Atlantis' crew ventured into the International Space Station for the
first time last night, finding the 35-ton outpost comfortable, clean
and in overall good condition as they completed a series of
maintenance tasks well ahead of schedule.
Astronaut Susan Helms and Cosmonaut Yury Usachev were the first crew
members to enter the station as they opened the first of five station
hatches at 7:03 p.m. CDT Monday. Helms and Usachev then opened the
hatch into the station's Unity connecting module a half-hour later and
were quickly joined by Astronaut Jim Voss. Voss, Helms and Usachev are
scheduled to live aboard the station for more than four months next
year as the second resident station crew. Helms and Usachev next
entered the Zarya module at 7:53 p.m. CDT and opened the final station
hatch, accessing Zarya's main compartment, at 7:58 p.m. The crew went
to work in the modules immediately, placing ducting throughout the
station to improve air circulation and prevent problems with stale air
that were experienced during a mission last year. Because of problems
reported by the crew of that previous mission, STS-96 in May 1999, the
ducting was modified for this flight and Atlantis' crew has reported
no problems with air ! circulation.
Maintaining a pace hours ahead of schedule, Helms and Usachev
replaced two of six batteries in the Zarya module along with some
associated battery-charging electronics. Two additional fresh
batteries will be installed on successive days of the mission. This
morning, station controllers in Moscow have begun charging the first
of the two newly installed batteries, finding it functioning perfectly
thus far. The crew also installed three fresh fire extinguishers in
Zarya, replacing three that were nearing the end of their design
life. Inside the Unity module, Pilot Scott Horowitz and Mission
Specialist Jim Voss replaced a power distribution box for a United
States-built communications system. The crew also inspected the
station for signs of condensation or mold, finding all areas clean and
dry.
Aboard Atlantis, Mission Specialist Mary Ellen Weber readied more
than a ton of supplies -- ranging from sewing kits and trash bags to
an exercise treadmill and IMAX film camera -- for transfer to the
station beginning this evening. The crew also began filling several
water containers that will be left aboard the station as well to await
future resident station astronauts.
The crew will begin a sleep period at 7:41 a.m. CDT and awaken for
Day 6 of the mission at 3:41 p.m. CDT. This evening, Commander Jim
Halsell will fire Atlantis' steering jets 27 times over an hour to
boost the average altitude of the station by about nine statute
miles. A similar process will be repeated twice more later in the
mission to increase the station's average altitude by a total of about
27 statute miles before Atlantis departs. The higher altitude will aim
the International Space Station toward the optimum orbit for a link up
with the Russian Zvezda living quarters module planned for launch in
July.
The Atlantis and station complex are now in an orbit with a high
point of 208 statute miles and a low point of 204 statute miles,
circling Earth each 91 minutes. The next status report will be issued
at 7 p.m.
The STS-101 astronauts aboard Atlantis were awakened at 3:41
p.m. CDT to begin their sixth day in space and third day of docked
operations with the International Space Station. Today's wake up song
from Mission Control was a long distance dedication from Kathy Halsell
to her husband, Mission Commander Jim Halsell, the Flamingoes tune
"I Only Have Eyes for You."
Halsell along with Pilot Scott Horowitz and Mission Specialists Mary
Ellen Weber, Jeff Williams, Susan Helms, Jim Voss and Yury Usachev
will spend their second day inside the station as they continue the
maintenance work and supply transfer activities that began yesterday.
During their first day, Atlantis' crew moved 870 pounds of supplies
and equipment inside the station. That material along with the 326
pounds of equipment attached to the exterior of the station by
Williams and Voss during their space walk means almost 1,200 pounds of
gear already have been transferred to the station. A total of 3,381
pounds of equipment and provisions will be transferred to the station
before Atlantis undocks.
Maintenance work on Flight Day Six will include the third of four
planned replacements of station batteries. Helms and Usachev will
repeat the procedures they followed yesterday when the first two
batteries were replaced. One of the batteries replaced yesterday
already has been recharged and been pronounced in excellent condition.
The second replacement battery will go through its charging and
checkout shortly. All of the battery replacement work is carefully
designed so that at least four batteries are always online and
available to support station operations.
Other maintenance work on schedule today includes the installation
of new smoke detectors, and replacement of fire extinguishers that are
nearing the end of their design life.
The first of three planned station reboost maneuvers is scheduled to
take place tonight at 7:01 p.m. CDT. The maneuver will see Atlantis'
steering jets fire 27 times over a 58 minute period to boost the
average altitude of the station by about nine statute miles. A similar
process will be repeated tomorrow and again on Thursday to increase
the station's average altitude by a total of about 27 statute miles
before Atlantis departs. The higher altitude will aim the
International Space Station toward the optimum orbit for a link up
with the Russian Zvezda living quarters module planned for launch in
July.
Late this evening, Halsell, Williams and Voss will take a few
minutes to conduct a trio of interviews with reporters from the Cable
News Network, Armed Forces Television and Space.Com. The interviews
are scheduled to begin at 11:41 p.m. CDT.
The Atlantis and station complex continues to operate in fine
fashion orbiting the Earth once every 91 minutes.
The next status report will be issued at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.