STS-98 Countdown Highlights
COMPILED BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
Updated: January 30, 2001

The STS-98 countdown is timed to hit zero at the opening of Atlantis' theoretical 10-minute launch (planar) window at 6:06:14 a.m. EST on February 7. The preferred launch time, the moment when the launch pad is directly in the plane of the international space station's orbit, is 06:11:14 a.m. The start of a final hold at the T-minus nine-minute mark is timed for the opening of the 10-minute planar window. The hold will be extended as required based on final radar tracking of the space station to hit the preferred launch time. The chart below reflects that extension.

Change History:

01/07: Posting initial countdown chart
01/09: Updating with latest crew schedule
01/28: Posting preliminary terminal countdown for February 7
01/30: Adding updated crew timeline; complete countdown

	L-3: Sunday, February 4
10:30 a .m.	STS-98 astronauts depart Houston
01:30 p.m.	Astronauts arrive at Kennedy Space Center SLF
02:00 p.m.	Crew tagup with suit techs and flight data file personnel
09:30 p.m.	Crew sleep begins
09:30 p.m.	Firing room call to stations for start of countdown
10:00 p.m.	STS-98 countdown begins at the T-minus 43-hour mark
10:00 p.m.	Cockpit display and instrumentation tests and checkout
	L-2: Monday, February 5
05:30 a.m.	Crew wakeup
06:00 a.m.	Crew medical exams
06:00 a.m.	Cockpit checkout complete; begin fuel cell loading preps
07:15 a.m.	Cockrell and Polansky take an unsuited STA training flight
09:00 a.m.	Crew reviews flight data file
02:00 p.m.	Begin a four-hour hold at T-minus 27 hours
03:00 p.m.	Shuttle pyro initiator resistance test
04:30 p.m.	Cockrell and mission specialists make T-38 flights
06:00 p.m.	Countdown resumes
06:00 p.m.	Fuel cell liquid hydrogen/oxygen loading begin
09:30 p.m.	Crew sleep begins
	L-1: Tuesday, February 6
02:00 a.m.	Fuel cell reactant loading complete
02:00 a.m.	The countdown enters a four-hour hold at T-minus 19 hours
02:00 a.m.	Secure fuel cell loading arm (OMBUU)
05:30 a.m.	Crew wakeup
06:00 a.m.	The countdown resumes at the T-minus 19-hour mark
06:00 a .m.	Main engine final preps begin; tail service masts secured
07:30 a.m.	The crew attends vehicle, weather, payload briefings
01:30 p.m.	Cockrell, Polansky, Curbeam and Ivins make T-38 flights
02:00 p.m.	The countdown enters a 12-hour 16-minute hold at T-11 hours
04:36 p.m.	Communications systems activation begins
06:00 p.m.	Cockrell, Polansky take an unsuited STA flight
09:30 p.m.	Crew sleep begins
10:00 p.m.	The launch pad service gantry is retracted
	L-0: Wednesday, February 7
02:16 a.m.	The countdown resumes at the T-minus 11-hour mark
02:16 a.m.	Begin final fueling preparations
04:46 a.m.	Clear launch pad of non-essential personnel
06:30 a.m.	Crew wakeup
07:16 a .m.	Countdown enters a two-hour hold at T-minus six hours
07:16 a.m.	Mission management team meets to give go/no-go for fueling
09:16 a.m.	T-minus six hours: Resume countdown
09:16 a.m.	Begin fueling
12:16 p.m.	Fueling complete; external tank in stable replenish mode
12:16 p.m.	T-minus three hours: Begin a two-hour hold
01:00 p.m.	NASA television coverage begins
01:10 p.m.	Crew snack photo opportunity
01:41 p.m.	Crew receives a final weather briefing
01:51 p.m.	Crew suitup
02:16 p.m.	The countdown resumes at the T-minus three-hour mark
02:21 p.m.	The astronauts depart crew quarters, head for launch pad
02:51 p.m.	The astronauts begin strapping in for launch
04:06 p.m.	The shuttle's cabin hatch is closed for flight
04:56 p.m.	T-minus 20 minutes: Begin a 10-minute hold
05:06 p.m.	T-minus 20 minutes: Resume countdown
05:07 p.m.	Backup flight computer verification
05:17 p.m.	T-minus nine minutes: Begin adjustable final hold
06:00 p.m.	Mission management team gives final "go" for launch
06:02 p.m.	T-minus nine minutes: Resume countdown
06:06 p.m.	Planar launch window opens
06:06 p.m.	Auxilliary power unit start
06:11 p.m.	Launch of mission STS-98
06:16 p.m.	Planar launch window closes
06:20 p.m.	Main engine cutoff; shuttle reaches preliminary orbit