#sts-102

Space Shuttle Discovery launches from LC-39B at the Kennedy Space Center, marking the beginning of STS-102, 8 March 2001.

STS-102, Expedition 1, and Expedition 2 crew portrait: top row, STS-102 crew, from left: pilot James Kelly; mission specialist Andrew Thomas; commander James Wetherbee; mission specialist Paul Richards. Bottom left, departing Expedition 1 crew: flight engineer Sergei Krikalev (Roscosmos), commander William Shepherd, Soyuz commander Yuri Gidzenko (Roscosmos). Bottom right, arriving Expedition 2 crew: flight engineer James Voss, commander Yuri Usachov (Roscosmos), and flight engineer Susan Helms.

Also known as ISS Assembly Flight 5A.1, STS-102’s primary mission was resupplying the International Space Station. Discovery carried the Leonardo Multi Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), the first of seven flights the module would make to the station before being converted into the Permanent Multipurpose Module and permanently berthed to the ISS in 2011. In addition to the MPLM, Discovery also carried payload racks to be used in the Destiny laboratory module, and an Integrated Cargo Carrier, which carried equipment to be attached to Destiny. STS-102 was also a crew rotation flight, replacing the crew of Expedition 1 with that of Expedition 2.

Leonardo seen inside Discovery’s payload bay. It would be temporarily installed to the Space Station for the duration of STS-102.

Rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station would occur on the third day of the flight, 10 March. The first of two extravehicular activities (EVAs) was scheduled to begin later that day (flight day 4), when Jim Voss and Susan Helms would relocate Pressurized Mating Adapter-3 (PMA-3) from the lower berthing port of the Unity node to Unity’s port side, allowing the lower port to be used by the MPLM. On flight day 6, 12 March, Andy Thomas and Paul Richards would perform the second EVA, removing equipment from the Integrated Cargo Carrier and attaching it to Destiny laboratory module.

Susan Helms on EVA 1.

After completing logistics transfers and the Expedition crew handover aboard the International Space Station, Discovery undocked from the station and began its return to Earth on 18 March. The mission concluded on 21 March with Discovery landing at Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility, bringing an end to STS-102 after nearly 13 days in space.

The International Space Station as seen from Discovery after undocking.

References

STS-102 Mission Summary STS-102 Press Kit

"An early morning fog almost turns space shuttle Discovery invisible as it rolls out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B for the STS-102 mission to the International Space Station. It lifted off from LC-39B on March 8, 2001."

"From the aft flight deck of the Space Shuttle Discovery, astronauts Andrew S. W. Thomas and Paul W. Richards, STS-102 mission specialists and James M. Kelly, STS-102 pilot look through overhead windows."

Date: March 11, 2001

"In the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1, STS-102 Mission Specialist Paul W. Richards (left) looks on while Pilot James W. Kelly; checks out equipment in Discovery’s payload bay. Above them (left) are two GetAway Special canisters that contain experiments for the mission. Above them is the Canadian robotic arm, used to manipulate modules during the construction of the International Space Station. The crew is at KSC for Crew Equipment Interface Test activities. STS-102 is the 8th construction flight to the Space Station and will carry the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo. STS-102 is scheduled for launch March 1, 2001. On that flight, Leonardo will be filled with equipment and supplies to outfit the U.S. laboratory module Destiny. The mission will also be carrying the Expedition Two crew to the Space Station, replacing the Expedition One crew who will return on Shuttle Discovery."

Date: January 15, 2001