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

Did You Know?

The Final Inspection Team (also known as the Ice Team) is composed of six NASA and contractor members -- five engineers and one safety representative.

Members of the team carry binoculars and a telescope to get a better look at hard to see areas. Highly visible orange protective coveralls keep the team in sight at all times. Each member carries a self-contained emergency breathing unit with about 10 minutes of air.

Team Objectives:

Assess the integrity of the thermal insulation on the External Tank (ET);

Look for ice or frost formations on the tank;

Measure temperatures on various parts of the vehicle; and, 

Assess debris concerns on the vehicle and pad that could impact launch or flight safety.

Final Inspection Team

Grapple with the Hubble Space Telescope will take place on March 3, 2002 at 4:14 a.m. EST.

Deployment will occur on March 9, 2002 at 5:02 a.m. EST.

Landing at KSC will occur on March 12, 2002 at 4:35 a.m. EST.

To learn more about Kennedy Space Center and how Space Shuttles are processed, visit our  Alligators & Rocket Ships web site (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).

STS-109 mission status briefings will be held daily throughout the mission.  Times of these briefings are available in the NASA TV schedule at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/index.html

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).

Review the latest Launch Weather Forecast.

Columbia will be launched into an orbit inclined 28.5 degrees to the equator and will fly at an altitude of 308 nautical miles.