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Shuttle Mission STS-104
 Orbiter - Atlantis
  July 12, 2001


Page Header Image entitled: Mission & Crew

Payload

Crew EVA
Flight Plan
 
International Space Station

"On the 10th flight to the International Space Station, another phase reaches completion giving the Station an international doorway to space. Space Shuttle Atlantis is poised on pad 39B, ready to carry a five-member crew and the Joint Airlock Module to the International Space Station during mission STS-104.

All eyes and imaginations have been focused on the assembly of the Station, since the first Space Station mission launch in 1998. And today, Atlantis sits on the pad, ready to leave our Earthly confines and embark on an 11-day mission to the International Space Station.

Aboard Atlantis is the Joint Airlock Module. The Joint Airlock is specially designed to accommodate both American and Russian spacesuits. As a result of mission STS-104, there will now be a chamber where astronauts from every nation can suit up for spacewalks to conduct science experiments and perform maintenance outside the station.

This is indeed an historic opportunity to watch-as the dream of people living and working together in space comes one step closer to reality."
Banner Image titled: Debut of a New, Safer Space Shuttle Engine

When Space Shuttle Atlantis blasts off to begin STS-104, it will be the first shuttle to go to orbit with new Main Engines. The new engines, the Block II configuration, will give the crew a safer ride to orbit due to a new high-pressure fuel turbopump. The modifications' results are a more reliable and safer engine because of increased pump robustness. Also, the time between engine overhauls should increase. The three-engine complement contains a Block II main engine and two Block IIA main engines. Read more.....

Banner Image entitled: STS-104 Crew
STS -104 Commander, Steven Lindsey
Commander
Steven Lindsey

STS-104 Pilot, Charles Hobaugh

Pilot
Charles Hobaugh

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STS-104 Mission Specialist, Michael Gernhardt

Mission Specialist
Michael Gernhardt

STS-104 Mission Specialist, James Reilly

Mission Specialist
James Reilly

STS-104 Mission Specialist, Janet Kavandi

Mission Specialist
Janet Kavandi

Blue Banner Image

Note:  Find out who's visiting today's launch!  Several well known personalities and dignitaries travel to Florida to watch shuttle launches, some because they have a vested interest in the mission, and others to participate in the excitement of a breath-taking and memorable experience.
Did You Know?

A detailed Mission & Crew Briefing is available online!  Caution: This page contains photos and videos that may be difficult for visitors with low speed modems to access.  This is particularly true during periods of high traffic loads on our servers (such as during the launch day countdown).  It is therefore recommended that you attempt to view this page at a later time....

STS-104 photos are online (Note: This is a graphic-intensive site and may be difficult to view with low speed modems or when this web site receives heavy traffic loads).