STS-97

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Mission emblem
Mission emblem STS-97
Mission dates
Mission: STS-97
COSPAR-ID : 2000-078A
Begin: December 1, 2000, 03:06:01  UTC
Starting place: Kennedy Space Center , LC-39B
Space station: ISS
Coupling: December 2, 2000, 19:59:49 UTC
Decoupling: December 9, 2000, 19:13:00 UTC
Duration on the ISS: 6d 23h 13min 11s
Landing: December 11, 2000, 23:03:25 UTC
Landing place: Kennedy Space Center, Lane 15
Flight duration: 10d 19h 57min 24s
Earth orbits: 170
Track height: 320 - 328 km
Covered track: 7.2 million km
Team photo
v. l. No. front: Michael Bloomfield, Marc Garneau, Brent Jett; back: Carlos Noriega, Joseph Tanner
v. l. No. front: Michael Bloomfield, Marc Garneau, Brent Jett;
back: Carlos Noriega, Joseph Tanner
◄ Before / After ►
STS-92 STS-98

STS-97 ( english S pace T ransportation S ystem) is the mission designation for a flight of the US Space Shuttle Endeavor ( OV -105) of NASA . The launch took place on December 1, 2000. It was the 101st space shuttle mission, the 15th flight of the space shuttle Endeavor and the sixth flight of a shuttle to the International Space Station (ISS).

team

Mission overview

The STS-97 was another equipment flight for the International Space Station. In addition to the P6 structural element , the main photovoltaic panels and radiators for cooling them were supplied. In total, the Endeavor was connected to the ISS for five days, while the crew carried out three exits (EVAs) to assemble the elements they had brought with them. Structural element P6, weighing 17 tons, was the heaviest module to date that has been delivered to the ISS. The solar modules had to be transported in the folded state. When unfolded, a solar module measures approx. 73 meters.

Mission history

With the Endeavor, the first lateral lattice structure element P6 with solar cell panels , batteries and radiators reached the international space station . After docking on the second day of flight, it was lifted out of the cargo bay with the shuttle manipulator. This enabled all parts of the module to adapt to the temperatures in free space. Then several freight boxes were transported into the coupling lock between the shuttle and Unity . The station's crew picked them up there later. If spacecraft operations are carried out from the shuttle, the pressure in the shuttle is reduced. As a result, the space workers get used to the lower air pressure, which later also prevails in their spacesuits. The US astronauts breathe pure oxygen in their spacesuits. Due to the lower pressure, the spacesuits do not inflate as much and can be built more easily. The fingers also remain more flexible. In contrast, normal air pressure prevails in the space station. Therefore, the pressure could only be equalized and a short change made after the outboard work was completed.

Photovoltaic panel

On December 3, the astronauts Tanner and Noriega got off the shuttle for 7 hours and 33 minutes, carried out preparatory work for the assembly of the energy module and monitored its coupling to the grid element Z1 . Then they connected several power and data cables and released the locks on the extension mechanism of the solar cell panels. While panel 1 could be extended within 13 minutes, the second panel initially failed because a lock did not come loose. This succeeded in the second attempt. On the fourth day of flight, the panel was extended in several stages, significantly slower than the first. When the first panel unfolded quickly, the tension wires had jumped out of their guides. Therefore, a different method was chosen for the second panel.

During a second exit on December 5 (6:37 hours), Tanner and Noriega connected electrical lines between the newly created P6 / Z1 grid and the Unity module. All 12 batteries were already charged and a little later supplied the first power for the station. In addition , temperature protection covers that were no longer required were removed, the S-band antenna relocated to its final location, coolant lines installed and the lock on a radiator released. This was later extended and is used to regulate the temperature of the solar cell surfaces. Finally, Tanner and Noriega disconnected cables on the second Unity coupling adapter. This was moved to a different location when the Destiny research module arrived . Marc Garneau supported the outboard fitters with all of the work with the shuttle's manipulator arm.

ISS, taken after the shuttle disconnected on December 9, 2000

The third exit on December 7th (5:10 hours) served on the one hand to repair the first solar cell panel. To do this, it was briefly retracted by about one meter. The tension wires were then untangled and tensioned. Second, Tanner and Noriega installed a device for measuring the electrical potential in the vicinity of the station at the tip of the solar cell module P6. If there is a high level of electrostatic charge , electron emitters should ensure that no electric arcs occur on the panels. Eventually the two astronauts installed a camera cable on Unity. A small camera should facilitate docking of the Destiny laboratory module on the next shuttle flight.

On December 8th , the spacemen opened the hatches between the two spacecraft. They transported equipment, supplies and waste and undertook a joint experiment in which the stability of the complex was tested during short propulsion phases. After uncoupling, the shuttle flew around the station. In the meantime, detailed recordings were made, mainly of the new components. The Endeavor landed in Florida on December 11th as planned .

See also

Web links

Commons : STS-97  - album with pictures, videos and audio files