STS-99 Mission Report
Photo Gallery:
Endeavour lifts off

SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: February 11, 2000


Space shuttle Endeavour was launched from pad 39A today to begin an 11-day Earth radar mapping mission. Images: NASA TV/Spaceflight Now.

Main engine start
The three liquid-fueled main engines of Endeavour rumble to life at T-minus 6.6 seconds. Computers checked engine performance in the moments prior to liftoff.
Engines
Liftoff!
Endeavour and six-person crew begin the first human space mission of the new decade, century and millennium.
Liftoff
Tower clear
About six seconds after the solid rocket boosters ignited, Endeavour cleared the 380-foot tall fixed service structure at pad 39A.
Tower
In the roll
After the brief vertical rise, Endeavour began a programmed roll maneuver to align with the proper launch heading.
Starting roll
Black door
As Endeavour completes the roll and is bound for a northeast trajectory away from Kennedy Space Center, note the black access door on the external tank. Some people were concerned the door had fallen off, but it did not.
Tank
Heading out of town
The shuttle heads toward an orbit inclined 57 degrees to either side of the Earth's equator.
Out of town
Mission Status Center
For the latest updates on the progress of STS-99 see Spaceflight Now's regularly updated Mission Status Center.

Flight data file
Vehicle: Endeavour (OV-105)
Payload: SRTM
Launch date: Feb. 11, 2000
Launch window: 1730-1940 GMT (12:30-2:40 p.m. EST)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Landing date: Feb. 22, 2000
Landing time: 2151 GMT (4:51 p.m. EST)
Landing site: SLF, KSC
Crew: Kregel, Gorie, Kavandi, Voss, Mohri, Thiele

Video vault
Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off Friday from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida for an 11-day mission.
  PLAY (480k, 44sec QuickTime file)
A camera atop the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center captured this video of Endeavour launching about 3 1/2 miles away.
  PLAY (311k, 39sec QuickTime file)
A tracking camera positioned in front of launch pad 39A gives this dramatic view of shuttle Endeavour lifting off.
  PLAY (210k, 27sec QuickTime file)
Endeavour's six international astronauts depart their quarters on Friday for launch pad 39A to board the shuttle.
  PLAY (136k, 12sec QuickTime file)
Download QuickTime 4 software to view this file.

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MISSION STATUS CENTER