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Cockrell, Kenneth Dale 'Taco'

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Cockrell Credit: www.spacefacts.de

Status: Inactive; Active 1990-2006. Born: 1950-04-09. Spaceflights: 5 . Total time in space: 64.52 days. Birth Place: Austin, Texas.

Educated Texas; West Florida; Patuxent.

Official NASA Biography as of June 2016:KENNETH D. COCKRELL (CAPTAIN, U.S. NAVY, RET.)
NASA Research Pilot
Johnson Space Center

PERSONAL DATA: Born April 9, 1950, in Austin, Texas, but considers Rockdale, Texas, his hometown. He has two children and enjoys sport flying, snow skiing and water skiing.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Rockdale High School, Rockdale, Texas, in 1968; received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas in 1972 and a Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Systems from the University of West Florida in 1974.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member, Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) and Association of Space Explorers (ASE).

SPECIAL HONORS: Awarded the Armed Forces Meritorious Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Received the Alcoa Foundation Scholarship upon graduating from high school.

EXPERIENCE: Cockrell received his commission through the Naval Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate Program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, in December 1972. He was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1974 at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Following type training in the A-7 aircraft, he flew the Corsair II from 1975 to 1978 aboard the USS Midway in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1978, he reported to the United States Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland. After graduation in 1979, he remained at the Naval Air Test Center, conducting a variety of flight tests on the A-4, A-7, F-4 and F/A-18 aircraft through mid-1982. He then reported to Naval Station, San Diego, for duty as a staff officer for the Commander of the USS Ranger and, subsequently, the USS Kitty Hawk Battle Groups. Cockrell was then assigned as a pilot in an operational F/A-18 squadron and made two cruises on the USS Constellation in 1985 and 1987. He resigned his commission in 1987 and accepted a position at the Aircraft Operations Division of the Johnson Space Center. Cockrell retired from the Naval Reserve, with the rank of Captain, in June 1999. He has logged more than 11,000 flying hours and 650 carrier landings.

NASA EXPERIENCE: From November 1987 to July 1990, Cockrell worked as an aerospace engineer and research pilot at Ellington Field, Houston. He was an instructor pilot and functional check pilot in NASA T-38 aircraft. He conducted air sampling and other high altitude research while piloting the WB-57 and was an aircraft commander in the Gulfstream I administrative transport aircraft.

Selected by NASA in January 1990, Cockrell became an astronaut in July 1991. His technical assignments included duties in the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch, working on landing, rollout, tires and brakes issues; CAPCOM (spacecraft communicator) in Mission Control for ascent and entry; and Astronaut Office representative for Flight Data File, the numerous books of procedures carried aboard shuttle flights. He also served as Assistant to the Chief of the Astronaut Office for shuttle operations and hardware, Chief of the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch, and Chief of the Astronaut Office. He served 1 year as Director of Operations, Russia, in Star City, Russia, where he served as the liaison between the Astronaut Office and the training organization at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City. Cockrell then served as the Assistant Director, Flight Crew Operations, for aircraft operations.

A veteran of five spaceflights, Cockrell has logged more than 1,560 hours in space. He served as a mission specialist on STS-56 (April 8 to April 17, 1993); was the pilot on STS-69 (September 7 to September 18, 1995); and was the mission commander on STS-80 (November 19 to December 7, 1996), STS-98 (February 7 to February 20, 2001) and STS-111 (June 5 to June 19, 2002).

In February 2006, Cockrell was reassigned to Flight Crew Operations Aircraft Operations Division (AOD) at Ellington Field as the WB-57 High Altitude Research Program Manager, until 2010. Subsequently, he served as a Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) instructor pilot, a GIII pilot, C-9 pilot and as a pilot on the Super Guppy transport airplane. He currently serves as the GIII Project Pilot.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-56 Discovery (April 8 to April 17, 1993). STS-56, carrying ATLAS-2, was a 9-day mission, during which the crew conducted atmospheric and solar studies to better understand the effect of solar activity on the Earth's climate and environment. Mission duration was 9 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes and 21 seconds.

STS-69 Endeavour (September 7 to September 18, 1995). The primary objective of STS-69 was the successful deployment and retrieval of a SPARTAN satellite and the Wake Shield Facility (WSF). The WSF was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of using a free-flying platform to grow semiconductors, high temperature superconductors and other materials using the ultra-high vacuum created behind the spacecraft. Mission duration was 10 days, 20 hours and 28 minutes.

STS-80 Columbia (November 19 to December 7, 1996). During STS-80, the crew deployed and retrieved the WSF and the Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (ORFEUS) satellites. The ORFEUS instruments, mounted on the reusable Shuttle Pallet Satellite, studied the origin and makeup of stars. Mission duration was 17 days, 15 hours and 53 minutes, a space shuttle record.

STS-98 Atlantis (February 9 to February 20, 2001). The STS-98 crew continued the task of building and enhancing the International Space Station by delivering the U.S. laboratory module Destiny. The shuttle spent 7 days docked to the station while Destiny was attached, and three spacewalks were conducted to complete its assembly. The crew also relocated a docking port and delivered supplies and equipment to the resident Expedition-1 crew. Mission duration was 12 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes. Unacceptable weather conditions in Florida necessitated a landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

STS-111 Endeavour (June 5 to June 19, 2002). The STS-111 mission delivered a new ISS resident crew and a Canadian-built mobile base for the orbiting outpost's robotic arm. The crew also performed late-notice repair of the station's robot arm by replacing one of the arm's joints. It was the second space shuttle mission dedicated to delivering research equipment to the space platform. STS-111 also brought home the Expedition-4 crew from their 6-1/2-month stay aboard the station. Mission duration was 13 days, 20 hours and 35 minutes. Unacceptable weather conditions in Florida necessitated a landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

JANUARY 2014

NAME: Kenneth D. Cockrell (Mr.)

NASA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA:

Born April 9, 1950, in Austin, Texas. Married to the former Joan Denice Raines of Houston, Texas. Two children. He enjoys sport flying, snow skiing, water skiing, tennis. His parents, Dale and Jewell Cockrell, reside in Westminster, South Carolina. Her parents, Leon and Rosemary Raines, reside in Houston.

EDUCATION:

Graduated from Rockdale High School, Rockdale, Texas, in 1968; received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from University of Texas in 1972, and a master of science degree in aeronautical systems from the University of West Florida in 1974.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Member, Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), and Association of Space Explorers (ASE).

SPECIAL HONORS:

Awarded the Armed Forces Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. Received the Alcoa Foundation Scholarship upon graduating from high school.

EXPERIENCE:

Cockrell received his commission through the Naval Aviation Reserve Officer Candidate Program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, in December 1972. He was designated a naval aviator in August 1974 at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Following type training in the A-7 aircraft, he flew the Corsair II from 1975 to 1978 aboard the USS Midway in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1978 he reported to the United States Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland. After graduation in 1979, he remained at the Naval Air Test Center conducting a variety of flight tests on the A-4, A-7, F-4, and F/A-18 aircraft through mid-1982. He then reported to Naval Station, San Diego, for duty as a staff officer for the Commander of the USS Ranger and subsequently the USS Kitty Hawk Battle Groups. Cockrell was then assigned as a pilot in an operational F/A-18 squadron and made two cruises on the USS Constellation in 1985 and 1987. He resigned his commission in 1987 and accepted a position at the Aircraft Operations Division of the Johnson Space Center. Cockrell is a captain in the United States Naval Reserve. He has logged over 6,300 flying hours and 650 carrier landings.

NASA EXPERIENCE:

From November 1987 to July 1990, Cockrell worked as an aerospace engineer and research pilot at Ellington Field, Houston. He was an instructor pilot and functional check pilot in NASA T-38 aircraft. He conducted air sampling and other high altitude research while piloting the WB-57 and was an aircraft commander in the Gulfstream I administrative transport aircraft.

Selected by NASA in January 1990, Cockrell became an astronaut in July 1991. He is qualified for assignment as a pilot on future Space Shuttle flight crews. His technical assignments to date include: duties in the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch, working on landing, rollout, tires and brakes issues; CAPCOM in Mission Control for ascent and entry; Astronaut Office representative for Flight Data File, the numerous books of procedures carried aboard Shuttle flights. He served as Assistant to the Chief of the Astronaut Office for Shuttle operations and hardware, and has served as Chief of the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch. A veteran of three space flights, he has logged over 906 hours in space. He flew on STS-56 in 1993, STS-69 in 1995, and STS-80 in 1996. Cockrell is currently acting Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office.

Cockrell flew as a mission specialist on the crew of STS-56, carrying ATLAS-2. During the nine-day mission the crew of Discovery conducted atmospheric and solar studies in order to better understand the effect of solar activity on the Earth's climate and environment. STS-56 launched April 8, 1993, and landed April 17, 1993. Mission duration was 9 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes, 21 seconds.

Cockrell next served as pilot on STS-69, September 7-18, 1995. The primary objective of the mission was the successful deployment and retrieval of a SPARTAN satellite and the Wake Shield Facility (WSF). The WSF is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of using this free-flying experiment to grow semiconductors, high temperature superconductors and other materials using the ultra-high vacuum created behind the spacecraft near the experiment package. Mission duration was 10 days, 20 hours, 28 minutes.

Most recently, Cockrell commanded the STS-80 mission (November 19 to December 7, 1996) aboard Columbia. During the flight the crew deployed and retrieved the Wake Shield Facility (WSF) and the Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (ORFEUS) satellites. The WSF is designed to fly free of the Shuttle, creating a super vacuum in its wake in which to grow thin film wafers for use in semiconductors and other high-tech electrical components. The ORFEUS instruments, mounted on the reusable Shuttle Pallet Satellite, will study the origin and makeup of stars. Mission duration was a record breaking 17 days, 15 hours, 53 minutes.

• Birth of Kenneth Dale 'Taco' Cockrell - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell. American test pilot astronaut 1990-2006. 5 spaceflights, 64.5 days in space. Flew to orbit on STS-56 (1993), STS-69, STS-80, STS-98, STS-111..

• NASA Astronaut Training Group 13 selected. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chiao, Clifford, Cockrell, Collins, Eileen, Currie, Gregory, William, Halsell, Harris, Helms, Jones, McArthur, Newman, Ochoa, Precourt, Searfoss, Sega, Thomas, Voss, Janice, Walz, Wilcutt, Wisoff, Wolf.

  The group was selected to provide pilot, engineer, and scientist astronauts for space shuttle flights.. Qualifications: Pilots: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. Advanced degree desirable. At least 1,000 flight-hours of pilot-in-command time. Flight test experience desirable. Excellent health. Vision minimum 20/50 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 vision; maximum sitting blood pressure 140/90. Height between 163 and 193 cm.

  Mission Specialists: Bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics and minimum three years of related experience or an advanced degree. Vision minimum 20/150 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20. Maximum sitting blood pressure of 140/90. Height between 150 and 193 cm.. Reported to the Johnson Space Center in late July 1990 to begin their year long training. Chosen from 1945 qualified applicants, then 106 finalists screened between September and November 1989.

• STS-56 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Cameron, Cockrell, Foale, Ochoa, Oswald. Payload: Discovery F16 / Spartan 201-F1 / Atlas-2. Mass: 7,441 kg (16,404 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cameron, Cockrell, Foale, Ochoa, Oswald. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-56. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 9.26 days. Decay Date: 1993-04-17 . USAF Sat Cat: 22621 . COSPAR: 1993-023A. Apogee: 299 km (185 mi). Perigee: 291 km (180 mi). Inclination: 57.00 deg. Period: 90.40 min.

  Manned five crew. Carried Atlas-2; deployed and retrieved Spartan 201. Payloads: Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS) 2, Shuttle Solar Backscat-ter Ultraviolet (SSBUV) A, Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN) 201 (Solar Wind Generation Experi-ment), Solar Ultraviolet Experiment (SUVE), Commercial Material Dispersion Apparatus (CMIX), Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE), Hand-held, Earth-oriented, Real-time, Cooperative, User-friendly, Location-targeting, and Environmental System (HER-CULES), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) II, Space Tissue Loss (STL), Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS), Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor (CREAM), Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME) III.

• Landing of STS-56 - . Return Crew: Cameron, Cockrell, Foale, Ochoa, Oswald. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cameron, Cockrell, Foale, Ochoa, Oswald. Program: Spacelab. Flight: STS-56. STS-56 landed at 11:40 GMT. .

• STS-69 - . Call Sign: Endeavour. Crew: Cockrell, Gernhardt, Newman, Voss, Walker, Dave. Payload: Endeavour F09 / Spartan / WSF. Mass: 11,499 kg (25,350 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Gernhardt, Newman, Voss, Walker, Dave. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-69. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Endeavour. Duration: 10.85 days. Decay Date: 1995-09-18 . USAF Sat Cat: 23667 . COSPAR: 1995-048A. Apogee: 321 km (199 mi). Perigee: 321 km (199 mi). Inclination: 28.45 deg. Period: 91.40 min.

  Deployed and retrieved Spartan 201, WSF 2. Payloads: Wake Shield Facility (WSF) 2; Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for As-tronomy (SPARTAN) 201; International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker (IEH)1; Inter-Mars Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (ITEPC); Extravehicular Activity Development Flight Test (EDFT) 2; Capillary Pumped Loop (CAPL) 2/ getaway special (GAS) bridge assembly with five GAS payloads; Auroral Photography Experiment (APE) B; Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC); Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA), Configuration A; Electrolysis Perfor-mance Improvement Concept Study (EPICS); Space Tissue Loss (STL)/National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cells (C); Commercial Middeck Instrumentation Technology Associates Experiment (CMIX).

• Landing of STS-69 - . Return Crew: Cockrell, Gernhardt, Newman, Voss, Walker, Dave. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Gernhardt, Newman, Voss, Walker, Dave. Program: STS. Flight: STS-69. STS-69 landed at 11:38 GMT. .

• STS-80 - . Call Sign: Columbia. Crew: Cockrell, Jernigan, Jones, Musgrave, Rominger. Payload: Columbia F21 / Orfeus / WSF. Mass: 115,900 kg (255,500 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Jernigan, Jones, Musgrave, Rominger. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-80. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Columbia. Duration: 17.66 days. Decay Date: 1996-12-07 . USAF Sat Cat: 24660 . COSPAR: 1996-065A. Apogee: 375 km (233 mi). Perigee: 318 km (197 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 91.50 min.

  Mission STS-80 carried the Orfeus astronomy satellite, the Wake Shield Facility, and spacewalk equipment. The Orfeus satellite was deployed on November 20. It carried an ultraviolet telescope and spectrographs. Wake Shield Facility was deployed on November 22 and retrieved on November 26 . On 1996 Nov 29, crewmembers Tamara Jernigan and Thomas Jones were to conduct the first of several planned EVAs. However the shuttle's exit hatch would not open and NASA cancelled this and the other planned spacewalks of the mission. On December 4 at the astronauts retrieved the Orfeus satellite using the RMS arm. Reentry attempts on Dec 5 and Dec 6 were called off due to bad weather. Columbia finally landed at 11:49 GMT December 7 on Runway 33 at Kennedy Space Center, making STS-80 the longest shuttle mission to that date .

• Landing of STS-80 - . Return Crew: Cockrell, Jernigan, Jones, Musgrave, Rominger. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Jernigan, Jones, Musgrave, Rominger. Program: STS. Flight: STS-80. STS-80 landed at 11:49 GMT. .

• ISS Status Report: ISS 01-01 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31. The Expedition One crew moved into its tenth week in orbit today aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as preparations stepped into high gear for the launch of the next Shuttle assembly flight to the outpost.. Additional Details: here....

• ISS Status Report: ISS 01-02 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31.

  Expedition One crewmembers are busily preparing the International Space Station for its next visitors - the five astronauts of the STS-98 mission of Atlantis - set to launch at 2:11 a.m. EST on January 19 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Atlantis' precious cargo is the U.S. Laboratory Destiny, which will provide the orbiting outpost with its first science facility. STS-98 marks the seventh shuttle mission to the station and twelfth overall devoted to the assembly of the ever-growing international outpost in low Earth orbit. Additional Details: here....

• ISS Status Report: ISS 01-03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31.

  With Space Shuttle Atlantis' STS-98 mission delayed three weeks, the Expedition One crew aboard the International Space Station will continue to review documents and procedures in preparation for the arrival of the station's newest module - the U.S. Laboratory Destiny. Additional Details: here....

• ISS Status Report: ISS 01-05 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31. Activity aboard the International Space Station continues to focus on preparations for the arrival of Space Shuttle Atlantis late next week bringing the first scientific laboratory on the STS-98 mission.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #01 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Burbank, Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98.

  Atlantis' five astronauts blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center at sunset tonight to deliver the U.S. Laboratory Destiny to the International Space Station (ISS), the cornerstone of scientific research on the complex and the new command and control center for Station operations. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 - . Call Sign: Atlantis. Crew: Cockrell, Curbeam, Ivins, Jones, Polansky. Payload: Atlantis F23. Mass: 90,225 kg (198,912 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Ivins, Jones, Polansky. Agency: NASA Houston. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-98. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Duration: 12.89 days. Decay Date: 2001-02-20 . USAF Sat Cat: 26698 . COSPAR: 2001-006A. Apogee: 337 km (209 mi). Perigee: 183 km (113 mi). Inclination: 51.30 deg. Period: 89.71 min.

  ISS Assembly flight. Launch delayed from January 18 and February 6. International Space Station assembly mission; delivered the Destiny and PMA-2 modules. Destiny was an American ISS module, an 8.4 meter long and 4.2 meter wide cylindrical structure with a mass of 15 tonnes. It was to function as a science and technology module and the primary control module for the ISS. The shuttle orbiter was placed in an initial 74 x 323 km x 51.6 deg orbit. At 2357 GMT the OMS engines fired for the OMS-2 burn which raised Atlantis' orbit to 204 x 322 km x 51.6 deg. Atlantis docked with the Station at 1651 GMT on February 9 at the PMA-3 port on Unity's nadir. At 1500 GMT on Feb 10 Marsha Ivins used the RMS arm to unberth the PMA-2 docking port from Unity. Tom Jones and Bob Curbeam then conducted three spacewalks on Februay 10 to 14 to attach the Destiny and PMA-2 modules to the station. The crew also delivered over a tonne of food, fuel and equipment to the ISS. Atlantis undocked from Alpha at 1406 GMT on February 16. Atlantis landed at Edwards AFB on February 20; plans to land on February 18 and 19 were called off due to persistent wind problems at Kennedy Space Center. The deorbit burn was at 1927 GMT and lowered the orbit from 370 x 386 km to about 50 x 380 km. The nominal entry interface at 122 km came at 2002 GMT and touchdown on runway 22 was at 20:33 GMT. On March 1 Atlantis was flown on the back of NASA's SCA 911 carrier aircraft to Altus AFB, Oklahoma, en route to Kennedy.

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #02 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98.

  The five-member crew of Atlantis is in its first full day in space continuing its pursuit of the International Space Station. After a slightly abbreviated sleep period, Atlantis' astronauts were awakened at 6:13 a.m. Central time as the Shuttle trailed the Station by approximately 2,000 statute miles (3,200 kilometers). The first wakeup call of the flight was "Where You At", a jazz selection by Pilot Mark Polansky's late uncle, Zoot Sims. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Ivins, Jones, Polansky. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98.

  With the 16-ton, bus-sized Destiny laboratory now virtually weightless in its cargo bay, the Space Shuttle Atlantis today drew ever closer to Destiny's permanent home, the International Space Station, and the five shuttle astronauts prepared for the complex construction job to come. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #22 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98. Atlantis' astronauts were awakened just before 4 a.m. Central time Sunday, ready for a homecoming to the Kennedy Space Center later today, weather permitting.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #23 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Altman, Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Ross, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98. Atlantis' homecoming was delayed today until Monday as gusty winds at the Kennedy Space Center forced a waveoff of the Shuttle's landing at the Florida spaceport.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #24 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98.

  After an extra day in orbit, Atlantis' astronauts will try again to return to the Kennedy Space Center today to wrap up a 4.9 million mile mission to deliver the U.S. Laboratory Destiny to the International Space Station (ISS). Preliminary weather forecasts indicate the possibility of gusty winds and decks of broken clouds at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Cape this afternoon, similar to the conditions that forced a waveoff of the Shuttle's return yesterday. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #25 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Ross, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98. For the second day in a row, Atlantis' astronauts were foiled in their attempt to land at the Kennedy Space Center by high winds which caused another 24-hour delay in their homecoming until Tuesday.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #27 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98. Atlantis' astronauts glided to a belated but textbook touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base, California today, wrapping up a 5.3 million mile mission to deliver the U.S. Laboratory Destiny to the International Space Station (ISS).. Additional Details: here....

• STS-98 Mission Status Report #26 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Gidzenko, Ivins, Jones, Polansky, Ross, Shepherd. Program: ISS. Flight: Soyuz TM-31, STS-98.

  Atlantis' astronauts are hoping that the third time will be the charm today as an improving weather forecast at the Kennedy Space Center holds hope for the Shuttle's return to the Florida spaceport following two consecutive days of weather related wave-offs. Additional Details: here....

• Landing of STS-98 - . Return Crew: Cockrell, Curbeam, Ivins, Jones, Polansky. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Curbeam, Ivins, Jones, Polansky. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-98. STS-98 landed at 20:33 GMT. .

• ISS Status Report: ISS 02-25 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4.

  The Expedition 4 crew of the International Space Station spent much of this week preparing for the arrival of Endeavour on STS-111 and their return home. They packed equipment and supplies for return to Earth aboard Endeavour. They also reconfigured and checked out spacesuits and the station's joint airlock in preparation for three spacewalks at the station by Endeavour mission specialists Franklin Chang-Diaz and Philippe Perrin. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #01 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Ross, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  With improved weather conditions at the Kennedy Space Center, Endeavour lifted off at 4:23 p.m. CDT today, beginning a complex mission to continue the assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station and bring a new trio of residents to the orbital outpost. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 - . Call Sign: Endeavour. Crew: Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Perrin, Treshchev, Whitson. Payload: Endeavour F18 / Leonardo. Mass: 105,000 kg (231,000 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Perrin, Treshchev, Whitson. Agency: NASA. Manufacturer: Boeing. Program: ISS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Endeavour . Duration: 13.86 days. Decay Date: 2002-06-19 . USAF Sat Cat: 27440 . COSPAR: 2002-028A. Apogee: 387 km (240 mi). Perigee: 349 km (216 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.90 min.

  Launch delayed from May 2, 6, 30, 31 and June 4. STS-111 reached a 58 x 224 km x 51.6 deg orbit at 2131 UTC and separated from the External Tank. It coasted to apogee at 2201 UTC and carried out the OMS-2 burn to raise the orbit to 158 x 235 km. The mission of STS-111 (UF-2 ISS utilization flight) was to swap the Expedition 4 and 5 crews and deliver the MBS Mobile Base System and some interior experiment racks. Endeavour docked with the Station at 1625 UTC on June 7. The Leonardo MPLM module was attached to the Station on June 8. Cargo manifest:

  • Bay 1-2: Orbiter Docking System - 1800 kg + 2 EMU spacesuits - 240 kg
  • Bay 4: Mobile Base System (MBS) - 1600 kg. The Mobile Base System was made by MD Robotics of Brampton, Ontario. It was to be attached to the Mobile Transporter and used to mount the SSRMS Canadarm-2 arm and heavy payloads.
  • Bay 6P: Adapter Beam / Wrist Roll Joint - 150 kg. The WRJ (Wrist Roll Joint) would be swapped with the broken one on the SSRMS arm.
  • Bay 7-12: MPLM FM1 "Leonardo" - 10557 kg. The Leonardo module carried 8 Resupply Stowage Racks and 4 Resupply Stowage Plaftorms, with equipment to be transferred to the station. It also carried two science racks: the MSG (Microgravity Science Glovebox) and Express-3, which would be installed on Destiny. Leonardo, built by Alenia Spazio in Torino, also flew on STS-102 and STS-105.
  • Bay 13P: ICAPC Beam / PGDF - 75 kg. The PGDF (Power-Data Grapple Fixture) would be installed on the P6 truss.
  • Bay 13S: Adapter Beam / SMDP - 200 kg. The Service Module Debris Panels (SMDP) package contained 6 panels which would be stowed on PMA-1 until a later spacewalk attached them to the Zvezda module to protect it from space debris hits.
  • Total: 14622 kg

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #03 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. Gaining on the International Space Station by 580 statute miles with each 90-minute orbit, Endeavour's crew spent today completing preparations for Friday's scheduled docking with the complex.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #02 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Ross, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. As Endeavour closes in for its linkup to the International Space Station tomorrow, the Expedition Four crew aboard the complex will spend the day preparing for the arrival of its replacements.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #05 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  Endeavour gently docked with the International Space Station this morning 240 miles over the South Pacific, setting the stage for eight days of docked operations highlighted by three scheduled spacewalks and the exchange of resident crews aboard the outpost. Commander Ken Cockrell guided Endeavour to a linkup with the forward docking port of the station's Destiny Laboratory at 11:25 a.m. Central time. The docking culminated a textbook rendezvous executed by Cockrell and Pilot Paul Lockhart. After waiting for about one hour to allow post-contact oscillations to subside, the two vehicles were joined firmly together at 12:27 p.m. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #04 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. Heading for a docking to the International Space Station later today, Endeavour's astronauts continue to close in on the orbital outpost as a new trio of residents prepares to take over command of the complex.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #07 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. (CORRECTS DURATION OF EXPEDITION FOUR TO 181 DAYS). Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #06 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  The newly arrived crewmembers of Expedition Five aboard the International Space Station - Commander Valery Korzun and Flight Engineers Peggy Whitson and Sergei Treschev - will continue settling into their new home today as they work with Endeavour's astronauts to move the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module from the shuttle's cargo bay to the Unity module of the complex in advance of the start of the transfer of almost 3 tons of equipment and supplies. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #08 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  The 10-member multinational crew aboard the International Space Station and shuttle complex worked today to move the Leonardo transfer van from the shuttle's payload bay to the station, begin equipment and supply transfers to the station and prepare for Sunday's space walk. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #09 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  Endeavour Astronauts Philippe Perrin and Franklin Chang-Díaz are set to step out into the vacuum of space this morning for the first of three spacewalks to help install a platform for the transport of the International Space Station's robotic arm and to replace a faulty joint in the arm itself. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #10 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. Endeavour Astronauts Franklin Chang-Díaz and Philippe Perrin completed all scheduled International Space Station assembly tasks today during a 7-hour, 14-minute spacewalk, the first ever for the duo.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #12 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. The 10 astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station today continued the expansion of the orbiting laboratory by installing the Mobile Remote Servicer Base System (MBS).. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #11 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  A critical device for International Space Station assembly will receive an additional component today. An operations platform, to be installed on a railcar on the station's S0 (S-Zero) Truss, will allow the space station's robotic arm to travel the length of the station for future construction tasks. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #13 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. Endeavour spacewalkers Philippe Perrin and Franklin Chang-Díaz will venture outside the shuttle today to complete the installation of the second component of Canada's Remote Servicing System to the International Space Station.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #15 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Shepherd, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  Endeavour's astronauts - Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Paul Lockhart, Franklin Chang-Díaz, Philippe Perrin, Yury Onufrienko, Carl Walz and Dan Bursch - were awakened about 4:30 Central time this morning to the sound of "Chasing Sheep is Best Left to Shepherds," by Peter Greenaway, selected for Perrin by his family. The wakeup call began the eighth day of Endeavour's supply, assembly and maintenance mission to the International Space Station. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #16 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. The crews of Endeavour and the International Space Station spent today stowing unneeded supplies and hardware in the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and the shuttle middeck for return to Earth.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #18 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Perrin. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. In a 7-hour, 17-minute spacewalk today, Endeavour astronauts Franklin Chang-Díaz and Philippe Perrin successfully replaced a wrist roll joint on the International Space Station's robotic arm, restoring the arm to full functionality.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #17 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. Endeavour spacewalkers Philippe Perrin and Franklin Chang-Díaz will perform surgery on the International Space Station's robotic arm today, attempting to restore full functionality to the space crane through the replacement of ailing wrist joint.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #19 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  Endeavour's astronauts - Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Paul Lockhart, Franklin Chang-Díaz, Philippe Perrin, Dan Bursch, Yury Onufrienko and Carl Walz - were awakened just before 4:30 Central time this morning to the National Anthem, in honor of Flag Day today. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #20 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  Endeavour's astronauts - Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Paul Lockhart, Franklin Chang-Díaz, Philippe Perrin, Dan Bursch, Yury Onufrienko and Carl Walz - were awakened just before 4:30 Central time this morning to the National Anthem, in honor of Flag Day today. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #21 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  With all the major objectives of the STS-111 mission accomplished, Endeavour's astronauts will bid farewell to the new Expedition Five crew and undock from the International Space Station today, leaving ISS Commander Valery Korzun and Flight Engineers Peggy Whitson and Sergei Treschev to begin their 4 1/2 month stay on board the complex. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #23 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. Now separated from the International Space Station by about 1,600 statute miles and moving away by about 155 miles with each orbit of the Earth, Endeavour crewmembers turn their attention today to preparing for a return trip home.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #24 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111, STS-111 ISS EO-5. Activities aboard Endeavour today focused on preparations for Monday's planned landing at the Kennedy Space Center, concluding a voyage of 4.9 million miles.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #26 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-111 ISS EO-5. Rain and thundershowers in the area of the Kennedy Space Center landing site in Florida caused flight controllers to wave off both of today's opportunities to bring Endeavour home. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #25 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-111 ISS EO-5. After traveling nearly 5 million miles on a successful mission to the International Space Station, Endeavour is scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida today.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #28 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-111 ISS EO-5. For a second consecutive day, rain, thundershowers and clouds in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida caused flight controllers to wave off the day's opportunities to bring Endeavour and its crew home.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #27 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-111 ISS EO-5. Endeavour crewmembers were awakened about 2:30 a.m. for a second day of landing opportunities. The song played for the crew was "Sojourner" by Matt Gast, the flight's lead timeliner or scheduler of crew activities.. Additional Details: here....

• STS-111 Mission Status Report #29 - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Korzun, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz, Whitson. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-111 ISS EO-5.

  Endeavour's crewmembers, Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Paul Lockhart, and Mission Specialists Philippe Perrin and Franklin Chang-Diaz, and Expedition 4's Yury Onufrienko, Carl Walz and Dan Bursch, were awakened at 1:23 a.m. CDT by the song "I Got You Babe," by Sonny and Cher, from the "Groundhog Day" movie soundtrack. Additional Details: here....

• Landing of STS-111 - . Return Crew: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bursch, Chang-Diaz, Cockrell, Lockhart, Onufrienko, Perrin, Walz. Program: ISS. Flight: STS-108 ISS EO-4, STS-111.

  The hatches between Shuttle and Station were closed at 1223 UTC, with the Expedition 4 crew on the Shuttle for the trip home. Expedition 5 crew members Valeriy Korzun, Peggy Whitson and Sergei Treshchev remain aboard the Station. Endeavour undocked at 1432 UTC, leaving the Station in a 389 x 399 km x 51.6 deg orbit following three reboost burns. After two days of bad weather, Endeavour was diverted to Edwards AFB in California, with a deorbit burn at 1650 UTC on Jun 19 lowering its orbit from 347 x 387 km to 34 x 386 km. The Shuttle nominally entered the atmosphere around 1726 UTC and landed on Runway 22 at Edwards at 17:57:41 UTC.