BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Follow the mission of space shuttle Atlantis and the resident crew living aboard the International Space Station. Reload this page for the very latest.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2002
0005 GMT (8:05 p.m. EDT Tues.)

Activities went well aboard Atlantis Tuesday as the crew checked out equipment for use later in the mission. The shuttle is scheduled to dock to the space station on Wednesday. Watch this page for live updates during the rendezvous!

Here is the latest Mission Control status report with a recap of Tuesday in space:

After Monday's exciting launch, the STS-112 crew today settled into preparations for Wednesday's rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station, and the first of three spacewalks Thursday.

After arising at 5:46 a.m. EDT, the crew began its first full day on orbit with Pilot Pam Melroy assisting Mission Specialists Dave Wolf and Piers Sellers in a checkout of spacewalk suits and equipment. Commander Jeff Ashby worked with the prime robotic arm operator, Mission Specialist Sandy Magnus, to verify the arm's readiness. Ashby and Magnus powered up the arm for a video survey of Atlantis' payload bay.

In preparation for Wednesday's rendezvous and docking with the station at 11:24 a.m. EDT, the crew set up the orbiter docking system's centerline camera, extended the orbiter's spring-loaded ring that will make first contact, and checked out rendezvous tools.

The crew successfully completed three Orbital Maneuvering System burns to boost the orbiter into the station's orbit and refine its approach path to the station.

Science already is getting underway on Atlantis with Wolf leading check-out activities for the SHIMMER experiment sponsored by the Naval Research Lab. The Spatial Heterodyne Imager for Mesospheric Radicals experiment uses an ultraviolet sensing camera to observe the Earth's atmosphere at 40-90 kilometers looking for possible ozone loss. The experiment proved a bit balky, but with help from Mission Control the crew worked out steps to ready the gear for observations during the mission.

Meanwhile, the space station residents readied their home for the first visitors in the 123 days since their arrival at the vehicle. Peggy Whitson and crewmates Valery Korzun and Sergei Treschev have been prepacking materials to return on Atlantis and to make room for about 7,500 pounds of gear arriving at the station.

Both crews will head for sleep two hours earlier than Monday at 7:46 p.m. to get plenty of rest before Wednesday's busy day. Rendezvous operations begin at 6:06 a.m., with station docking scheduled for 11:24 a.m. EDT. Hatch opening between Atlantis and the station is expected at 1:36 p.m. EDT.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2002
1130 GMT (7:30 a.m. EDT)

Before going to bed last night, Atlantis astronauts Sandra Magnus and Piers Sellers, both making their first flights, providing a detailed glimpse of what it's like to ride a space shuttle:

SELLERS: The whole business of getting off the ground was a lot more violent, I think, than either of us thought. We kind of looked at each other and our eyebrows went up and then the whole world seemed to turn around, the sun flashed across the cockpit as we rolled and then we just kept getting faster and faster, everything shaking and banging away. We're coming up on SRB (solid rocket booster) separation... Sandy?

MAGNUS: We were getting ready for SRB sep and we were focused on the, uh... and you can see us right there checking the mirror, we were kind of pointing at each other and saying, 'hey, you've gotta look at this, you've gotta look at this, this is really cool!' We were watching the ground fall away behind us with the clouds and the Earth just falling away as we were getting up here. We were also wondering how the ET camera footage was going to look, so we're really anxious to see that when we get back down there.

It wasn't as shaky as I thought it was going to be, actually. But it was definitely noisy. And we're getting ready for SRB sep here... and there is SRB sep! And I couldn't stop myself, I had to say 'wow!' because it was such a bright, flashing light and a big noise. And I'll turn it over to Piers...

SELLERS: Yeah, we saw the flash and felt a big thump - something dramatic happened! - and it really smoothed out for a little while as we moved forward on the shuttle's main engines. Sandy and I could see the stuff, the fuel (from booster separation motors), coming by the windows, all very dramatic. And while all this was going on, the sky was turning colors, going from blue to kind of a deep, dark blue and slowing changing to black. Somewhere around about here, we ... passed the 50-mile point.

MAGNUS: Of course, the 50-mile point is the place where we became official astronauts. We kind of looked at each other and went, 'wow!' That's pretty cool. And it was really special because Piers and I are classmates, so we were sharing this together. And we hollered down to the middeck to let Fyodor (Yurchikhin, a cosmonaut making his first flight) know as well that we were truly astronauts now. And we continued on our way and Piers is right, it really was a lot smoother here, although you could still, of course, here the roaring of the engines.

We were all fixated on the CRTs and looking at what the data was doing and sneaking looks in the mirror occasionally. It was real interesting to see the clouds. You can see us right there looking in the mirror and I was like, 'Piers, you've gotta see this!' Because there's all kinds of neat clouds going by underneath us and the texture was amazing. We were sharing the mirror there, back and forth, trying to... this is actually the 50-nautical mile point, right here, you can see us celebrating a little bit... You know, there were times, I was really focused on trying to do my MS-2 job and make the right calls and Piers was doing a great job of calling the comm boundaries, but I have to tell you, half my brain was trying to absorb all the sounds and sights and feelings and trying to remember the moment.

SELLERS: Yeah, it was really strange. There you were, trying to do all the stuff you've been trained to do in the (shuttle simulator) and there is something familiar about this from the sim, but there's something else going on out there that is totally unfamiliar. Sandy and I were looking at each other, and looking at the scenery just change, second by second, out the windows. It was unbelievable. You could really feel yourself hurtling through the air and then through space, faster and faster and faster. And it was quite extraordinary.

MAGNUS: I have to tell you, the other thing that was going through my mind was picturing all the people at the Cape who were watching the launch. Having seen a launch once or twice before, I was trying to imagine what they were look at and what they were thinking because, having seen it from the outside and now being on the inside, it was really interesting because I just pictured everybody out there at Banana Creek, at the LCC, everywhere, just watching and watching and watching. And here we were just shaking and rattling and heading all the way up to space.

SELLERS: As you can see, things are pretty smooth, the motors (main engines) are just burning away behind us. What's happening now is the acceleration is beginning to pick up and we're all beginning to feel the load build, mostly shoving you back into your seat. And really toward the last minute or so, it kind of got mostly uncomfortable. You're being stuffed back in your seat and all the little lumps in your suit and things in your seat back are beginning to stick into you. Luckily, we over ate at crew quarters so there was plenty of padding.

MAGNUS: You just saw me shake the mirror at Piers, I was like, 'Piers, Piers, you've gotta see this.' We're starting the roll here and what was happening was we were far enough up that you could see the horizon so we weren't just looking at clouds with texture ... and it was absolutely gorgeous! We had the bright blue and puffy white clouds of the Earth and then as you got up above the horizon a little bit more the blues got deeper and deeper and deeper and it was just like one big blue rainbow as it went through the different shades of blue. It was gorgeous. If I hadn't have been strapped in my seat I would have just been floating for the sheer joy of it at that point.

SELLERS: So right now we're at about three Gs, shoving us back in our seats here, coming up on mach 20. As you can see, one of my checklists has decided to go for a walk there, it's ripped itself off the velcro and it's just hanging straight back. The mach numbers are really streaking by now, going very, very fast. It's a little uncomfortable, 30 seconds to go (until main engine cutoff). Sandy and I don't really know what to expect in 30 seconds. All I could think about was how this was aching a little bit. You should see MECO when my checklist in the right hand corner of the screen just goes weightless, you'll see it happen. Right now, my checklist, along with my brain and my kidneys is being pulled back at 3 Gs... and there it is, MECO, you can see how the cables go limp and stuff starts floating around in the cabin. And Sandy and I are just suddenly sort of floating out of our seats.

MAGNUS: "It was really noticeable once we hit MECO that we started floating out of our seats. And I just had to do it, I put my checklist in front of me and I let go of it and it was just floating there, and it was like, 'Piers, look! It's floating!' I just started giggling because it was so cool.

Astronaut Cady Coleman in mission control thanked the astronauts for narrating the in-cabin view, saying "I just can't thank you enough for sharing that experience."

"We sure wish we cold bring you guys up here because this IS an experience," Magnus replied. "Unfortunately, I don't know if words can really convey it ... but I wish you could all be here."

"And for everybody down there, I can't wait until they invent antigravity and you do this, too!"

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

The six Atlantis astronauts are awake and beginning the chores planned for this first full day in orbit. Here is the latest Mission Control status report with a preview of the day ahead:

As Atlantis continues its pursuit of the International Space Station with docking planned at 11:24 a.m. EDT Wednesday, crewmembers began a day of preparation for the linkup with the orbiting laboratory.

Aboard Atlantis, Commander Jeff Ashby, Pilot Pam Melroy and Mission Specialists Dave Wolf, Sandy Magnus, Piers Sellers and Cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin were awakened at 5:46 a.m. EDT to the song "Venus and Mars" by Paul McCartney and Wings. It was for Wolf, requested by his wife, Tammy.

The Expedition Five crew, Commander Valery Korzun, NASA ISS Science Officer Peggy Whitson and Cosmonaut Sergei Treschev - in their 18th week in space - were awakened at 4 a.m. EDT Atlantis' crew will be their first visitors since June. They are shifting their sleep schedules to prepare for the week of docked operations with Atlantis.

Today, Atlantis' crew focuses on preparations for rendezvous and docking by checking out the necessary tools. The crew also will prepare the spacesuits to be used during the three planned spacewalks by Wolf and Sellers scheduled for Thursday, Saturday and Monday. The shuttle's robotic arm also will be checked out and used to survey the payload bay, including the Starboard 1 (S1) Truss.

This afternoon the centerline camera will be mounted in the Orbiter Docking System hatch to assist Ashby as he guides the orbiter in for docking. The crew then will extend the docking ring, which makes first contact with the station.

The station crew is continuing with science operations and standard exercise activities. Whitson is working with radiation monitors for Wolf and Sellers, who will conduct the spacewalks to hook up the S1 after it is lifted from Atlantis' cargo bay and installed on the station Thursday. She will activate the monitor's badge readers and do pre-spacewalk background readings.

Atlantis' crew is scheduled to begin an eight-hour sleep period at about 7:30 p.m. EDT today.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2002

After a frustrating summer of delays to fix potentially dangerous fuel line cracks, the shuttle Atlantis roared away today on a critical mission to deliver a 14-ton section of the international space station's main solar array truss. Read our full launch story.

2124 GMT (5:24 p.m. EDT)

Go for orbit ops! Mission Control has given the crew of Atlantis continued orbital flight. The astronauts can now get out of their launch and entry spacesuits.

For our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers, we have posted a climb of today's liftoff from the external tank-mounted onboard video camera. It provided an absolutely stunning view of the shuttle's liftoff and initial climb to space. See the link above.

2123 GMT (5:23 p.m. EDT)

Flying above the southern U.S. in an orbit of 143 by 98 statute miles, that's a revised orbit from earlier NASA data, Atlantis' two 60-foot long payload bay doors have been swung open as the crew transforms the shuttle into an orbital platform.

2118 GMT (5:18 p.m. EDT)

The payload bay doors of space shuttle Atlantis are about to be opened by the astronauts.

2108 GMT (5:08 p.m. EDT)

Today's official launch time was 3:45:51.074 p.m. EDT.

2025 GMT (4:25 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 40 minutes. The twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines on the tail of Atlantis have been fired successfully to propel the shuttle the rest of the way to orbit. No trim maneuver is required. Atlantis is in a 145 by 98 statute mile orbit, NASA says.

The next major event will be opening Atlantis' payload bay doors in about an hour.

For our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers, we have posted a climb of today's liftoff from the external tank-mounted onboard video camera. It provided an absolutely stunning view of the shuttle's liftoff and initial climb to space. See the link above.

2019 GMT (4:19 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 34 minutes. About four minutes away from the planned 63-second Orbital Maneuvering System engine firing to place Atlantis into a stable orbit.

2017 GMT (4:17 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 32 minutes. The two flapper doors on the belly of Atlantis are being swung closed to shield the umbilicals that had connected to the external fuel tank.

2005 GMT (4:05 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 19 minutes, 30 seconds. Atlantis' three APU hydraulic-powering units have been shut down. They won't be needed until an entry system checkout on the day before landing, and then again for Atlantis' high-speed return to Earth and touchdown.

1955 GMT (3:55 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 10 minutes. Atlantis has achieved a suborbital trajectory of 141 by 36 miles, NASA reports. The shuttle will be boosted to a stable orbit by the upcoming Orbital Maneuvering System engine firing in about 35 minutes.

1954 GMT (3:54 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes. The emptied external tank has been jettisoned from the belly of space shuttle Atlantis. The tank will fall back into the atmosphere where it will burn up harmlessly.

1954 GMT (3:54 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes, 35 seconds. MECO! Confirmation that Atlantis' main engines have cutoff as planned, completing the powered phase of the launch. Space shuttle Atlantis has safely embarked on its two-day chase to rendezvous and dock with the space station on Wednesday.

1953 GMT (3:53 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 8 minutes. The main engines beginning to throttle back to ease the force of gravity on the shuttle and astronauts.

1953 GMT (3:53 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes, 15 seconds. Atlantis can now reach a orbit on the power of one main engine should two fail. But all three continue to fire properly.

1952 GMT (3:52 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 7 minutes. Altitude 500 miles, downrange distance 66 miles, speed 12,000 miles per hour.

1952 GMT (3:52 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 6 minutes, 25 seconds. Atlantis has rolled to a heads-up position.

1951 GMT (3:51 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 5 minutes, 10 seconds. Atlantis can now reach a orbit on the power of two main engines should one fail. But all three continue to fire properly.

1950 GMT (3:50 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes, 30 seconds. Atlantis is 176 miles northeast of the launch pad.

1949 GMT (3:49 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 4 minutes. Negative return. The shuttle is traveling too fast and is too far downrange so it can no longer return to the launch site in the event of a main engine problem.

1948 GMT (3:48 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 3 minutes. Altitude 72 miles, downrange distance 47 miles, speed 4,500 miles per hour.

1948 GMT (3:48 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 2 minutes, 10 seconds. The twin solid rocket boosters have done their job and separated from the space shuttle Atlantis. The shuttle continues its climb to orbit on the power of the three liquid-fueled main engines.

1947 GMT (3:47 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 90 seconds. All systems of Atlantis are performing well as the shuttle accelerates to orbit. Burning propellant at remarkable rates, the shuttle weighs half of what it did at liftoff.

1946 GMT (3:46 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 60 seconds. Atlantis' engines have throttled back up.

1946 GMT (3:46 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 35 seconds. Atlantis' three main engines are being throttled down to lessen the aerodynamic stesses on the vehicle as it powers through the dense lower atmosphere.

1946 GMT (3:46 p.m. EDT)

T+plus 20 seconds. The shuttle has rolled to the proper heading for its northeasterly trajectory up the Eastern Seaboard on the two-day chase to catch the orbiting International Space Station. The outpost is currently cruising 240 miles above above the Pacific, due west of South America.

1945:51 GMT (3:45:51 p.m. EDT)

LIFTOFF! Liftoff of Atlantis -- launching the outward expansion of the international space station's truss backbone. And the shuttle has cleared the tower!

1945:20 GMT (3:45:20 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 31 seconds. Auto sequence start. Atlantis' onboard computers have taken control of the final half-minute of the countdown.

In the next few seconds the solid rocket booster hydraulic power units will be started, a steering check of the booster nozzles will be performed 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.

1944:51 GMT (3:44:51 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 minute. Computers verifying that the main engines are ready for ignition. 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 have been 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; the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen outboard fill and drain valves will be closed; the payload bay vent doors will be positioned for the launch; and the gaseous oxygen vent arm will be verified fully retracted.

1943:51 GMT (3:43:51 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes. The astronauts are being 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.

1943:21 GMT (3:43:21 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The external tank liquid oxygen vent valve has been closed and pressurization of the LOX tank has started.

Atlantis' power-producing fuel cells are transfering to internal reactants. The units will begin providing all electricity for the mission beginning at T-50 seconds.

And pilot Pam Melroy 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.

1942:51 GMT (3:42:51 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 minutes. Orbiter steering check now complete -- the main engine nozzles are in their start positions.

1942:21 GMT (3:42:21 p.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 today.

1941:51 GMT (3:41:51 p.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.

1940:51 GMT (3:40:51 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes. The "go" has been given for for Auxiliary Power Unit start. Pilot Pam Melroy 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 Jeff Ashby, 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.

1940:21 GMT (3:40:21 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 5 minutes, 30 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.

1939:51 GMT (3:39:51 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 6 minutes. Pilot Pam Melroy has been asked by Orbiter Test Conductor Jerry Goodson to pre-start the orbiter Auxiliary Power Units. This procedure readies the three APU's for their activation after the countdown passes T-minus 5 minutes.

1938:21 GMT (3:38:21 p.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.

1937:51 GMT (3:37:51 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 8 minutes and counting. Pilot Pam Melroy 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 for the final antenna alignment and management for today's launch.

1936:51 GMT (3:36:51 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes and counting. The ground launch sequencer is now controlling the final phase of today's countdown to launch of space shuttle Atlantis at 3:45:51 p.m. EDT. The GLS will monitor as many as a thousand different measurements to ensure they do not fall out of predetermine red-line limits.

The launch of STS-112 will mark the 111th flight in the space shuttle program since 1981, the 86th since return-to-flight after Challenger, the 26th for Atlantis and the fourth shuttle flight of 2002.

1936 GMT (3:36 p.m. EDT)

One minute remaining in this built-in hold.

Once the countdown picks up, the Ground Launch Sequencer will be initiated. The master computer program is located in a console in the Firing Room 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.

1932 GMT (3:32 p.m. EDT)

NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach has polled senior officials and no technical problems were announced. The launch weather conditions were also verified "go" for liftoff with no constraints.

1931 GMT (3:31 p.m. EDT)

The final readiness poll by NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding has been completed with all launch team members reporting "go", including the orbiter, external tank, solid rocket boosters, safety personnel, Eastern Range and the astronaut crew. Mission Control also has given its "go" which indictates weather at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility and other abort landing sites are acceptable for launch today.

1930 GMT (3:30 p.m. EDT)

The "go" has been given to turn on the "shuttlecam" on the external tank.

1927 GMT (3:27 p.m. EDT)

There are 10 minutes remaining in this planned hold at the T-minus 9 minute mark.

1921 GMT (3:21 p.m. EDT)

Mission Management Team Chairman Jim Halsell has polled his team and all parties reported a "go" for launch. Countdown clocks are due to resume at 3:36:51 p.m. for liftoff 9 minutes later.

1916 GMT (3:16 p.m. EDT)

Now 30 minutes away from launch time. NASA reports that the "red crew" sent to the pad earlier did replace two bad fuses on the mobile launcher platform.

Two solid rocket booster recovery ships -- the Freedom Star and Liberty Star -- are reported on station in the Atlantic Ocean about 140 miles northeast of Kennedy Space Center, off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. They were deployed from Port Canaveral to support the launch.

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.

Following the boosters' parachuted descent and splashdown in the Atlantic, the recovery teams will configure the SRBs for tow back to Port Canaveral later this week.

1900 GMT (3:00 p.m. EDT)

At the time of launch about 46 minutes from now, the international space station will be orbiting 240 miles above the Pacific Ocean, west of Ecuador.

NASA has made official the plan to target liftoff at the preferred launch time of 3:45:51 p.m. EDT when the station's orbital plane passes directly over the launch pad. This means the launch team will give up the first five minutes of the today's 10-minute launch window, which extends from 3:40:51 to 3:50:50 p.m. EDT. Should there be a hold, the available launch window remaining will be four minutes, 59 seconds to get Atlantis airborne.

1851 GMT (2:51 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 9 minutes and holding. Countdown clocks have gone into the planned 45-minute, 51-second built-in hold. Today's launch remains set for 3:45:51 p.m. EDT. There are no significant technical problems being reported and weather continues to look good.

1848 GMT (2:48 p.m. EDT)

The Main Propulsion System helium system is being reconfigured by pilot Melroy. Soon the gaseous nitrogen purge to the aft skirts of the solid rocket boosters will be started.

1846 GMT (2:46 p.m. EDT)

Now one hour away from launch time. The Orbiter Closeout Crew is now beginning "break down" the platforms and equipment in the White Room next to Atlantis hatch -- the final step before they leave the pad.

1845 GMT (2:45 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 15 minutes. Pilot Pam Melroy is configuring the displays inside Atlantis' cockpit for launch while commander Jeff Ashby enables the abort steering instrumentation. And Mission Control in Houston is loading Atlantis' onboard computers with the proper guidance parameters based on the projected launch time.

1840 GMT (2:40 p.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. The hold length will be adjust to synch up with today's preferred launch time of 3:45:51 p.m. EDT. Today's launch window extends from 3:40:51 p.m. to 3:50:50 p.m. EDT.

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.

1835 GMT (2:35 p.m. EDT)

The shuttle's backup flight control system (BFS) computer has been configured. It would be used today in the event of emergency landing.

Also, the primary avionics software system (PASS) has transferred to Atlantis' BFS computer so both systems can be synched with the same data. In case of a PASS computer system failure, the BFS computer will take over control of the shuttle vehicle during flight.

Commander Jeff Ashby has pressurized the gaseous nitrogen system for Atlantis' Orbital Maneuvering System engines, and pilot Pam Melroy has activated the gaseous nitrogen supply for the orbiter's Auxiliary Power Units' water boilers.

1830 GMT (2:30 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has paused for a 10-minute built-in hold. Launch remains scheduled for 3:45:51 p.m. EDT. There are no significant technical problems being worked by the launch team and the weather looks good at this point.

During this built-in hold, all computer programs in the Firing Room 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.

1821 GMT (2:21 p.m. EDT)

The ground pyro initiator controllers (PICs) are scheduled to be powered up at this time in the countdown. 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 Master Events Controllers are being tested. They relay the commands from the shuttle's computers to ignite, and then separate the boosters and external tank during launch.

1806 GMT (2:06 p.m. EDT)

At this point in the countdown the Ground Launch Sequencer mainline activation has been completed. Also, the Air Force Eastern Range shuttle safety system terminal count closed-loop test was performed to verify the countdown can be stopped in the final seconds before liftoff should a safety issue arise.

And the Orbiter Closeout Crew reports the hatch has been locked.

1754 GMT (1:54 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis' crew module hatch has swung shut and the Orbiter Closeout Crew is working to latch it. Pressure and leak checks will be performed shortly to ensure a good seal on the hatch for today's launch.

1750 GMT (1:50 p.m. EDT)

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.

Meanwhile, 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.

1745 GMT (1:45 p.m. EDT)

The Orbiter Closeout Crew reports all non-flight items have been removed from Atlantis and the launch team has given a "go" to close the hatch for launch. Liftoff is now two hours away.

1728 GMT (1:28 p.m. EDT)

T-minus 1 hour, 22 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks continue to tick down to T-minus 20 minutes where the next hold is planned. Countdown activities remain on track for liftoff at 3:46 p.m. EDT. The weather that moved through the space center is clearing out now. Forecasters are still expecting sunny skies at launch time.

With all six astronauts strapped inside Atlantis' crew module, preparations are now beginning to close the hatch by the Orbiter Closeout Crew. Also, the solid rocket boosters' gas generator heaters in the hydraulic power units are turned on, the aft skirt gaseous nitrogen purge is starting and the rate gyro assemblies (RGAs) are being activated. The RGAs are used by the orbiter's navigation system to determine rates of motion of the boosters during the first-stage flight.

1719 GMT (1:19 p.m. EDT)

The last of the astronauts to board Atlantis today -- Mission Specialist No. 2 and Flight Engineer Sandra Magnus -- has climbed through the shuttle's hatch. She will sit in the aft-center seat on the flight deck. Read Magnus' bio here.

A "red crew" is being sent to launch pad 39B to replace three fuses inside the mobile launcher platform upon which Atlantis sits. The launch team reports the backup power supply to a main propulsion liquid hydrogen recirculation pump is down. Efforts to cycle the power system wasn't successful, so it is believed some blown fuses are to blame. This isn't a constraint to launch. However, with time available officials opted to try and get this backup system working again.

1712 GMT (1:12 p.m. EDT)

All the launch weather rules are now "go".

At this point in the count, the ground launch sequencer software that will control the final nine minutes of the countdown is being initialized.

1701 GMT (1:01 p.m. EDT)

Mission Specialist No. 3 Piers Sellers, a space rookie, has boarded the shuttle and taken his aft-right seat on the flight deck. Read Sellers' bio here.

1658 GMT (12:58 p.m. EDT)

Here's the latest check on the launch weather rules. Conditions at Kennedy Space Center are currently "no go" for launch due to violations of rules governing cumulus clouds, debris clouds, disturbed weather, flight through precipitation, low ceiling and visibility and field mills registering high electrical charge in the air.

1651 GMT (12:51 p.m. EDT)

Russian cosmonaut and Atlantis Mission Specialist No. 4, Fyodor Yurchikhin, has made his way aboard the space shuttle and taken his center seat on the mid deck. Read Yurchikhin's bio here.

1644 GMT (12:44 p.m. EDT)

Atlantis Pilot Pamela Melroy has climbed into the shuttle for her second space flight. She will sit in the front-right seat on the flight deck. Read Melroy's bio here.

1635 GMT (12:35 p.m. EDT)

Mission Specialist No. 1 David Wolf, a shuttle and Mir space station veteran, has boarded the shuttle and taken his left seat on the mid deck. Read Wolf's bio here.

1632 GMT (12:32 p.m. EDT)

Commander Jeff Ashby, making his third shuttle mission, has climbed aboard the shuttle and taken his front-left seat on the flight deck. Read Ashby's bio here.

1630 GMT (12:30 p.m. EDT)

NASA has lifted the remaining secrecy surrounding the countdown by announcing the Atlantis astronauts have arrived at launch pad 39B.

The crew took the elevator to the 195-foot level of the pad structure 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.

Meanwhile, it is raining a bit here at the Press Site about four miles from the launch pad.

1618 GMT (12:18 p.m. EDT)

Here's the latest check on the launch weather rules. Conditions at Kennedy Space Center are currently "no go" for launch due to violations of rules governing lightning, cumulus cloud, disturbed weather, flight through precipitation, low ceiling and visibility and field mills registering high electrical charge in the air.

The rules that are "go" are anvil clouds, debris clouds, thick clouds, smoke plumes, wind and temperature.

1604 GMT (12:04 p.m. EDT)

The "AstroVan" with the astronauts aboard just drove past the Kennedy Space Center Press Site en route to launch pad 39B.

The crew departed their quarters at the Operations & Checkout Building in Kennedy Space Center's Industrial Area bound around a little while ago and boarded the "AstroVan" for the 20-minute ride to the pad located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, about 10 miles away.

The AstroVan convoy stopped at the Launch Control Center for some members of NASA management and officials to exit. The managers will take their positions in the Firing Room.

1550 GMT (11:50 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 hours and counting. The countdown has resumed on scheduled from this planned two-hour built-in hold. Clocks will now tick down to T-minus 20 minutes when the next hold is planned. A final hold is scheduled at the T-minus 9 minute mark. Liftoff remains set for 3:45:51 p.m. EDT.

There are no technical problems being reported. The weather is predicted to be favorable at launch time but it is currently cloudy here and the entire center is under a Phase 1 lightning advisory. Launch weather officer Kathy Winters says this should blow through, yielding to good weather by liftoff time.

1520 GMT (11:20 a.m. EDT)

Atlantis' astronauts are receiving a weather briefing from meteorologists in Houston on conditions predicted here at the Cape and abort landing sites in California, New Mexico and Spain. The six crew members will be suiting up, heading for the pad and boarding the shuttle over the next couple of hours.

The astronauts' launch day schedule is mostly a secret. Under NASA's security policy, the crew members' movements won't be revealed until after they have arrived at the launch pad.

1440 GMT (10:40 a.m. EDT)

The countdown remains in the scheduled hold point at T-minus 3 hours.

Skies had been completely clear here at Kennedy Space Center earlier this morning. But some clouds are now rolling in off the Atlantic and more are forming inland. At this moment, the lightning and cumulus cloud avoidance launch weather rules are being violated. All the other rules are currently "go". Weather forecasters are calling for a 90 percent chance conditions will be acceptable during today's 10-minute launch window.

1350 GMT (9:50 a.m. EDT)

T-minus 3 hours and holding. Countdown clocks have entered a planned two-hour built-in hold. Liftoff of Atlantis remains scheduled for 3:45:51 p.m. EDT today from launch pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. There are no problems to report at this time. The weather is absolutely beautiful.

Atlantis stands fully fueled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. Filling of the external tank officially began at 6:20 a.m. and was completed at 9:16 a.m. EDT.

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. The team, comprised of engineers and a safety official, is currently 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 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 is also searching for any loose debris that could possibly fly up and strike the vehicle at launch. 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 shuttle 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 team member is also responsible for photo documentation.

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

The team wears the highly visible day-glow 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, they will meet with NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach, the Mission Management Team, and engineering directors in the launch control center, providing a detailed report on the 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 today.

An inspection of the launch pad and beach will be made following launch. 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.

1325 GMT (9:25 a.m. EDT)

All systems are "go" at Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39B for today's 3:46 p.m. EDT blastoff of space shuttle Atlantis and its crew of six for an 11-day voyage to the international space station.

Atlantis' external fuel tank is now full with 528,000 gallons of super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. Tanking was officially completed at about 9:20 a.m. EDT.

But given the cryogenic nature of the oxidizer and propellant, the supplies naturally boil away. So the tanks are continuously topped off until the final minutes of the countdown in a procedure called "stable replenishment."

With the hazardous tanking operation completed, the Orbiter Closeout Crew and Final Inspection Team are being dispatched to the pad to perform their jobs. The closeout crew will ready Atlantis' crew module for the astronauts' boarding in a couple of hours; and the inspection team will give the entire vehicle a check for any ice formation from fueling.

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

Fueling of Atlantis continues this morning. No problems have been reported as tanking nears the half-way point.

The launch team is pumping a half-million gallons of cryogenic oxygen and hydrogen into Atlantis' external fuel tank. There are actually two tanks inside the orange tank. The liquid oxygen tank fills the top third of the external tank. It will be filled with 143,000 gallons of liquid oxygen chilled to minus 298 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 183 degrees Celsius). The liquid hydrogen tank is contained in the bottom two-thirds of the external tank. It holds 385,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen chilled to minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 253 degrees Celsius).

The cryogenics are pumped from storage spheres at the pad, through feed lines to the mobile launcher platform, into Atlantis' aft compartment and finally into the external fuel tank.

NASA has released a bit more information on the fuel cell heater issue. Side B of the temperature controller on this heater in question is considered failed for launch. However, engineers have developed a workaround to deal with the line should it freeze in space, thus restoring triple redundancy for launch. Side A is working and is showing a temperature that is back in acceptable limits. This issue was raised when the heater was running hotter than specified. In any event, NASA considers the problem resolved and is ready to fly today.

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

T-minus 6 hours and counting. The countdown clock at Complex 39 has resumed after a two-hour planned hold. The count will now proceed to the T-minus 3 hour mark where another two-hour hold is scheduled. Launch remains scheduled for 3:46 p.m. EDT today from pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center.

The three-hour shuttle fueling process got underway at exactly 6:20 a.m. EDT, NASA confirms. The hazardous operation will see 528,000 gallons of super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen loaded into the external tank to fuel Atlantis' three main engines during the 8 1/2 minute climb to orbit.

NASA spokesman George Diller says during troubleshooting last night, the suspect fuel cell heater, which is designed to keep from freezing a line to vent excess water overboard, returned to the normal operating range. It had been running too hot. In any case, should the heater fail completely during the mission officials say they have developed a workaround. The line in question provides redundancy to two other paths to dump extra water from the fuel cells.

At Edwards Air Force Base in California, contamination samples have been taken from ground handling equipment used to de-service shuttles after landing there. The samples have come back showing contamination is within spec, Diller said. There had been concern about oil from some equipment getting into the shuttles. Atlantis landed there and used that equipment in February 2001. But this issue is no longer a concern.

The weather is 90 percent "go" today.

1033 GMT (6:33 a.m. EDT)

Technicians have begun pumping super-cold rocket fuel into space shuttle Atlantis' bullet-shaped external tank for today's blastoff at 3:46 p.m. EDT today. Two earlier technical problems have been resolved.

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

NASA's Mission Management Team meeting at this hour has cleared the two technical concerns and given a "go" to begin fueling space shuttle Atlantis for today's launch. The fuel cell heater issue has been resolved and engineers report any possible contamination of the shuttle from ground handling equipment last year following a landing at Edwards Air Force Base is no longer a worry.

The weather forecast has been improved to a 90 percent of acceptable conditions for the 3:46 p.m. EDT (1946 GMT) liftoff from pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center.

0135 GMT (9:35 p.m. EDT Sun.)

Atlantis' countdown is currently in a planned hold at the T-minus 11 hour mark. Clocks are slated to resume ticking at 11:50 p.m. EDT. The rotating service structure has been rolled away from the shuttle at launch pad 39B.

Mission managers will meet at 5:45 a.m. to review those two technical issues and the weather forecast. If all systems are declared "go", fueling of Atlantis' external tank should start around 6:20 a.m. Watch this page for live updates throughout the day!

Here is a look at the key countdown events still to come: (all times EDT)

• Resume countdown at T-11 hours (11:50 p.m.)
• Activate the orbiter's fuel cells
• Clear the blast danger area of all nonessential personnel
• Enter planned 2-hour built-in hold at the T-6 hour mark (4:50 a.m.)
• Clear pad of all personnel
• Begin fueling the external tank with cryogenic propellants (about 6:20 a.m.)
• Resume countdown at T-6 hours (6:50 a.m.)
• Complete filling the external tank with its flight load of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants (about 9:20 a.m.)
• Final Inspection Team proceed to launch pad
• Enter planned 2-hour built-in hold at T-3 hours (9:50 a.m.)
• Perform inertial measurement unit preflight calibration
• Resume countdown at T-3 hours (11:50 a.m.)
• Enter planned 10-minute hold at T-20 minutes (2:30 p.m.)
• NASA Test Director conducts final launch team briefings
• Complete inertial measurement unit preflight alignments
• Resume countdown at T-20 minutes (2:40 p.m.)
• Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration
• Enter estimated 46-minute hold at T-9 minutes (2:51 p.m.)
• Launch Director, Mission Management Team and NASA Test Director conduct final polls for go/no go to launch
• Resume countdown at T-9 minutes (about 3:37 p.m.)
• Start automatic ground launch sequencer (T-9:00 minutes)
• Retract orbiter crew access arm (T-7:30)
• Start Auxiliary Power Units (T-5:00)
• Ground Launch Sequencer go for auto sequence start (T-0:31 seconds)
• Ignition of three Space Shuttle main engines (T-6.6 seconds)
• SRB ignition and liftoff (T-0)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2002

The latest by Bill Harwood of CBS News:

After standing down for Hurricane Lili, NASA's mission management team met today and tentatively cleared the shuttle Atlantis for blastoff Monday on a flight to resume space station assembly after a summer of delays.

Engineers are troubleshooting a problem with a backup heater used to keep a fuel cell water line free of ice. But flight controllers have two other ways of flushing water from the system and they are optimistic the shuttle will get a final green light during a meeting early Monday.

"I feel preliminarily confident that we're going to be able to find a path through the wilderness in time to make a run at a launch countdown tomorrow," said MMT chairman James Halsell. "But I need the engineers to come tell us that."

And so, with forecasters calling for an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather, Atlantis' launch window will open at 3:40:51 p.m. EDT and close at 3:50:50 p.m. EDT. The preferred launch time within that window, the moment when Earth's rotation will carry pad 39B into the plane of the space station's orbit, is 3:45:51 p.m. EDT.

The primary weather concern is for isolated inland thundershowers that could produce electrically active anvil clouds near the Kennedy Space Center. The forecast drops to 70 percent "go" on Tuesday and 60 percent go on Wednesday.

NASA had hoped to launch Atlantis and its six-member crew last Wednesday, but the flight was delayed because of the threat from Hurricane Lili to the Johnson Space Center near Houston, where the shuttle and station mission control centers are located.

Playing it safe, engineers shut down both control centers and transferred control of the U.S. segment of the station to a small NASA contingent at the Russian control center near Moscow. After the hurricane passed, the systems were powered back up and re-integrated into the complex network needed to support space flight.

"They have not only brought up all of their communication, command and trajectory computer systems successfully, but they have also done the retest and the revalidation to ensure they are ready to go," said Halsell.

Control of the U.S. segment of the station was transferred back to JSC overnight Thursday and on Saturday, flight controllers carried out a series of simulated shuttle launches to make sure the shuttle control center's computer system was back up and in good health.

Atlantis' crew - commander Jeffrey Ashby, pilot Pamela Melroy, David Wolf, Sandra Magnus, Piers Sellers and Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin - spent the weekend with their families at the Kennedy Space Center.

The issue with the fuel cell water line cropped up early Sunday, after engineers finished loading liquid hydrogen and oxygen aboard the shuttle to power the shuttle's three electricity producing fuel cells. The fuel cells work by combining hydrogen and oxygen in a sort of reverse hydrolysis, producing electricity, water and free hydrogen. The hydrogen is vented overboard. The crew drinks the water and uses it to cool electrical equipment.

But if the crew or flight controllers cannot dump excess water, and if that water backs up into the fuel cells, electrical generation falls off sharply. In a worst-case scenario, the shuttle could lose power before a crew could make an emergency return to Earth.

Because this is a "crit 1" system, each shuttle has multiple paths for getting rid of excess water. The problem engineers are wrestling with today is a heater near the valve where fuel cell water is dumped overboard. The heater circuit is actually keeping the line hotter than required - 230 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit versus a normal set point of 170 degrees.

Engineers are concerned because the control circuitry in question is not functioning properly and subsequent trouble could lead to much higher-than-allowable temperatures, causing potential damage. But with two other independent paths for ridding the system of excess water, flight controllers seem confident they can manage the system in orbit even if the heater ultimately must be turned off before or during the mission.

Launch director Michael Leinbach said it would take several days to replace the heater controller, which is located under the forward floor of the shuttle's cargo bay. While the actual replacement work is relatively easy, getting to the suspect unit and then backing out of the cargo bay would be time consuming.

Halsell's mission management team is scheduled to meet at 5:45 a.m. Monday to assess the shuttle's health and to give engineers formal permission to begin fueling Atlantis for launch. The three-hour fueling procedure is scheduled to begin around 6:20 a.m., assuming the MMT clears the suspect heater system for launch "as is."

Just for the record, Leinbach said engineers also are troubleshooting an apparently minor problem involving oil contamination in servicing equipment based at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Atlantis was serviced by this same equipment a year and a half ago and has flown two missions since then. But engineers want to make sure the possibly affected shuttle systems are oil free.

At the same time, they are evaluating what to do if Atlantis ultimately is diverted to Edwards at the end of its upcoming mission. Leinbach said one option is to break the equipment down and clean it or, if that can't be done in time, to ship equipment to Edwards from Kennedy. Either way, this appears to be a minor issue.

1945 GMT (3:45 p.m. EDT)

NASA has just announced the actual launch window and target liftoff time for Monday. Under the space agency's security policy, officials won't reveal the precise times until 24 hours in advance.

The launch window opens at 3:40:51 p.m. EDT and extends for 10 minutes to 3:50:50 p.m. EDT. The preferred launch time -- when the plane of the space station's orbit passes directly over the pad -- is 3:45:51 p.m. EDT (1945:51 GMT).

Mission Control in Houston is all powered up again after last week's hurricane alert. A launch simulation was performed yesterday to ensure all the computer systems are functioning properly.

At launch pad 39B, Atlantis' three fuel cells have been reloaded with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants. The fuel cells, located beneath the payload bay, generate the electricity and drinking water needed for the shuttle's mission.

There are two technical issues being worked in the countdown -- a faulty fuel cell heater that is running warmer than normal because of a controller problem and concerns about contamination in ground equipment used at the backup shuttle landing site.

The heater keeps a line from freezing that is used to dump excess water overboard. The line is the third path to vent water, so the shuttle would have to suffer two other failures before this line would be absolutely required. The concerns are if the heater can't be controlled and the possible loss of this third path to vent water. Engineers are studying the problem and will present a report at the pre-fueling Mission Management Team meeting early tomorrow.

Replacement of the heater controller would delay the launch at least several days.

The contamination issue stems from Atlantis' landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California last year. Officials are reviewing records and discussing if any oil recently found in ground servicing equipment could have gotten into the shuttle following landing in February 2001, and if so, has it been purged from the ship by now. Atlantis has successfully flown twice since the possible introduction to the contamination.

Meanwhile, meteorologists say there is an 80 percent of acceptable launch weather conditions. The only concerns are afternoon thunderstorms and gusty crosswinds at the shuttle's emergency landing strip at Kennedy Space Center.

Fueling of Atlantis is scheduled to start around 6:30 a.m. EDT.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2002

Today's shuttle status report:

Space shuttle Atlantis is poised at the pad for its Monday launch to the International Space Station as Mission Control Center (MCC) in Houston continues power-up procedures following a shut-down earlier this week due to the threat of Hurricane Lili.

Command and Control of the International Space Station has been re-established in Houston following the transfer of control to the MCC in Moscow due to the storm. Power-up and verification operations will continue throughout the weekend. The MCC plans to "meet-up" with Kennedy Space Center during communication activation activities and will be ready to support countdown activities beginning Sunday.

Over the weekend, the Launch Control Team at Kennedy Space Center will continue to monitor the vehicle and maintain its readiness to support launch on Monday. At Launch Pad 39-B, the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen reactants of Atlantis' power reactant and storage distribution system was drained on Wednesday and preparations are in work to re-load tomorrow.

The STS-112 crew stayed in Florida this week and spent their time relaxing, reviewing flight plans and practicing entry procedures in the Shuttle Training Aircraft.

Weather forecasters are currently indicating a 40 percent chance of weather violating launch criteria. The primary concern is due to the possible threat of thunderstorms in the vicinity of KSC.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2002

Today's shuttle status report:

Hurricane Lili made landfall well east of Houston, Texas, providing the Johnson Space Center team the opportunity to begin preparing for the launch of space shuttle Atlantis on Monday.

Mission Control Center (MCC) in Houston was powered down Wednesday morning due to the projected path of Hurricane Lili threatening the Texas coast. After the treat of the storm passed, power-up and verification operations began in the MCC and will continue throughout the weekend. The MCC plans to "meet-up" with Kennedy Space Center during communication activation activities once the MCC is fully operational.

Command and Control of the International Space Station was transferred to Moscow yesterday evening and will be transferred back to the MCC in Houston this evening.

During the next few days at the Kennedy Space Center, the Launch Control Team will continue to monitor the Shuttle Atlantis and maintain its readiness for launch on Monday. At Launch Pad 39-B, the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen reactants of Atlantis' power reactant and storage distribution system were drained yesterday and preparations are in work to re-load them on Saturday.

The STS-112 crew stayed in Florida throughout this delay and spent their time relaxing, reviewing flight plans and practicing entry procedures in the Shuttle Training Aircraft.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2002

Launch of the shuttle Atlantis on a space station assembly mission has been delayed to no earlier than Monday because of Hurricane Lili's approach to the Gulf Coast and the protective powering down of sensitive mission control systems at the Johnson Space Center near Houston. Read our full story.

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

Control of the space station was shifted from Houston to Moscow at 5 a.m. EDT today as NASA's Johnson Space Center continued implementing hurricane protection measures. JSC remains at "level 3" alert of powering down computers and other equipment. A "level 2" would see the evacuation of non-essential personnel. It isn't clear if that next step will be taken or not. In any event, the powering down already performed pushed out the launch of Atlantis a few days.

Workers will spend the weekend reservicing Atlantis' three onboard fuel cells to restore the five days of launch attempts.

1225 GMT (8:25 a.m. EDT)

ANOTHER DELAY. NASA mission managers meeting this morning have just decided to postpone the launch of space shuttle Atlantis until Monday.

That is the earliest Atlantis will fly and assumes Mission Control begins powering back up tomorrow.

More details to follow!

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

The latest by Bill Harwood of CBS News:

Flight controllers overseeing operations aboard the international space station are moving to a backup facility at the Johnson Space Center because of the approach of Hurricane Lili.

The space center currently is implementing "level 3" hurricane protection procedures, powering down computers and other equipment. Flight controllers told the astronauts this morning they are moving to Building 4 at the Johnson Space Center and awaiting word on whether NASA managers might implement more stringent level 2 procedures, which would require the evacuation of non-essential personnel.

"OK. You guys take care down there," station flight engineer Peggy Whitson radioed.

The National Hurricane Center's 5 a.m. advisory predicts Lili will become a Category 3 hurricane later today and remain at that strength until landfall. Winds currently are a sustained 110 mph. Lili's projected path carries the eye of the storm to landfall along the Louisiana coast just south of New Iberia. The Johnson Space Center is located at the western edge of the current hurricane warning zone.

NASA managers are scheduled to meet at 7:45 a.m. today to assess Lili's progress and to decide what, if any, additional measures might be needed. In the meantime, launch of the shuttle Atlantis, originally scheduled for this afternoon, remains on hold. Because of the complex computer system powerdowns in shuttle mission control at the Johnson Space Center -- and the time needed to restore them to normal operations -- sources say NASA will not be able to support another launch attempt before this weekend at the earliest.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2002
2335 GMT (7:35 p.m. EDT)

The latest by Bill Harwood of CBS News:

Flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston have been told to begin powering down sensitive computer systems as Hurricane Lili churns toward the Gulf Coast. In the meantime, launch of the shuttle Atlantis, originally scheduled for Wednesday, is on hold.

Around 6:30 p.m. EDT, ground controllers updated the space station's three-person crew on the implementation of "level 3" hurricane preparations at JSC.

"We are going to level 3, which equates to gracefully powering down JSC and thus portions of station," an astronaut radioed the lab complex from mission congtrol. "If the weather patterns change for the better by morning or thereafter, we'll simply reverse efforts and power back up. But the bottom line is there is a chance we may or may not be on board with you tomorrow morning when you wake up."

"When are they expecting landfall?" asked flight engineer Peggy Whitson.

"They're saying Thursday evening at this time and it's a big question between south of us and all the way to the other side of Louisiana right now."

"OK, copy," Whitson replied.

Atlantis had been scheduled to blast off on the next space station assembly mission Wednesday afternoon. But with Lili heading toward the Gulf Coast, launch was delayed at least one day to give JSC workers time to prepare. Then, at 6 p.m., JSC managers ordered implementation of level 3 protective measures, which includes powering down various computer systems.

At that point, NASA public affairs officers at the Kennedy Space Center said implementation of level 3 preparations would eliminate any chance of launching Atlantis Thursday. Later still, another NASA spokesman said the official "no-earlier-than" launch date remained Thursday.

But sources say the powerdown procedures currently being implemented at JSC will, in fact, prevent any chance of launching Atlantis before Friday. When all is said and done, launch could slip even more.

NASA's mission management team plans to meet again Wednesday morning to assess Lili's progress. An "official" decision on how the agency plans to proceed is expected later in the morning.

2245 GMT (6:45 p.m. EDT)

Managers at the Johnson Space Center have raised to "level 3" the hurricane protection measures at the Houston site, beginning work to power down non-essential systems in mission control and elsewhere because of the threat of Hurricane Lili.

As Lili continues to gather strength in the Gulf of Mexico -- now at 105 mph sustained winds -- officials meeting at JSC late today decided they had no choice but to raise the threat level from four to three and begin an orderly implementation of measures designed to protect shuttle and space station mission control centers.

It takes up to a day and a half to safely shut down critical computer systems and associated equipment to prevent any loss of data or physical damage that might occur in hurried emergency shutdown. The level three alert allows non-essential personnel to voluntarily leave work. Threat level 2 includes possible mandatory evacuation of non-essential personnel.

For now, NASA has not ruled out a Thursday launch attempt if the Lili situation would suddenly improve.

2112 GMT (5:12 p.m. EDT)

The international space station crew was informed late Tuesday afternoon of contingency procedures to be implemented if Johnson Space Center is evacuated. Read our updated full story.

1948 GMT (3:48 p.m. EDT)

NASA managers have delayed the launch of space shuttle Atlantis until at least Thursday as Hurricane Lili bears down on the Gulf Coast, posing a threat to NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston. Read our full story.

1914 GMT (3:14 p.m. EDT)

SCRUB! Launch of space shuttle Atlantis is being postponed at least 24 hours to Thursday due to Hurricane Lili and the threat to Mission Control Center in Houston.

More details shortly!

1830 GMT (2:30 p.m. EDT)

NASA officials are holding a meeting at this hour to decide if the countdown should continue for launch of shuttle Atlantis. They are discussing the latest projected track of Hurricane Lili and the possible threat to Mission Control in Houston in a couple days, after Atlantis would be in orbit. We'll update this page as soon as information becomes available.

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

While Atlantis' countdown continues at Kennedy Space Center, NASA will hold meetings today to discuss Hurricane Lili and its looming threat to the Mission Control Center in Houston. Concerns about the storm have put a big question mark over NASA's plans to get the shuttle off the ground Wednesday.

Officials will be meeting to decide whether Johnson Space Center, home to Mission Control, should begin securing for the storm and to review the latest projections on where Lili is likely to go.

As of the 5 a.m. EDT update from the National Hurricane Center, the hurricane was forecast to make landfall in Louisiana Thursday night or Friday morning. On this course, Lili would pass about 140 nautical miles from Houston, the shuttle weather officer said.

See the track here. The new revision to the map will come at 11 a.m. EDT.

Mission Control has no back-up site for running shuttle flights. So if the possibility exists of Johnson Space Center being hit by a hurricane after Atlantis is in space, NASA officials say they will take the cautious approach and delay launch until the storm threat passes.

It is unclear if NASA would make the decision today to scrub the launch or wait until the pre-fueling Mission Management Team meeting early Wednesday morning. That regularly-scheduled "tanking" meeting is seen as the last point to make the call to stand down.

At launch pad 39B, no significant technical issues are being reported. Workers have filled the shuttle's three fuel cells with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants to generate electricity and drinking water for the 11-day mission.

"The countdown is continuing in progress and we are right on schedule," NASA Test Director Pete Nickolenko said at a 9 a.m. news conference. "Last night we completed the servicing of the onboard fuel cell cryo storage tanks. We are currently back in the pad and we are working main engine systems checks and pad closeouts.

"All our flight and ground systems (are) looking good. We are tracking no technical issues. Our team is ready. And while we continue to watch the weather, we are looking forward to a successful launch and mission tomorrow."

Assuming the launch isn't delayed today, NASA will announce the exact liftoff time later this afternoon. Under the space agency's security policy the launch time is kept a secret until 24 hours in advance. All that officials have said is liftoff will happen sometime between 2 and 6 p.m. EDT (1800-2200 GMT) Wednesday.

The launch weather forecast is still calling for a 60 percent chance of acceptable conditions at Kennedy Space Center. The main concern is coastal rain showers.

At launch time the weather is expected to include scattered clouds at 3,000 and 10,000 feet, visibility of 7 miles or better, easterly winds from 100 degrees at 14 peaking to 20 knots at the launch pad and a temperature of 82 degrees F.

The forecast has improved for both emergency landing sites in Spain, with acceptable weather predicted. Meteorologists had been worried about showers at Zaragoza and Moron. The Ben Guerir abort site in Morocco is considered a "hot backup" and is not being staffed for this mission due to security concerns in that region.

The Florida outlook improves to a 70 percent chance of launching Thursday and Friday, with the coastal showers still the main issue. Both Trans-Atlantic Landing sites are forecast "go" on Thursday and Friday.

Watch this page for the latest updates on the hurricane situation and announcement of the launch time.

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2002

Space station commander Valery Korzun and flight engineer Sergei Treschev closed the hatch of the Pirs airlock module at 6:48 a.m. today to officially end a five-hour 21-minute spacewalk, the second in 10 days for the Expedition 5 crew.

During today's excursion, Korzun and Treschev:

1. Installed a spare parts holder on the hull of the Russian Zarya module;
2. Attached tether guides to the station's hull to assist future spacewalkers;
3. Replaced Japanese experiment exposure panels on the hull of the Zvezda command module that collect samples of space debris and atomic oxygen;
4. Attached new "witness plates" for a Russian experiment to measure rocket thruster residue on the station's hull;
5. Installed two additional ham radio antennas on the back end of the Zvezda module.

Korzun and flight engineer Peggy Whitson staged the Expedition 5 crew's first spacewalk Aug. 16. That spacewalk began an hour and a half late because of misconfigured spacesuit valves, prompting Russian flight controllers to defer replacement of some of the various experiment panels.

Today's EVA began at 1:27 a.m., a bit behind schedule because of a small leak in a hatch between the Pirs airlock module and Zvezda. The hatch was re-opened, seals were inspected and wiped down and the hatch was closed. This time around, there were no leaks.

This was the 43rd space station assembly or maintenance spacewalk, the 10th by an expedition crew (the second for Expedition 5) and the 18th ISS-based EVA. Thirty-two American astronauts, one Canadian, one Frenchman and seven Russians have now logged 265 hours and 44 minutes of station assembly time.

In other space station news, 'N Sync's Lance Bass, a Belgian astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut commander are in Houston this week for training before an Oct. 28 flight to deliver a fresh Soyuz lifeboat to the orbiting lab complex. Bass is scheduled to return to Russia next weekend to continue his training there while his crewmates remain in Houston for additional research training.

Bass' status is a bit uncertain. The Russians set last Friday as a deadline to receive payment for his ride on the Soyuz as the station's third "space tourist." A contract has been signed, but so far no money has been received. NASA officials say the singer's contract is with the Russians and as such, it is not the agency's concern. Bass is expected to be approved for flight by senior managers representing all of the space station's international partners and NASA plans to proceed with his training this week on the assumption the contract issues will be resolved.

1048 GMT (6:48 a.m. EDT)

Expedition Five commander Valery Korzun and flight engineer Sergei Treschev are back inside the Pirs airlock module and the outer hatchway to space has been closed, marking the end of today's successful five-hour, 21-minute spacewalk at 6:48 a.m. EDT.

The duo completed all the tasks planned on this Russian-controlled EVA outside the International Space Station, swapping out experiments and attaching radio antennas and other equipment.

It was the second spacewalk by the Expedition Five crew in the last 10 days. The total EVA time for the crew is 9 hours and 46 minutes.

The two cosmonauts and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson are 2 1/2 months into their five month mission.

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2002
1017 GMT (6:17 a.m. EDT)

The second of the two ham radio antennas has been mounted to the station's outer shell, completing the final objective of this spacewalk. There are now four such antennas on the Zvezda module, which allow station crews to communicate with ham radio operators around the globe.

The spacewalkers will now wipe down their suits to ensure there is no thruster residue to be brought back into the station. The towels used for this cleaning will be tossed into space. Then they will head back for the airlock shortly.

0947 GMT (5:47 a.m. EDT)

With the first radio antenna installed, the spacewalkers took a break while the space station passed through orbital night. They are now preparing to mount the second antenna now. Once that work is completed, they will carry the Japanese and Russian experiment trays, which were swapped out this morning with replacements, back to the airlock to wrap up this EVA.

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

Work to install two additional ham radio antennas on the aft end of the Zvezda module continues as the cosmonauts route cabling along the outside the station. This will bring to four the number of such antennas on Zvezda that have been attached by spacewalkers over that past several months.

Mission control reports Korzun and Treschev are now ahead of their timeline for this planned six-hour EVA.

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

Attachment of replacement witness plates for the Russian Kromka experiment has been completed by the spacewalkers outside the Zvezda service module. This experiment is aimed at collecting the residue emitted by Zvezda's jet thrusters for periodic return to Earth for study.

The final primary task of this spacewalk, which is now approaching the 3 1/2 hour mark, is the installation of two radio antennas to Zvezda.

0800 GMT (4:00 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers have now completed the job of replacing the sample trays of suitcase-like experiment structures on the exterior of the space station. The Japanese-sponsored test exposes engineering and space building materials to the debris and atomic oxygen environment of low-Earth orbit.

Korzun and Treschev will take pictures of the new trays before moving on to the next task of tending to a Russian experiment designed to measure thruster residue on the station.

0720 GMT (3:20 a.m. EDT)

Now nearing the two-hour mark of today's spacewalk, the cosmonauts are photo-documenting these Japanese experiment trays before their removal. Mission control reports the spacewalkers are running a bit behind the EVA work timeline.

0700 GMT (3:00 a.m. EDT)

The next major objective is to replace Japanese experiment exposure panels on the Zvezda module that collect samples of space debris and atomic oxygen.

0647 GMT (2:47 a.m. EDT)

The mounting of additional tether guides to the station have been completed as the spacewalkers briskly move through their tasks of this morning's EVA. No significant problems have been reported.

0623 GMT (2:23 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are wrapping up the task of installing a storage structure to the Zarya module that will allow future replacement parts to be stowed on the station. Next they will attach more spacewalk tether routers, called fairleads, to the hull of the complex.

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

Here's an overview story of today's spacewalk by William Harwood, written for CBS News "Space Place" and used with permission:

Space station commander Valery Korzun and flight engineer Sergei Treschev opened the hatch of the Pirs airlock module at 1:27 a.m. today to officially begin a planned six-hour spacewalk, the second in 10 days for the Expedition 5 crew.

During today's excursion, Korzun and Treschev plan to:

1. Install a spare parts holder on the hull of the Russian Zarya module;
2. Attach tether guides to the station's hull to assist future spacewalkers;
3. Replace Japanese experiment exposure panels on the hull of the Zvezda command module that collect samples of space debris and atomic oxygen;
4. Attach new "witness plates" for a Russian experiment to measure rocket thruster residue on the station's hull;
5. Install two additional ham radio antennas on the back end of the Zvezda module.

Korzun and NASA flight engineer Peggy Whitson staged the Expedition 5 crew's first spacewalk Aug. 16. That spacewalk began an hour and a half late because of misconfigured spacesuit valves, prompting Russian flight controllers to defer replacement of some of the various experiment panels now scheduled for installation today.

Today's EVA also got off to a slightly late start, delayed by a small leak in a hatch between the Pirs airlock module and Zvezda. The hatch was re-opened, seals were inspected and wiped down and the hatch was closed. This time around, there were no leaks.

This is the 43rd space station assembly or maintenance spacewalk, the 10th by an expedition crew (the second for Expedition 5) and the 18th ISS-based EVA. Going into today's excursion, 32 American astronauts, one Canadian, one Frenchman and six Russians had logged 260 hours and 23 minutes of station assembly time. Treschev is the seventh Russian spacewalker.

0527 GMT (1:27 a.m. EDT)

The second spacewalk for the Expedition Five crew's stay aboard the International Space Station began at 1:27 a.m. EDT as commander Valery Korzun and flight engineer Sergei Treschev embarked on a six-hour excursion to attach antennas, experiments and other equipment to the exterior of the outpost.

This is Korzun's fourth spacewalk and Treschev's first.

We'll provide periodic updates overnight as the spacewalkers complete their tasks.

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

Final depressurization is underway. And commander Valery Korzun is preparing for the steps to open the outer hatch.

0518 GMT (1:18 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are now switching their suits to internal battery power. Unlike U.S. spacewalks that use the power transfer as the start time of the EVA, Russian spacewalks officially begin when the outer airlock hatch is opened.

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

NASA mission control reports depressurization will be completed after Russian flight controllers spend a few minutes monitoring pressure and leak rates to ensure all the seals are holding.

0500 GMT (1:00 a.m. EDT)

A second round of leak checks, following the wipe-down of the hatchway seals, have revealed no leakage. So depressurization can again occur.

0433 GMT (12:33 a.m. EDT)

Cosmonauts Valery Korzun and Sergei Treschev are suited up in their Russian spacewalking suits and have begun depressurization of the Pirs airlock module in preparation for the start of today's EVA.

They were running about 20 minutes ahead of schedule this morning, but a slight pressure leak was noted a short time ago in the hatchway between Pirs and the rest of the station, forcing the crew to reopen hatches and clean the seals.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2002

The Expedition Five crew spent a large portion of its week preparing for the next scheduled spacewalk. Commander Valery Korzun and Flight Engineer Sergei Treschev plan to leave the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station around 1:00 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT) Monday, Aug. 26, to begin a six-hour spacewalk. While Korzun and Treschev work outside, Flight Engineer Peggy Whitson will tend to space station systems and assist the spacewalkers as necessary. She will also maneuver the Canadarm2 to provide camera views of the cosmonauts for the two mission control centers.

Whitson completed the first spacewalk of her career last Friday with Korzun, spending four hours and 25 minutes outside the orbiting laboratory. Monday's spacewalk will be Korzun's fourth and Treschev's first.

Korzun and Treschev have a variety of tasks to complete Monday morning, including attaching hardware to the exterior of the Zarya module that will be used for tethers and other equipment during future spacewalks; replacing Japanese materials experiment panels on Zvezda, which measure the effects of atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit and collect small pieces of space debris; attaching new plates for the Russian Kromka experiment, which are used to collect and study the residue emitted by Zvezda's jet thrusters; and installing two additional amateur radio antennas on Zvezda to improve contacts with ham radio operators on Earth. The two spacewalkers will also photograph each of these activities for engineers on the ground.

In preparation for Monday's spacewalk, Korzun and Treschev took part in an experiment called PuFF that is being used to look for any changes in crewmembers' lungs that may occur during a long-duration spaceflight. The two cosmonauts tested their lungs Friday using equipment in the Human Research Facility Rack and will test them again after the spacewalk.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2002

Expedition Five Commander Valery Korzun and Flight Engineer Peggy Whitson stepped outside the Pirs Docking Compartment of the International Space Station today and installed debris shields on the Russian Zvezda Service Module in a 4 hour, 25 minute spacewalk.

It was the first of two spacewalks for the Expedition Five crew, the third of Korzun's career and the first for Whitson. Today's excursion was the 42nd spacewalk in support of ISS assembly and maintenance and the 17th staged from the station itself. 25 spacewalks at the ISS have originated from visiting space shuttles. While Korzun and Whitson worked outside, Flight Engineer Sergei Treschev tended to station systems and choreographed the spacewalk from inside Zvezda.

After a 1 hour, 43 minute delay to the start of the spacewalk because of a misconfigured valve regulating the operation of the primary oxygen bottles in their Orlan spacesuits, Korzun and Whitson opened the hatch to Pirs at 5:23 a.m. EDT (0923 GMT) as the ISS flew over the southern Atlantic Ocean east of the southern coast of South America at an altitude of 230 statute miles. Their first task was to set up tools and unfurl a telescoping crane called the Strela boom from the side of the docking module that is attached to the nadir port of Zvezda.

They pressed ahead to move six micrometeoroid debris shields from a temporary stowage location on the connecting module adapter between the U.S. and Russian segments of the ISS that were delivered in June during the STS-111 mission of the shuttle Endeavour.

One by one, the shields were affixed around Zvezda, designed to provide debris protection for the lifetime of the module. 17 additional shields will be flown to the ISS on future missions to complete the job.

Because of the late start to the spacewalk, Russian flight controllers decided to defer the refurbishment of an experiment on Zvezda called Kromka, designed to collect samples of residue emitted from the module's jet thrusters. That lower priority task and the swabbing of thruster residue from Zvezda's hull for analysis will be conducted on a future spacewalk. It was not immediately known whether Korzun and Treschev would perform those tasks next Friday during the second spacewalk of the Expedition.

After retrieving their tools and stowing the Strela crane, Korzun and Whitson returned to Pirs and closed the hatch at 9:48 a.m. EDT (1348 GMT) to wrap up their excursion.

Korzun will venture outside Pirs one week from today with Treschev to install equipment on the exterior of the Russian module which will facilitate the placement of future payloads and the routing of spacewalkers' tethers and to replace Japanese experiments outside Zvezda which measure the effect of atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit on sample materials. Korzun and Treschev will also install two additional amateur radio antennas outside Zvezda to improve contacts with ham radio operators on Earth.

1348 GMT (9:48 a.m. EDT)

The Pirs airlock outer hatch was closed by the spacewalkers at 9:48 a.m. EDT, concluding today's four-hour, 25-minute EVA that successfully installed six sections of micrometeoroid debris shielding to the Russian Zvezda service module.

The lower-priority activities of replacing experiment trays and sampling thruster exhaust residue planned today were deferred because the spacewalk began late.

Another spacewalk is scheduled for next Thursday night.

1318 GMT (9:18 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers are cleaning up, putting away their tools and stowing the Strela cargo boom before returning to the airlock.

1250 GMT (8:50 a.m. EDT)

Working quietly and methodically, Expedition 5 commander Valery Korzun and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson have installed all six micrometeoroid debris shields to the outer skin of the Zvezda service module. They will now proceed to fully tighten down the panels.

1225 GMT (8:25 a.m. EDT)

Now passing the three-hour mark of today's spacewalk. The crew has completed the attachment of two panels to Zvezda and are currently working two more. Six in total will be mounted to the module's hull today.

1200 GMT (8:00 a.m. EDT)

Korzun and Whitson continue their spacewalk outside the International Space Station today, installing micrometeoroid debris panels to the Russian Zvezda service module.

Due to the delayed start of this EVA, however, Russian flight controllers have opted to postpone some of the work slated for the spacewalk until another excursion. The EVA is expected to end around 9:30 a.m. EDT as originally scheduled, thereby not extending the crew's work day.

The revised plan now calls for just the six debris shields to be installed. The lower-priority chores of replacing an experiment sample trays and sampling thruster exhaust residue have been deferred.

0930 GMT (5:30 a.m. EDT)

Here's an overview story of today's spacewalk by William Harwood, written for CBS News "Space Place" and used with permission:

Space station commander Valery Korzun and Peggy Whitson began a planned six-hour spacewalk this morning, the first excursion for the Expedition 5 crew. The EVA began at 5:23 a.m. EDT, an hour and 43 minutes late because of improperly set oxygen valves in the astronauts' Russian spacesuits. After repressurizing the airlock, Korzun reconfigured the valves in the suits, depressurized Pirs and opened the module's outer hatch to officially begin today's spacewalk.

The three primary tasks of the EVA are to A) install the first six of an eventual 23 debris shields on the hull of the Russian Zvezda command module to improve protection against micrometeoroid impacts; B) replace an experiment package "witness plate" bolted to the hull of the module that's designed to collect residue from thruster firings; and C) collect more samples of rocket plume residue on the opposite side of the module from the witness plate.

This is the first spacewalk for Whitson and the third for Korzun, who ventured out of the Mir space station Dec. 2 and 9, 1996, to work on the Kvant-1 module and to install a KURS rendezvous antenna on Mir's shuttle docking module. Station engineer Sergei Treschev is monitoring today's spacewalk from inside the international space station.

Korzun and Treschev plan to stage another spacewalk on Aug. 23. The goals of that excursion are to install two additional ham radio antennas, spacewalk handrails and tether guides on the hull of the station, along with installation of another external experiment package.

This is the ninth spacewalk staged by one of the station's five full-time crews and the 42nd station assembly EVA overall, including excursions by visiting shuttle crews. Going into today's spacewalk, 31 U.S. astronauts, one Canadian, one Frenchman and five Russian cosmonauts had logged 255 hours and 58 minutes of space station assembly time during 41 EVAs. Whitson is the 32nd American ISS spacewalker while Korzun is the sixth Russian.

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

The Pirs airlock hatchway is now open, marking the official start of today spacewalk at 5:23 a.m. EDT, one-hour and 43 minutes late because of oxygen valves in both spacesuits were not properly configured.

This planned six-hour excursion, the first of the Expedition 5 mission at the International Space Station, calls for installation of protective debris panels on the Zvezda service module and a new set of samples in a Russian experiment verifying the effectiveness of devices designed to protect the station's exterior from contamination by thruster firings.

We'll update this page with a progress report on the EVA later in the morning.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2002
0916 GMT (5:16 a.m. EDT)

The spacewalkers have switched their suits to internal power and the airlock is almost fully depressurized.

0840 GMT (4:40 a.m. EDT)

NASA mission control says Korzun's suit appears to be OK. Both spacewalkers have to repeat prebreath and other preparatory steps before the airlock can be fully depressurized and the outer hatch opened for the start of this spacewalk. The EVA is already an hour behind schedule.

0835 GMT (4:35 a.m. EDT)

Commander Korzun reports that a warning message has sounded, indicating a possible small leak in his suit.

0826 GMT (4:26 a.m. EDT)

The valves in both suits have been re-configured. The spacewalkers must now re-purge their suits before depressurization of the airlock can reoccur.

0800 GMT (4:00 a.m. EDT)

The Pirs airlock is being repressurized because the primary oxygen bottles in the spacesuits of both spacewalkers are not properly configured. A valve was not opened as required, apparently because a step was missed in the pre-spacewalk checklist. The backs of the suits will have to be opened up to fix the problem.

The backup bottles were activated properly, which are providing Korzun and Whitson with oxygen. But both bottles need to be working before the spacewalk can begin. There is no estimate on how long this will delay the start of today's spacewalk.

0752 GMT (3:52 a.m. EDT)

The start of today's spacewalk has been delayed by at least a few minutes after a caution and warning message was observed as the crewmembers were configuring their primary oxygen bottles. Russian flight controllers believe a step in the procedures may have been missed.

Korzun and Whitson are suited up inside the Russian Pirs airlock module preparing to complete the final steps to begin today's EVA. The spacewalk start time is officially clocked when the airlock's outer hatch is opened.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2002

Expedition 5 commander Valery Korzun and NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson are making preparations for the first spacewalk of their five-month mission aboard the International Space Station.

On Friday at 3:40 a.m. EDT, Korzun and Whitson will open the hatch on the Russian Pirs docking compartment to begin a 5-hour, 55-minute excursion. They will install protective panels on the Zvezda service module and a new set of samples in a Russian experiment verifying the effectiveness of devices designed to protect the station's exterior from contamination by thruster firings. Live coverage of the spacewalk begins on NASA Television at 3 a.m.

It will be the third spacewalk of Korzun's career and the first for Whitson.

Read our earlier status center coverage.