STS-108

Launch, orbit & landing data: Designation  26995 / 01054A Launch date - time  05 Dec 2001 - 22:19:28 UT Launch site  KSC, LC39B Launch vehicle  Space Shuttle Orbiter  Endeavour #17 (OV-105) Primary payload  MPLM-2 Raffaello & Starshine 2 Mass (kg)   Launch Crew  Gorie, Kelly, Godwin, Tani Onufrienko, Bursch, Walz Docking date - time  07 Dec 2001 - 20:03 UT Target station  ISS/ Earth orbit:    - Perigee / Apogee  220 / 235 km    - Inclination  51.6°    - Period  89.1 min Undocking date - time  15 Dec 2001 - 17:28 UT Landing date - time  17 Dec 2001 - 17:55:10 UT Rollout time  63 sec (wheel stop at 17:56:13) Landing location  KSC, Runway 15 Flight Duration  11d 19h 36m Nbr orbits  186 Distance  9,0 million km Landing crew  Gorie, Kelly, Godwin, Tani Culbertson, Dezhurov, Turin  (crew STS-108 & STS-105)

Crew

Summary:

Description cargo bay:

• In the cargo bay is the Raffaello (MPLM-2) logistics module with 4 RSP and 8 RSR resupply racks. Earlier, the MELFI freezer had been scheduled for this flight, but it isn't mentioned in the press kit. Also in the cargo bay are the MACH-1 and LMC experiment trusses flown under the Goddard small payloads program. MACH-1 is an MPESS-type Hitchhiker bridge carrying the CAPL-3 capillary thermal control experiment on top. On its forward side is the Starshine-2 launch canister, the CAPL-3 avionics plate, the Hitchhiker avionics plate, and the SEM-15 canister. On the aft side is the G-761 canister containing experiments from Argentina, the PSRD synchrotron detector (a prototype for the AMS antimatter experiment which will fly on Station later), the COLLIDE-2 and SEM-11 canisters. The SEM (Space Experiment Modules) are collections of high school experiments.
• LMC, the Lightweight MPESS Carrier is a new cargo bay bridge - it is actually LMC S/N 2, presumably S/N 1 was a ground test article - and carries four canisters with materials science and technology experiments: SEM-12, G-785, G-064 and G-730. In addition, an adapter beam on the starboard sidewall carries G-221 and G-775, with materials science and biology experiments.
• Cargo estimate:

                                                              Mass/kg
  Bay 1-2   Orbiter Docking System/External Airlock            1800
            3 EMU spacesuits?                                   360?
  Bay 3S    Adapter beam with G-775/G-221                       200?
  Bay  5    MACH-1 MPESS                                       2500?
            Starshine-2                                          39
  Bay 7-12  MPLM FM2 (Raffaello) module                        9000?
  Bay 13    LMC S/N 2                                          1000?
  Sill      RMS arm No 303                                      410
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Total                                                       15309?
  

Mission report:

• Oct 2001: Endeavour has been moved to the VAB. In preparation for flight STS-108 it will be connected to the BI-110 stack consisting of the RSRM-82 solid rocket motors and the ET-111 external tank. The payload bay will contain the Raffaello logistics module, the MACH-1 Hitchiker experiment bridge, and the new LMC lightweight experiment bridge as well as an adapter beam with two GAS canisters and the RMS-303 manipulator arm. STS-108 will deploy the Starshine-2 and SPASE subsatellites in addition to its logistics delivery to the Station.
• Space Shuttle mission STS-108 (ISS mission UF-1) was launched on Dec 5 at 22:19 UTC. Endeavour reached an orbit of approximately 58 x 230 km (according to the NASA PAO) at 22:28 UTC. At 22:59 UTC Endeavour fired its OMS engines to raise perigee to 225 km. Mass after OMS-2 was 114692 kg. Endeavour docked with the Station at 20:03 UTC on Dec 7; problems aligning the vehicles delayed hard dock until 20:51 UTC, and the hatch was opened at 22:43 UTC.
• The crew of mission STS-108 consists of Dom Gorie (Commander), Mark E. Kelley (Pilot), Linda Godwin and Dan Tani (Mission Specialists); and also the Expedition 4 crew of Yuriy Onufrikeno (Commander), Daniel Bursch and Carl Walz (Flight Engineers)
  STS-108 will fly the UF-1 Utilization Flight mission, distinguished from earlier Station flights which were considered assembly flights. In addition to the crew swap, UF-1 will bring supplies to the Station, and Godwin and Tani will do a spacewalk to add thermal blankets to the gimbals on the Station's solar arrays.
• The Raffaello module was unberthed from Endeavour at 17:01 UTC on Dec 8 and berthed to Unity at 17:55 UTC.
• STS-108 astronauts Linda Godwin and Dan Tani carried out a spacewalk on Dec 10 to install thermal blankets on the P6 solar array gimbal motor bearings, which were distorting due to temperature changes. The Shuttle's airlock was depressurized at about 17:47 UTC, hatch was open at 17:49 UTC, and the astronauts emerged at 18:03 and 18:14 UTC. The blankets were installed by 20:10 UTC; after failing to engage a solar array latch, the crew moved on to retrieve tools for the next mission and returned to the airlock to close the hatch about 21:57 UTC. The airlock was repressurized at 2204 UTC, for a duration of 4hr17m (depress/repress), 4h08m (hatch open/close) or 4h11m (NASA rule).
• Raffaello was transferred back to the Shuttle payload bay on Dec 14. Endeavour undocked from Station at 17:28 UTC on Dec 15 and made a half loop around the station before making a small separation burn at 18:22 UTC.
  
  

  Photo of Starshine-2 as it was deployed from the payload bay of Endeavour during STS-108 (image credit: NASA)

  
  
• The Starshine-2 reflector satellite was ejected from the MACH-1 bridge in Endeavour's payload bay at 15:02 UTC on Dec 16. It is part of an educational project and will be tracked by school students around the world.
• Endeavour landed on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center at 17:55 UTC on Dec 17. The Expedition 3 crew of Culbertson, Dezhurov and Tyurin returned to Earth aboard Endeavour, leaving the Expedition 4 crew of Yury Onufrienko, Dan Bursch and Carl Walz in charge of the Station.
  
  

  STS-108 landing. Credit: NASA

  
  

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel KSC. Credit: J. Vd Dr.

Landing cancel KSC. Credit: J. Vd Dr.