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

Did You Know?

As the Shuttle cleared the launch tower at about T+7 seconds, mission control was passed to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Don't leave before checking out our video coverage of SRB Separation and External Tank Separation. Join us again for our next launch which will be the Space Shuttle Atlantis on Mission STS-110.  Please check our Shuttle Launch Schedule periodically to verify the exact date and time of launch.

Daily status reports are issued by Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX during each mission.  Follow the on-orbit activities of the Columbia crew online!

T-00 minutes, 6.6 seconds and counting -- the Space Shuttle's three main engines fire at intervals of 120 milliseconds. The engines throttle up to 90 percent thrust in 3 seconds.

T-00 minutes, 00 seconds and counting -- hold-down explosive bolts and the T-0 umbilical bolts are blown by command from the on-board computer closely followed by SRB ignition. 

The Shuttle is now committed to launch!

Liftoff Commentary:  12...10...9...8.. we have a go for main engine start 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... Booster ignition and liftoff of Space Shuttle Columbia to broaden our view of our universe through the Hubble Space Telescope.