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STS-98

STS-98 was a Space Shuttle mission conducted by NASA in 2001 to deliver and install the Destiny laboratory module on the International Space Station (ISS), significantly expanding the station's research capabilities and habitable volume.^[1] Launched on February 7, 2001, from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A aboard the orbiter Atlantis, the mission marked the first human spaceflight of the 21st century and the 98th Space Shuttle mission overall.^[2] The crew docked with the ISS on flight day 2, where they used the shuttle's robotic arm and three extravehicular activities (EVAs) to attach the 32,000-pound Destiny module to the Unity node, increasing the station's pressurized volume by 41 percent and enabling advanced scientific experiments.^[1] The five-member crew consisted of Commander Kenneth D. Cockrell, Pilot Mark L. Polansky, and Mission Specialists Marsha S. Ivins, Robert L. Curbeam Jr., and Thomas D. Jones.^[1] Ivins operated the shuttle's remote manipulator system to berth Destiny, while Curbeam and Jones performed all three spacewalks, totaling nearly 20 hours outside the station.^[2] The primary objectives included not only the module's installation but also the transfer of approximately 3,000 pounds of supplies and equipment to the ISS crew, as well as outfitting Destiny with initial system racks for power, cooling, and data management.^[1] Secondary goals encompassed testing new EVA tools and procedures, which proved crucial for future assembly tasks. The mission concluded successfully after 12 days, 20 hours, 20 minutes, and 4 seconds, with Atlantis landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California on February 20, 2001, following 203 orbits and covering 5.3 million miles.^[1] Notable achievements included resolving a minor ammonia leak during the first EVA, relocating the Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2), and transitioning the ISS from thruster-based to gyroscope-controlled orientation for more efficient operations.^[1] STS-98 laid the foundation for Destiny to become the ISS's primary research facility, hosting experiments in biology, physics, and materials science that have advanced human knowledge in microgravity environments.^[2]

Mission Overview

Objectives

The primary objective of the STS-98 mission was to deliver and attach the United States Destiny Laboratory Module to the forward port of the Unity Node on the International Space Station (ISS), thereby establishing a permanent U.S. research facility in orbit.^[1] This integration utilized the Space Shuttle Atlantis's remote manipulator system for initial positioning, followed by extravehicular activities (EVAs) to secure connections for power, data, and thermal control systems, enabling the module's activation and operation.^[2] Destiny, weighing approximately 32,000 pounds and measuring 28 feet in length, significantly expanded the ISS's habitable volume by 41 percent and provided infrastructure for up to 13 research racks dedicated to experiments in microgravity, biology, physics, and materials science.^[2] Secondary objectives included the relocation of Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2) from its temporary position on the Unity Node to the forward hatch of Destiny, preparing the station for future shuttle dockings and module expansions.^[2] The mission crew also transferred approximately 3,000 pounds of supplies and equipment to the ISS, including logistical items to support ongoing station operations, while returning about 850 pounds of waste materials to Earth.^[1] These tasks were accomplished over three planned EVAs totaling more than 19 hours, ensuring the seamless integration of Destiny as the core of NASA's orbital research program.^[1] As the 102nd Space Shuttle mission overall and the 23rd flight for Atlantis, STS-98 marked the first human spaceflight launch of the 21st century, advancing the assembly of the ISS into a fully functional international laboratory.^[1] By achieving these goals, the mission laid the foundation for hundreds of scientific investigations, fostering advancements in fields critical to human space exploration and Earth-based applications.^[2]

Technical Specifications

The Space Shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) served as the primary vehicle for STS-98, configured with External Tank ET-106, a Super Lightweight Tank variant designed to reduce overall mission mass by approximately 7,500 pounds compared to standard tanks.^[3] The solid rocket boosters, designated as set BI-105, each generated about 3,300,000 pounds of thrust at sea level to propel the stack off the launch pad.^[3] STS-98 operated in a low Earth orbit aligned with the International Space Station's trajectory, featuring a perigee altitude of 365 km, an apogee of 378 km, an inclination of 51.6°, and an orbital period of approximately 92 minutes; the mission completed 203 orbits.^[1] The total mission duration was 12 days, 20 hours, 20 minutes, and 4 seconds, during which Atlantis traveled roughly 8,500,000 km (5.3 million miles).^[1] The primary payload was the Destiny laboratory module, weighing 14.5 metric tons (32,000 pounds), measuring 8.5 m (28 feet) in length and 4.3 m (14 feet) in diameter, and designed to accommodate 24 racks, including 11 systems racks and 13 experiment racks.^[4] Also delivered was Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2), a 300 kg docking interface component essential for module connections.^[1]

Parameter	Value
Orbital Perigee	365 km
Orbital Apogee	378 km
Inclination	51.6°
Orbital Period	92 minutes
Number of Orbits	203
Mission Duration	12 days, 20 hours, 20 minutes, 4 seconds
Total Distance	8,500,000 km

Component	Mass	Length	Diameter	Rack Capacity
Destiny Module	14.5 metric tons	8.5 m	4.3 m	24 (11 systems, 13 experiments)
PMA-2	300 kg	N/A	N/A	N/A

Crew and Training

Crew Members

The STS-98 crew consisted of five NASA astronauts who delivered and installed the Destiny laboratory module on the International Space Station (ISS). Commander Kenneth D. Cockrell, on his fourth spaceflight, led the mission aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, overseeing overall execution including rendezvous and docking operations.^[1]^[5] Pilot Mark L. Polansky, on his first spaceflight, was responsible for shuttle piloting duties and executing the rendezvous maneuvers with the ISS.^[1]^[6] The mission specialists included Robert L. Curbeam, on his second spaceflight, who served as the lead extravehicular activity (EVA) crewmember and provided robotics support during module installation; Marsha S. Ivins, on her fifth spaceflight, who operated the shuttle's robotic arm to berth the Destiny module; and Thomas D. Jones, on his fourth spaceflight, who acted as an EVA crewmember and handled payload integration tasks.^[1]^[7]^[8] The crew underwent extensive pre-mission training at NASA's Johnson Space Center, including simulations for ISS docking procedures, EVA rehearsals in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory to practice spacewalk tasks for Destiny installation, and certification in robotic arm operations for precise module handling.^[9]^[1] These sessions incorporated joint U.S.-Russian elements to ensure compatibility with ISS systems, building on prior Shuttle-Mir program experiences.^[10] Notably, the crew was composed of four men and one woman, Marsha S. Ivins, highlighting her role as the sole female member in this all-veteran group with substantial prior shuttle experience.^[1]

Seat Assignments

The seating assignments for the STS-98 crew aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis were designed to align each astronaut's expertise with the demands of ascent, orbital operations, docking, payload handling, and reentry, ensuring efficient execution of mission tasks from their respective positions. The flight deck housed the core flight control team, while the mission specialists were distributed across the flight deck and middeck to facilitate payload bay activities, remote manipulator system (RMS) operations, and preparations for extravehicular activities (EVAs). These arrangements followed standard Space Shuttle configurations for a five-person crew, with adjustments for launch and landing to optimize vehicle stability and crew accessibility.^[3]

Position	Launch Seat	Landing Seat	Crew Member
Commander (Port Forward, Flight Deck)	Seat 1	Seat 1	Kenneth D. Cockrell
Pilot (Starboard Forward, Flight Deck)	Seat 2	Seat 2	Mark L. Polansky
Flight Engineer/Mission Specialist 2 (Center Aft, Flight Deck)	Seat 4	Seat 4	Marsha S. Ivins
Mission Specialist 1/EVA Crewmember 2 (Starboard Aft, Flight Deck)	Seat 3	Middeck Port (Seat 5)	Robert L. Curbeam, Jr.
Mission Specialist 3/EVA Crewmember 1 (Middeck Port)	Seat 5	Seat 3	Thomas D. Jones

Commander Kenneth D. Cockrell occupied the port forward seat (Seat 1) on the flight deck for both launch and landing, where he managed primary flight controls, made all abort decisions during ascent and entry, and directed overall mission safety and success. From this position, Cockrell also handled Atlantis's docking with the International Space Station (ISS) and served as the backup operator for the RMS during the installation of the Destiny laboratory module.^[3] Pilot Mark L. Polansky was assigned to the starboard forward seat (Seat 2) on the flight deck for launch and landing, operating secondary flight controls and performing navigation tasks during ascent and reentry. Polansky assisted Cockrell with docking procedures, conducted the post-undocking flyaround of the ISS, and acted as the intravehicular crewmember—coordinating and supporting the EVAs from inside the orbiter.^[3] As flight engineer and Mission Specialist 2, Marsha S. Ivins sat in the center aft position (Seat 4) on the flight deck during both launch and landing, monitoring critical vehicle systems such as propulsion, hydraulics, and guidance. From this vantage, Ivins operated the RMS to grapple and position the Destiny module in the payload bay, support unberthing operations after ISS handover, and assist with cargo transfers and activation of the laboratory's systems.^[3] Mission Specialists Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., and Thomas D. Jones, designated as EVA Crewmembers 2 and 1 respectively, alternated between the starboard aft flight deck seat (Seat 3) and the port middeck seat (Seat 5) for launch and landing to maintain the orbiter's center-of-mass balance under varying fuel loads. For launch, Curbeam occupied the starboard aft flight deck position to operate the docking system and provide immediate support for initial payload bay activities, while Jones was positioned on the middeck forward of the airlock to handle science payload integration and preliminary EVA preparations. During landing, their seats were swapped, with Jones moving to the starboard aft flight deck for enhanced control access and Curbeam on the middeck to manage post-flight payload securing. This configuration placed the EVA crew near the airlock for rapid suit-up and egress, reflecting their spacewalking qualifications—Curbeam preparing for his first EVAs on this mission and Jones drawing from prior experience on STS-80—to ensure seamless support for the three planned spacewalks.^[3]^[7]^[8]

Pre-Launch Preparation

Launch Attempts

The STS-98 mission, utilizing Space Shuttle Atlantis, originally targeted a liftoff on January 19, 2001, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.^[11] The planned countdown was halted prior to its start due to concerns over potential damage to electrical cables within the solid rocket booster (SRB) systems tunnels, stemming from an inventory review that identified conductor issues in a small number of similar cables across the fleet.^[12] This precautionary scrub marked the mission's only aborted launch attempt.^[13] Following the scrub, Atlantis was rolled back from the pad to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on January 19, 2001, arriving by early afternoon to facilitate detailed inspections.^[12] Ground crews conducted continuity tests on the SRB systems tunnel cables starting that weekend, followed by X-ray analyses to verify integrity, with results reviewed the subsequent week.^[12] No faults were found in the installed cables on Atlantis, but the process ensured compliance with safety standards before recertification.^[14] After completing the inspections and necessary verifications, Atlantis was rolled out from the VAB to Launch Complex 39A on January 26, 2001, rescheduling the launch for February 7, 2001.^[11] Preparations included final systems checks and weather assessments, confirming suitability for the new window.^[15] On February 7, 2001, the countdown proceeded smoothly after loading approximately 1.6 million pounds of cryogenic propellants—liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen—into the external tank, a process that began early that morning.^[15] The T-9 minute hold was extended by 1 minute 14 seconds due to concerns with electrical current indications in ground telemetry, but the issue was resolved after data review, resulting in a 1-minute-14-second delay from the planned time.^[16] Liftoff occurred at 23:13 UTC under clear skies, providing optimal conditions for the ascent.^[1]

Countdown and Liftoff

The countdown for STS-98 commenced at the T-43 hour mark on February 4, 2001, at 10:00 p.m. EST, initiating final preparations for the Space Shuttle Atlantis launch. Tanking operations for the external tank's cryogenic propellants began approximately six hours prior to liftoff, loading roughly 1.6 million pounds of liquid hydrogen and oxygen under controlled conditions to ensure system readiness. The five-member crew—Commander Kenneth D. Cockrell, Pilot Mark L. Polansky, and Mission Specialists Robert L. Curbeam Jr., Marsha S. Ivins, and Thomas D. Jones—ingressed the orbiter about 6.6 hours before launch, conducting final systems checks and suiting up for ascent. As the countdown progressed into its final phase, a brief hold occurred at T-9 minutes to address concerns with electrical current indications in ground telemetry during power transfer to onboard fuel cells, but the sequence resumed smoothly after data review, culminating in the ignition sequence at T-31 seconds when the three space shuttle main engines (SSMEs) began startup.^[17]^[18]^[19] At 23:13:02 UTC on February 7, 2001, Atlantis lifted off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A under clear skies, with the solid rocket boosters (SRBs) igniting seconds after the SSMEs reached full thrust. The ascent proceeded nominally, with SRB separation occurring at T+2:05 as the boosters expended their propellant and were jettisoned into the Atlantic Ocean. External tank (ET) separation followed at T+8:31, immediately after main engine cutoff (MECO), by which point the vehicle had reached an altitude of approximately 105 kilometers. Each of the three SSMEs generated 418,000 pounds of thrust at rated power level, contributing to a total liftoff thrust exceeding 7 million pounds alongside the SRBs, with no anomalies reported in engine performance or vehicle trajectory. The orbiter then transitioned to orbital insertion, achieving a preliminary 370-kilometer circular orbit inclined at 51.6 degrees.^[1]^[21]^[22]^[19] Throughout the countdown and immediate ascent, Commander Cockrell and Pilot Polansky monitored flight instruments and gauges from the forward flight deck, calling out key milestones such as throttle adjustments at maximum dynamic pressure. Flight Engineer Ivins, positioned on the middeck, oversaw environmental control and life support systems, ensuring cabin pressure and oxygen levels remained stable during the high-vibration launch phase. The mission specialists, Curbeam and Jones, remained strapped in on the middeck, prepared to assist with post-separation procedures once the vehicle stabilized in orbit.^[19]^[2]

Orbital Flight and Rendezvous

Ascent to Orbit

Following separation from the external tank at T+8 minutes 31 seconds, Space Shuttle Atlantis executed the OMS-2 burn at approximately T+44 minutes, lasting roughly 2 minutes, to circularize the initial orbit at an altitude of about 320 km (173 nautical miles) with an inclination of 51.6 degrees.^[19]^[23] Shortly thereafter, the crew opened the payload bay doors to initiate thermal conditioning of the orbiter and deployed the Ku-band antenna to enable high-data-rate communications with NASA ground stations. Onboard systems checks ensued, including a hot-fire test of the reaction control system (RCS) thrusters to confirm propulsion readiness, which was performed without anomalies following the ascent phase where RCS jets had also assisted in external tank separation.^[24] The thermal protection system was inspected using the orbiter's integrated television camera system, capturing imagery of the reinforced carbon-carbon panels and thermal tiles to assess any ascent-related damage, with no significant issues identified in the post-mission analysis.^[24] Over the subsequent hours and days, the orbit was fine-tuned for rendezvous with the International Space Station through a series of RCS maneuvers, including the NC1 burn at T+3 hours 42 minutes, NPC burn at T+19 hours 30 minutes, NH burn at T+36 hours 57 minutes, and others, progressively raising the apogee to 386 km while aligning the orbital plane and phasing trajectory.^[19]^[23]

Docking with ISS

The STS-98 mission followed a standard rendezvous profile with the International Space Station (ISS), initiating proximity operations after a series of orbital maneuvers to align Space Shuttle Atlantis with the station's orbit. Following the orbital insertion burns, Atlantis performed the NC-1 burn approximately 3 hours and 42 minutes into the mission to establish the initial phasing trajectory. Subsequent non-corrective burns, including NC-2 at mission elapsed time (MET) 000/15:06, the non-propulsive coast (NPC) at MET 000/19:30, and NC-3 at MET 001/00:10, refined the orbit to prepare for terminal phase initiation. The terminal intercept (Ti) burn occurred at MET 001/15:15 on February 9, 2001, placing Atlantis on a trajectory for the final approach, approximately 32 hours prior to docking as adjusted by mission-specific phasing.^[3] Proximity operations began with the height adjust (NH) burn at MET 001/12:57, followed by NC-4 at MET 001/13:42, positioning Atlantis about 600 feet below the ISS for the plus R-bar approach. This trajectory, oriented along the station's radial vector from Earth, minimized plume impingement from thruster firings on the ISS structure. Atlantis commander Kenneth Cockrell piloted the shuttle manually during the final approach, maintaining a closing rate of 0.1 meters per second while monitoring relative navigation displays. The shuttle executed a 180-degree yaw maneuver to align with the docking port, culminating in soft contact at 16:51 UTC on February 9, 2001, with Pressurized Mating Adapter-3 (PMA-3) on the nadir port of the Unity module.^[3]^[13] Upon contact, the docking mechanism's probe captured the cone, triggering a free-drift period as latches engaged to secure the connection, confirmed by light-emitting diode indicators on the Orbiter Docking System. Structural rigidization followed, with the docking ring retracting to form a hard mate. Pressure equalization between Atlantis and the ISS was achieved within approximately 2 hours, allowing the common berthing mechanism hatch to open at 18:41 UTC on February 9. The combined crews, including STS-98 astronauts and Expedition 1 personnel, conducted initial safety checks of the docking interface and life support systems before commencing greetings and preliminary supply transfers of equipment and provisions. These activities lasted about four hours before the hatches were temporarily closed to prepare for subsequent operations.^[3]^[2]

ISS Assembly Operations

Delivery and Installation of Destiny

The delivery and installation of the Destiny laboratory module marked a pivotal step in the expansion of the International Space Station (ISS), transforming it into a dedicated research facility. On February 10, 2001, during Flight Day 4 of STS-98, Mission Specialist Marsha Ivins operated the Space Shuttle Atlantis' Remote Manipulator System (RMS) to grapple the Destiny module from its berth in the payload bay at 17:35 UTC.^[23] The 8.5-meter-long, 14.5-metric-ton module, designed as the primary U.S. science laboratory for the ISS, was then slowly lifted and rotated 180 degrees to align it with the forward Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) port on the Unity node.^[2] The berthing process involved precise robotic maneuvering to position Destiny's aft end against Unity's forward port, where initial latches engaged at approximately 20:37 UTC.^[23] Ground controllers at NASA's Mission Control Center then commanded the active CBM hooks and latches to fully secure the connection, ensuring structural integrity against the orbital environment.^[2] This robotic handover, coordinated between the shuttle and ISS crews, avoided the need for direct extravehicular manual intervention for the primary attachment, highlighting the reliability of the RMS for heavy-lift assembly tasks.^[3] Post-berthing activation began immediately with the connection of electrical umbilicals from both the shuttle and ISS, transferring power to Destiny's internal systems at approximately 21:00 UTC.^[23] Structural leak checks, conducted via pressure differentials between the modules, confirmed no anomalies, allowing the internal atmosphere to be equalized and pressurized to 14.7 psi (101.3 kPa), the standard operating pressure for ISS habitable volumes.^[2] By Flight Day 5, on February 11, 2001, at 13:11 UTC, the combined STS-98 and Expedition 1 crews ingressed the module to verify subsystem functionality, including environmental controls and data interfaces, marking the successful transition of Destiny from payload to operational asset.^[3] As part of the installation sequence, preparations for relocating Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2) commenced earlier on February 10, when Ivins used the RMS to detach PMA-2 from Unity's forward port at around 15:00 UTC and berth it temporarily on the Z1 truss integrated equipment assembly at 16:50 UTC.^[23] This repositioning cleared the Unity forward port for Destiny's arrival and set the stage for PMA-2's subsequent attachment to Destiny's forward hatch two days later, enhancing the station's docking capabilities for future shuttle visits.^[2] The coordinated robotic operations ensured minimal risk to the station's structure, with real-time monitoring from Houston confirming alignment tolerances within 0.5 degrees and 2 centimeters.^[3]

Extravehicular Activities

The STS-98 mission included three extravehicular activities (EVAs) performed by mission specialists Robert L. Curbeam Jr. and Thomas D. Jones, accumulating a total of 19 hours and 49 minutes. These spacewalks were essential for establishing external power, data, and thermal connections for the newly delivered Destiny laboratory module, relocating key structural components, and installing hardware to support ongoing International Space Station (ISS) assembly. Conducted from the Space Shuttle Atlantis's airlock, the EVAs marked a significant milestone as the third became the 100th U.S. spacewalk in history.^[1]^[25] The astronauts wore Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs), NASA's standard spacesuits for shuttle-based EVAs, enhanced with Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) nitrogen jet backpacks for emergency mobility. The airlock was depressurized to 4.3 psi to facilitate suit egress, with procedures including pre-EVA suit integrity checks and post-EVA repressurization. Safety measures emphasized dual tethers for restraint, real-time communication with intravehicular crew members, and synchronized timelines with the ISS expedition crew to minimize risks during concurrent robotic operations.^[1]^[26] EVA 1, on February 10, 2001, commenced at 10:18 a.m. EST and lasted 7 hours and 34 minutes. Curbeam (designated EV1, in the red-striped suit) and Jones (EV2, in the unmarked suit) focused on integrating Destiny with the ISS structure by connecting primary electrical, data, and cooling umbilicals between the module and the Unity node. They removed and stowed protective thermal covers and Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) blankets from Destiny's exterior to expose connection points, preparing the lab for operational activation. A 30-minute free-flyer test of the SAFER system was successfully completed to verify its translation capabilities. During this spacewalk, Curbeam experienced minor ammonia contamination from a cooling line, prompting an immediate decontamination protocol involving solar exposure, brushing, and airlock venting upon return.^[1]^[27] EVA 2, beginning at 10:56 a.m. EST on February 12, 2001, endured 6 hours and 50 minutes. The crew relocated the Pressurized Mating Adapter-2 (PMA-2) from its temporary position on the Z1 truss to Destiny's forward berthing port, using the shuttle's remote manipulator system for positioning while manually securing it with bolts. Key installations included the Power and Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF) for future robotic operations, a slidewire basket and foot restraints for mobility, handrails for crew traversal, and protective shielding against micrometeoroids. Additional tasks involved routing and connecting heater, power, and data cables to PMA-2, as well as installing a vent and window shutter on Destiny to safeguard its systems.^[1]^[19] EVA 3, starting at 10:36 a.m. EST on February 14, 2001, concluded the series after 5 hours and 25 minutes. Curbeam and Jones attached a spare S-band Communications Antenna Structural Assembly (SASA) to the Z1 truss as a contingency for the primary unit, verified and tightened connections between Destiny and PMA-2, and released a grapple fixture from the P6 radiator to enable its future deployment. They also inspected the newly installed solar arrays for deployment integrity and conducted a second SAFER test, confirming the system's reliability for untethered rescues. This EVA finalized the external outfitting of Destiny, ensuring its readiness for scientific utilization and marking NASA's 100th extravehicular excursion.^[1]^[25] Collectively, these EVAs enabled the seamless incorporation of Destiny into the ISS, providing the station with its primary U.S. research facility and foundational infrastructure for power distribution, communications, and thermal management. No major anomalies beyond the minor contamination were reported, underscoring the mission's success in advancing station assembly.^[1]

In-Flight Activities

Scientific Experiments

During the STS-98 mission, the crew conducted several middeck-based scientific experiments focused on biological processes in microgravity, with many components transferred to the newly installed Destiny laboratory module for extended operations. These experiments complemented the primary assembly objectives by leveraging the shuttle's environment to initiate studies that would continue on the ISS. The Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG) experiment employed the Enhanced Gaseous Nitrogen (EGN) Dewar, a self-activating, vacuum-jacketed container filled with liquid nitrogen to maintain frozen protein samples during launch. Once in orbit, the samples thawed over approximately 11 days, allowing crystals to form in microgravity conditions that produce larger, more ordered structures than on Earth. This setup included contributions from educational outreach, with samples prepared by high school students and teachers. The crystals, including those of thaumatin for studying sweet taste receptors, were intended for pharmaceutical analysis to advance drug design and disease research. The entire apparatus, containing 674 samples, was transferred to Destiny, where growth continued for 42 days before return on STS-102 for ground-based structural analysis.^[19] Complementing these, the Space Tissue Loss (STL) experiment investigated microgravity-induced degradation of bone and muscle tissues through cell culture assays in a dedicated middeck incubator. By observing cellular changes like reduced proliferation and increased atrophy, the study provided data on countermeasures for physiological losses experienced by astronauts, contributing to biomedical knowledge for extended space habitation. The hardware and samples were set up during flight and prepared for integration into Destiny's research racks.^[1] In support of these and future ISS science, the crew transferred roughly 1,360 kg (3,000 lb) of supplies and equipment to the station, including experiment hardware such as additional biological containers and incubator components destined for Destiny's payload racks. This logistics effort ensured seamless continuation of microgravity research post-undocking.^[1]

Daily Operations

The STS-98 crew maintained a structured daily routine to support mission objectives and crew health, including scheduled wake-up calls broadcast from NASA's Mission Control Center to help regulate circadian rhythms in microgravity. These selections often featured music chosen by family members or mission controllers; for instance, on flight day 6 (February 12, 2001), the crew was awakened to "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra.^[28] During the seven days Atlantis was docked to the International Space Station from February 9 to 16, 2001, the shuttle crew and Expedition 1 residents—Commander William M. Shepherd, Commander Yuri P. Gidzenko, and Flight Engineer Sergei K. Krikalev—participated in joint activities to foster collaboration and share resources. Shared meals were a key interaction, facilitated by a fold-down table installed inside the newly attached Destiny laboratory module, allowing the combined crews to dine together in the expanded living space.^[2] Routine housekeeping tasks ensured operational efficiency and crew well-being, with astronauts conducting daily exercise sessions using the middeck treadmill and ERGOS bicycle ergometer to mitigate muscle atrophy and cardiovascular deconditioning in zero gravity. Crew members alternated sleep shifts in the middeck sleep stations, typically in six-hour blocks to align with work schedules, while also performing photo documentation of Destiny's interior to capture setup details, equipment activation, and habitability features for post-mission analysis. Over the course of the flight, the crew transmitted photographs via the shuttle's Ku-band antenna system for ground review and public release. Daily communications included in-flight briefings and press conferences, where the crew discussed progress, answered media questions, and highlighted key events like module outfitting.^[2]^[29]

Undocking and Return

Separation from ISS

On February 16, 2001, at 14:05 UTC, Space Shuttle Atlantis undocked from the Pressurized Mating Adapter-3 (PMA-3) on the nadir port of the Unity module, marking the end of the STS-98 mission's assembly phase at the International Space Station (ISS). The separation was initiated by the firing of spring mechanisms that gently pushed the orbiter away from the station, allowing the crew to retract the docking mechanism and confirm a safe initial drift. This undocking concluded a docked period of 6 days, 21 hours, and 14 minutes, during which the Destiny laboratory module was successfully installed and activated.^[3] Following undocking, Pilot Mark Polansky maneuvered Atlantis to approximately 450 feet (137 meters) below the ISS for a traditional flyaround maneuver, providing the crew with opportunities to photograph the expanded station configuration, including the newly attached Destiny module and its integration with existing elements. The flyaround consisted of a single 360-degree circuit in a tail-forward orientation, capturing high-resolution images to document the station's external condition and verify the integrity of recent assembly work. This visual survey was essential for post-mission analysis of hardware performance.^[3]^[2] To ensure safe departure and avoid potential debris hazards, the crew executed a separation maneuver using the orbiter's Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters after the flyaround, gradually increasing the separation distance. These controlled burns adjusted Atlantis's trajectory away from the ISS orbit while maintaining stability. Concurrently, the ISS Expedition 1 crew conducted post-undocking checks to confirm the stability of Destiny's systems, including power, thermal control, and data interfaces, reporting all nominal. On the shuttle, the payload bay doors were closed to prepare for subsequent orbital operations.^[3]

Reentry and Landing

The deorbit burn for STS-98 was performed on February 20, 2001, at 19:27 UTC, lasting approximately three minutes and reducing the orbit from 370 by 386 km to prepare for atmospheric entry.^[30]^[23] This maneuver, executed using the orbiter's Orbital Maneuvering System engines, set the trajectory for reentry interface at approximately 122 km altitude around 20:02 UTC.^[30] Atmospheric entry followed a nominal profile, with Atlantis executing roll reversals and S-turns to modulate energy and manage peak heating loads on the thermal protection system.^[31] The vehicle experienced maximum surface temperatures of about 3,000°F on the reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap and high-temperature reusable surface insulation tiles during the hypersonic phase.^[31] Flight control involved maintaining a 40° angle of attack, with bank angles up to 80° to adjust the lift vector and dissipate orbital energy over the approximately 60-minute descent.^[31] Landing occurred at 20:33 UTC on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, following a two-day extension due to inclement weather at Kennedy Space Center that precluded earlier opportunities.^[2] Touchdown speed was 367 km/h, with a rollout distance of 2,427 m completed in 57 seconds.^[13]^[1] Post-landing procedures included safe crew egress within minutes of wheels stop, followed by orbiter safing operations to secure propulsion and electrical systems.^[1] A detailed inspection of the thermal protection system identified 102 impact sites on the tiles, including 13 with major dimensions of 1 inch or larger, but no critical damage was noted that affected vehicle integrity.^[24]

Mission Outcomes and Legacy

Achievements

The STS-98 mission achieved the successful delivery and integration of the Destiny laboratory module to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a pivotal advancement in the station's assembly and transitioning it toward full research operations. Launched on February 7, 2001, aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, the mission attached the 28-foot-long, 14,515-kilogram Destiny module to the Unity node's forward port using the shuttle's remote manipulator system, increasing the ISS's total mass to approximately 112 tons and expanding its pressurized volume by 41 percent. This integration enabled the activation of critical systems, including power, thermal control, and environmental controls, allowing the module to support microgravity research for the resident Expedition 1 crew beginning in February 2001.^[2]^[3] The mission's three extravehicular activities (EVAs), conducted by astronauts Thomas Jones and Robert Curbeam, were executed flawlessly, with each lasting approximately six hours to connect umbilicals, relocate hardware, and outfit Destiny without any major anomalies. These EVAs, totaling 19 hours and 49 minutes, ensured the module's secure attachment and initial functionality, representing the 100th U.S. spacewalk in history dating back to 1965. Additionally, the crews completed the transfer of approximately 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of supplies to the ISS, including equipment racks and water, while returning about 850 pounds (386 kilograms) of expended materials to Earth.^[2]^[3]^[1] As the first human spaceflight of the 21st century and the seventh shuttle mission to the ISS, STS-98 demonstrated seamless operations from docking on February 9 to undocking on February 16, culminating in a safe landing at Edwards Air Force Base on February 20 after 12 days, 20 hours, 20 minutes, and 4 seconds in orbit. The absence of significant technical issues underscored the reliability of shuttle-ISS integration procedures, solidifying NASA's control over station operations from Houston's Mission Control Center.^[2]^[3]

Post-Mission Analysis

The Destiny module, delivered and installed during STS-98, established the foundational U.S. research laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS), enabling a broad spectrum of scientific investigations in fields such as biotechnology, materials science, and fluid physics. Since its activation in February 2001, Destiny has hosted numerous experiments annually, with the ISS overall supporting over 200 investigations per year across its modules, many centered in this core facility. As of 2025, the module continues to operate fully, accommodating active research payloads and crew operations that advance human space exploration and Earth-based applications.^[4]^[32]^[33] A key legacy of Destiny lies in its facilitation of protein crystallization experiments under microgravity, which produce higher-quality crystals than those grown on Earth, offering improved structural resolution for pharmaceutical analysis. Early mission reports focused on setup but overlooked long-term outcomes; by 2005, these space-grown crystals had yielded insights into protein structures relevant to drug design for diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer.^[34]^[32] Post-mission analysis reveals that STS-98 advanced ISS assembly by increasing the station's habitable volume by 41 percent and adding approximately 32,000 pounds of mass, marking a pivotal step in transforming the outpost into a fully functional orbital laboratory—all without any safety incidents during installation or activation. The successful integration of Destiny influenced the configuration of later modules, such as Harmony, which provides docking and connectivity for additional laboratories like Columbus and Kibo.^[2]^[35] Following the 2001 installation, subsequent engineering inspections during routine extravehicular activities and shuttle visits verified the structural and electrical connections between Destiny and the Unity node, confirming their long-term integrity with no degradation reported. NASA's 2021 retrospective on the mission's 20th anniversary emphasized these enduring contributions, highlighting Destiny's role in sustaining over two decades of uninterrupted research on the ISS.^[2]^[1]

References

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STS-98 - NASA
STS-98 installed the U.S. Laboratory Destiny on the ISS, using the remote manipulator system and EVAs. The mission lasted 12 days, 20 hours, 20 minutes and 4 ...
[2]
STS-98 Delivers Destiny to the International Space Station - NASA
Feb 11, 2021 · Curbeam, Marsha S. Ivins, and Thomas D. Jones arrived aboard space shuttle Atlantis to deliver the U.S. Laboratory module Destiny to the ISS.
[3]
[PDF] STS-98 | spacepresskit
Veteran astronaut Ken Cockrell, making his fourth space flight, will command the STS -. 98 mission of Atlantis. Rookie Pilot Mark Polansky joins Cockrell on the ...
[4]
Destiny Laboratory Module - NASA
Sep 27, 2023 · Quick Facts ; Mass: 32,000 pounds ; Length: 28 feet ; Diameter: 14 feet ; Scientific racks: 13 ; System racks: 11 ...Missing: specifications | Show results with:specifications
[5]
[PDF] Kenneth D. Cockrell - NASA
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 ...
[6]
[PDF] Mark L. Polansky - NASA
His primary responsibilities involved teaching the astronaut pilots Space Shuttle landing techniques in the Shuttle Trainer Aircraft and instructing astronaut ...
[7]
[PDF] Robert L. Curbeam Jr. - NASA
He is a veteran of two space flights, STS-85 in 1997 and STS-98 in 2001, and has logged over 593 hours in space, including over 19 EVA hours during three ...
[8]
[PDF] jones bio current - NASA
THOMAS D. JONES (PH.D.) NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER). PERSONAL DATA: Born January ... His latest space flight was aboard Atlantis on STS-98, in February 2001.
[9]
STS-98 Crew Training - NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
STS-98 Crew Training Footage shows the crew of STS-98 during various phases of their training, including an undocking simulation in the Fixed Bases Shuttle ...
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Looking Back, Looking Forward: Considering Shuttle-Mir - NASA
Conducted spacewalks outside both Russian and U.S. vehicles with astronauts and cosmonauts testing each other's spacesuits, a preparation for joint walks to ...Missing: 98 | Show results with:98
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STS-98 Fact Sheet | Spaceline
Rollout time was 57 seconds. Mission duration was 12 days, 20 hours, 20 minutes, 4 seconds. Landing occurred during the 203rd orbit. Mission was extended three ...
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Space Shuttle Status Report 19 Jan 2001 - SpaceRef
Jan 19, 2001 · MISSION: STS-98 – 7th ISS Flight (5A) – U.S. Laboratory. VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104. LOCATION: Vehicle Assembly Building.
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Spaceflight mission report: STS-98 - Spacefacts
Sep 11, 2020 · The primary objective of STS-98 (ISS-06-5A Lab "Destiny"), International Space Station Assembly Mission 5A, was to deliver and install the ...
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America's Destiny: Remembering the Launch of the U.S. Lab, 20 ...
Feb 6, 2021 · In anticipation of this revised schedule, in August 1998 NASA assigned Ken “Taco” Cockrell, Mark “Roman” Polansky and Marsha Ivins to round out ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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STS-98
Jul 25, 2001 · Landing opportunities on February 18 and February 19, 2001 were waived off due to weather concerns. The two KSC Landing opportunities for ...Missing: reason | Show results with:reason
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Launch Countdown for Shuttle Mission STS-98 Begins Feb. 4
Launch Countdown for Shuttle Mission STS-98 Begins Feb. 4 · Launch – 3 Days (Sunday, Feb. 4) · Launch -2 Days (Monday, Feb. 5) · Launch Day-1 (Tuesday, Feb. 6).
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None
### Space Shuttle Countdown Timeline Summary
[18]
[PDF] STS-98 | spacepresskit
During the second space walk, also planned to last about six hours and fifteen minutes, the PMA-2 shuttle docking port will be relocated from the temporary ...
[19]
[PDF] www.nasa.gov National Aeronautics and Space Administration
from the Saturn V and Space Shuttle. Height: 110.9 m (364 ft). Gross ... SRB Separation. Time = 121.6 sec. Altitude = 36,387 m (119.4K ft). Mach = 4.16.
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[PDF] part iii. space shuttle main engine - NASA
Mar 1, 1971 · At sea level, the propellants provided each engine thrust levels of approximately 380,000 pounds at rated power level (RPL) or 100 percent ...Missing: 98 | Show results with:98
[21]
STS-98
STS-98 was an ISS assembly mission that delivered the Destiny and PMA-2 modules, making the ISS heavier than Mir. The mission lasted 12.89 days.
[22]
[PDF] DEBRIS/ICE/TPS ASSESSMENT and INTEGRATED ...
Feb 7, 2001 · The STS-98 launch of Atlantis (OV-104) from Pad 39A occurred on ... A comparison of images between the STS-98 SRB separation. (where the ...
[23]
ESA Television - Videos - Undated - STS-98 Flight Day 8 Highlights
Feb 24, 2011 · This space walk also was a historial event as it was the 100th space walk in US Spaceflight history. The video comprises of a 5 minute ...
[24]
[PDF] Human Spaceflight Operations
A suit designed for 0-g EVAs (like those on ISS), may be significantly different than a suit used on a planetary surface. • Suits must always trade design ...Missing: 98 | Show results with:98
[25]
home - Office of Safety and Mission Assurance - NASA
STS-98/5A | 2/10/2001 | EVA: 1. EV2 was sprayed with ammonia and required decontamination procedure (aka “bakeout”). During the February 10th EVA, one of the ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
[26]
[PDF] Student Experiments and Educational Activities on the International ...
58,000 students and nearly 1,200 teachers as part of the Protein Crystal Growth-Enhanced. Gaseous Nitrogen (PCG-EGN) experiment. (8) Developing teacher ...
[27]
https://sma.nasa.gov/SignificantIncidentsEVA/
[28]
STS-98 Post Flight Presentation - NASA Technical Reports Server
Various on-orbit activities are shown, including the opening of the payload bay doors, the rendezvous and docking of Atlantis with the International Space ...Missing: Ku- band antenna
[29]
news.448.txt - Jonathan's Space Report
Atlantis landed at Edwards AFB on Feb 20, completing mission STS-98. ... The deorbit burn was at 1927 UTC and lowered the orbit from 370 x 386 km to ...
[30]
[PDF] Legacy of the Space Shuttle From an Aerodynamic and ...
The surface temperature profile from Entry Interface, T=0, indicates laminar heating until the boundary-layer transitions to turbulent flow as indicated by the ...
[31]
Episode 191: STS-98 - Destiny Manifest (ISS 5A
Aug 31, 2024 · A handy, if short, animation that shows the berthing of the Destiny module much much much faster than it actually happened.Missing: specifications | Show results with:specifications<|control11|><|separator|>
[32]
From Outpost to Orbiting Laboratory - NASA
Jul 24, 2022 · In experiments conducted on Mir and on Space Shuttle missions, researchers discovered that they could produce higher quality protein crystals in ...
[33]
Crew Works Exercise and Earth Studies, Spacesuit Checks, and Lab ...
Jun 17, 2025 · NASA Flight Engineer Nichole Ayers was back in the Destiny laboratory module exploring surface tension to contain liquids and study proteins ...
[34]
Crystallizing Proteins in Space Helping to Identify Potential ... - NASA
Jul 23, 2022 · Growing the crystals in microgravity significantly improves their quality and allows for greater three-dimensional resolution during analysis.Missing: Destiny | Show results with:Destiny
[35]
International Space Station Assembly Elements - NASA
The International Space Station's Z1 (Zenith) truss structure and its antenna, as well as its new pressurized mating adapter, are pictured from space shuttle ...