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Shuttle Mission STS-98
 Orbiter - Atlantis
Feb. 07, 2001

 

L-3 Thru L-1 Countdown Events Summary
 

Did You Know?

 The STS-98 flight crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, February 4th at 1:30 p.m. EST
 

"L" stands for Launch, "-" stands for minus, "3" stands for days
L-3
Event Description Date
Eastern Standard Time
è The countdown gets underway with the traditional call to stations by the NASA Test Director. This verifies that the Launch Team is in place and ready to proceed.

Feb. 4, 2001
10:00 P.M.

è Begin final vehicle and facility close-outs for launch.
è Check out back-up flight systems.
L-2
Event Description Date
Eastern Standard Time
è Countdown Resumes at the T-minus 27-hour mark.

Feb. 5, 2001
 2:00 P.M.

è Remove mid-deck and flight-deck platforms. (6 a.m.)
è Activate and test navigational systems. (11 a.m.)
è Flight deck preliminary inspections complete. (2 p.m.)
è The launch pad is cleared of all personnel while liquid oxygen and hydrogen are loaded into the Shuttle's fuel cell storage tanks. (6 p.m. - 2 a.m.)
 

Did You Know?

 At launch minus 11 hours a planned countdown hold -- called a built-in hold -- begins.  This hold period can last for up to 26 hours, 16 minutes depending on the type of payload, tests required and other factors. This time is also used, if needed, to perform tasks in the countdown that may not have been completed earlier.
L-1
Event Description Date
Eastern Standard Time
è Enter 4-hour build-in hold at T-19 hours. 

Feb. 6, 2001
2:00 A.M.

è Begin filling pad sound suppression system water tank. (3:30 a.m.)  Expected completion time 7:00 a.m..
è Final preparations of the Shuttle's three main engines for main propellant tanking and flight. (6 a.m.)
è The countdown clock is resumed at 11 hours and counting after the built-in hold period has elapsed. (6 a.m.)
è Activate the orbiter's communication systems
è Move Rotating Service Structure (RSS) to the park position. (10 p.m.)
è Fuel cell flow-through purge complete.
L-0
Event Description Date
Eastern Standard Time
è Activate the orbiter's fuel cells

Feb. 7, 2001
 2:56 A.M.

è Astronaut crew wakeup (6:30 a.m.)
è Begin loading the external tank with about 500,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants (about 9:16 a.m. - about 12:16 p.m.)
è Final Inspection Team proceed to launch pad.
è NASA Television live launch programming begins. (1:10 p.m.)
è Crew departs Operations and Checkout Building for the pad. (2:21 p.m.)
è Communications with the Johnson Space Center's Mission Control Center are established.
è Close orbiter's crew hatch. (4:06 p.m.)
è Complete white room close-out and close-out crew moves to fallback area.
è Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration.


* Other events will be covered during our online coverage beginning at T-6 hours. *
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