttle's 50-foot robotic arm will carry the crew up to the Zarya module, then the spacewalkers will have to climb their way up to Zvezda, which reaches 142 feet above Atlantis.

0510 GMT (1:10 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers so far are running about 15 minutes ahead of schedule, Mission Control reports. The duo are currently in the so-called sortie setup phase of the spacewalk, which is the time when they unpack the tools and equipment needed for today's work to further the assembly the international space station. Then they will head up to the Zvezda service module, which towers 142 feet above the shuttle's payload bay.

0503 GMT (1:03 a.m. EDT)

Both Lu and Malenchenko have floated out of Atlantis and into the payload bay. They are about to take a ride on the shuttle's robotic arm up to the Zvezda service module of the international space station to examine a docking target, which failed to deploy during the craft's launch in July.

Check out our updated spacewalk timeline that reflects the actual start time of the EVA.

0455 GMT (12:55 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers have opened the hatch leading out of Atlantis' airlock and into space.

0448 GMT (12:48 a.m. EDT)

The 50th spacewalk in space shuttle program history has begun. Atlantis crew members Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko switched their spacesuits to internal battery power at 12:47 a.m. EDT, officially marking the start of the planned 6 1/2-hour spacewalk.

The duo are still in the shuttle's airlock but should be exiting shortly.

0435 GMT (12:35 a.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis' airlock is being depressurized at this time. Today's spacewalk by Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko will officially begin when they switch their spacesuits from shuttle-supplied power to battery power.

0426 GMT (12:26 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' astronauts have just returned more video of the Russian Zvezda service module showing that one of the solar array panels did not deploy following launch in July. Check out the pictures.

0345 GMT (11:45 p.m. EDT)

As the astronauts move ever closer to beginning the spacewalk aboard Atlantis, here are some other shuttle news headlines:

The two solid rocket boosters that propelled Atlantis towards orbit Friday have been recovered from the Atlantic Ocean about 140 miles northeast from the Kennedy Space Center. The spent boosters were then towed back to Cape Canaveral by the Freedom Star and Liberty Star retrieval ships, arriving at Hangar AF on Sunday. The rockets will be disassembled this week, inspected to ensure they operated without any problems and then shipped back to Utah for refurbishment to be used on a future shuttle launch.

Meanwhile, technicians have arrived at KSC's Vehicle Assembly Building tonight to roll space shuttle Discovery to launch pad 39A. The 3 1/2-mile trek from the 52-story building to the pad is scheduled to begin at 2 a.m. EDT and take around six hours to complete.

0305 GMT (11:05 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis crewmembers Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko have donned their EVA spacesuits for the upcoming spacewalk and are now preparing to enter the airlock. They will soon begin breathing pure oxygen in an effort to purge nitrogen from their bodies' blood stream, which will prevent the them getting the "bends" during the spacewalk. The spacewalk is scheduled to begin in just under two hours, but could start a bit early.

Beside making cable connections and installing a magnetometer boom to the station, the spacewalkers have been asked by officials in Mission Control to inspect a possibly jammed solar array on the newly arrived Zvezda service module. In a morning message to the crew, flight controllers told the astronauts the panel in question does not appear to be fully extended.

"The only very minor tweaks to the EVA flight plan are for Ed or Yuri, after the magnetometer installation task, to snap a quick photo of the solar array panel that is not deployed and for Rick (Mastracchio) to get a little video of the array while he is maneuvering the (robot) arm to the RMS viewing position," the message said. "These tweaks should be of no impact to your timeline!"

0126 GMT (9:26 p.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts were awakened at 8:01 p.m. EDT (0001 GMT) to begin preparations for an overnight spacewalk to wire up the international space station's new Zvezda command module. Astronaut Edward Lu and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko plan to float into Atlantis's cargo bay around 1:06 a.m. EDT (0501 GMT) to begin a six-and-a-half-hour excursion to connect four power cables between Zvezda and the Zarya module and four video and data cables. The spacewalk could begin a half-hour or so ahead of schedule if the astronauts are ready. Read our full preview story.

Also, see our timeline of the spacewalk.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2000
1140 GMT (7:40 a.m. EDT)

Streaking through space at five miles per second, the 120-ton shuttle Atlantis gently docked with the 67-ton international space station today, capping a two-day orbital ballet that began with the shuttle's thundering liftoff Friday from the Kennedy Space Center. Read our full story.

And check in late tonight on this page when we provide play-by-play coverage of the spacewalk by Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko.

0900 GMT (5:00 a.m. EDT)

Commander Terry Wilcutt opened the hatch to the international space station's Pressurized Mating Adapter No. 2 -- the cone-shaped docking port affixed to the bottom of the U.S. Unity module -- at 4:18 a.m. EDT (0818 GMT) to take an air quality sample. However, the sampling device did not work properly and Wilcutt reported it had fallen apart in his hands.

Mission Control told the crew to give up on taking the air simple since it was only an experiment to gauge air quality inside Unity for future reference and not a requirement on this mission.

So the crew backed out of the station, closing the hatch behind them. They will enter the entire station complex and other modules on Monday night.

Check back a little later this morning for a complete wrap up story on the docking and a look ahead to tomorrow's spacewalk.

0750 GMT (3:50 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis astronaut Rick Mastracchio reports the pressure leak checks of the vestibule between the shuttle and space station have been completed successfully. Commander Terry Wilcutt and mission specialist Ed Lu are now preparing to make their way into the station's Pressurized Mating Adapter 2, the docking port to which Atlantis is attached, in order to take an air sample from the Unity module. The two won't actually enter Unity, however.

0649 GMT (2:49 a.m. EDT)

We have posted a QuickTime video clip of today's space station docking.

0639 GMT (2:39 a.m. EDT)

The astronauts are now preparing to pressurize Atlantis' docking system, which joins the shuttle crew cabin and international space station.

0610 GMT (2:10 a.m. EDT)

The next milestone tonight will be an air sampling by astronauts Terry Wilcutt and Ed Lu. They will venture to the Pressurized Mating Adapter No. 2 to take the sample from the U.S. Unity node.

0609 GMT (2:09 a.m. EDT)

And the astronauts have completed the rendezvous checklist and are returning their flight plan. Mission Control then congratulated the crew on a "letter perfect" docking.

0607 GMT (2:07 a.m. EDT)

The astronauts are now beginning to power off the shuttle's docking mechanism following tonight's successful linkup.

0605 GMT (2:05 a.m. EDT)

The capture latches have been closed and retraction of the shuttle's docking ring have been completed, Atlantis astronaut Dan Burbank just reported. This completes the "hard-mate" between Atlantis and the space station. Pressure and leak checks will now follow.

0602 GMT (2:02 a.m. EDT)

The extension ring on the shuttle's docking system has been retracted, bringing the international space station's docking port to a firm seal with Atlantis. Hooks and latches are now driving closed to keep the two craft joined.

0558 GMT (1:58 a.m. EDT)

The astronauts have reported a slight 2-degree misalignment with the docking mechanism's docking ring.

0554 GMT (1:54 a.m. EDT)

Russian mission controllers say the power-generating solar arrays on the Zarya and Zvezda modules are now tracking the sun again. They were moved to an edge-on position earlier this evening to protect them from thruster plumes from Atlantis.

Meanwhile, the astronauts are marching through the procedures to firmly fix the shuttle and station together in the so-called "hard-dock" configuration.

0553 GMT (1:53 a.m. EDT)

NASA says tonight's docking has gone very well with no problems reported.

0552 GMT (1:52 a.m. EDT)

Mission Control reports the docking occurred at 1:51:37 a.m. EDT as the two spacecraft joined together in Earth orbit for this supply delivery voyage that make the international space station a home for future residents.

0551 GMT (1:51 a.m. EDT)

CONTACT AND CAPTURE! Space shuttle Atlantis has docked to the international space station while flying high above Western Kazakhstan, completing a two-day orbital chase.

0550 GMT (1:50 a.m. EDT)

The post-contact thrust maneuver has been armed by pilot Scott Altman. This will be performed to thrust the two craft together after contact occurs between the docking mechanisms.

0549 GMT (1:49 a.m. EDT)

Only 11 feet separates Atlantis and space station. Just over two minutes from docking.

0548 GMT (1:48 a.m. EDT)

Time to docking now four minutes. Atlantis nearing a point 20 feet from the station's docking port on the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 on the end of the Unity node.

0546 GMT (1:46 a.m. EDT)

Commander Terry Wilcutt has once again resumed the trek to dock with the international space station. This is the final approach through the last 30 feet to docking.

Also of note, live TV is currently being received from cameras aboard both Atlantis and the station.

0545 GMT (1:45 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle remains holding steady some 30 feet above the international space station. This hold is done to ensure the docking occurs within communications range of Russian ground stations.

0543 GMT (1:43 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis is now 30 feet away from the station. This is a stationkeeping point.

0541 GMT (1:41 a.m. EDT)

Pilot Scott Altman says the docking alignment is acceptable and commander Terry Wilcutt won't need to perform a fly-out maneuver to correct any misalignment.

0539 GMT (1:39 a.m. EDT)

Less than 40 feet separating the shuttle and station.

0536 GMT (1:36 a.m. EDT)

NASA reports the alignment between the respective docking mechanisms on Atlantis and the international space station is perfect. Now about 45 feet between the two craft.

0534 GMT (1:34 a.m. EDT)

Distance now 50 feet between Atlantis and the space station. The craft have passed above the equator on their northeast track. Docking -- now 18 minutes away -- will occur over Western Kazakhstan.

0532 GMT (1:32 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle and space station have passed into orbital sunrise. Less than 60 feet between the two craft. Atlantis is headed to a point 30 feet where another stationkeeping point will be reached to wait for the proper timing to ensure docking occurs while in range of Russian ground stations.

0530 GMT (1:30 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis is currently 70 feet from the docking port on the international space station. The shuttle is moving ever closer at 0.12-feet per second.

0525 GMT (1:25 a.m. EDT)

Now 100 feet separating Atlantis and the international space station. The closing rate between the two craft has slowed to just one-tenth of a foot per second. Docking is scheduled for 28 minutes from now.

0520 GMT (1:20 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis now 140 feet away from the space station, closing at two-tenths of a foot per second.

0519 GMT (1:19 a.m. EDT)

Commander Terry Wilcutt has resumed his approach, guiding space shuttle Atlantis towards docking with the international space station. The overall docking timeline is running about 10 minutes late, and as such, the holding pattern was shortened from 20 minutes to less than 10 minutes, making up time in the schedule.

0515 GMT (1:15 a.m. EDT)

Pilot Scott Altman reports Atlantis is now holding at a point 171 feet about the space station, which was confirmed by data in Mission Control.

0510 GMT (1:10 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis has halted its approach to the international space station as planned, stopping at a distance of 175 feet from the docking port on the outpost's Unity node. The holding pattern will last about 20 minutes while the two orbiting spacecraft travel into the coverage zone of Russian ground stations.

Meanwhile, the astronauts powering up the shuttle's docking mechanism for the linkup now 42 minutes away.

The docking, expected at 1:52 a.m. EDT, is timed such that the space station and Atlantis are within sight of Russian ground stations when the two craft are joined.

0503 GMT (1:03 a.m. EDT)

Tonight's rendezvous continues to proceed smoothly with no problems reported, NASA reports. Russian Mission Control has given its approval for the docking. NASA's flight controllers then issued the final "go" for an on-time docking at 1:52 a.m. EDT (0552 GMT).

Atlantis has reached a point directly above the international space station at a distance of about 250 feet. Commander Terry Wilcutt is now nudging Atlantis toward the station's docking point, but will hold once the two craft are 170 feet apart until they pass within range of Russian ground stations.

0452 GMT (12:52 a.m. EDT)

Russian mission controllers are sending commands to activate a black and white television camera on the international space station. Officials hope the camera will be able to send live TV of Atlantis during the final minutes prior to docking, which is now one hour away.

0445 GMT (12:45 a.m. EDT)

Commander Terry Wilcutt has manuevered Atlantis to a point directly in front of the international space station on the path to put the shuttle above the station during the next several minutes.

0430 GMT (12:30 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis is now 600 feet directly below the international space station as commander Terry Wilcutt takes manual control of the shuttle for the expected 1:52 a.m. EDT docking. Wilcutt will guide Atlantis in a half-circle to a point above the station for the docking.

0424 GMT (12:24 a.m. EDT)

A video camera aboard shuttle Atlantis has just beamed to Earth the first view of the international space station in its grown configuration with the Zvezda service module and Progress cargo freighter attached to the orbiting complex.

Also, the international space station is now confirmed to be in the proper orientation for the docking by space shuttle Atlantis at 1:52 a.m. EDT (0552 GMT). Pilot Scott Altman just radioed from the shuttle to report the crew could verify the station was maneuvered correctly, confirming what Russian flight controllers were saying.

0419 GMT (12:19 a.m. EDT)

Just over 90 minutes away from the scheduled linkup between space shuttle Atlantis and the international space station -- the fourth American visit the outpost. Atlantis is currently 1,500 feet behind and below the station, closing at a rate of about 2 feet every second.

Meanwhile, Russian flight controllers report the solar arrays on the Zarya and Zvezda modules have been feathered -- or turned edge on -- to protect them from the thruster firings by Atlantis' jet thrusters.

All is going smoothly during tonight's rendezvous with no major problems noted so far.

0305 GMT (11:05 p.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis has begun the final trek towards docking with the international space station in less than three hours time. The shuttle has just completed the Terminal Initiation burn using the twin orbital maneuvering system engines on the tail of Atlantis.

"Good burn, Atlantis. You are on your way," CAPCOM Chris Hadfield told the crew.

The shuttle is currently 9 miles behind the station, but should arrive at a point 600 feet below the outpost at 12:28 a.m. EDT (0428 GMT).

Meanwhile, check out the latest revision of the astronauts' flight plan.

0105 GMT (9:05 p.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis is cutting the distance to the international space station with every orbit of the Earth. The shuttle is now just 90 miles behind the orbiting outpost with less than five hours until the planned docking between the two craft.

The final phase of tonight's rendezvous will begin at 10:59 p.m. EDT (0259 GMT) when Atlantis completes a firing of its twin orbital maneuvering system engines, putting the shuttle on course to arrive at the station.

Docking remains set to occur at 1:52 a.m. EDT (0552 GMT). See our timeline of the docking sequence.

NASA reports live downlink television from video cameras on Atlantis and the space station is expected during the docking.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2000
2325 GMT (7:25 p.m. EDT)

The Atlantis astronauts were awakened at 6:46 p.m. EDT this evening to begin the final rendezvous sequence with the international space station. Docking is expected at 1:52 a.m. Sunday.

"Good morning, Atlantis, and welcome to rendezvous day," astronaut Shannon Lucid called from mission control.

"Good morning, Houston, looks like a great day," one of the Atlantis astronauts replied. "We're looking forward to it."

"And we're looking forward to it down here, also, " Lucid said.

1400 GMT (10:00 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle Atlantis closed in on the international space station today while the astronauts checked out their rendezvous computers, activated the shuttle's docking system and tested the spacesuits that will be used Monday during a planned spacewalk. Read our full story covering the astronaut's first full day in space.

Also, check out our story giving a detail explanation of the docking sequence and a timeline of the docking.

0330 GMT (11:30 p.m. EDT)

The seven astronauts aboard space shuttle Atlantis were awakened at 9:46 p.m. EDT (0146 GMT) tonight to begin their first full day in Earth orbit. Mission Control played the Edwin McCain tune "I'll Be" to wake up the crew.

The crew's day will be spent preparing for Saturday night's rendezvous with the international space station and Sunday night's spacewalk. Activities on the agenda include checking out rendezvous tools and computers and testing the three spacesuits onboard to make sure they are operational. Two of those suits - one is a spare - will be used by astronaut Ed Lu and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko during a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk. The 50-foot long robot arm also will be powered up for unlimbered.

In addition, Atlantis will continue its orbital maneuvering to catch the station with three engine firings on tap.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2000
1635 GMT (12:35 p.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis has completed the first in a series of engine firings in its orbital chase to catch the international space station for docking on Sunday morning. The so-called NC1 burn was conducted a few minutes ago, raising the shuttle's orbit from 203 by 99 statue miles to 205 by 175 statute miles. The higher orbit will slow Atlantis' closing rate to the station to 276 statute miles each 90-minute orbit. The shuttle is currently 4,900 miles behind the station.

1434 GMT (10:34 a.m. EDT)

The astronauts have deployed the shuttle's Ku-band antenna used relaying television to Earth and for radar during docking and undocking with the international space station.

With the crew now settling into their routine in space, we invite you to read our launch story.

1424 GMT (10:24 a.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis' two 60-foot-long payload bay doors have been swung open and Mission Control has given the "go" for on-orbit operations. Atlantis is on track to rendezvous and dock to the international space station on Sunday at 1:53 a.m. EDT (0553 GMT).

And for those of you keeping score at home, today's official liftoff time was 8:45:47.066 a.m. EDT (1245:47.066 GMT).

1401 GMT (10:01 a.m. EDT)

Mission Control has given the seven-member crew of Atlantis to "go" to open the shuttle's payload bay doors.

1330 GMT (9:30 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' crew has performed a successful orbital maneuvering system burn to circularize the shuttle's orbit around Earth. The next major task will be opening the 60-foot long payload bay doors.

1320 GMT (9:20 a.m. EDT)

Check out a video clip of today's spectacular launch of Atlantis.

1314 GMT (9:14 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 29 minutes. The crew of Atlantis have just reported the launch left no pits or damage to the shuttle's windows. NASA says the shuttle achieved an orbit of 204 by 45 statute miles, a revision from earlier. The firing of the OMS engines is upcoming in about 15 minutes to circularize the orbit.

There have been no problems reported so far in the flight of Atlantis after a smooth climb to space.

1254:47 GMT (8:54:47 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes. The spent external fuel tank has been jettisoned from Atlantis. NASA says the shuttle has achieved a 194 by 46-statute mile high orbit. The orbit will be circularized during a firing of the twin orbital maneuvering system engines on the tail of Atlantis in about a half-hour.

1254:19 GMT (8:54:19 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes, 32 seconds. MECO! Atlantis' main engines have cutoff as planned, completing the powered phase of the launch. Space shuttle Atlantis is now in orbit.

1253:17 GMT (8:53:17 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. Atlantis' three main engines are throttling down to ease the ship's acceleration.

1252:17 GMT (8:52:17 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. Atlantis now rolling to a heads-up position to provide better communications link with orbiting TDRS satellite system.

1251:47 GMT (8:51:47 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes. About 2 1/2 minutes left in the powered phase of flight. All systems performing as expected.

1249:47 GMT (8:49:47 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes. Negative return. The shuttle can no longer return to the launch site in the event of a main engine problem.

1248:17 GMT (8:48:17 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The twin solid rocket boosters have done their job and separated from the space shuttle Atlantis moments ago. No problems reported in this stunning sunrise launch from Kennedy Space Center.

1245:47 GMT (8:45:47 a.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF. Liftoff on Atlantis to make the International Space Station a home in orbit. And the shuttle has cleared the tower.

1245:16 GMT (8:45:16 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 31 seconds. Auto sequence start. Atlantis' onboard computers are now controlling the countdown.

In the next few seconds the solid rocket booster hydraulic power units will be started and the orbiter's body flap and speed brake will be moved to their launch positions. The main engine ignition will begin at T-minus 6.6 seconds.

1244:47 GMT (8:44:47 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. Computers verifying that the main engines are ready. Sound suppression water system is armed. System will activate at T-minus 16 seconds to suppress the sound produced at launch. Residual hydrogen burn ignitors armed. They will be fired at T-minus 10 seconds to burn off any hydrogen gas from beneath the main engine nozzles. And the solid rocket booster joint heaters have been deactivated.

Shortly the external tank strut heaters will be turned off; Atlantis will transition to internal power and the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen outboard fill and drain valves will be closed.

1243:17 GMT (8:43:17 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Orbiter steering check now complete - the main engine nozzles in their start positions. The external tank liquid oxygen vent valve has been closed and pressurization of the LOX tank has started. Standing by to transfer Atlantis' power-producing fuel cells to internal reactants. The units will begin providing all electricity for the mission beginning at T-50 seconds. And pilot Scott Altman has been asked to clear the caution and warning memory system aboard Atlantis.

In the next few seconds the gaseous oxygen vent hood will be removed from the top of the external tank. Verification that the swing arm is fully retracted will be made by the ground launch sequencer at the T-37 second mark. Coming up on T-minus 2 minutes. The astronauts will be instructed to close and lock the visors on their launch and entry helmets. At T-minus 1 minute, 57 seconds the replenishment of the flight load of liquid hydrogen in the external tank will be terminated and tank pressurization will begin.

1242:17 GMT (8:42:17 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. The main engine nozzles now being moved through a computer controlled test pattern to demonstrate their readiness to support guidance control during launch this morning.

1241:47 GMT (8:41:47 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 4 minutes. Activation of the APUs complete. The three units are up and running. The final helium purge sequence is under way in the main propulsion system. This procedure readies fuel system valves for engine start. In the next few seconds the aerosurfaces of Atlantis will be run through a pre-planned mobility test to ensure readiness for launch. This is also a dress rehearsal for flight of the orbiter's hydraulic systems.

1240:47 GMT (8:40:47 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes. Go for Auxiliary Power Unit start. Pilot Scott Altman is now flipping three switches in Atlantis' cockpit to start each of the three APU's. The units, located in the aft compartment of Atlantis, provide the pressure needed to power the hydraulic systems of the shuttle. The units will be used during the launch and landing phases of the mission for such events are moving the orbiter's aerosurfaces, gimbaling the main engine nozzles and deploying the landing gear.

Over the course of the next minute, the orbiter's heaters will be configured for launch by commander Terry Wilcutt, the fuel valve heaters on the main engines will be turned off in preparation for engine ignition at T-6.6 seconds and the external tank and solid rocket booster safe and arm devices will be armed.

1240:22 GMT (8:40:22 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes, 25 seconds. APU pre-start is complete and the units are ready for activation. The orbiters flight data recorders now in the record mode to collect measurements of shuttle systems performance during flight.

1239:47 GMT (8:39:47 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 6 minutes. Pilot Scott Altman has been asked by Orbiter Test Conductor George Gross to pre-start the orbiter Auxiliary Power Units. This procedure readies the three APU's for their activation at T-minus 5 minutes.

1238:17 GMT (8:38:17 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. The ground launch sequencer is now pulling the orbiter access arm away from the crew hatch on the port side of the vehicle. The arm was the passage way for the astronauts to board Atlantis a few hours ago. The arm can be re-extended in about a quarter of a minute should the need arise later in the countdown.

1237:47 GMT (8:37:47 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 8 minutes and counting. Pilot Scott Altman has flipped the switches in the cockpit of Atlantis to directly connect the three onboard fuel cells with the essential power buses. Also, the stored program commands have been issued to the orbiter.

The launch of STS-106 will mark the 99th flight in the space shuttle program since 1981, the 74th since return-to-flight after Challenger, the 22nd for Atlantis and the third shuttle flight of 2000.

1236:47 GMT (8:36:47 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes and counting. The ground launch sequencer is now up and running. Now in the final phase of today's countdown to launch of space shuttle Atlantis for liftoff at 8:45:47 a.m. EDT.

1232 GMT (8:32 a.m. EDT)

The final management poll has been completed by Launch Director Mike Leinbach. All systems are go for launch and the weather is GO, clearing the way for the countdown to be restarted at 8:36:47 a.m. EDT for liftoff on-time today at 8:45:47 a.m. EDT.

The earlier Range issue has been resolved.

Once the countdown picks up, the Ground Launch Sequencer will be initiated. The master computer program is located in a console in Firing Room 1 of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center. The GLS is the master of events through liftoff. During the last 9 minutes of the countdown, the computer will monitor as many as a thousand different systems and measurements to ensure that they do not fall out of any pre-determine red-line limits. At T-minus 31 seconds, the GLS will hand off to the onboard computers of Atlantis to complete their own automatic sequence of events through the final half minute of the countdown.

1231 GMT (8:31 a.m. EDT)

The final readiness poll by NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding has been completed with all parties "go" for launch. Mission Control has given its "go" which indictates Cape weather will be acceptable today.

1228 GMT (8:28 a.m. EDT)

The U.S. Air Force-run Eastern Range is currently "no go" for launch at this time. The Range is working a computer display problem. However, it is expected the Range will be ready to support for the launch at 8:45 a.m. EDT.

1220 GMT (8:20 a.m. EDT)

Now 25 minutes away from the scheduled launch of space shuttle Atlantis this morning. The latest update on the weather is conditions are currently observed and forecast to be "go" for launch at 8:45:47 a.m. EDT (1245:47 GMT). However, meteorologists are still watching any pop-up showers that could pose a problem.

1217 GMT (8:17 a.m. EDT)

The two solid rocket booster recovery ships are on station in the Atlantic Ocean about 140 miles northeast of Kennedy Space Center, off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. The ships will retrieve and return the spent boosters to the Cape for disassembly and shipment back to Utah for refurbishment and reuse on a future shuttle launch.

Follow the boosters' parachuted descent and splashdown in the Atlantic, the recovery teams will configure the SRBs for tow back to Port Canaveral, with arrival expected late this weekend.

The countdown is continuing toward this morning's planned 8:45:47 a.m. EDT (1245:47 GMT) launch.

1210 GMT (8:10 a.m. EDT)

The countdown remains in the built-in hold at T-minus 9 minutes. The major hurdle left to clear for Atlantis today is the weather. The situation is very iffy as a thunderstorm system heads toward the Kennedy Space Center. The question is whether Atlantis could launch before the system affects the Cape. But not only does conditions have to be acceptable at 8:45:47 a.m. EDT for liftoff, but NASA also has to ensure conditions would be within limits if the shuttle has to abort the launch and make an emergency landing back at KSC.

1156 GMT (7:56 a.m. EDT)

The final update to today's launch window has been announced. The launch time is set for 1245:47 GMT (8:45:47 a.m. EDT) with a three-minute, 54-second window extending to 1249:41 GMT (8:49:41 a.m. EDT).

1151 GMT (7:51 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes and holding. Countdown clocks have gone into the planned 44-minute, 47-second built-in hold leading toward liftoff at 1245:47 GMT (8:45:47 a.m. EDT). The available launch window extends to 8:49:44 a.m. EDT.

The countdown has been very smooth this morning with no technical problems threatening an on-time launch. But rainshowers are still a concern and weather will be a very close call.

1145 GMT (7:45 a.m. EDT)

Pilot Scott Altman is configuring the displays inside Atlantis' cockpit for launch. Also, Mission Control in Houston is loading Atlantis' onboard computers with the proper guidance parameters based on the projected launch time. And the Kennedy Space Center's launch danger area has been verified cleared of all workers.

1140 GMT (7:40 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The countdown has resumed after a 10-minute hold. Clocks will tick down for the next 11 minutes to T-minus 9 minutes where the final planned hold is scheduled to occur. Launch remains set for 1245:47 GMT (8:45:47 a.m. EDT), the opening of a three-minute, 57-second window. There are no technical problems being worked and weather is looking more promising.

Atlantis' onboard computers are now transitioning to the Major Mode-101 program, the primary ascent software. Also, engineers are dumping the Primary Avionics Software System (PASS) onboard computers. The data that is dumped from each of PASS computers is compared to verify that the proper software is loaded aboard for launch.

In about one minute, the astronauts will configure the backup computer to MM-101 and the test team will verify backup flight control system (BFS) computer is tracking the PASS computer systems.

1130 GMT (7:30 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has paused for a 10-minute built-in hold. Launch remains scheduled for 1245:47 GMT (8:45:47 a.m. EDT).

During this built-in hold, all computer programs in Firing Room 1 of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center will be verified to ensure that the proper programs are available for the countdown; the landing convoy status will be verified and the landing sites will be checked to support an abort landing during launch today; the Inertial Measurement Unit preflight alignment will be verified completed; and preparations are made to transition the orbiter onboard computers to Major Mode 101 upon coming out of the hold. This configures the computer memory to a terminal countdown configuration.

1120 GMT (7:20 a.m. EDT)

At this time, the ground pyro initiator controllers (PICs) are scheduled to be powered up. They are used to fire the solid rocket hold-down posts, liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tail service mast and external tank vent arm system pyros at liftoff and the space shuttle main engine hydrogen gas burn system prior to engine ignition. Atlantis' two Enhanced Master Events Controllers will be tested, too. They relay the commands from the shuttle's computers to ignite, and then separate the boosters and external tank during launch.

Also, commander Terry Wilcutt has pressurized the gaseous nitrogen system for Atlantis' Orbital Maneuvering System engines, and pilot Scott Altman has activated the gaseous nitrogen supply for the orbiter's Auxiliary Power Units' water boilers.

1112 GMT (7:12 a.m. EDT)

The Range Safety countdown hold tests have been completed. This ensures the Range could stop the count in the final seconds if a safety issue is raised.

1109 GMT (7:09 a.m. EDT)

The U.S. Air Force has updated its launch weather forecast and the picture is improving. The area of storms to the northeast of Kennedy Space Center has slowed and is not expected to arrive in the local area for another three hours. That would be after Atlantis' planned 8:45:47 a.m. EDT (1245:47 GMT) launch time. However, any pop-up showers around the Cape would still be a problem.

1106 GMT (7:06 a.m. EDT)

The mainline activation of the ground launch sequencer has been completed. The GLS is the master computer program that controls the final nine minutes of the countdown.

1057 GMT (6:57 a.m. EDT)

The sun has risen here at Kennedy Space Center, and daylight has revealed the extensive clouds around the launch site.

1050 GMT (6:50 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 hour and counting. Space shuttle Atlantis remains in good shape for liftoff at 8:45:47 a.m. EDT (1245:47 GMT) today. There are built-in hold planned at T-minus 20 minutes and T-minus 9 minutes in the countdown.

The launch team is not working any technical problems. But the weather remains a big concern here in Central Florida today with rainshowers in the area.

The S-band antennas at the MILA tracking station here at the Cape are shifting from low power to high power. The site will provide voice, data and telemetry relay between Atlantis and Mission Control during the first few minutes of flight. Coverage then is handed to a NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite in space.

Also the pre-flight alignment of Atlantis' Inertial Measurement Units is now beginning, and will be completed by the T-minus 20 minute mark. The IMUs were calibrated over the past few hours of the countdown. The three units are used by the onboard navigation systems to determine the position of the orbiter in flight.

1035 GMT (6:35 a.m. EDT)

The launch window has been updated, as expected, based on the latest tracking of the international space station's orbit. The window will open at 8:45:47 a.m. EDT and extend three minutes and 57 seconds to 8:49:44 a.m. EDT (1245:47-1249:44 GMT).

1034 GMT (6:34 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' crew module hatch has been closed. Pressure and leak checks will now be performed.

1026 GMT (6:26 a.m. EDT)

The "go" has been given to close Atlantis' crew module hatch.

1022 GMT (6:22 a.m. EDT)

NASA commentator Bruce Buckingham says the tracking of rainshowers off the coast may be slowing slightly, which might mean they stay far enough away to allow launch of Atlantis this morning. But given the short 2 1/2-to-four minute launch window, the weather is going to be either acceptable or not, and NASA won't have time to wait for conditions to improve.

1020 GMT (6:20 a.m. EDT)

With all the astronauts strapped aboard, the Atlantis crew is conducting air-to-ground voice communications checks.

Also in the countdown, the booster test conductor will verify the chamber pressure in the twin solid rocket motors. Sensors measure pressure in the thrust chambers at nozzles of the boosters. The data tells onboard computers when the boosters have consumed their solid-fuel propellant and should be separated in-flight.

1012 GMT (6:12 a.m. EDT)

The latest word on the weather situation here at the Kennedy Space Center is not overly encouraging. The U.S. Air Force reports there are a lot of showers off the coast and drifting toward Cape Canaveral. There can't be any showers within 20 miles if Atlantis is to fly today. Low cloud ceilings is a concern, too.

1004 GMT (6:04 a.m. EDT)

The final Atlantis astronaut has boarded the shuttle today. Rick Mastracchio, mission specialist No. 2 and flight engineer, has now entered the hatch. He will sit in the flight deck center seat.

You can read Mastracchio's biography in our Crew Report.

0956 GMT (3:56 a.m. EDT)

Yuri Malenchenko, mission specialist No. 4, is now onboard Atlantis. He will sit in the middeck center seat.

You can read Malenchenko's biography in our Crew Report.

0953 GMT (5:53 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' mission specialist No. 1, Ed Lu, has board the shuttle. He will sit in the flight deck forward right seat.

You can read Lu's biography in our Crew Report.

0948 GMT (5:48 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' mission specialist No. 3, Dan Burbank, has board the shuttle. He will sit in the middeck left seat.

You can read Burbank's biography in our Crew Report.

0936 GMT (5:36 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' pilot, Scott Altman, has entered the shuttle's hatch. He will sit in the flight deck forward right seat.

You can read Horowitz's biography in our Crew Report.

0925 GMT (5:25 a.m. EDT)

Mission specialist No. 5 and Russian cosmonaut Boris Morukov has boarded Atlantis. Morukov will sit in the middeck right seat.

You can read Morukov's biography in our Crew Report.

0924 GMT (5:24 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis commander Terry Wilcutt has become the first astronaut to enter the shuttle today. He will sit in the flight deck forward left seat.

You can read Wilcutt's biography in our Crew Report.

0920 GMT (5:20 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' seven astronauts have taken the elevator up the fixed service structure at launch pad 39B to the 195-foot level. This is where the Orbiter Access Arm is located with the White Room. In the White Room the crew will be outfitted with the rest of their gear and communications hat before entering Atlantis' crew module hatch.

0918 GMT (5:18 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle astronauts have arrived at launch pad 39B.

0857 GMT (4:57 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' astronauts are on their way to the launch pad. They have departed the Operations & Checkout Building, which serves as the living quarters for the flight crew while at Kennedy Space Center. The ride out to pad 39B, on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, will take about 20 minutes.

The convoy will stop at the Launch Control Center for the NASA management and chief NASA astronaut Charlie Precourt to exit the Astrovan. The managers will take their positions in Firing Room 1 while Precourt heads over to the Shuttle Landing Facility to begin weather reconnaissance flights in a T-38 jet. Later he will switch to the modified Gulfstream jet, which is known as the Shuttle Training Aircraft because its flying characteristics are very similar to the space shuttle.

0850 GMT (4:50 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 hours and counting. Countdown clocks have resumed following this two-hour planned hold. The count will continue to T-minus 20 minutes where the next built-in hold will occur. Launch is still scheduled for about 1245 GMT (8:45 a.m. EDT). There are no technical problems being worked, however, the weather looks like it will be a challenge this morning.

The astronauts are expected to depart their quarters for the launch pad in about five minutes.

0820 GMT (4:20 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis stands fully fueled and ready for launch from pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The loading of 528,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the external tank began at 0419 GMT (12:19 a.m. EDT). The operation went smoothly and was completed three hours later. A stable replenishment mode then started to continuously top-off the respective tanks within the external tank through the final minutes of the countdown.

Following tanking procedures, a team called the Final Inspection Team was dispatched to the pad to check the vehicle one last time prior to liftoff. Currently, the six-person team, comprised of five engineers and one safety official, is performing the inspections at pad 39B. At the conclusion of their two-hour tour-of-duty, they will have walked up and down the entire 380-foot fixed service structure and mobile launcher platform.

The team is on the lookout for any abnormal ice or frost build-up on the vehicle that could break-off during ignition and damage the spacecraft. The team, which is headed by Greg Katnik of the Kennedy Space Center, is also looking for any loose debris that could possibly fly up and strike the launch vehicle. And the third item of interest to the team is the thermal integrity of the external tank foam insulation.

The team uses a portable infrared scanner that gathers temperature measurements on the surface area of the vehicle and can spot leaks. The scanner will be used to obtain temperature data on the external tank, solid rocket boosters, space shuttle orbiter, main engines and launch pad structures. The scanner can also spot leaks of the cryogenic propellants, and due to its ability to detect distinct temperature differences, can spot any dangerous hydrogen fuel that is burning. One teammember is also responsible for photo documentation.

Each member of the Final Inspection Team is in constant contact with NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding in Firing Room 1.

The team wears the highly visible day-glo-orange coveralls that are anti-static and flame resistant. Each member also has a self-contained emergency breathing unit that holds about 10 minutes of air.

Following the Final Inspection Team's activities, Greg Katnik will meet with NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach, the Mission Management Team, and engineering directors in the launch control center. Katnik will give the managers a full and detailed report on the team's inspections and findings at the pad 39B.

A full inspection of the vehicle and pad was performed yesterday and the external tank received a thorough check prior to fueling.

An inspection of the launch pad and beach will be made following launch today. That inspection will be to look for anything unusual, particularly anything that could have fallen off of the vehicle during the first few seconds of flight. Later there will be a meeting to review high-speed videotape and film of the launch and early ascent to determine if there was any damage to the vehicle.

0804 GMT (4:04 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis commander Terry Wilcutt, pilot Scott Altman and flight engineer Rick Mastracchio are now receiving a weather briefing from the Spaceflight Meteorology Group based at Mission Control in Houston on the conditions expected at the abort landing sites around the globe.

At this point, all sites are forecast acceptable with one notable exception: Kennedy Space Center. The forecast is still calling for a chance of showers within 20 miles, which would prohibit the shuttle's launch.

The U.S. Air Force, which is responsible for providing weather forecasts and status at the launch pad, predicts a 60 percent chance of meeting the launch weather rules.

Separately, the Spaceflight Meteorology Group is responsible for landing site weather. SMG is concerned about rain and also the possibility of a low cloud ceiling at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, which is where Atlantis would make an emergency return to Earth if a problem occurs in the first minutes of flight.

The Air Force's launch weather forecast for pad 39B is calling for clouds scattered to broken at 3,000 and scattered at 25,000 feet, 7 miles visibility, northerly winds 3 to 5 knots, a temperature of 74 degrees and dewpoint of 69 degrees, relative humidity of 82 percent and coastal rainshowers.

At the Shuttle Landing Facility a few miles inland from the launch pad, SMG expects clouds scattered at 2,000 and 10,000 feet and broken at 25,000 feet, 7 miles visibility, north winds 4 peaking at 8 knots and a chance of showers within 20 miles.

0750 GMT (3:50 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' astronauts have just been seated for a final pre-launch snack in the dining room at the Operations & Checkout Building. The crew will begin suiting up in about a half-hour before departing for the pad at 5 a.m. EDT (0900 GMT).

The crew was awakened at 7:30 p.m. EDT last night to begin what should be Flight Day 1 of shuttle mission STS-106.

At this point the countdown is half-way through the two-hour planned hold at T-minus 3 hours. Clocks are due to resume ticking at 4:50 a.m. EDT for today's liftoff, which is now targeted to occur at 8:45:47 a.m. EDT (1245:47 GMT). However, that time will be refined later this morning based upon the latest tracking data of the international space station's orbit.

0730 GMT (3:30 a.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis' external fuel tank is now full with its load of 528,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The three-hour fueling operation began at 12:19 a.m. The super-cold cryogenics will be replenished continuously throughout the remainder of the countdown to replace that which naturally boils away.

With tanking completed, the Final Inspection Team and Orbiter Closeout Crew will be dispatched to pad 39B to begin their respective pre-launch tasks. The inspection team will walk up and down the entire pad structure to check for any ice or debris and perform a thorough examination of the external tank's outer surface. Meanwhile, the closeout workers will ready Atlantis' crew module in advance of the astronauts' arrive for boarding later this morning.

0428 GMT (12:28 a.m. EDT)

Super-cold rocket fuel is flowing into space shuttle Atlantis at launch pad 39B at this hour as the countdown stays on course for blastoff at 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 GMT).

The shuttle launch team, stationed in Firing Room 1 of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center, began loading Atlantis' external fuel tank with 528,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen at 12:19 a.m. EDT (0419 GMT). The process will take three-hours to complete as the cryogenics are pumped from storage spheres at the pad, through feed lines to the mobile launcher platform and into Atlantis.

The seven astronauts were awakened about four hours ago to begin final preparations for their 11 to 12-day voyage in space. We will next see the crew, commanded by Terry Wilcutt, at 3:50 a.m. EDT (0750 GMT) when they sit down for a snack and traditional pre-launch photo opportunity in the dining room of the Operations & Checkout Building.

Meanwhile, weather forecasters are keeping a close eye to the sky because rainshowers around the Kennedy Space Center poise a real threat to scuttle the shuttle's scheduled launch attempt. Overall, the forecast continues to call for a 60 percent chance of meeting the launch weather rules. Officials are simply hoping the showers will be far enough away at launch time.

Additionally, the Spaceflight Meteorology Group based in Mission Control, which is responsible for forecasting weather at the abort landing sites worldwide, remains concerned the showers will violate the separate rules governing the emergency runway at Kennedy Space Center. The site would be used if Atlantis had to abort its launch in the first minutes of flight.

The KSC forecast at the Shuttle Landing Facility is calling for clouds scattered at 3,000 and 25,000 feet, 7 miles visibility, north-northwesterly winds 5 peaking to 10 knots and a chance of showers within 20 miles, which would be a constraint.

Other abort sites look fine, with California's Edwards Air Force Base expecting only a few clouds at 20,000 feet, 7 miles visibility and southwesterly winds 8 peaking to 14 knots; Whites Sands, New Mexico, should see a few clouds at 6,000 and scattered clouds at 12,000 feet, 7 miles visibility and southeasterly winds 5 peaking to 8 knots.

Overseas at the Trans-Oceanic Abort Landing sites (TALs), Zaragoza, Spain, is expecting a few clouds at 5,000 and broken clouds at 20,000 feet, 7 miles visibility and easterly winds 4 peaking to 6 knots; Moron, Spain, is forecast to have clear skies, 7 miles visibility and easterly winds 6 peaking to 10 knots; and Ben Guerir, Morocco, is calling for a few clouds at 4,000 feet, 7 miles visibility and north-northeasterly winds 6 peaking to 12 knots.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2000
0345 GMT (11:45 p.m. EDT)

NASA officials have given the approval to begin loading space shuttle Atlantis' external fuel tank with a half-million gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. However, the three-hour process -- originally scheduled to start about 15 minutes ago -- is on a temporary hold while technicians work through a computer issue, a space agency spokeswoman says.

An unidentified computer crashed earlier this evening and efforts are underway to verify it is now working, the spokeswoman said. Once the check is complete, fueling will commence.

Otherwise, Atlantis remains scheduled for liftoff at about 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 GMT) in the morning. The weather forecast remains 60 percent "go" for launch.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2000
2130 GMT (5:30 p.m. EDT)

Space shuttle Atlantis is weathering a stormy afternoon in Central Florida as the final hours of the countdown tick away. Liftoff remains scheduled for about 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 GMT), with the exact time to be established about 90 minutes in advance based upon tracking of the international space station's orbit.

The seven astronauts are currently asleep in their quarters at Kennedy Space Center's Operations & Checkout Building. The crew is due to be awakened at 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 GMT) to begin their launch day activities, including breakfast a half-hour later.

The countdown has resumed from the half-day hold at T-minus 11 hours. Clocks will proceed to T-minus 6 where a two-hour-long hold is planned starting at 9:50 p.m. EDT (0130 GMT).

At launch pad 39B, final efforts are underway to ready the complex for tonight's three-hour operation to load 528,000 gallons of super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the shuttle's bullet-shaped external fuel tank. The so-called "tanking" process is expected to commence around 11:30 p.m. EDT (0330 GMT).

Read our story previewing tomorrow's launch.

1800 GMT (2:00 p.m. EDT)

Retraction of the rotating service structure began a few moments ago at launch pad 39B. The gantry-like structure encloses the shuttle while it is being prepared for launch and protects the vehicle from the weather. It normally takes about 40 minutes to move the gantry into its "parked" position for launch.

1400 GMT (10:00 a.m. EDT)

The shuttle launch countdown continued smoothly overnight and all activities remain on track for liftoff of Atlantis tomorrow, NASA officials reported this morning. Liftoff remains set to occur during a launch window extending from 8:40 to 8:51 a.m. EDT (1240-1251 GMT), with the preferred time of 8:45 a.m. EDT.

Atlantis' power reactant and storage distribution system -- the fuel cells -- was loaded with its supply of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen on Wednesday without any difficulty.

The launch team is currently in the process of activating Atlantis' communications systems. In the past few hours, functional checks of the shuttle's star tracker navigation devices were performed and the Inertial Measurement Units were activated.

The gantry-like rotating service structure, which provides the primary access and weather protection for Atlantis while at the pad, is scheduled to be retracted to the launch position at 12:30 p.m. EDT. Pad 39B will be cleared of all workers later tonight in advance of pumping a half-million gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the shuttle's external fuel tank starting around 11:20 p.m. EDT.

Countdown clocks are currently stopped at T-minus 11 hours for the planned 13-hour, 50-minute hold that began at 3 a.m. EDT and should end at 4:50 p.m. EDT.

The weather forecast for Friday's launch attempt remains unchanged with a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions. Coastal rainshowers will be the biggest concern tomorrow. The forecast for Saturday is nearly identical with the same odds of launching.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2000
2140 GMT (4:40 p.m. EDT)

Senior NASA officials this afternoon cleared space shuttle Atlantis for launch on Friday morning following the traditional L-2 Day Mission Management Team meeting at Kennedy Space Center.

There are no technical problems being worked by the launch team as the countdown continues on track towards liftoff at about 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 GMT) from pad 39B.

Earlier today the shuttle's navigation systems were turned on and tested, and cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen reactants were loaded into Atlantis' three power-producing fuel cells.

The countdown is currently holding at T-minus 19 hours for a planned 4-hour pause. Clocks are set to resume at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT) tonight. During this hold, the schedule calls for the fuel cell's umbilical unit, which feed the super-cold cryos into the shuttle, will be retracted into the launch pad structure.

Later tonight teams are supposed to perform final preparations of the three main engines for flight and finish closing out the mobile launcher platform in advance of the launch.

1422 GMT (10:22 a.m. EDT)

The countdown continues at launch complex 39 for Friday's launch of shuttle Atlantis on a mission to the fledgling International Space Station. Launch pad 39B was struck by lightning last night and work fell behind schedule due to the storm. NASA officials report no damage to the launch pad or the shuttle vehicle and workers will easily be able to catch up on pre-flight preparations.

The weather forecast for Friday continues to show a 60 percent chance of acceptable weather for launch.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2000
1639 GMT (12:39 p.m. EDT)

We have posted a full story on the start of the countdown.

1501 GMT (11:01 a.m. EDT)

The countdown is underway for Friday's launch of space shuttle Atlantis. The launch team started the countdown clocks ticking backwards at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) from the T-minus 43 hour mark. The count is being run from Firing Room 1 of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center.

The count includes 26 hours and 45 minutes of planned hold time leading to liftoff at 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 GMT) on Friday morning. The precise launch time will be adjusted based upon the orbit of international space station, which Atlantis will chase down for rendezvous on Sunday. The final built-in hold at T-minus 9 minutes will be used to synch up with the correct launch time.

The schedule for the rest of this afternoon calls for technicians to begin final close-outs of the shuttle vehicle and launch pad systems, review the flight software stored in Atlantis' mass memory units and display systems and load the backup flight system software into shuttle's general purpose computers.

The early weather forecast shows a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions for launch. The main threat is coastal rainshowers around Kennedy Space Center that would present a constraint to launching Atlantis in the short 2 1/2-to-five minute window of opportunity.

Should the launch be delayed to Saturday for some reason, the weather forecast improves to a 70 percent of good conditions with coastal rainshowers less likely. The forecast for Sunday is even better -- an 80 percent of launching -- with ground fog the only concern.

NASA officials say there is only one technical problem of any significance being addressed. Test Director Jeff Spaulding told reporters this morning that a TACAN navigation device at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility runway was hit by lightning. Efforts are currently ongoing to determine the extent of damage to the TACAN. Officials say they expect the system to be back online by Friday. But even if it can't be fixed in time, there are backup navigation aides for the shuttle and this won't be roadblock to the launch.

Atlantis, itself, remains in good shape for its 22nd trip to space.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2000
2358 GMT (7:58 p.m. EDT)

With flashes of lightning from a nearby thunderstorm illuminating the evening sky, the seven space shuttle astronauts touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida moments ago in advance of their launch on Friday morning.

Watch a QuickTime video clip of the astronauts' comments to reporters after their arrival.

The crew flew to the Cape an hour earlier than originally planned in order to beat the approaching thunderstorms that are moving into the KSC area.

Over the next several days the astronauts will undergo final medical exams, review flight plans, check out their space suits and have time to relax with family members. In addition, commander Terry Wilcutt and pilot Scott Altman will practice landing approaches at KSC's three-mile-long shuttle runway.

At launch pad 39B, Atlantis' aft engine compartment has been closed and locked for flight and a confidence check was performed Saturday. No significant work occurred on Sunday or today in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

The three-day countdown is slated to begin in Firing Room 1 of the Launch Control Center on Tuesday at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT). The entire launch team will report on station a half-hour before the clocks start ticking.

Friday's launch is scheduled for about 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 GMT), with the exact liftoff time to be set 90 minutes in advance based upon the international space station's orbit.

2220 GMT (6:20 p.m. EDT)

The seven-man crew of space shuttle Atlantis is headed to Kennedy Space Center tonight from their home base in Houston in preparation for Friday's scheduled blastoff to the international space station. The astronauts are running about an hour early with their departure from Ellington Field outside the Johnson Space Center. Arrival at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility is expected around 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT).

The crew is commanded by Terry Wilcutt, with pilot Scott Altman and mission specialists Ed Lu, Richard Mastracchio, Daniel Burbank, Yuri Malenchenko and Boris Morukov.

Check back later tonight for another update after the crew touches down, plus we will provide updates tomorrow once the countdown gets underway at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT).

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2000

NASA officials today cleared space shuttle Atlantis for launch on Sept. 8 after the agency-wide Flight Readiness Review. The meeting examined all aspects of mission preparations with no significant concerns uncovered.

Liftoff remains targeted to occur at approximately 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 GMT) on Sept. 8. The exact liftoff time, however, will be established some 90 minutes in advanced based on the latest radar tracking of the international space station's orbit around Earth.

If Atlantis launches on schedule, sufficient onboard consumables likely will permit the mission to be lenghtened an extra day to a duration of 12 days. A decision on mission extension would be made around Fli