Orbiter: Columbia
Shuttle Mission: STS-109
Date: March 1, 2002

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -– With the STS-109 crew safely strapped inside, technicians in the White Room at Launch Pad 39A close and seal the hatch to Shuttle Columbia's crew cabin. The goal of the mission is to replace Solar Array 2 with Solar Array 3, replace the Power Control Unit, remove the Faint Object Camera and install the ACS, install the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) Cooling System, and install New Outer Blanket Layer insulation.

Live Countdown Coverage | Previous Countdown Events
Pre-Launch Video Table of Contents

Launch Video Coverage
Hatch Closure
March 1, 2002

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Space Shuttle Columbia's Hatch is Closed. (Includes Commentary)

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STS-109 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).