Launch from Cape Canaveral (
KSC); night
landing on Cape Canaveral (
KSC). The launch was delayed three times due to high
winds. Third Space Station Assembly mission
ISS-03-2A.2A.
Following a two day solo flight
the Atlantis docked with the
ISS on May 20, 2000. The primary mission objectives
for STS-101 was to deliver supplies to the International Space Station, with
the supplies hauled up using a Spacehab double module and Spacehab Integrated
Cargo Carrier pallet, perform a spacewalk and then reboost the station from 230
to 250 statute miles (370 to 402 km).
Detailed objectives included
ISS ingress/safety to take air samples, monitor carbon
dioxide, deploy portable, personal fans, measure air flow, rework/modify
ISS ducting, replace air filters, and replace Zarya
fire extinguishers and smoke detectors. Critical replacements, repairs and
spares were also done to replace four suspect batteries on Zarya, replace
failed or suspect electronics for Zarya's batteries, replace Radio Telemetry
System memory unit, replace port early communications antenna, replace Radio
Frequency Power Distribution Box and clear Space Vision System
target.
James
Voss
and Jeffrey
Williams performed the only
EVA
on May 21, 2000 (6h 44m). They installed the final parts of the Russian built
crane, replaced a faulty antenna and installed some handrails and a camera
cable.
The crew had to do several repairing work (replacement of
batteries) in the
ISS.
This mission was almost similar to the
Columbia
disaster. A damaged tile seam caused a breach which allowed superheated gas
to enter the left wing during reentry. The gas did not penetrate deeply and the
damage was repaired before the next flight. If it had penetrated deeply the
Shuttle could have been destroyed during reentry.