Countdown Clock   |   Current Status Report   |   Shuttle Status Liftoff Page 

* The Launch Director for STS-98 is Mr. Michael Leinbach *

The Countdown Clock is one of the most watched timepieces in the world, and this Live Countdown Coverage page is the only place online to get up-to-the-minute information during a countdown. During the last 9/10 hours prior to scheduled liftoff, you can follow the exact chronology of each and every major event leading up to the successful countdown and liftoff of the Space Shuttle.

Note:  To follow along with the launch countdown, monitor the T-Time links in the left column below as they are activated.  The event begin and conclude times listed are projected timelines and are subject to change during countdown.

To review recent events that occurred earlier than the T-6 hour hold, go to the Previous Countdown Events Summary.

"T" stands for scheduled liftoff time, "-" stands for minus, "H" stands for hours,
"M" stands for minutes and "S" stands for seconds.

Shuttle Reference Manual Disclaimer

Throughout this web site you will find several links to excerpts from the 1988 NSTS Shuttle Reference Manual. This manual has not been updated since it was originally published and contains some information that is now outdated. None of the thousands of Shuttle upgrades since that time -- like the Shuttle's new glass cockpit -- or organizational and managerial changes since then, are included.  Even so, it is still -- by far -- the most comprehensive resource about the Space Shuttle program available online today.