A T L A N T I S

V I S I T S
I N T E R N A T I O N A L S P A C E S T A T I O N

S T S - 1 0 1

W W W. S H U T T L E P R E S S K I T. C O M
Updated April 7, 2000
STS-101 Table of Contents
Mission Overview ....................................................................................................................... 1

Mission Index .............................................................................................................................. 5

Crew................................................................................................................................................ 8

Orbiter Upgrades ...................................................................................................................... 11

Flight Day Summary Timeline ............................................................................................... 15

EVAs
STS-101 EVA ................................................................................................................................. 16

Payloads
BioTube Precursor Experiment ......................................................................................................... 20
HTD 1403 Micro Wireless Instrumentation System (Micro WIS)
HEDS Technology Demonstration .................................................................................................. 23
Integrated Cargo Carrier ................................................................................................................... 25
Logistics & Hardware Transfer .......................................................................................................... 27
Mission to America's Remarkable Schools ........................................................................................ 32
Space Experiment Module 6 ............................................................................................................. 34
SPACEHAB .................................................................................................................................... 38

Experiments

Biotechnology Ambient Generic (PCG-BAG) ...................................................................................... 42

Commercial Protein Crystal Growth ................................................................................................... 44
Gene Transfer Experiment using ASTROCULTURETM Glove Box (ASC-GB) ......................................... 46

DTO/DSO/RME
DTO 493 Monitoring Latent Virus Reactivation and Shedding in Astronauts ........................................... 48
DTO 498 Space Flight and Immune Function ..................................................................................... 49
DTO 623 Cabin Air Monitoring ........................................................................................................... 50
DTO 805 Crosswind Landing Performance ......................................................................................... 51
DTO 700-21 SIGI Orbital Attitude Readiness ...................................................................................... 52
DTO 700-14 Single-String Global Positioning System ......................................................................... 53
DTO 847 Solid-State Star Tracker Size Limitations ............................................................................. 54
Shuttle Reference and Data

Shuttle Abort Modes ........................................................................................................................ 55

Space Shuttle External Tank ............................................................................................................ 60
Space Shuttle Rendezvous Maneuvers .............................................................................................. 63
Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters ................................................................................................ 64
Space Shuttle Super-Lightweight Tank (SLWT) .................................................................................. 72

Media Assistance .................................................................................................................... 73

Contacts .................................................................................................................................... 75
STS-101
Mission Overview

The development of the International Space Station (ISS) will continue

during NASA's second shuttle flight of the year when Atlantis is launched on
the STS-101 mission, the 98th flight in Shuttle program history.

Outfitted with a new "glass cockpit" and other state-of-the-art upgrades to

key systems, Atlantis is scheduled to be launched from Complex 39-A at the
Kennedy Space Center approximately 4:15 P.M. EDT April 24 at the start of
a window of no longer than 10 minutes in duration. The precise launch time
and duration of the launch opportunity will be narrowed within a week before
the start of the mission to provide the best time for Atlantis to begin its two-
day chase to catch up to the ISS. Atlantis last flew in space in support of the
STS-86 mission in 1997. On STS-101, Atlantis will fly as the most updated
Space Shuttle ever, with more than 100 new modifications incorporated
during a 10-month period at Boeing's Palmdale, California Shuttle factory in
1998.

Seven astronauts, led by veteran Commander Jim Halsell (Col., USAF), will
link up to the international outpost two days after launch and will spend six
days docked to the ISS, four of which will be spent refurbishing and
replacing components in both the Zarya and Unity modules. Two crew
members will perform a six and a half hour space walk the day after docking
to install a Russian "Strela" cargo boom on the outside of Zarya, as well as
replace a faulty radio antenna associated with the early communications
system on Unity and perform several other tasks in advance of space walks
on future station assembly missions.

Halsell, who is making his fifth flight into space and third as a Commander,
will be joined by veteran Pilot Scott Horowitz (Lt. Col., USAF), who is making
his third flight.

Mission Specialists include Dr. Mary Ellen Weber, making her second flight,
Jeff Williams (Lt. Col., USA), making his first trip into space, Jim Voss (Col.,
USA, ret.), embarking on his fourth flight, Susan Helms (Col., USAF),
making her fourth flight, and veteran Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachev, who
is making his third flight into space and who has logged 376 days in space
and six space walks during two previous missions aboard the Mir Space
Station. Usachev and fellow cosmonaut Yuri Onufrienko hosted astronaut
Shannon Lucid during Usachev's second flight on the Mir. Lucid went on to
set a U.S. single spaceflight endurance mark of 188 days on that mission.

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Usachev, Voss and Helms will return to the ISS next year as the second
crew to live and work aboard the station. Permanent occupancy of the ISS is
scheduled to begin in the fall by the Expedition One crew, William Shepherd,
Yuri Gidzenko and Sergei Krikalev, who will be launched on a Russian
Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Williams and Voss are the two space walkers during Atlantis' planned 10-
day flight. Williams, who has no previous space walk experience, will carry
the designation of EV 1 during the planned excursion outside Atlantis and
will wear the suit marked with red stripes on the elbows and the knees. Voss
will be designated EV 2 and will wear the pure white suit. He conducted one
previous space walk during the STS-69 mission in 1995 lasting almost
seven hours.

The STS-101 mission originally was designed to follow the launch of the
Zvezda Service Module as the flight to outfit the Russian component as the
early living quarters for crews aboard the ISS. When Zvezda's launch was
delayed, Shuttle and Station managers agreed to fly Atlantis on two
separate flights to the station this year, STS-101 to conduct maintenance
and logistics work aboard the ISS in advance of Zvezda's arrival, and STS-
106, to unload supplies onto Zvezda from both the Shuttle and a Russian
Progress resupply vehicle. STS-106 is scheduled for launch in August,
about five weeks after Zvezda's planned July launch on a Proton rocket from
Baikonur.

The top priority of the docked phase of the mission is to replace four of six
800-ampere power-producing batteries in Zarya which are no longer
operable, and its associated electronics for proper current regulation.

Zarya will receive additional new equipment including four cooling fans,
three fire extinguishers, 10 smoke detectors and an on-board computer. A
suspect radio frequency power distribution box (RFPDB) in Unity used as
part of the early S-band communications system will be replaced during the
time Atlantis is linked to the new international facility.

The crew plans to transfer almost one ton of equipment from a double
Spacehab module housed at the rear of Atlantis' cargo bay into Zarya and
Unity for use by the Expedition One crew later this year. Those logistical
items include personal clothing and hygiene gear, medical and exercise
equipment, computer equipment and printers, hardware for the eventual
setup and activation of the station's Ku-band communications system and a
centerline camera for Unity's common berthing mechanisms to which other
ISS components will be mated. Four large bags of water will also be brought
from Atlantis into the ISS for later use.

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The cost for all of the hardware and logistical supplies being carried to the
Station is approximately $1.5 million. Slightly more than $1.3 million of that
total cost will be assumed by Russia for new or replacement Russian
hardware, while the portion for new and or replacement U.S. hardware is
$162,000.

The next mission to expand the capacity of the International Space Station,
will be the launch of the Zvezda Service Module in mid-July.

Adjustments to the official near term assembly sequence were agreed to by

the International Partners and participants at a recent Space Station Control
Board meeting. Representatives included the United States, Russia,
Canada, Japan, the European Space Agency, Italy and Brazil.

The following is the updated near term assembly sequence through August
2001 with the no-earlier-than target launch dates. The complete assembly
sequence can be viewed on NASA's Human Spaceflight Website at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/assembly/flights/chron.html

International Space Station Assembly Sequence March 2000 Update

3
 Date Flight Launch Vehicle Element(s)
Nov 20, 1998 1A/R Russian Proton 'Zarya' Control Module
Dec 3, 1998 2A Space Shuttle 'Unity' Connecting Module
(STS-88)
May 27, 1999 2A.1 Space Shuttle Spacehab - Logistics Flight
(STS-96)
April 13, 2000 2A.2A Space Shuttle Spacehab - Maintenance Flt.
(STS-101)
July 8-14, 2000 1R Russian Proton 'Zvezda' service module
Aug 19, 2000 2A.2B Space Shuttle Spacehab - Logistics Flight
(STS-106)
Sept 21, 2000 3A Space Shuttle Integrated Truss Structure
(STS-92) (ITS) Z1; Pressurized Mating Adapter-
3; Control Moment
Gyros (CMGs)
Oct 30, 2000 2R Russian Soyuz Expedition 1 Crew launch
Nov 30, 2000 4A Space Shuttle Integrated Truss Structure(P6)
(STS-97) Photovoltaic Module;Radiators
Jan 18, 2001 5A Space Shuttle 'Destiny' laboratory module
(STS-98)
Feb 9, 2001 4R Russian Soyuz Docking Compartment
Feb 15, 2001 5A.1 Space Shuttle 'Leonardo' Multi-Purpose Logistics
(STS-102) Module (MPLM)
Apr 19, 2001 6A Space Shuttle 'Rafaello' MPLM
(STS-100) Station Remote Manipulator System
Apr 30, 2001 2S Russian Soyuz Soyuz spacecraft swap
May 17, 2001 7A Space Shuttle Airlock
(STS-104)
June 21, 2001 7A.1 Space Shuttle 'Donatello' MPLM
(STS-105)
Aug 23, 2001 UF-1 Space Shuttle First utilization flight
(STS-109)

If all goes as planned, Atlantis will conclude its mission at approximately

12:50 P.M. EDT on May 4 with a touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility
at the Kennedy Space Center.

Updated: 04/06/2000

4
STS-101

Atlantis OV104
Launch: Monday, April 24, 2000
4:15 PM (eastern time)

Mission Objectives
A categorical priority system is used to guide the ordering of key operations
tasks and places the highest value on ensuring crew safety. The priorities
for STS-101/2A.2a are:

1. ISS ingress/safety
- Take air samples
- Monitor carbon dioxide
- Deploy portable, personal fans
- Measure air flow
- Rework/modify ISS ducting
- Replace air filters
- Replace Zarya fire extinguishers, smoke detectors

2. Critical replacements/repairs/spares
- Replace four suspect batteries on Zarya
- Replaced failed or suspect electronics for Zarya's batteries
- Replace Radio Telemetry System memory unit
- Replace port early communications antenna
- Replace Radio Frequency Power Distribution Box
- Clear Space Vision System target

3. Incremental assembly/upgrades
- Complete assembly of Strela crane
- Install additional exterior handrails
- Set up center-line camera cable
- Install "Komparus" cable inserts
- Reseat the U.S. crane

4. Assembly parts & equipment

- Transfer U.S. hardware
- Transfer Russian hardware
- Provide EVA tools
- Supply IVA kit
5. Pre-position/stow equipment & provisions for future missions

6. Resupply
- Water and water transfer, stowage equipment
- Docking mechanism accessory kit
- Film and video tape for documentation
- Office supplies
- Personal items

7. Crew health maintenance

- Exercise equipment
- Medical support supplies
- Formaldehyde monitor kit
- Passive dosimetry system

8. Detailed test objectives

- Monitor cabin air
- SOAR

Options

If there is sufficient shuttle propellant following Atlantis' undocking from the

ISS, a flyaround inspection will be performed prior to the Shuttle's final
separation maneuver.

Crew

Commander: James D. Halsell

Pilot: Scott J. Horowitz
Mission Specialist 1: Mary Ellen Weber
Mission Specialist 2: Jeffrey N. Williams
Mission Specialist 3: James S. Voss
Mission Specialist 4: Susan J. Helms
Mission Specialist 5: Yuri V. Usachev

Launch

Orbiter: Atlantis OV104

Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A
Launch Window: 5 minutes
Altitude: 173 Nautical Miles
Inclination: 51.6 Degrees
Duration: 9 Days 20 Hrs. 36 Min.
Vehicle Data

Shuttle Liftoff Weight: 4519492 lbs.

Orbiter/Payload Liftoff Weight: 262565 lbs.
Orbiter/Payload Landing Weight: 224504 lbs.

Payload Weights
ICC 3,700 pounds
MARS 270 lb

Software Version: OI-27

Space Shuttle Main Engines
SSME 1: 2043 SSME 2: 2054 SSME 3: 2049
External Tank: ET-102
SRB Set: BI-100/RSRM-74

Shuttle Aborts

Abort Landing Sites

RTLS: Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility

TAL: Zaragoza
AOA: Edwards Air Force Base, California

Landing

Landing Date: 05/04/00

Landing Time: 12:50 PM (eastern time)
Primary Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility

Payloads
Cargo Bay
BioTube Precursor Experiment
SPACEHAB
Integrated Cargo Carrier
Mission to America's Remarkable Schools
Space Experiment Module 6

In-Cabin
HTD 1403 Micro Wireless Instrumentation System (Micro WIS) HEDS Technology
Demonstration
STS-101
Crew Profile Menu
Commander: James D. Halsell

Jim Halsell (Col., USAF) is Commander for STS-101. Halsell will be

responsible for overall mission success and safety during STS-101,
as well as the rendezvous and docking of Atlantis to the
International Space Station.
Halsell, 43, is making his fifth flight into space, having previously
flown as Pilot on STS-65 in 1994 and STS-74 in 1995 and as
Commander of STS-83 and 94 in 1997.

Ascent Seating: Flight Deck - Port Forward

Entry Seating: Flight Deck - Port Forward

Pilot: Scott J. Horowitz

Scott Horowitz (Lt. Col., USAF) is Pilot for STS-101.

Horowitz will be the intravehicular crew member during the space walk
by Jeff Williams and Jim Voss during the flight, responsible for the
choreography of the 6 ½ hour excursion outside Atlantis.

Horowitz will also help in the replacement of some of the equipment in

the Unity module on the ISS and the inspection and installation of
other systems in the Zarya module.
Horowitz, 43, is making his third flight into space after serving as Pilot on STS-75 in 1996
and STS-82 in 1997.

Ascent Seating: Flight Deck - Starboard Forward

Entry Seating: Flight Deck - Starboard Forward
IV1

Mission Specialist 1: Mary Ellen Weber

Dr. Mary Ellen Weber, 37, is Mission Specialist 1 during the STS-101
mission.

Weber will be responsible for the transfer of logistics items from

Atlantis to the International Space Station during the flight and will
operate the Shuttle's robot arm during the space walk by Jeff Williams
and Jim Voss.

Weber will ride upstairs on Atlantis' flight deck for both launch and landing and will be
responsible for Spacehab systems for the cargo carrier housed in Atlantis' payload bay.
Weber previously flew on the STS-70 mission in 1995.

Ascent Seating: Flight Deck - Starboard Aft

Entry Seating: Flight Deck - Starboard Aft
RMS

8
Mission Specialist 2: Jeffrey N. Williams

Jeff Williams (Lt. Col., USA) will serve as Atlantis' flight engineer
during STS-101, which will be his first flight into space.

Williams, 42, who will be designated Mission Specialist 2, will be the

lead space walker (EV 1) during the excursion he and Jim Voss will
conduct to work on the International Space Station. He will wear the
suit with the red stripes on the arms and knees of his space suit.

During the docked phase of the flight, Williams will transfer batteries
and other electronics equipment into the Zarya module for installation as well as other
logistics items.

Ascent Seating: Flight Deck - Center Aft

Entry Seating: Flight Deck - Center Aft
EV1

Mission Specialist 3: James S. Voss

Jim Voss (Col., USA, ret.) will make his fourth flight into space as
Mission Specialist 3 during STS-101. He is also a member of the
Expedition Two crew, which will be launched in 2001 for a three to four
month stay aboard the International Space Station.

Voss, who conducted one space walk on STS-69, will join Jeff Williams
as EV 2 for the 6 ½ hour space walk during STS-101 to work on the
International Space Station. He will wear the pure white space suit.

Voss will also be responsible for air quality measures inside the ISS during docked
operations and the replacement of equipment inside the Unity module. He will ride
downstairs in Atlantis' middeck during launch and landing.
Voss, 51, previously flew on STS-44 in 1991, STS-53 in 1992 and STS-69 in 1995.

Ascent Seating: Mid Deck - Port

Entry Seating: Mid Deck - Port
EV2

Mission Specialist 4: Susan J. Helms

Susan Helms (Lt. Col., USAF), will make her fourth flight into space
as Mission Specialist 4 during STS-101.

Helms, 42, is also a member of the Expedition Two crew, which will
be launched in 2001 for a 3-4 month stay aboard the International
Space Station. During STS-101, Helms will help conduct the
replacement of a battery and associated electronic equipment in the
Zarya module and will replace and inspect other equipment in both
Zarya and the Unity module.

She will ride downstairs in Atlantis' middeck during launch and landing.

Ascent Seating: Mid Deck - Center

Entry Seating: Mid Deck - Center

9
Mission Specialist 5: Yuri V. Usachev

Yuri Usachev, 42, will serve as Mission Specialist 5 during STS-101.

The veteran Russian cosmonaut has spent 376 days in space and
has conducted six space walks during two long duration missions
aboard the Mir Space Station.

Usachev will serve as the Commander of the Expedition Two crew

along with Jim Voss and Susan Helms, which is scheduled for launch
in 2001 for a 3-4 month stay on the International Space Station.

On STS-101, Usachev will be responsible for the replacement of a battery and associated
electronic equipment in the Zarya module and will help replace and inspect other equipment
in both Zarya and the Unity module. Usachev will join Helms and Voss downstairs in Atlantis'
middeck for both launch and landing.

Ascent Seating: Mid Deck - Starboard

Entry Seating: Mid Deck - Starboard
Updated: 03/27/2000

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STS-101
Shuttle Reference and Data
Orbiter Upgrades

The 21st Century Space Shuttle: New Improvements

The space shuttle has undergone significant changes. From the inside out,
thousands of advances in technology and enhanced designs have been
incorporated into the shuttle since it was first launched. The result is a safer,
more powerful and more efficient spacecraft. When the shuttle Atlantis
launches on STS-101, it will be the most up-to-date space shuttle ever.
From a new "glass cockpit" to main engines estimated to be three times
safer, Atlantis is a far different vehicle from the one that first flew in 1985.

This year also will see the 100th space shuttle launch in history, a milestone
for a spacecraft that has taken over 600 passengers and three million
pounds of cargo to orbit. The shuttle fleet has spent almost two and a half
years in space. But even the most-traveled shuttles remain young in the
lifespan for which they were built. NASA is preparing for the possibility of
flying the space shuttle for at least another decade, and future
improvements are geared toward a goal of doubling shuttle safety by the
year 2005.

The New "Glass Cockpit"

For the first time, on mission STS-101, 11 new full-color, flat-panel display
screens in Atlantis's cockpit will replace 32 gauges and electromechanical
displays and four cathode-ray tube displays. This new "glass cockpit,"
technically labeled the Multifunction Electronic Display Subsystem (MEDS),
is 75 pounds lighter and uses less power than before; and its color displays
facilitate pilot recognition of key functions. The new cockpit will be installed
in all shuttles by 2002, setting the stage for the next cockpit improvement
planned for 2005: a "smart cockpit" that reduces pilot workload during critical
periods.

On STS-101, Atlantis will fly with more than 100 new modifications
incorporated during a 10-month period at Boeing's Palmdale, Calif., facility
in 1998. The airlock was relocated to the payload bay to prepare for
International Space Station assembly flights; the communications system
was updated; several weight reduction measures were installed;
enhancements were made to add protection to the cooling system; and the
crew cabin floor was strengthened. The shuttle Columbia is at the Palmdale
factory this year receiving many of the same upgrades, including installation
of the new "glass cockpit."

11
Future Shuttle Upgrades: Cutting Risk in Half by 2005

Enhancements now under development could double the shuttle's safety by

2005. New sensors and computer power in the main engines will "see"
trouble coming a split second before it can do harm, allowing a safe engine
shutdown. A new engine nozzle will eliminate the need for hundreds of
welds and potential leaks. Electric generators for the shuttle's hydraulics will
replace the highly volatile rocket fuel that now powers the system. And a
next-generation "smart cockpit" will reduce the pilot's workload in an
emergency, allowing the crew to better focus on critical tasks. Other
improvements will make steering systems for the solid rocket boosters more
reliable, make the manufacturing of solid propellant safer and increase the
strength of external fuel tank welds.

"Smart Cockpit"--The new "glass cockpit" that will be initiated when Atlantis
launches on STS-101 is the precursor of the "smart cockpit" planned for
2005. The enhanced displays of the "smart cockpit" will not fly the shuttle,
but they will do much of the deductive reasoning required for a pilot to
respond to a problem. By simplifying the pilot's job, this "smart cockpit" will
allow astronauts to better focus on critical tasks in an emergency.

Better Main Engines--The space shuttle's main engines operate at greater

extremes of temperature and pressure than any other machine. Since 1981,
three overhauls of the original design have more than tripled estimates of
their safety. Now, a fourth major overhaul will make them even safer by
2005. Planned improvements include a high-tech optical and vibration
sensor system and computing power in the engines that detects trouble in
advance. This advanced health monitoring system has sensors that will
detect and track an almost microscopic flaw in an engine's performance in a
split second, allowing the engine to be safely shut down before the situation
can grow out of control. Also, the engine's main combustion chamber will be
enlarged to reduce the pressures on internal components without reducing
the thrust; and a new, simplified engine nozzle design will eliminate
hundreds of welds--over 500 feet of them--and potential leaks.

Safer Hydraulic Power--Aside from the main engines and solid rocket
boosters, the single highest risk shuttle subsystems are the auxiliary power
units, generators that power the hydraulic systems. Today, these generators
use a highly volatile and toxic rocket fuel. But recent advances in battery
and electrical power technology--much of which was developed by the
automotive industry--will replace that system by 2005, eliminating many
hazards not only in flight but also on the ground. Electric motors, powered
by a bank of lightweight batteries, will be developed to power the shuttle's
hydraulic system, providing greater reliability for astronauts in flight and a
safer workplace for ground crews.

Solid Rocket Boosters and External Tank Upgrades--Future improvements

for the solid rocket boosters include a redesign of several valves, filters and
seals in the steering system to enhance their reliability as well as studies of

12
the potential for an electrical system to power the booster hydraulics. In
addition, changes in the solid rocket propellant manufacturing process will
make the workplace safer for shuttle technicians. For the external tank, a
new friction-stir welding technique will produce stronger and more durable
welds throughout the structure.

Major Space Shuttle Improvements: A Brief History

April 1983, STS-6: A Lighter Fuel Tank--A redesigned lightweight external

tank, 10,000 pounds lighter than the original design, flew on STS-6 in 1983,
increasing the shuttle's cargo capacity by the same amount. In 1998, a
super-lightweight external tank flew on STS-91, further reducing the tank's
weight by 7,500 pounds and again increasing the shuttle's cargo capacity by
the same amount. The super- lightweight tank is made of a Lockheed
Martin-developed aluminum-lithium alloy that is not only lighter but also 30
percent stronger than the previous tank design.

September 1988, STS-26: Return to Flight--When Discovery returned the

shuttle fleet to space following the Challenger accident, more than 200
safety improvements and modifications had been made. They included a
major redesign of the solid rockets boosters, the addition of a crew escape
and bailout system, stronger landing gear, more powerful flight control
computers, updated inertial navigation equipment and several updated
avionics units.

May 1992, STS-49: Endeavour's Maiden Voyage--Endeavour's first flight in

1992 was the debut of many shuttle improvements, including a drag chute to
assist braking during landing, improved nosewheel steering, lighter and
more reliable hydraulic power units, and updates to a variety of avionics
equipment.

June 1992, STS-50: Extended-Duration Flights--Columbia was the first

shuttle to be modified for allow long-duration flights and flew the first such
mission in 1992. The modifications included an improved toilet, a
regenerative system to remove carbon dioxide from the air, connections for
a pallet of additional hydrogen and oxygen tanks to be mounted in the cargo
bay, and extra stowage room in the crew cabin.

June 1995, STS-71: International Space Station Assembly--The first

shuttle/Mir docking mission featured new shuttle changes that allowed it to
dock with the Russian space station and prepare for assembly of the
International Space Station. For the shuttle to dock with Mir and ISS, the
airlock had to be moved from inside the cabin to the cargo bay on all orbiters
except Columbia. Weight was also reduced through lightweight lockers,
seats and other cabin equipment. Those changes, coupled with the super-
lightweight external tank and performance improvements, increased the
shuttle's cargo capacity by 16,000 pounds since 1992.

13
July 1995, STS-70: Space Shuttle Main Engines--Three major redesigns
have more than tripled estimates of shuttle main engine safety. The first
redesign (called the Block I engine), first flown in 1995, included changes to
strengthen the oxygen turbopump and engine powerhead. The second
overhaul, called the Block IIA engine, included a larger throat in main
combustion chamber and first flew on STS-89 in January 1998. The third
redesign, called the Block II engine, includes a stronger fuel turbopump and
will fly for the first time in 2000. A fourth major overhaul is now planned to fly
by 2005. Called the Block III engine, it will include further improvement of
the combustion chamber and a simplified nozzle design.

Today's Space Shuttle--Since 1992, not only has the cargo capacity of the
shuttle increased by 8 tons, the annual cost of operating the shuttle has
decreased by 40 percent. Improvements in the main engines and other
systems have reduced the estimated risks during launch by over 80 percent.
And the number of all actual problems experienced by the shuttle in flight
has decreased by 70 percent. Although they have flown for almost 20 years,
the space shuttle orbiters have used only about a quarter of the lifetime for
which they was designed. Discovery, which has flown the most missions,
has completed 27 trips to space out of the 100 flights that all the shuttles
were originally designed to complete.

Updated: 04/06/2000

14
STS-101
Flight Day Summary
DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT
04/24/00 4:14:50 PM 0 000/00:00:00 Launch
04/26/00 9:08:30 AM 3 001/16:53:40 ISS Docking
04/27/00 7:49:50 AM 4 002/15:35:00 EVA 1 Begins
04/28/00 6:14:50 AM 5 003/14:00:00 ISS Ingress Begins
04/29/00 4:44:50 AM 4 004/12:30:00 Reboost Begins
05/01/00 9:29:50 AM 8 006/17:15:00 ISS Egress Begins
05/02/00 3:59:19 AM 9 007/11:44:29 ISS Undock
05/04/00 11:46:25 AM 11 009/19:31:35 Deorbit Tig
05/04/00 12:50:50 PM 11 009/20:36:00 KSC Landing

Updated: 04/05/2000

15
STS-101

EVAs
STS-101 EVA
Overview
Mission Specialists James Voss and Jeffrey N. Williams will emerge from
Space Shuttle Atlantis on Flight Day 4 of the second logistics mission to the
International Space Station and make the last planned equipment changes
prior to the arrival of the ISS's third element, Russia's Service Module
Zvezda.

During the planned 6 1/2 hour space walk, they will complete the assembly
of a Russian crane, test the integrity of a U.S. crane, replace a faulty
communications antenna, install handrails, set up a camera cable and thus
make ready for Zvezda's launch scheduled between July 8-14.

Mission Specialist Mary Ellen Weber will assist the two astronauts in
maneuvering around the ISS as she operates the shuttle's robotic arm from
inside Atlantis.

When Voss and Williams step from Atlantis' airlock, their first job will be to
set up the foot restraints, tethers and other gear essential for safely
executing activities in space. Then they can go to work.

First they will head to a workstation fixture on pressurized mating adapter

(PMA) -1, the passageway connecting U.S. module Unity and Russian-built
control module Zarya. The objects of their attention will be the fixture itself
and a small, 209-pound U.S. space-walker-operated crane. Mission
Specialists Tamara E. Jernigan and Daniel T. Barry placed it there during
the first logistics mission (May 27-June 6, 1999: STS-96/2A.1).

16
Astronaut Tamara E. Jernigan totes part of Russian-built Strela ("Arrow")
crane during first logistics mission STS-96/2A.1

The crane is not mounted to the fixture as tightly as expected. Although it

poses no hazard to ISS components, Voss and Williams will inspect it and
its fixture to ensure that neither is damaged or otherwise compromised.
They will attempt to secure the crane in its housing, or relocate it to another,
identical housing elsewhere on Zarya.

The two mission specialists will return to the airlock to get the spare Early
Communications antenna and pick up a grapple fixture for the Russian
crane Strela. From there they will go to the SPACEHAB Integrated Cargo
Carrier (ICC) in the shuttle's cargo bay and obtain the rest of the
components and tools required to complete assembly of Strela, begun by
Jernigan and Barry on STS-96.

Finishing the assembly job will require about 100 different actions, steps and
processes from the time Voss and Williams arrive at the ICC to get the
crane's 45-ft telescoping boom to the completion of its assembly at its
workstation on PMA-2. Strela, which is an updated version of the crane used
on Mir, will be moved to Zarya during the August logistics mission, STS-
106/2A.2b.

Next, Voss and Williams will replace an Early Communications (ECOMM)

System antenna mounted on the port side of the common berthing
mechanism at Unity's forward end-cone. It is one of two used for crew
videoconferences, command activities and telemetry backup. The job of
swapping out the device is relatively straightforward. It essentially involves
disconnecting four cable connectors, releasing the antenna from its mount,

17
disconnecting four cable connectors, releasing the antenna from its mount,
installing and reconnecting the new antenna, and checking its alignment.

Only two more tasks remain to be completed: installation of the centerline

camera cable and attachment of eight handrails on Unity. The equipment is
in a bag Jernigan and Barry left behind for Voss and Williams. Williams will
retrieve the bag, then move to the connecting module's starboard side to
meet Voss and give him the cable.

Handrails assist space-walking Astronauts in safely maneuvering around

Unity

Installation of the cable will simply require that Voss secure it with wire ties
to handrails already attached to Unity. Williams at the same time will use a
power tool to securely bolt the new handrails to the module's forward, mid-
and aft sections. When those tasks are completed, the EVA mission will be
accomplished.

18
EVA Phase Elapsed Timeline for STS-101 EVA

Time Event
0:00 Airlock Egress
0:15 EVA Sortie Setup
0:45 OTD Activities
1:30 EVA Sortie Setup continued
1:45 Strela Install
3:45 Early Comm Antenna
4:45 Node Handrail Install - Centerline Camera Cable
5:15 EVA Sortie Cleanup
6:15 Airlock Ingress
6:30 Repress - End of EVA
Updated: 04/04/2000

19
STS-101
Payloads
BioTube Precursor Experiment
Payload Bay

Prime: Principal Investigator: David Cox

Backup:

Overview
The BioTube Precursor Experiment will test newly developed technologies
involved in the BioTube Magnetic Field Apparatus, a device for growing
seeds in microgravity that will be flown on STS-107. This precursor
experiment, which occupies half of a locker in the middeck of Atlantis, will
evaluate the MFA's water delivery system and seed germination substrates.

In plant growth experiments, a wicking material, such as germination paper,

is sometimes used as a liquid distributor and temporary reservoir for
germinating seeds. For the precursor experiment, wicking materials other
than the standard germination paper will be tested for their ability to absorb,
distribute, and retain water in microgravity without pooling around the seeds.

The flight will also demonstrate seedling growth as a function of temperature

in the limited volume of the sealed growth chambers.

The payload consists of 24 seed cassettes housed in three Magnetic Field

Chambers (MFCs), three syringe/tube mechanisms to deliver water, and
three passive temperature-recording devices. The MFCs will be used on the
BioTube MFA payload to expose plant materials to a magnetic field. For the
precursor flight, aluminum blanks will be flown instead of magnets, so the
precursor experiment will have no magnetic field.

Twice during the flight, a crew member will turn cranks on the three syringes
to deliver water to the seed cassettes. The first watering will occur 30 to 36
hours before landing, the second 12 to 20 hours before landing.

20
21
History/Background
When seeds are grown in the microgravity of space, the surface tension of
water can cause excess water to pool on the surface of the seeds, which
blocks oxygen transport around the seed. If the barrier forms before the
seeds germinate, they will die.

Benefits
This investigation will enable researchers to develop devices for
successfully growing plants in space to supply oxygen and food on long-
duration space flights.
Updated: 04/06/2000

22
STS-101
Payloads
HTD 1403 Micro Wireless Instrumentation System (Micro WIS)
HEDS Technology Demonstration
In-Cabin

Prime:
Backup:

Overview
HTD1403 will demonstrate the operational utility and functionality of the
micro WIS on orbit, initially in the crew cabin of the Shuttle orbiter and then
on the International Space Station.

The micro WIS consists of autonomous, tiny sensors for data acquisition.
Two versions have been developed-a sensor/transmitter and a
sensor/recorder. This HTD is designed to demonstrate the micro WIS
transmitter and recorder.

The micro WIS sensor/recorder was first flown on STS-96 as part of the
Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring payload. This DTO will document
requirements for the micro WIS sensor/recorder when it is not part of the
IVHM.

One of the objectives of this HTD is to obtain meaningful real-time

measurements for use in the orbiter's environmental control and life support
system (ECLSS) operations. The micro WIS sensor/transmitter's
simultaneous real-time measurements of air cabin temperatures in many
interior compartments of the orbiter will help ECLSS operations personnel
address issues encountered on STS-88 and early International Space
Station flights. Currently, only one temperature reading in the aft flight deck
of the orbiter is available for adjusting model predictions for real-time
environments.

Micro WIS will also reduce the time it takes the crew to obtain on-orbit
temperature measurements and will increase the capability to monitor
temperatures over long periods. On busy Space Station assembly flights,
the distances traveled and the time required to make the measurements can
be prohibitive.

23
Micro WIS data will also be used to validate cabin air temperature models
that are used for critical predictions of the dew point on early ISS missions,
where orbiter cabin air exerts a significant influence on the entire station
volume. Although the physical configuration of orbiter cabin air ducting has
been changed significantly, the sensors have remained the same and some
temperature data has never been available.

History/Background
In the past, space missions have been limited by the penalties associated
with weight and integration costs. However, breakthroughs in the
miniaturization of very low power radio transceivers have led to the
introduction of a 1-inch-diameter micro wireless instrumentation system that
can send temperature measurements to a laptop computer for five months.

Benefits
This breakthrough in miniaturization means significant cost, weight, and
power savings for current and future space vehicles and ground test
facilities and should revolutionize system design of future spacecraft. The
micro WIS on-orbit demonstration should also increase the flexibility,
reliability, and maintainability of data acquisition systems for spacecraft and
lead to a reduction in vehicle turnaround time and increased reliability by
eliminating cable connectors and by providing near-real-time reconfigurable
data paths.
Updated: 04/06/2000

24
STS-101
Payloads
Integrated Cargo Carrier
Payload Bay
3,700 pounds lbs.
Prime:
Backup:

Overview
Astronauts use the SPACEHAB Integrated Cargo Carrier to accommodate
and support the transfer of exterior cargo from the shuttle orbiter to the
International Space Station and from the station to work sites on the truss
assemblies.

The ICC provides sufficient surface area in the orbiter cargo bay to carry
approximately 8,000 pounds of cargo, which would otherwise have to be
carried in the shuttle's cabin.

The ICC is an unpressurized flatbed pallet and keel yoke assembly housed
in the orbiter's payload bay. Constructed of aluminum, it is 8 feet long, 15
feet wide and 10 inches thick, and is capable of carrying cargo on both faces
of the pallet, both on top and below. There are no active interfaces (thermal,
electrical or data) to the shuttle.

On Mission STS-101, the ICC will carry three cargoes: parts of the Russian
Strela crane, the Space Integrated Global Positioning System/Inertial
Navigation System (SIGI) Orbital Attitude Readiness (SOAR) payload, and
the SPACEHAB-Oceaneering Space System (SHOSS) box.

Strela is a Russian crane that will be mounted on the Zarya module to

transport orbital replacement units and serve as a translational aid for
extravehicular crew members on the Russian segment of the station. The
Strela grapple fixture adapter and base were installed on STS-96; STS-101
will deliver the boom, ring and extension to complete the crane assembly.

SOAR is designed to be space station's primary global positioning source

and the crew return vehicle's primary navigation source. (DTO 700-21
describes the SOAR test on STS-101 to demonstrate that SIGI can
determine GPS attitude in space.)

25
The SHOSS is a trunk mounted on the ICC that can carry up to 400 pounds
of tools and flight equipment. On STS-101, it will contain space-walking tools
and logistics items to be transferred and stowed in the U.S. Unity module for
use in future missions.

History/Background
This is the second flight of the Integrated Cargo Carrier. It last flew on STS-
96.

Related Links: http://spartans.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Updated: 04/06/2000

26
STS-101

Payloads
Logistics & Hardware Transfer
Prime:
Backup:

Overview
More than 3,000 pounds of hardware and supplies will accompany the
Space Shuttle Atlantis when it begins its journey to the International Space
Station to make final preparations for the planned addition of Russia's
Service Module Zvezda this summer.

Atlantis will carry the tonnage in its mid-deck lockers and cargo bay. In
addition, biotechnology and microgravity experiments will be housed in the
crew compartment and the cargo bay's Space Experiment Module (SEM).
The shuttle is expected to dock to the ISS on Flight Day 3 or 4, depending
on the day of launch.

27
Mission Specialists will be preparing to move some 3,000 pounds of
equipment and supplies from the shuttle into the ISS. One of the first tasks
will be to test ISS air quality and to improve air circulation with the
installation of new filters in the Zarya module before addressing power
system issues in the Russian component.

First logistics mission astronauts Julie Payette (left) and Ellen Ochoa
transfer supplies from shuttle Discovery to ISS.

The astronauts will open the hatch to the ISS on Flight Day 5 or 6 and will
begin to collect air quality samples in Unity and Zarya for comparison with a
sample from Atlantis. They also will measure air-circulation velocity and
monitor carbon dioxide levels. Upon completion of those tasks, the crew
members will break out their tools and rework some of the air ducts in Zarya
to improve airflow. They will re-route some ducts, strengthen others, add
new acoustic mufflers where required, and they'll swap out the contaminant
filter in Zarya and the charcoal filter in Unity.

Once they determine that there has been a sufficient improvement

in air circulation, the crew members will turn their attention to maintenance
issues and cargo transfers.

Battery Change-Out

Problems with performance of at least one of Zarya's six "800A" storage

batteries last summer during routine, ground-commanded battery
maintenance led to a decision in August to take the battery off line from the
ISS power system. The batteries collect energy during the daytime portion of
the Station's orbit and provide power at night.

28
Battery current converter, left, and 800 A-1 battery with which the crew will
replace failed units on Zarya during STS-101/2A.2a.

Battery No. 1 was tested a number of times during the following weeks and,
in September, was removed from service with no plans for its attempted re-
use. The Station can run on as few as three of the batteries with no
significant impact on operations.

Battery No. 2 failed to discharge properly following routine maintenance in

mid-November. It was taken off line and subsequently found to have failed
altogether due to a problem with a voltage current regulator, which operates
the charging and discharging function of the unit. Battery No. 1 was brought
back on line in early December and operated normally at first. But after a
week and a half, it once again began to discharge improperly and its use
was discontinued except during short periods when necessary. In early
March, it was discharged and taken off line for good until Atlantis' flight.

A problem that occurred in March during cycling of battery No. 3 led mission
controllers in Moscow to disconnect the unit. They subsequently
reconnected it and it appears to be operating normally, but the problem may
have damaged it. Battery No. 5 is operational but is showing signs of
degradation. Batteries 4 and 6 continue to operate normally.

Atlantis' crew will replace the four suspect, 163-pound batteries -Nos. 1, 2, 3
and 5 - as well as three of their 34-pound current converters and two of their
10-pound current converter controllers.

Komparus cables will provide additional control capabilities in Zarya.

29
The crew will complete the day's repair and replacement chores with the
replacement in Zarya of one of the four Radio Telemetry System memory
units, which has exceeded its design life. They will also install new
"Komparus" command system cable inserts. The inserts enhance the
capability of Zaryaís computer to control the ISS command and
measurement system flight equipment.

Other Maintenance Items

Three fire extinguishers in Zarya have reached the end of their design life.
The crew will replace them, as well as 10 smoke detectors and four cooling
fans. In Unity, they will replace the Radio Frequency Power Distribution Box
implicated in the loss of a return link for the Early S-Band Communications
System.

New fire extinguishers for Russian control module Zarya will replace three
that are approaching the end of their service lives.

Cargo Transfer

The transfer of equipment and supplies between the shuttle and station will
be managed by Weber and Williams. They will initiate the transfer process
on Flight Day 5 or 6 and will continue through Flight Day 8 or 9.

As was the case with the first logistics flight last May, some of the cargo will
be stowed aboard the ISS for use on future missions through STS-97/4A.

30
Among the supplies and equipment will be devices to remove humidity from
the atmosphere, a cycle ergometer for the first Expedition, or resident, crew,
four portable fan assemblies for STS-92/3A, and the Pressurized Mating
Adapter (PMA)-3 duct extension kit for STS-97/4A.

Pressurized Mating Adapter (PMA)-3 before completion

Some of the cargo to be transferred will consist of everyday household items

such as trash bags, can openers, sewing kits, bungee cords, note pads,
tools and two dictionaries in both English-to-Russian and Russian-to-English
language. Other items include:

US Hardware Transfer
- ISS crew health-care system elements
- Intra-vehicular activity seal kits
- Early space communications hardware
- IMAX camera
- Space walk equipment
- Printer and accessories
- Zarya enclosures (space-saving storage units)
- Treadmill assembly; resistance exercise system
- Common Berthing Mechanism Centerline Camera

Russian Hardware Transfer

- 800A Batteries
- Battery electronics
- Strela space-crane parts
- Radio telemetry unit

Updated: 04/06/2000

31
STS-101
Payloads
Mission to America's Remarkable Schools
Payload Bay
270 lb lbs.

Prime: Principal Investigator: Dennis Chamberland, KSC

Backup:

Overview
This life sciences payload, sponsored by the NASA's Kennedy Space
Center (KSC), contains 20 experiments from schools across the United
States. The projects include seeds of various types reflown from SEEDS I
and II as well as regionally important seed varieties such as lettuce and
spinach. In addition, some schools submitted cellular specimens like
chlorella and e.Coli (from commercial high school scientific supply houses).

Each experiment is placed in a 2-inch-diameter PVC tube inside a Complex

Autonomous Payload (CAP)/Getaway Special (GAS) canister. The
CAP/GAS is positioned in space shuttle cargo bay 13, port side, forward
position.

MARS is a passive payload that does not require any power or crew
interaction. Experiments are self-contained, back-filled with dry nitrogen at
one atmosphere before launch, and sealed throughout the mission.
History/Background
The Complex Autonomous Payload project grew out of the Getaway Special
program as a means to fly designated canisters as shuttle secondary
payloads sponsored by NASA. These CAP experiments offer an
inexpensive means for educational institutions to experiment in space. The
GAS program also provides inexpensive access to space for non-NASA
experiments. The GAS program allows educational institutions to develop a
payload that fits in the NASA standard 5-cubic-foot GAS canister. The
payload control weight is 270 pounds--100 pounds for the experiment and
170 pounds for the carrier. The Goddard Space Flight Center Wallops Island
facility manages the GAS program.

The primary program objective is outreach to schools with an emphasis on

NASA space life sciences, encouraging direct student participation in the
space shuttle program. The program is managed by KSC and the NASA
Space Life Sciences Outreach Program Intercenter Working Group.

Further information on the Getaway Special program, as well as other

shuttle carrier programs managed by Goddard Space Flight Center, can be
found at http://sspp.gsfc.nasa.gov.
32
Benefits
Encourages student participation and experimentation in space life
sciences.

Updated: 03/27/2000

33
STS-101
Payloads
Space Experiment Module 6
Payload Bay

Prime:
Backup:

Overview
Ten passive experiments will fly on STS-101 as part of NASA's Space
Experiment Module program, which is managed by the Goddard Space
Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Va. The SEM
program is an educational initiative to increase access to space for students
in kindergarten through the university level. Since its first flight in 1995, SEM
has allowed tens of thousands of students in the United States and other
countries to fly their experiments in space. SEM-06 is a mixture of
experiments from the United States and Argentina.

Idaho Tubers in Space: Shoshone-Bannock High School, Fort Hall, Idaho

Students will study the effect of space on Idaho tubers. The "Spuds in
Space" experiment was developed by students from the Fort Hall Indian
Reservation.

Seeds/CREPLD II: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

This experiment will study the effects of the space environment on seeds
and on programmable logic devices.

Effects of Microgravity on Samples/GADGET: Glenbrook High School,

Northbrook, Illinois
Students will determine the effects of the space environment on different
types and colors of paint. Secondary experiment samples from other Illinois
schools consist of dried shrimp, sand, hair, and feathers.

Yeast in Space: Brock Bridge Elementary, Laurel, Maryland

Students will study the effects of microgravity and temperature on yeast.

Effects of Cosmic Radiation: Benfield Elementary, Severna Park, Maryland

Students will study the effects of the space environment (cosmic radiation
and microgravity) on various items, such as film, seeds, bulbs, yeast, beans,
and popcorn.

34
Effects of Space on Fluids and Seeds: Technical School No. 469, Rosario,
Argentina
Students will investigate the effects of the space environment on seeds and
liquids such as colored fluids, oil, and water.

GERMINAR-2: National University of Patagonia, Argentina

This experiment will study the effects of the space environment on bee glue
and various seeds.

Seeds and Sea Monkeys in Space: Rosario National University, Argentina

This experiment will study the effects of the space environment on
Patagonic seeds (trees), humus, and Artemias Salina (sea monkeys).

Electronics and Magnetic Recording Devices: Rosario National

University/St. Hilda's School, Argentina
Students will study the effects of the space environment on electronics and
magnetic chips such as those used in diskettes, CD ROMs, PC boards, and
phone cards.

Cosmic Ray Detectors: Buenos Aires National School/Rosario National

University, Argentina
This experiment will use thermoluminiscent detectors to study the effect of
cosmic rays.

35
History/Background
SEM-06 uses a standard 5-cubic-foot Getaway Special (GAS) canister,
mounted on an SSP/JSC-provided adapter beam in bay 13, port side, forward
position in the orbiter payload bay. SEM-06 is passive: no batteries or power
utilities are supplied by the orbiter.

NASA began the Space Experiment Module (SEM) program in 1995 as an

offshoot of the Getaway Special program, managed by the Shuttle Small
Payloads Project at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and the
Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va. Since 1982, GAS canisters have
flown on the shuttle, offering economic access to space to a broader array of
experimenters, particularly students. But participation was still somewhat
limited by the high-level engineering skills required to design GAS
experiments.

36
In 1995, the program directors started SEM to relieve students of the
engineering burden and let them concentrate on creating their experiments.
Since the module is equipped with electrical power, there is no need to
engineer and build battery boxes, etc. Students of all ages can create,
design, and build experiments with a little help from teachers or mentors. The
experiments--which can be simple or complicated, active or passive--are
placed in half-moon-shaped SEMs, ten of which are then stacked in a GAS
canister.

This is the fourth flight of SEM.

More information about the Space Experiment Module program can be found
at http://www.wff.nasa.gov/~sspp/sem.html.

Benefits
Economical and simplified access for space experimenters, especially
students.

Interests young students in science and math.

Updated: 03/27/2000

37
STS-101

Payloads
SPACEHAB
Payload Bay
Prime:
Backup:

Overview
U.S. and Russian hardware for the International Space Station will be
carried in the SPACEHAB logistics double module, a pressurized laboratory
in the shuttle's cargo bay that is connected to the middeck area of the
orbiter. The seven-member crew will transfer more than 2,700 pounds of
U.S. supplies and more than 2,200 pounds of Russian supplies from the
module to the Unity and Zarya modules of the ISS.

The logistics include clothing and personal hygiene articles, health care
supplies, exercise equipment, food, TV and movie equipment, a fire
detection and suppression system, computers, and sensors. The hardware
is stowed in SPACEHAB's numerous lockers and Soft Stowage bags and is
mounted to the fronts of stowage racks and the module floor.

In addition to the logistics and maintenance cargo, SPACEHAB is carrying a

commercial payload, the Self-Standing Drawer--Morphological Transition
and Model Substances.

Designed to augment the shuttle orbiter's middeck, the SPACEHAB double

module has a total cargo capacity of up to 10,000 pounds and contains
systems necessary to support astronauts, such as ventilation, lighting, and
limited power. Crew access to SPACEHAB is through a tunnel system
located between the orbiter middeck and the SPACEHAB module.

Generally, two crew members are required for SPACEHAB operations. The
SPACEHAB environmental control system is designed to nominally
accommodate two crew members on a continuous basis. Additional crew
members can be accommodated for brief periods at the expense of reduced
cabin air heat rejection capability.

Microgravity Research Program

Working in partnership with the scientific community and commercial

industry, NASA's Microgravity Research Program strives to increase
understanding of the effects of gravity on biological, chemical, and physical
systems.

38
Using both space flight- and ground-based experiments, researchers
throughout the nation, as well as international partners, are working together
to benefit economic, social, and industrial aspects of life for the United
States and the entire Earth. U.S. universities, designated by NASA as
commercial space centers, share these space advancements with U.S.
industry to create new commercial products, applications, and processes.

Under the NASA Headquarters' Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and
Application, the Microgravity Research Program supports NASA's strategic
plan in the Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise.

Microgravity research has been performed by NASA for more than 25 years.
The term microgravity means a state of very little gravity. The prefix micro
comes from the Greek word mikros ("small"). In metric terms, the prefix
means one part in a million (0.000001).

Gravity dominates everything on Earth, from the way life has developed to
the way materials interact. But aboard a spacecraft orbiting the Earth, the
effects of gravity are barely felt. In this microgravity environment, scientists
can conduct experiments that are all but impossible to perform on Earth. In
this virtual absence of gravity as we know it, space flight gives scientists a
unique opportunity to study the states of matter (solids, liquids, and gases)
and the forces and processes that affect them.

Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., is the lead center for
NASA's Microgravity Research Program. The program manages
Microgravity Science and Applications Project Offices at the Lewis Research
Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena,
Calif., and project offices at Marshall.

Under the project offices, the Microgravity Research Program is divided into
nine major areas: five science disciplines, three research infrastructure
programs, and the Space Products Development Office.

The science disciplines include biotechnology, fluid physics, materials

science, combustion science and fundamental physics. The infrastructure
activities include acceleration measurement, advanced technology, and the
Glovebox Flight Program.

Marshall manages the Biotechnology Program and Material Science

Program as well as the Glovebox Flight Program and the Space Products
Development Office. Lewis Research Center manages the Fluid Physics,
Combustion Science and Acceleration Measurement programs, while the
Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the Fundamental Physics and the
Advanced Technology Development Program. As an element of the
Biotechnology Program, Johnson Space Center manages bioreactor
research in cell tissue growth.

39
In addition to the U.S. and Russian hardware for the International Space
Station carried within the SPACEHAB module, additional unpressurized
equipment for transfer to the space station will be carried on the new
SPACEHAB integrated cargo carrier. The ICC, a cross-bay carrier that can
accommodate 6,000 pounds of cargo, will be carrying parts of the Russian
cargo crane known as Strela, the SPACEHAB Oceaneering Space System
box, and DTO 700-21.
History/Background
Early in the shuttle program, it became evident that the orbiter middeck is
the best place to conduct crew-tended experiments in space. Each shuttle
orbiter has 42 middeck lockers, but most are used to stow crew gear for a
typical seven-day mission, leaving only seven or eight for scientific studies.
But SPACEHAB, the first crew-tended commercial payload carrier, has
initiated a new era of space experimentation.

The basic SPACEHAB module, which takes up a quarter of the orbiter's

payload bay, is like a second middeck. The 10-foot-long pressurized module
adds 1,100 cubic feet of pressurized work space that can hold 61 lockers or
experiment racks or a combination of the two. The lockers are sized and
equipped like those in the shuttle middeck so that experiments can be
moved from one location to the other. The lockers accommodate up to 60
pounds of experiment hardware in about 2 cubic feet. A rack, which can be
single or double, takes the space of ten lockers. Double racks are similar in
size and design to those planned for the space station so that they can
serve as test beds for future projects. A single rack can carry 655 pounds of
hardware in 22.5 cubic feet.

A new double module, developed specifically for shuttle missions to Mir, will
be used on STS-96. The double module, which can accommodate nearly
10,000 pounds of cargo, was created by joining two single modules.

The astronauts enter the module through a modified Spacelab tunnel

adapter. SPACEHAB can accommodate two crew members on a continuous
basis, but additional crew members can work in the module for brief periods.
Power, command and data services, cooling, vacuum, and other utilities are
supplied by orbiter crew cabin and payload bay resources.

SPACEHAB was privately developed and is privately operated by

SPACEHAB, Inc., of Arlington, Va. STS-101 is the 14th flight of
SPACEHAB.

40
Benefits
Using both space- and ground-based experiments, researchers throughout
the nation, as well as international partners, are working together to develop
economic, social, and industrial benefits for the United States and the entire
Earth. U.S. universities, designated by NASA as commercial space centers,
share these space advancements with U.S. industry to create new
commercial products, applications, and processes.
Updated: 04/06/2000

41
STS-101

Experiments
Biotechnology Ambient Generic (PCG-BAG)

Prime: Principal Dr. Daniel Carter of New Century

Investigator: Pharmaceuticals Inc., Huntsville, Ala.
Backup: Project Todd Holloway of NASA's Marshall
Scientist: Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Overview
Objective:

The Protein Crystal Growth Biotechnology Ambient Generic payloads are

designed to provide opportunities to grow high-quality protein crystals in
microgravity.

Researchers use these crystals to understand the molecular structure of the

proteins. This information can be used to develop drugs that someday may
battle the effects of aging, and treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, periodontal
disease, influenza, septic shock, emphysema and AIDS.

History/Background
While many protein crystal growth microgravity experiments are conducted
with stringent temperature controls and extensive participation by shuttle
crew members, the Biotechnology Ambient Generic experiments require
minimal crew support.

The payloads are flown as stowage items in Atlantis's middeck, where they
are subject to normal temperature conditions aboard the shuttle.

Shortly after lift-off, 504 individual experiments, stored in eight cylindrical

containers, will be activated. Each experiment consists of two reservoirs
separated by a flexible seal. When the seal is opened, the fluid in the protein
drop will evaporate, starting the crystallization process. During the mission,
this evaporation process will result in the growth of crystals that investigators
can later study to determine the molecular structure of protein compounds.

42
Updated: 04/06/2000

43
STS-101

Experiments
Commercial Protein Crystal Growth

Prime: Principal Dr. Larry DeLucas, director of the

Investigator: Center for Biophysical Science and
Engineering at the University of
Alabama at Birmingham.
Backup: Project Steve Lide of the Space Product
Scientist: Development Office at the Marshall
Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Overview

Through protein crystallography, protein crystals are grown in the laboratory

and examined to determine their three-dimensional structure. That
information is used to develop new drugs targeting the protein's structure.
But crystals grown in Earth's gravity frequently have defects that make such
analysis difficult or impossible. Space-grown crystals often have fewer
defects and are larger than their Earth-grown counterparts, making them
easier to examine.

The objective of the STS-101 protein crystal growth experiments is to grow

crystals of human alpha interferon 2b--a protein pharmaceutical used
against several afflictions, including human viral hepatitis B and C,
melanoma, hairy cell leukemia, multiple myeloma and AIDS-related Kaposi's
sarcoma. These alpha interferon samples will be crystallized under a range
of conditions in sufficient size and quantity to assess the concentration and
distribution of impurities. The protein is supplied by the Schering Plough
Research Institute of Kenilworth, N.J. The experiments will be performed in
the protein crystallization facility that stimulates crystal growth through
changes in temperature.

44
This Commercial Protein Crystal Growth experiment aboard STS-101 is
sponsored by the Center for Biophysical Science and Engineering at the
University of Alabama at Birmingham. The center is part of NASA's
Commercial Space Center Program, which forms a bridge between NASA
and private industry to develop methods for crystallizing large molecules in
microgravity.

By fostering such commercial projects aboard the space shuttle, NASA

contributes to research that may lead to a new generation of drugs for
treating diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, periodontal disease,
influenza, septic shock, emphysema and AIDS.

Updated: 04/06/2000

45
STS-101

Experiments
Gene Transfer Experiment using ASTROCULTURETM Glove Box
(ASC-GB)
Prime: Principal Dr. Bratislav Stankovic,Wisconsin
Investigator: Center for Space Automation and
Robotics, University of Wisconsin,
Madison, Wis
Backup: Project Dr. Weijia Zhou, Wisconsin Center for
Scientist: Space Automation and Robotics,
University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis.

Overview
Objectives: The objective of the experiment is to evaluate a novel method
for production of commercially important transgenic plant materials in
microgravity using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This transformation method,
developed by the Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics and
its industrial partner, was first tested during the STS-95 mission in October
1998. That testing found increased transformation efficiency in comparison
to the identical ground experiments.

The gene transfer experiment to be conducted on the STS-101 mission is a

cooperative venture between Producers' Natural Processing Corporation
(PNP) and the Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics. PNP
is a for-profit, privately owned company which: takes advantage of
proprietary patented technologies in genetic transformation that will allow in
planta production of proteins, enzymes, antibodies and vaccines; utilizes its
relationship with prominent life science companies to deliver specific,
identity-preserved crop attributes to the end user; and utilizes its new
product development division and partners for the production of
nutraceuticals, industrial enzymes, plant-based edible vaccines, and
pharmaceutical intermediates.

Description: Crop production and utilization are undergoing significant

modifications and improvements that emanate from adaptation of recently
developed plant biotechnologies. One of these is the transfer of desirable
genes from organisms to economically important crop species in a way that
cannot be accomplished with traditional plant breeding techniques. These
new technologies offer opportunities to improve crop species in various
characteristics, as well as to use source materials for specific industrial
applications, and hence, to convert plant materials that originally have no
commercial values to plant materials that represent commercially important
crop varieties.

46
For the STS-101 mission, a sample size of 1,000 soybean seeds will be co-
incubated on orbit, with Agrobacterium tumefaciens containing the
proprietary commercial gene and rs-GFP reporter gene that will be used for
in vivo detection of transformation events that had occurred during the time
the seeds were in microgravity. The results will be analyzed to determine the
percentage of transient and stable transformation events, which will be
compared with the results obtained during the STS-95 mission. During the
STS-101 mission, the transformation procedures will be performed by the
crew.

The ASTROCULTURETM flight experiment series is sponsored by the

Space Product Development Program managed at the Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Updated: 04/06/2000

47
STS-101
DTO/DSO/RMEs

Monitoring Latent Virus Reactivation and Shedding in Astronauts

DSO 493

Prime: Principal Investigator: Duane L. Pierson

Backup:

Overview
The premise of this DSO is that the incidence and duration of latent virus
reactivation in saliva and urine will increase during space flight. The
objective is to determine the frequency of induced reactivation of latent
viruses, latent virus shedding, and clinical disease after exposure to the
physical, physiological, and psychological stressors associated with space
flight.

Space-flight-induced alterations in the immune response become

increasingly important on long missions, particularly the potential for
reactivation and dissemination (shedding) of latent viruses. An example of a
latent virus is Herpes Simplex Type 1 (HSV-1), which infects 70 to 80% of all
adults. Its classic manifestations are cold sores, pharyngitis, and tonsillitis,
and it usually is acquired through contact with the saliva, skin, or mucous
membranes of an infected individual. However, many recurrences are
asymptomatic, resulting in shedding of the virus. Twenty subjects have been
studied for Epstein-Barr virus. Three additional viruses will be examined in
an expanded subject group.

Updated: 03/27/2000

48
STS-101
DTO/DSO/RMEs

Space Flight and Immune Function

DSO 498

Prime: Principal Investigator: Duane L. Pierson

Backup:

Overview
The objective of this DSO is to characterize the effects of space flight on
neutrophils, monocytes, and cytotoxic cells, which play an important role in
maintaining an effective defense against infectious agents. The premise of
this study is that the space environment alters the essential functions of
these elements of human immune response.

Researchers will conduct a funtional analysis of neutrophils and monocytes

from blood samples taken from astronauts before and after the flight. They
will also assess the subjects' pre- and postflight production of cytotoxic cells
and cytokine.

This study will complement previous and continuing immunology studies of

astronauts' adaptation to space.

History/Background
Astronauts face an increasing risk of contracting infectious diseases as they
work and live for longer periods in the crowded conditions and closed
environmnets of spacecraft such as the Russian Mir space station and the
International Space Station. The effects of space flight on the human
immune system, which plays a pivotal role in warding off infections, is not
fully understood. Understanding the changes in immune function caused by
exposure to microgravity will allow researchers to develop countermeasures
to minimize the risk of infection.

Updated: 03/27/2000

49
STS-101
DTO/DSO/RMEs

Cabin Air Monitoring

DTO 623

Prime:
Backup:

Overview
A solid sorbent sampler will continuously sample the orbiter's atmosphere
throughout the flight for possible impurities due to outgassing and particulate
matter. This is the 25th flight for this DTO.

Updated: 03/27/2000

50
STS-101
DTO/DSO/RMEs

Crosswind Landing Performance

DTO 805

Prime:
Backup:

Overview
This DTO will continue to gather data to demonstrate the capability to
perform a manually controlled landing with a 90-degree, 10- to 15-knot
steady-state crosswind. This DTO can be performed regardless of landing
site or vehicle mass properties. During a crosswind landing, the drag chute
will be deployed after nose gear touchdown when the vehicle is stable and
tracking the runway centerline. This DTO has been manifested on 58
previous flights.

Updated: 03/27/2000

51
STS-101
DTO/DSO/RMEs

SIGI Orbital Attitude Readiness

DTO 700-21

Prime:
Backup:

Overview
The objective of DTO 700-21 is to demonstrate the operation of the space
integrated Global Positioning System/inertial navigation system (SIGI) on
orbit. The SIGI is intended to be the primary GPS source for the International
Space Station (ISS) and the primary navigation source for the crew return
vehicle (CRV). The ability of the SIGI to perform GPS attitude determination
in space has not been demonstrated. Data from this DTO will be used to
evaluate the SIGI design before it is used on the ISS or CRV.

The payload consists of the SIGI in a pressurized container on a GPS

antenna mounting structure (GAMS). The SIGI has RF connections to four
antenna assemblies, which are mounted on the corners of the GAMS. A
payload and general support computer (PGSC) located in SPACEHAB is
used for commanding and data storage. Data from two star trackers mounted
on the GAMS will be collected by a separate PGSC inside SPACEHAB.

This is the first flight of DTO 700-21.

52
STS-101
DTO/DSO/RMEs

Single-String Global Positioning System

DTO 700-14

Prime:
Backup:

Overview
The purpose of this DTO is to evaluate the performance and operation of
the Global Positioning System as a shuttle navigation aid during the ascent,
on-orbit, entry and landing phases of the mission. A modified military GPS
receiver processor and the orbiter's existing GPS antenna will be used for
this evaluation.

This is the ninth flight for DTO 700-14. It was last flown on STS-96.

Updated: 03/27/2000

53
STS-101
DTO/DSO/RMEs

Solid-State Star Tracker Size Limitations

DTO 847

Prime:
Backup:

Overview
The objective of this DTO is to characterize the performance of the orbiter's
solid-state star tracker with a large, bright target-the International Space
Station. Laboratory tests show that the SSST can track significantly larger
and brighter objects that the orbiter's other star tracker-the image-dissecting
tracker. It may be necessary to use the SSST to track the station during
orbiter passes because the ISS will reach a size that could prohibit the use
of the image-dissecting tracker under certain conditions very early in the
assembly sequence.

At a minimum, the SSST should be verified to track the ISS accurately up to

22.6 arcminutes, which is the largest size tested in the lab and the number
that was used in analyzing potential problems that might be caused by the
size of the ISS. If possible, the absolute upper limit to the size of an object
that the SSST can track will be determined.

This DTO will be performed when the orbiter separates from the ISS but
only if specific lighting conditions exist.

This is the second of three planned flights for this DTO.

Updated: 03/27/2000

54
STS-101
Shuttle Reference and Data
Shuttle Abort Modes

Selection of an ascent abort mode may become necessary if there is a

failure that affects vehicle performance, such as the failure of a space
shuttle main engine or an orbital maneuvering system. Other failures
requiring early termination of a flight, such as a cabin leak, might also
require the selection of an abort mode.

There are two basic types of ascent abort modes for space shuttle missions:
intact aborts and contingency aborts. Intact aborts are designed to provide a
safe return of the orbiter to a planned landing site. Contingency aborts are
designed to permit flight crew survival following more severe failures when
an intact abort is not possible. A contingency abort would generally result in
a ditch operation.

INTACT ABORTS

There are four types of intact aborts: abort to orbit (ATO), abort once around
(AOA), transoceanic abort landing (TAL) and return to launch site (RTLS).

ABORT TO ORBIT (ATO)

The ATO mode is designed to allow the vehicle to achieve a temporary orbit
that is lower than the nominal orbit. This mode requires less performance
and allows time to evaluate problems and then choose either an early
deorbit maneuver or an orbital maneuvering system thrusting maneuver to
raise the orbit and continue the mission.

ABORT ONCE AROUND (AOA)

The AOA is designed to allow the vehicle to fly once around the Earth and
make a normal entry and landing. This mode generally involves two orbital
maneuvering system thrusting sequences, with the second sequence being
a deorbit maneuver. The entry sequence would be similar to a normal entry.

TRANSOCEANIC ABORT LANDING (TAL)

The TAL mode is designed to permit an intact landing on the other side of
the Atlantic Ocean. This mode results in a ballistic trajectory, which does not
require an orbital maneuvering system maneuver.

55
RETURN TO LAUNCH SITE (RTLS)

The RTLS mode involves flying downrange to dissipate propellant and then
turning around under power to return directly to a landing at or near the
launch site.

ABORT DECISIONS

There is a definite order of preference for the various abort modes. The type
of failure and the time of the failure determine which type of abort is
selected. In cases where performance loss is the only factor, the preferred
modes would be ATO, AOA, TAL and RTLS, in that order. The mode
chosen is the highest one that can be completed with the remaining vehicle
performance.

In the case of some support system failures, such as cabin leaks or vehicle
cooling problems, the preferred mode might be the one that will end the
mission most quickly. In these cases, TAL or RTLS might be preferable to
AOA or ATO. A contingency abort is never chosen if another abort option
exists.

The Mission Control Center-Houston is prime for calling these aborts

because it has a more precise knowledge of the orbiter's position than the
crew can obtain from onboard systems. Before main engine cutoff, Mission
Control makes periodic calls to the crew to tell them which abort mode is (or
is not) available. If ground communications are lost, the flight crew has
onboard methods, such as cue cards, dedicated displays and display
information, to determine the current abort region.

Which abort mode is selected depends on the cause and timing of the
failure causing the abort and which mode is safest or improves mission
success. If the problem is a space shuttle main engine failure, the flight crew
and Mission Control Center select the best option available at the time a
space shuttle main engine fails.

If the problem is a system failure that jeopardizes the vehicle, the fastest
abort mode that results in the earliest vehicle landing is chosen. RTLS and
TAL are the quickest options (35 minutes), whereas an AOA requires
approximately 90 minutes. Which of these is selected depends on the time
of the failure with three good space shuttle main engines.

The flight crew selects the abort mode by positioning an abort mode switch
and depressing an abort push button.

RETURN TO LAUNCH SITE OVERVIEW

The RTLS abort mode is designed to allow the return of the orbiter, crew,
and payload to the launch site, Kennedy Space Center, approximately 25
minutes after lift-off.
56
The RTLS profile is designed to accommodate the loss of thrust from one
space shuttle main engine between lift-off and approximately four minutes
20 seconds, at which time not enough main propulsion system propellant
remains to return to the launch site.

An RTLS can be considered to consist of three stages-a powered stage,

during which the space shuttle main engines are still thrusting; an ET
separation phase; and the glide phase, during which the orbiter glides to a
landing at the Kennedy Space Center. The powered RTLS phase begins
with the crew selection of the RTLS abort, which is done after solid rocket
booster separation. The crew selects the abort mode by positioning the
abort rotary switch to RTLS and depressing the abort push button. The time
at which the RTLS is selected depends on the reason for the abort. For
example, a three-engine RTLS is selected at the last moment,
approximately three minutes 34 seconds into the mission; whereas an RTLS
chosen due to an engine out at lift-off is selected at the earliest time,
approximately two minutes 20 seconds into the mission (after solid rocket
booster separation).

After RTLS is selected, the vehicle continues downrange to dissipate excess

main propulsion system propellant. The goal is to leave only enough main
propulsion system propellant to be able to turn the vehicle around, fly back
towards the Kennedy Space Center and achieve the proper main engine
cutoff conditions so the vehicle can glide to the Kennedy Space Center after
external tank separation. During the downrange phase, a pitch-around
maneuver is initiated (the time depends in part on the time of a space
shuttle main engine failure) to orient the orbiter/external tank configuration to
a heads up attitude, pointing toward the launch site. At this time, the vehicle
is still moving away from the launch site, but the space shuttle main engines
are now thrusting to null the downrange velocity. In addition, excess orbital
maneuvering system and reaction control system propellants are dumped by
continuous orbital maneuvering system and reaction control system engine
thrustings to improve the orbiter weight and center of gravity for the glide
phase and landing.

The vehicle will reach the desired main engine cutoff point with less than 2
percent excess propellant remaining in the external tank. At main engine
cutoff minus 20 seconds, a pitch-down maneuver (called powered pitch-
down) takes the mated vehicle to the required external tank separation
attitude and pitch rate. After main engine cutoff has been commanded, the
external tank separation sequence begins, including a reaction control
system translation that ensures that the orbiter does not recontact the
external tank and that the orbiter has achieved the necessary pitch attitude
to begin the glide phase of the RTLS.

After the reaction control system translation maneuver has been completed,
the glide phase of the RTLS begins. From then on, the RTLS is handled
similarly to a normal entry.

57
TRANSATLANTIC LANDING ABORT OVERVIEW

The TAL abort mode was developed to improve the options available when
a space shuttle main engine fails after the last RTLS opportunity but before
the first time that an AOA can be accomplished with only two space shuttle
main engines or when a major orbiter system failure, for example, a large
cabin pressure leak or cooling system failure, occurs after the last RTLS
opportunity, making it imperative to land as quickly as possible.

In a TAL abort, the vehicle continues on a ballistic trajectory across the

Atlantic Ocean to land at a predetermined runway. Landing occurs
approximately 45 minutes after launch. The landing site is selected near the
nominal ascent ground track of the orbiter in order to make the most efficient
use of space shuttle main engine propellant. The landing site also must
have the necessary runway length, weather conditions and U.S. State
Department approval. Currently, the three landing sites that have been
identified for a due east launch are Moron,, Spain; Dakar, Senegal; and Ben
Guerur, Morocco (on the west coast of Africa).

To select the TAL abort mode, the crew must place the abort rotary switch in
the TAL/AOA position and depress the abort push button before main
engine cutoff. (Depressing it after main engine cutoff selects the AOA abort
mode.) The TAL abort mode begins sending commands to steer the vehicle
toward the plane of the landing site. It also rolls the vehicle heads up before
main engine cutoff and sends commands to begin an orbital maneuvering
system propellant dump (by burning the propellants through the orbital
maneuvering system engines and the reaction control system engines). This
dump is necessary to increase vehicle performance (by decreasing weight),
to place the center of gravity in the proper place for vehicle control, and to
decrease the vehicle's landing weight.

TAL is handled like a nominal entry.

ABORT TO ORBIT OVERVIEW

An ATO is an abort mode used to boost the orbiter to a safe orbital altitude
when performance has been lost and it is impossible to reach the planned
orbital altitude. If a space shuttle main engine fails in a region that results in
a main engine cutoff under speed, the Mission Control Center will determine
that an abort mode is necessary and will inform the crew. The orbital
maneuvering system engines would be used to place the orbiter in a circular
orbit.

ABORT ONCE AROUND OVERVIEW

The AOA abort mode is used in cases in which vehicle performance has
been lost to such an extent that either it is impossible to achieve a viable
orbit or not enough orbital maneuvering system propellant is available to

58
accomplish the orbital maneuvering system thrusting maneuver to place the
orbiter on orbit and the deorbit thrusting maneuver. In addition, an AOA is
used in cases in which a major systems problem (cabin leak, loss of cooling)
makes it necessary to land quickly. In the AOA abort mode, one orbital
maneuvering system thrusting sequence is made to adjust the post-main
engine cutoff orbit so a second orbital maneuvering system thrusting
sequence will result in the vehicle deorbiting and landing at the AOA landing
site (White Sands, N.M.; Edwards Air Force Base; or the Kennedy Space
Center.. Thus, an AOA results in the orbiter circling the Earth once and
landing approximately 90 minutes after lift-off.

After the deorbit thrusting sequence has been executed, the flight crew flies
to a landing at the planned site much as it would for a nominal entry.

CONTINGENCY ABORT OVERVIEW

Contingency aborts are caused by loss of more than one main engine or
failures in other systems. Loss of one main engine while another is stuck at
a low thrust setting may also necessitate a contingency abort. Such an abort
would maintain orbiter integrity for in-flight crew escape if a landing cannot
be achieved at a suitable landing field.

Contingency aborts due to system failures other than those involving the
main engines would normally result in an intact recovery of vehicle and
crew. Loss of more than one main engine may, depending on engine failure
times, result in a safe runway landing. However, in most three-engine-out
cases during ascent, the orbiter would have to be ditched. The in-flight crew
escape system would be used before ditching the orbiter.

Updated: 03/27/2000

59
STS-101
Shuttle Reference and Data
Space Shuttle External Tank

The external tank contains the liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen
oxidizer and supplies them under pressure to the three space shuttle main
engines in the orbiter during lift-off and ascent. When the SSMEs are shut
down, the ET is jettisoned, enters the Earth's atmosphere, breaks up, and
impacts in a remote ocean area. It is not recovered.

The largest and heaviest (when loaded) element of the space shuttle, the
ET has three major components: the forward liquid oxygen tank, an
unpressurized intertank that contains most of the electrical components, and
the aft liquid hydrogen tank. The ET is 153.8 feet long and has a diameter of
27.6 feet.

The ET is attached to the orbiter at one forward attachment point and two aft
points. In the aft attachment area, there are also umbilicals that carry fluids,
gases, electrical signals and electrical power between the tank and the
orbiter. Electrical signals and controls between the orbiter and the two solid
rocket boosters also are routed through those umbilicals.

Liquid Oxygen Tank

The liquid oxygen tank is an aluminum monocoque structure composed of a

fusion-welded assembly of preformed, chem-milled gores, panels, machined
fittings and ring chords. It operates in a pressure range of 20 to 22 psig. The
tank contains anti-slosh and anti-vortex provisions to minimize liquid
residuals and damp fluid motion. The tank feeds into a 17-inch-diameter
feed line that conveys the liquid oxygen through the intertank, then outside
the ET to the aft right-hand ET/orbiter disconnect umbilical. The 17-inch-
diameter feed line permits liquid oxygen to flow at approximately 2,787
pounds per second with the SSMEs operating at 104 percent or permits a
maximum flow of 17,592 gallons per minute. The liquid oxygen tank's
double-wedge nose cone reduces drag and heating, contains the vehicle's
ascent air data system (for nine tanks only) and serves as a lightning rod.
The liquid oxygen tank's volume is 19,563 cubic feet. It is 331 inches in
diameter, 592 inches long and weighs 12,000 pounds empty.

Intertank

The intertank is a steel/aluminum semimonocoque cylindrical structure with

flanges on each end for joining the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks.
The intertank houses ET instrumentation components and provides an
umbilical plate that interfaces with the ground facility arm for purge gas
supply, hazardous gas detection and hydrogen gas boiloff during ground
operations. It consists of mechanically joined skin, stringers and machined
60
panels of aluminum alloy. The intertank is vented during flight. The intertank
contains the forward SRB/ET attach thrust beam and fittings that distribute
the SRB loads to the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks. The intertank
is 270 inches long, 331 inches in diameter and weighs 12,100 pounds.

Liquid Hydrogen Tank

The liquid hydrogen tank is an aluminum semimonocoque structure of

fusion-welded barrel sections, five major ring frames, and forward and aft
ellipsoidal domes. Its operating pressure range is 32 to 34 psia. The tank
contains an anti-vortex baffle and siphon outlet to transmit the liquid
hydrogen from the tank through a 17-inch line to the left aft umbilical. The
liquid hydrogen feed line flow rate is 465 pounds per second with the
SSMEs at 104 percent or a maximum flow of 47,365 gallons per minute. At
the forward end of the liquid hydrogen tank is the ET/orbiter forward
attachment pod strut, and at its aft end are the two ET/orbiter aft attachment
ball fittings as well as the aft SRB/ET stabilizing strut attachments. The liquid
hydrogen tank is 331 inches in diameter, 1,160 inches long, and has a
volume of 53,518 cubic feet and a dry weight of 29,000 pounds.

ET Thermal Protection System

The ET thermal protection system consists of sprayed-on foam insulation

and premolded ablator materials. The system also includes the use of
phenolic thermal insulators to preclude air liquefaction. Thermal isolators are
required for liquid hydrogen tank attachments to preclude the liquefaction of
air-exposed metallic attachments and to reduce heat flow into the liquid
hydrogen.

ET Hardware

Each propellant tank has a vent and relief valve at its forward end. This
dual-function valve can be opened by ground support equipment for the vent
function during prelaunch and can open during flight when the ullage (empty
space) pressure of the liquid hydrogen tank reaches 38 psig or the ullage
pressure of the liquid oxygen tank reaches 25 psig.

The liquid oxygen tank contains a separate, pyrotechnically operated,

propulsive tumble vent valve at its forward end. At separation, the liquid
oxygen tumble vent valve is opened, providing impulse to assist in the
separation maneuver and more positive control of the entry aerodynamics of
the ET.

There are eight propellant-depletion sensors, four each for fuel and oxidizer.
The fuel-depletion sensors are located in the bottom of the fuel tank. The
oxidizer sensors are mounted in the orbiter liquid oxygen feed line manifold
downstream of the feed line disconnect. During SSME thrusting, the orbiter
general-purpose computers constantly compute the instantaneous mass of
the vehicle due to the usage of the propellants. Normally, main engine cutoff
is based on a predetermined velocity; however, if any two of the fuel or
oxidizer sensors sense a dry condition, the engines will be shut down. 61
The locations of the liquid oxygen sensors allow the maximum amount of
oxidizer to be consumed in the engines, while allowing sufficient time to shut
down the engines before the oxidizer pumps cavitate (run dry). In addition,
1,100 pounds of liquid hydrogen are loaded over and above that required by
the 6:1 oxidizer/fuel engine mixture ratio. This assures that MECO from the
depletion sensors is fuel-rich; oxidizer-rich engine shutdowns can cause
burning and severe erosion of engine components.

Four pressure transducers located at the top of the liquid oxygen and liquid
hydrogen tanks monitor the ullage pressures.

Each of the two aft external tank umbilical plates mate with a corresponding
plate on the orbiter. The plates help maintain alignment among the
umbilicals. Physical strength at the umbilical plates is provided by bolting
corresponding umbilical plates together. When the orbiter GPCs command
external tank separation, the bolts are severed by pyrotechnic devices.

The ET has five propellant umbilical valves that interface with orbiter
umbilicals: two for the liquid oxygen tank and three for the liquid hydrogen
tank. One of the liquid oxygen tank umbilical valves is for liquid oxygen, the
other for gaseous oxygen. The liquid hydrogen tank umbilical has two valves
for liquid and one for gas. The intermediate-diameter liquid hydrogen
umbilical is a recirculation umbilical used only during the liquid hydrogen
chill-down sequence during prelaunch.

The ET also has two electrical umbilicals that carry electrical power from the
orbiter to the tank and the two SRBs and provide information from the SRBs
and ET to the orbiter.

A swing-arm-mounted cap to the fixed service structure covers the oxygen

tank vent on top of the ET during the countdown and is retracted about two
minutes before lift-off. The cap siphons off oxygen vapor that threatens to
form large ice on the ET, thus protecting the orbiter's thermal protection
system during launch.

ET Range Safety System

A range safety system provides for dispersing tank propellants if necessary.

It includes a battery power source, a receiver/decoder, antennas and
ordnance.

Various parameters are monitored and displayed on the flight deck display
and control panel and are transmitted to the ground.

The contractor for the external tank is Martin Marietta Aero space, New
Orleans, La. The tank is manufactured at Michoud, La. Motorola, Inc.,
Scottsdale, Ariz., is the contractor for range safety receivers.

Updated: 03/27/2000
62
STS-101
Shuttle Reference and Data
Space Shuttle Rendezvous Maneuvers

COMMON SHUTTLE RENDEZVOUS MANEUVERS

OMS-1 (Orbit insertion): Rarely used ascent abort burn

OMS-2 (Orbit insertion): Typically used to circularize the initial orbit

following ascent, completing orbital insertion. For ground-up rendezvous
flights, also considered a rendezvous phasing burn

NC (Rendezvous phasing): Performed to hit a range relative to the target

at a future time

NH (Rendezvous height adjust): Performed to hit a delta-height relative to

the target at a future time

NPC (Rendezvous plane change): Performed to remove planar errors

relative to the target at a future time

NCC (Rendezvous corrective combination): First on-board targeted burn

in the rendezvous sequence. Using star tracker data, it is performed to
remove phasing and height errors relative to the target at Ti

Ti (Rendezvous terminal intercept): Second on-board targeted burn in the

rendezvous sequence. Using primarily rendezvous radar data, it places the
orbiter on a trajectory to intercept the target in one orbit

MC-1, MC-2, MC-3, MC-4 (Rendezvous midcourse burns): These on-

board targeted burns use star tracker and rendezvous radar data to correct
the post-Ti trajectory in preparation for the final, manual proximity operations
phase

Updated: 03/29/2000

63
STS-101
Shuttle Reference and Data
Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters

The two SRBs provide the main thrust to lift the space shuttle off the pad
and up to an altitude of about 150,000 feet, or 24 nautical miles (28 statute
miles). In addition, the two SRBs carry the entire weight of the external tank
and orbiter and transmit the weight load through their structure to the mobile
launcher platform.

Each booster has a thrust (sea level) of approximately 3,300,000 pounds at

launch. They are ignited after the three space shuttle main engines' thrust
level is verified. The two SRBs provide 71.4 percent of the thrust at lift-off
and during first-stage ascent. Seventy-five seconds after SRB separation,
SRB apogee occurs at an altitude of approximately 220,000 feet, or 35
nautical miles (41 statute miles). SRB impact occurs in the ocean
approximately 122 nautical miles (141 statute miles) downrange.

The SRBs are the largest solid-propellant motors ever flown and the first
designed for reuse. Each is 149.16 feet long and 12.17 feet in diameter.

Each SRB weighs approximately 1,300,000 pounds at launch. The

propellant for each solid rocket motor weighs approximately 1,100,000
pounds. The inert weight of each SRB is approximately 192,000 pounds.

Primary elements of each booster are the motor (including case, propellant,
igniter and nozzle), structure, separation systems, operational flight
instrumentation, recovery avionics, pyrotechnics, deceleration system, thrust
vector control system and range safety destruct system.

Each booster is attached to the external tank at the SRB's aft frame by two
lateral sway braces and a diagonal attachment. The forward end of each
SRB is attached to the external tank at the forward end of the SRB's forward
skirt. On the launch pad, each booster also is attached to the mobile
launcher platform at the aft skirt by four bolts and nuts that are severed by
small explosives at lift-off.

During the downtime following the Challenger accident, detailed structural

analyses were performed on critical structural elements of the SRB.
Analyses were primarily focused in areas where anomalies had been noted
during postflight inspection of recovered hardware.

One of the areas was the attach ring where the SRBs are connected to the
external tank. Areas of distress were noted in some of the fasteners where
the ring attaches to the SRB motor case. This situation was attributed to the
high loads encountered during water impact. To correct the situation and
ensure higher strength margins during ascent, the attach ring was
redesigned to encircle the motor case completely (360 degrees). Previously,
the attach ring formed a C and encircled the motor case 270 degrees. 64
Additionally, special structural tests were performed on the aft skirt. During
this test program, an anomaly occurred in a critical weld between the hold-
down post and skin of the skirt. A redesign was implemented to add
reinforcement brackets and fittings in the aft ring of the skirt.

These two modifications added approximately 450 pounds to the weight of

each SRB.

The propellant mixture in each SRB motor consists of an ammonium

perchlorate (oxidizer, 69.6 percent by weight), aluminum (fuel, 16 percent),
iron oxide (a catalyst, 0.4 percent), a polymer (a binder that holds the
mixture together, 12.04 percent), and an epoxy curing agent (1.96 percent).
The propellant is an 11-point star-shaped perforation in the forward motor
segment and a double-truncated-cone perforation in each of the aft
segments and aft closure. This configuration provides high thrust at ignition
and then reduces the thrust by approximately a third 50 seconds after lift-off
to prevent overstressing the vehicle during maximum dynamic pressure.

The SRBs are used as matched pairs and each is made up of four solid
rocket motor segments. The pairs are matched by loading each of the four
motor segments in pairs from the same batches of propellant ingredients to
minimize any thrust imbalance. The segmented-casing design assures
maximum flexibility in fabrication and ease of transportation and handling.
Each segment is shipped to the launch site on a heavy-duty rail car with a
specially built cover.

The nozzle expansion ratio of each booster beginning with the STS-8
mission is 7 to 79. The nozzle is gimbaled for thrust vector (direction)
control. Each SRB has its own redundant auxiliary power units and hydraulic
pumps. The all-axis gimbaling capability is 8 degrees. Each nozzle has a
carbon cloth liner that erodes and chars during firing. The nozzle is a
convergent-divergent, movable design in which an aft pivot-point flexible
bearing is the gimbal mechanism.

The cone-shaped aft skirt reacts the aft loads between the SRB and the
mobile launcher platform. The four aft separation motors are mounted on the
skirt. The aft section contains avionics, a thrust vector control system that
consists of two auxiliary power units and hydraulic pumps, hydraulic
systems and a nozzle extension jettison system.

The forward section of each booster contains avionics, a sequencer, forward

separation motors, a nose cone separation system, drogue and main
parachutes, a recovery beacon, a recovery light, a parachute camera on
selected flights and a range safety system.

Each SRB has two integrated electronic assemblies, one forward and one
aft. After burnout, the forward assembly initiates the release of the nose cap
and frustum and turns on the recovery aids. The aft assembly, mounted in
the external tank/SRB attach ring, connects with the forward assembly and
65
the orbiter avionics systems for SRB ignition commands and nozzle thrust
vector control. Each integrated electronic assembly has a
multiplexer/demultiplexer, which sends or receives more than one message,
signal or unit of information on a single communication channel.

Eight booster separation motors (four in the nose frustum and four in the aft
skirt) of each SRB thrust for 1.02 seconds at SRB separation from the
external tank. Each solid rocket separation motor is 31.1 inches long and
12.8 inches in diameter.

Location aids are provided for each SRB, frustum/drogue chutes and main
parachutes. These include a transmitter, antenna, strobe/converter, battery
and salt water switch electronics. The location aids are designed for a
minimum operating life of 72 hours and when refurbished are considered
usable up to 20 times. The flashing light is an exception. It has an operating
life of 280 hours. The battery is used only once.

The SRB nose caps and nozzle extensions are not recovered.

The recovery crew retrieves the SRBs, frustum/drogue chutes, and main
parachutes. The nozzles are plugged, the solid rocket motors are
dewatered, and the SRBs are towed back to the launch site. Each booster is
removed from the water, and its components are disassembled and washed
with fresh and deionized water to limit salt water corrosion. The motor
segments, igniter and nozzle are shipped back to Thiokol for refurbishment.

Each SRB incorporates a range safety system that includes a battery power
source, receiver/decoder, antennas and ordnance.

HOLD-DOWN POSTS

Each solid rocket booster has four hold-down posts that fit into
corresponding support posts on the mobile launcher platform. Hold-down
bolts hold the SRB and launcher platform posts together. Each bolt has a
nut at each end, but only the top nut is frangible. The top nut contains two
NASA standard detonators, which are ignited at solid rocket motor ignition
commands.

When the two NSDs are ignited at each hold-down, the hold-down bolt
travels downward because of the release of tension in the bolt (pretensioned
before launch), NSD gas pressure and gravity. The bolt is stopped by the
stud deceleration stand, which contains sand. The SRB bolt is 28 inches
long and is 3.5 inches in diameter. The frangible nut is captured in a blast
container.

The solid rocket motor ignition commands are issued by the orbiter's
computers through the master events controllers to the hold-down
pyrotechnic initiator controllers on the mobile launcher platform. They
provide the ignition to the hold-down NSDs. The launch processing system
monitors the SRB hold-down PICs for low voltage during the last 16 seconds
before launch. PIC low voltage will initiate a launch hold. 66
SRB IGNITION

SRB ignition can occur only when a manual lock pin from each SRB safe
and arm device has been removed. The ground crew removes the pin
during prelaunch activities. At T minus five minutes, the SRB safe and arm
device is rotated to the arm position. The solid rocket motor ignition
commands are issued when the three SSMEs are at or above 90-percent
rated thrust, no SSME fail and/or SRB ignition PIC low voltage is indicated
and there are no holds from the LPS.

The solid rocket motor ignition commands are sent by the orbiter computers
through the MECs to the safe and arm device NSDs in each SRB. A PIC
single-channel capacitor discharge device controls the firing of each
pyrotechnic device. Three signals must be present simultaneously for the
PIC to generate the pyro firing output. These signals--arm, fire 1 and fire 2--
originate in the orbiter general-purpose computers and are transmitted to the
MECs. The MECs reformat them to 28-volt dc signals for the PICs. The arm
signal charges the PIC capacitor to 40 volts dc (minimum of 20 volts dc).

The fire 2 commands cause the redundant NSDs to fire through a thin
barrier seal down a flame tunnel. This ignites a pyro booster charge, which
is retained in the safe and arm device behind a perforated plate. The
booster charge ignites the propellant in the igniter initiator; and combustion
products of this propellant ignite the solid rocket motor initiator, which fires
down the length of the solid rocket motor igniting the solid rocket motor
propellant.

The GPC launch sequence also controls certain critical main propulsion
system valves and monitors the engine-ready indications from the SSMEs.
The MPS start commands are issued by the onboard computers at T minus
6.6 seconds (staggered start--engine three, engine two, engine one--all
approximately within 0.25 of a second), and the sequence monitors the
thrust buildup of each engine. All three SSMEs must reach the required 90-
percent thrust within three seconds; otherwise, an orderly shutdown is
commanded and safing functions are initiated.

Normal thrust buildup to the required 90-percent thrust level will result in the
SSMEs being commanded to the lift-off position at T minus three seconds
as well as the fire 1 command being issued to arm the SRBs. At T minus
three seconds, the vehicle base bending load modes are allowed to initialize
(movement of approximately 25.5 inches measured at the tip of the external
tank, with movement towards the external tank).

At T minus zero, the two SRBs are ignited, under command of the four
onboard computers; separation of the four explosive bolts on each SRB is
initiated (each bolt is 28 inches long and 3.5 inches in diameter); the two T-0
umbilicals (one on each side of the spacecraft) are retracted; the onboard
master timing unit, event timer and mission event timers are started; the
67
three SSMEs are at 100 percent; and the ground launch sequence is
terminated.

The solid rocket motor thrust profile is tailored to reduce thrust during the
maximum dynamic pressure region.

ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION

Electrical power distribution in each SRB consists of orbiter-supplied main

dc bus power to each SRB via SRB buses A, B and C. Orbiter main dc
buses A, B and C supply main dc bus power to corresponding SRB buses A,
B and C. In addition, orbiter main dc bus C supplies backup power to SRB
buses A and B, and orbiter bus B supplies backup power to SRB bus C.
This electrical power distribution arrangement allows all SRB buses to
remain powered in the event one orbiter main bus fails.

The nominal dc voltage is 28 volts dc, with an upper limit of 32 volts dc and
a lower limit of 24 volts dc.

HYDRAULIC POWER UNITS

There are two self-contained, independent HPUs on each SRB. Each HPU
consists of an auxiliary power unit, fuel supply module, hydraulic pump,
hydraulic reservoir and hydraulic fluid manifold assembly. The APUs are
fueled by hydrazine and generate mechanical shaft power to a hydraulic
pump that produces hydraulic pressure for the SRB hydraulic system. The
two separate HPUs and two hydraulic systems are located on the aft end of
each SRB between the SRB nozzle and aft skirt. The HPU components are
mounted on the aft skirt between the rock and tilt actuators. The two
systems operate from T minus 28 seconds until SRB separation from the
orbiter and external tank. The two independent hydraulic systems are
connected to the rock and tilt servoactuators.

The APU controller electronics are located in the SRB aft integrated
electronic assemblies on the aft external tank attach rings.

The APUs and their fuel systems are isolated from each other. Each fuel
supply module (tank) contains 22 pounds of hydrazine. The fuel tank is
pressurized with gaseous nitrogen at 400 psi, which provides the force to
expel (positive expulsion) the fuel from the tank to the fuel distribution line,
maintaining a positive fuel supply to the APU throughout its operation.

The fuel isolation valve is opened at APU startup to allow fuel to flow to the
APU fuel pump and control valves and then to the gas generator. The gas
generator's catalytic action decomposes the fuel and creates a hot gas. It
feeds the hot gas exhaust product to the APU two-stage gas turbine. Fuel
flows primarily through the startup bypass line until the APU speed is such
that the fuel pump outlet pressure is greater than the bypass line's. Then all
the fuel is supplied to the fuel pump.
68
The APU turbine assembly provides mechanical power to the APU gearbox.
The gearbox drives the APU fuel pump, hydraulic pump and lube oil pump.
The APU lube oil pump lubricates the gearbox. The turbine exhaust of each
APU flows over the exterior of the gas generator, cooling it, and is then
directed overboard through an exhaust duct.

When the APU speed reaches 100 percent, the APU primary control valve
closes, and the APU speed is controlled by the APU controller electronics. If
the primary control valve logic fails to the open state, the secondary control
valve assumes control of the APU at 112-percent speed.

Each HPU on an SRB is connected to both servoactuators on that SRB.

One HPU serves as the primary hydraulic source for the servoactuator, and
the other HPU serves as the secondary hydraulics for the servoactuator.
Each sevoactuator has a switching valve that allows the secondary
hydraulics to power the actuator if the primary hydraulic pressure drops
below 2,050 psi. A switch contact on the switching valve will close when the
valve is in the secondary position. When the valve is closed, a signal is sent
to the APU controller that inhibits the 100-percent APU speed control logic
and enables the 112-percent APU speed control logic. The 100-percent
APU speed enables one APU/HPU to supply sufficient operating hydraulic
pressure to both servoactuators of that SRB.

The APU 100-percent speed corresponds to 72,000 rpm, 110-percent to

79,200 rpm, and 112-percent to 80,640 rpm.

The hydraulic pump speed is 3,600 rpm and supplies hydraulic pressure of
3,050, plus or minus 50, psi. A high-pressure relief valve provides
overpressure protection to the hydraulic system and relieves at 3,750 psi.

The APUs/HPUs and hydraulic systems are reusable for 20 missions.

THRUST VECTOR CONTROL

Each SRB has two hydraulic gimbal servoactuators: one for rock and one for
tilt. The servoactuators provide the force and control to gimbal the nozzle for
thrust vector control.

The space shuttle ascent thrust vector control portion of the flight control
system directs the thrust of the three shuttle main engines and the two SRB
nozzles to control shuttle attitude and trajectory during lift-off and ascent.
Commands from the guidance system are transmitted to the ATVC drivers,
which transmit signals proportional to the commands to each servoactuator
of the main engines and SRBs. Four independent flight control system
channels and four ATVC channels control six main engine and four SRB
ATVC drivers, with each driver controlling one hydraulic port on each main
and SRB servoactuator.

69
Each SRB servoactuator consists of four independent, two-stage
servovalves that receive signals from the drivers. Each servovalve controls
one power spool in each actuator, which positions an actuator ram and the
nozzle to control the direction of thrust.

The four servovalves in each actuator provide a force-summed majority

voting arrangement to position the power spool. With four identical
commands to the four servovalves, the actuator force-sum action prevents a
single erroneous command from affecting power ram motion. If the
erroneous command persists for more than a predetermined time,
differential pressure sensing activates a selector valve to isolate and remove
the defective servovalve hydraulic pressure, permitting the remaining
channels and servovalves to control the actuator ram spool.

Failure monitors are provided for each channel to indicate which channel
has been bypassed. An isolation valve on each channel provides the
capability of resetting a failed or bypassed channel.

Each actuator ram is equipped with transducers for position feedback to the
thrust vector control system. Within each servoactuator ram is a splashdown
load relief assembly to cushion the nozzle at water splashdown and prevent
damage to the nozzle flexible bearing.

SRB RATE GYRO ASSEMBLIES

Each SRB contains two RGAs, with each RGA containing one pitch and one
yaw gyro. These provide an output proportional to angular rates about the
pitch and yaw axes to the orbiter computers and guidance, navigation and
control system during first-stage ascent flight in conjunction with the orbiter
roll rate gyros until SRB separation. At SRB separation, a switchover is
made from the SRB RGAs to the orbiter RGAs.

The SRB RGA rates pass through the orbiter flight aft
multiplexers/demultiplexers to the orbiter GPCs. The RGA rates are then
mid-value-selected in redundancy management to provide SRB pitch and
yaw rates to the user software. The RGAs are designed for 20 missions.

SRB SEPARATION

SRB separation is initiated when the three solid rocket motor chamber
pressure transducers are processed in the redundancy management middle
value select and the head-end chamber pressure of both SRBs is less than
or equal to 50 psi. A backup cue is the time elapsed from booster ignition.

The separation sequence is initiated, commanding the thrust vector control

actuators to the null position and putting the main propulsion system into a
second-stage configuration (0.8 second from sequence initialization), which
ensures the thrust of each SRB is less than 100,000 pounds. Orbiter yaw
attitude is held for four seconds, and SRB thrust drops to less than 60,000
pounds.
70
The SRBs separate from the external tank within 30 milliseconds of the
ordnance firing command.

The forward attachment point consists of a ball (SRB) and socket (ET) held
together by one bolt. The bolt contains one NSD pressure cartridge at each
end. The forward attachment point also carries the range safety system
cross-strap wiring connecting each SRB RSS and the ET RSS with each
other.

The aft attachment points consist of three separate struts: upper, diagonal
and lower. Each strut contains one bolt with an NSD pressure cartridge at
each end. The upper strut also carries the umbilical interface between its
SRB and the external tank and on to the orbiter.

There are four booster separation motors on each end of each SRB. The
BSMs separate the SRBs from the external tank. The solid rocket motors in
each cluster of four are ignited by firing redundant NSD pressure cartridges
into redundant confined detonating fuse manifolds.

The separation commands issued from the orbiter by the SRB separation
sequence initiate the redundant NSD pressure cartridge in each bolt and
ignite the BSMs to effect a clean separation.

Updated: 03/29/2000

71
STS-101
Shuttle Reference and Data
Space Shuttle Super-Lightweight Tank (SLWT)

The super-lightweight external tank (SLWT)made its first shuttle flight June
2, on mission STS-91. The SLWT is 7,500 pounds lighter than the standard
external tank. The lighter weight tank will allow the shuttle to deliver
International Space Station elements (such as the service module) into the
proper orbit.

The SLWT is the same size as the previous design. But the liquid hydrogen
tank and the liquid oxygen tank are made of aluminum lithium, a lighter,
stronger material than the metal alloy used for the shuttle's current tank. The
tank's structural design has also been improved, making it 30 percent
stronger and 5 percent less dense.

The SLWT, like the standard tank, is manufactured at Michoud Assembly,

near New Orleans, Louisiana, by Lockheed Martin.

The 154-foot-long external tank is the largest single component of the space
shuttle. It stands taller than a 15-story building and has a diameter of about
27 feet. The external tank holds over 530,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and
liquid oxygen in two separate tanks. The hydrogen (fuel) and liquid oxygen
(oxidizer) are used as propellants for the shuttle's three main engines.

Updated: 03/29/2000

72
STS-101
Media Assistance
NASA Television Transmission
NASA Television is available through the GE2 satellite system which is
located on Transponder 9C, at 85 degrees west longitude, frequency 3880.0
MHz, audio 6.8 MHz.

The schedule for television transmissions from the orbiter and for mission
briefings will be available during the mission at Kennedy Space Center, FL;
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL; Dryden Flight Research
Center, Edwards, CA; Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX; and NASA
Headquarters, Washington, DC. The television schedule will be updated to
reflect changes dictated by mission operations.

Status Reports
Status reports on countdown and mission progress, on-orbit activities and
landing operations will be produced by the appropriate NASA newscenter

Briefings
A mission press briefing schedule will be issued before launch. During the
mission, status briefings by a flight director or mission operations
representative and when appropriate, representatives from the payload
team, will occur at least once each day. The updated NASA television
schedule will indicate when mission briefings are planned.

Internet Information
Information is available through several sources on the Internet. The primary
source for mission information is the NASA Shuttle Web, part of the World
Wide Web. This site contains information on the crew and its mission and
will be updated regularly with status reports, photos and video clips
throughout the flight. The NASA Shuttle Web's address is:

http://shuttle.nasa.gov

If that address is busy or unavailable, Shuttle Information is available

through the Office of Space Flight Home Page:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/

73
General information on NASA and its programs is available through the
NASA Home Page and the NASA Public Affairs Home Page:

http://www.nasa.gov

or

http://www.nasa.gov/newsinfo/index.html

Information on other current NASA activities is available through the

Today@NASA page:

http://www.nasa.gov/today.html

The NASA TV schedule is available from the NTV Home Page:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Status reports, TV schedules and other information also are available from
the NASA headquarters FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server,
ftp.hq.nasa.gov. Log in as anonymous and go to the directory /pub/pao.
Users should log on with the user name "anonymous" (no quotes), then
enter their E-mail address as the password. Within the /pub/pao directory
there will be a "readme.txt" file explaining the directory structure:
* Pre-launch status reports (KSC): ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/statrpt/ksc
* Mission status reports (KSC): ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/statrpt/jsc
* Daily TV Schedules: ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/statrpt/jsc/tvsked.

NASA Spacelink, a resource for educators, also provides mission

information via the Internet. Spacelink may be accessed at the following
address:

http://spacelink.nasa.gov

Access by Compuserve
Users with Compuserve accounts can access NASA press releases by
typing "GO NASA" (no quotes) and making a selection from the categories
offered.
Updated: 03/27/2000

74
STS-101

Media Contacts
NASA PAO CONTACTS
Dwayne Brown Space Shuttle/Space Station Policy 202 358-1726
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC
[email protected]

Eileen Hawley Astronauts/Mission Operations 281 483-5111

NASA, Johnson Space Center
Houston, TX
[email protected]

Dan Beck Boeing Rocketdyne 818 586-4572

Space Shuttle Main Engines
Canoga Park, CA
[email protected]

Kari Kelley Allen International Space Station 281-336-4844

The Boeing Company
Houston, TX
[email protected]

Jack King Shuttle Processing 321 861-4358

United Space Alliance
Kennedy Space Center, FL
[email protected]

Beth Hill Space Shuttle 714 372-4736

Boeing
Huntington Beach, CA
[email protected]

Alan Buis Space Shuttle 714 372-4734

Boeing
Huntington Beach, CA
[email protected]

Updated: 04/07/2000