T-3 Hours and Holding

	Did You Know?	The traditional cake served during this event is decorated with the flight crew's insignia for the STS-98 mission
è	Flight Crew receives weather briefing (live on NASA TV).
è	Astronauts don their flight suits.
	Did You Know?	During launch and entry, crew members wear the crew altitude protection system, which consists of a helmet; a communications cap; a pressure garment; an anti-exposure, anti-gravity suit; gloves and boots.
è	Astronaut support personnel board Atlantis to conduct the pre-ingress switch list - verifying that all cockpit switches are in the proper position for the flight crew's entry.
	Did You Know?	A group of astronaut support personnel, known as the Cape Crusaders have helped prepare the orbiter for launch today. Greg "Ray J" Johnson is the prime for the team of astronauts supporting today's launch. Greg "Box" Johnson, John Herrington, Jerry Ross, Neil Woodward, Alan "Dex" Poindexter, and Mike Foreman are also assisting with Atlantis' launch.
è	The Close-out Crew is dispatched to the White Room to prepare for the flight crew's arrival.
	Did You Know?	Seven people make up the close-out crew including a Orbiter Vehicle crew leader; an astronaut; a NASA quality assurance specialist; two Orbiter Mechanical Technicians and two Johnson Space Center suit technicians.
è	Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) tracking system is powered up.
	Did You Know?	Astronaut Terrence Wilcutt is the weather coordinator in the Operations Support Room here in Firing Room 3. Terrence will be flying the T-38 and Shuttle Training Aircraft to check the weather conditions in the KSC area just hours prior to launch. His T-38 takeoff from the Shuttle Landing Facility is slated for about 2 ½ hours before launch and then at about 1 hour and 20 minutes before Atlantis planned liftoff, Terrence will begin weather reconnaissance in the Shuttle Training Aircraft and will remain aloft through launch.

	Did You Know?	At this time, weather conditions at our three Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) sites are not favorable for activation. It does appear, however, that the weather is clearing at Ben Guerir Air Base in Africa and that it will be the most likely TAL site candidate for usage. has been designated as today's primary Site. The alternate TAL sites are located at Zaragoza and Moron Air Base, Spain, weather permitting.

Primary Event Description	Date Eastern Standard Time
Enter two-hour hold period	Feb. 7, 2001 12:16 P.M.

	NASA Television coverage begins at 1:10 p.m. EST - today's Launch Commentator is...	George Diller
è	External Tank (ET) is evaluated for ice and frost debris.
è	Perform T-3 hour check of payload and important flight systems.
è	Flight Crew snack and photo opportunity (live on NASA TV -- see photo above).

	Other events occurring during this time frame: