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STS-92 Liftoff Status Page

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Shuttle Discovery Launch Status

October 11, 2000, 7:17 p.m EDT. Launch Window was 5 min.

On Wednesday, October 11, 2000, the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) was rolled in place and the pin discovered during prelaunch pad inspections was removed at 2:42 a.m. External Tank loading began at 10:40 a.m. EDT and was completed by 1:30 p.m EDT. At 3:27 p.m. EDT the flight crew departed the O&C Building and arrived at the launch pat at 3:57 p.m. EDT. At 4:50 p.m. EDT, a go was given to close and lock the hatch and by 6 p.m EDT the white room team left the pad. At 7:06 p.m. a final poll was made of the launch team and the countdown clock came out of the T-minus 9-minute hold at 7:08 p.m. The launch occured 7:17 p.m EDT at the opening of the window.

For the launch attempt scheduled for Tuesday, October 10, 2000, External Tank loading began at 12:02 a.m. and was completed at 2:00pm. EDT. At 3:34 p.m EDT, the flight crew suited up in the O&C building and departed for Pad 39A at 3:50 p.m. EDT. At 5:12 p.m. EDT the closeout crew was given a go to close the hatch and at 5:17 p.m confirmation was given that the hatch was closed and locked for flight. The launch was scrubbed at 6:25 p.m. due to the discovery at around the T-minus 3 hour mark of a pin, typically used to secure handrails at the launch pad, that was lodged on a strut connecting the orbiter and the External Tank. The launch was rescheduled for a 24 hour scrub turnaround.

The launch scheduled for October 5, 2000 at 9:38 p.m. EDT has been delayed at least 24 hours. Tanking operations on 10/5/00 scheduled to begin shortly after noon were postponed and the launch delayed to give the mission management team time to discuss a potential problem with an explosive bolt observed during separation of the STS-106 External Tank and the orbiter Atlantis. The team met and rescheduled for a new launch date of 10/9/2000 at 8:06 p.m. EDT.

On Wednesday, October 4, 2000, The launch countdown for mission STS-92 continued at Pad 39A. Loading of Discovery's onboard cryogenics began on time last night and concluded earlier this morning. Following this, the orbiter mid-body umbilical was detached from the vehicle. Also, final Shuttle main engine preparations were conducted. Late stow operations of flight crew equipment were completed late in the evening and the rotating service structure moved away from the vehicle at about 1:30 a.m.. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/04/2000)

On Sunday, October 1, 2000, the crew for mission STS-92 arrived at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at about 7 p.m., and the countdown for launch remains slated to begin at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday at the T-43 hour mark. At the pad, preparations for launch of Space Shuttle Discovery continue on schedule. Aft compartment closeouts were completed Saturday. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 10/02/2000)

On Wednesday, September 13, 2000, the Zenith-1 (Z-1) Truss arrived at the launch pad early in the morning, and workers transfered it to the Payload Changeout Room (PCR). The payload will be installed into the orbiter Tuesday, Sept. 19. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/13/2000)

On Tuesday, September 12, 200, The flight crew arrived at KSC to participate in routine Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities through Friday morning. The Test culminates with a full dress rehearsal and a simulated emergency egress from the Discovery's crew module at Pad 39A. The crew plans to depart KSC for Houston, TX at 2 p.m. on Friday. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 9/12/2000)

On Monday, September 11, 2000, Discovery moved to Launch Pad 39-A.

On Monday, August 28, Shuttle Program managers decided that Space Shuttle Discovery will not roll out to Launch Pad 39A until after the launch of Shuttle Atlantis. The precautionary decision to avoid having two Space Shuttles at KSC's launch pads during hurricane season minimizes the threat that high winds pose to flight hardware. With a successful launch of Shuttle Atlantis on Sept. 8, Discovery is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39A on Sept. 11. Shuttle managers do not expect this processing change to affect Discovery's Oct. 5 launch date. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/28/2000)

On Thursday, August 24, 200, after rolling into the VAB transfer aisle, orbiter Discovery was lifted into high bay 3 and soft-mated to the external tank and solid rocket boosters. Electrical and mechanical connections are ongoing, and the Shuttle Interface Test is scheduled to begin tomorrow. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/28/2000)

On Monday, August 21, 2000, Discovery was transfered from OPF bay 1 to OPF bay 3. It remains mounted to the orbiter transporter inside OPF bay 3. The orbiter is being temporarily stored in bay 3 while modifications begin in bay 1. (Reference KSC Shuttle Status 8/21/2000)

STS-92 Movies and Images

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STS-92 Countdown Last Mission STS-106 Next Mission STS-97

Developed under the direction of the NASA KSC Public Affairs Office
Author: Jim Dumoulin (dumoulin@titan.ksc.nasa.gov) / NASA - Payload Operations
Last Updated: Wednesday October 25 09:46:30 EDT 2000(J.Dumoulin)

A service of NASA/Kennedy Space Center Public Affairs Office, Joe Gordon Jr.,Director (Joseph.Gordon-1@ksc.nasa.gov)