STS-108

STS-108
source
Mission name	STS-108
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch pad	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B
Launch date	December 5, 2001
Landing date	December 17, 2001
Landing site	Kennedy Space Center

STS-108 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS), flown by the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The mission was crewed by Dominic Gorie, Pamela Melroy, Linda Godwin, Daniel Tani, Yuri Onufrienko, Carl Walz, and Daniel Bursch. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B and landed back at Kennedy Space Center after a successful 11-day mission. The crew transferred to the ISS and conducted several spacewalks with the help of Canadarm2 and Extravehicular Mobility Unit.

Mission Overview

The STS-108 mission was the 12th Space Shuttle mission to visit the ISS, with the primary objective of rotating the ISS crew and delivering supplies. The mission was also the first to use the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) to transport cargo to and from the ISS. The crew worked closely with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) to ensure the success of the mission. The mission also included a series of scientific experiments conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Crew

The STS-108 crew consisted of Dominic Gorie (Commander), Pamela Melroy (Pilot), Linda Godwin (Mission Specialist), Daniel Tani (Mission Specialist), Yuri Onufrienko (ISS Commander), Carl Walz (ISS Flight Engineer), and Daniel Bursch (ISS Flight Engineer). The crew was supported by a team of NASA engineers and scientists from the Johnson Space Center (JSC), Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), and the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The crew also worked closely with the ISS Program team, which included representatives from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.

Mission Objectives

The primary objectives of the STS-108 mission were to rotate the ISS crew, deliver supplies, and conduct a series of spacewalks. The crew also conducted a series of scientific experiments on board the ISS, including experiments on protein crystal growth and cellular biology. The mission also included a series of technological demonstrations, including the use of the Canadarm2 robotic arm and the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit. The crew worked closely with the NASA's Ames Research Center (ARC) and the NASA's Langley Research Center (LaRC) to develop and test new space technologies.

Mission Timeline

The STS-108 mission launched on December 5, 2001, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B and docked with the ISS on December 7, 2001. The crew spent 11 days on board the ISS, conducting a series of spacewalks and transferring cargo. The crew also conducted a series of scientific experiments and technological demonstrations. The mission ended with the crew undocking from the ISS on December 15, 2001, and landing back at Kennedy Space Center on December 17, 2001. The mission was supported by a team of NASA engineers and scientists from the Johnson Space Center (JSC), Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), and the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).

Spacewalks

The STS-108 crew conducted a series of spacewalks during the mission, including a 4-hour and 12-minute extravehicular activity (EVA) on December 10, 2001. The spacewalks were conducted by Linda Godwin and Daniel Tani, who used the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit and the Canadarm2 robotic arm to perform a series of tasks, including the installation of a new communications antenna and the transfer of cargo. The spacewalks were supported by a team of NASA engineers and scientists from the Johnson Space Center (JSC) and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), who worked closely with the ISS Program team and the European Space Agency (ESA). The spacewalks were also monitored by the Mission Control Center (MCC) at Johnson Space Center and the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany.