A NEW ERA OF 

ENDEAVOUR

WWW.SHUTTLEPRESSKIT.COM

Updated November 20, 1998
STS-88 Table of Contents

Mission Overview ...............................................................................................4

Mission Profile ....................................................................................................5

Crew .....................................................................................................................7

Robert D. Cabana .................................................................................................9

Frederick (Rick) W. Sturckow..............................................................................11

Jerry L. Ross .......................................................................................................13

Nancy J. Currie ...................................................................................................16

James H. Newman..............................................................................................18

Sergei Krikalev ....................................................................................................20

Milestones..........................................................................................................22

Summary Timeline

Day 1...................................................................................................................23

Day 2...................................................................................................................24

Day 3...................................................................................................................25

Day 4...................................................................................................................26

Day 5...................................................................................................................27

Day 6 ..................................................................................................................28

Day 7...................................................................................................................29

Day 8 ..................................................................................................................30

Day 9 ..................................................................................................................31

Day 10 ................................................................................................................32

Day 11.................................................................................................................33

Day 12 ................................................................................................................34

Day 13 ................................................................................................................35

Rendezvous

Zarya Rendezvous and Capture .........................................................................36

EVA

Zarya/Unity Assembly Space Walks ...................................................................38
Payloads

Getaway Special G-093 ......................................................................................40

IMAX Cargo Bay Camera (ICBC)........................................................................41

MightySat 1 .........................................................................................................42

Satelite de Aplicaciones/Cientifico-A (SAC-A) ....................................................45

Space Experiment Module (SEM-07)..................................................................47

UNITY Connecting Module ................................................................................48

Experiments

DTO/DSO/RME

DSO 904 ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN FACTORS

CONFIGURATION A .........................................................................................51

DSO 497 EFFECTS OF MICROGRAVITY ON CELL

MEDIATED IMMUNITY AND REACTIVATION OF LATENT

VIRAL INFECTIONS .........................................................................................52

DSO 496 INDIVIDUAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TO POST-SPACEFLIGHT

ORTHOSTATIC INTOLERANCE .......................................................................53

DSO 331 THE INTERACTION OF THE SPACE

SHUTTLE LAUNCH AND ENTRY SUIT AND SUSTAINED

WEIGHTLESSNESS ON EGRESS ..................................................................54

DTO 691 LOW-IODINE RESIDUAL SYSTEM ..................................................55

DTO 700-14 SINGLE STRING GLOBAL

POSITIONING SYSTEM ....................................................................................56

DTO 700-15 SPACE INTEGRATED GLOBAL

POSITIONING SYSTEM/INERTIAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM

(SIGI) .................................................................................................................57

DTO 257 STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS MODEL

VALIDATION .....................................................................................................58

DTO 689 USA SAFER FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION ........................................59

Media Assistance .............................................................................................60

Contacts.............................................................................................................62
STS-88

Mission Overview

STS-88 Launches New Era of Space Exploration

Space Shuttle mission STS-88, the 13th flight of the Space Shuttle 

Endeavour, will begin the largest international cooperative space venture in 

history as it attaches together in orbit the first two modules of the 

International Space Station.

Endeavour will carry the Unity connecting module, the first U.S.-built station 

module, into orbit, launching from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B 

at 3:59 a.m. EST Dec. 3. Endeavour’s launch will follow the launch of the 

first element of the station – the Zarya control module – scheduled for Nov. 

20, 1998. 

Zarya will be boosted into orbit by a Russian Proton rocket from the 

Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan. Funded by the U.S. but built in 

Russia, Zarya will act as a type of space tugboat for the early station, 

providing propulsion, power, communications and the capability to perform 

an automated rendezvous and docking with the third module, the Russianprovided Service Module, an early living quarters. After Zarya achieves 

orbit, it will await the arrival of Endeavour and Unity. Unity will serve as the 

main connecting point for later U.S. station modules and components.

Astronaut Robert D. (Bob) Cabana (Col., USMC) will command STS-88. 

Joining Cabana on the flight deck of Endeavour will be pilot Frederick "Rick" 

Sturckow (Major, USMC). Rounding out the crew are Mission Specialists 

Nancy Currie (Lt. Col., USA), Jerry Ross (Col., USAF), Jim Newman, Ph.D., 

and Sergei Krikalev, a Russian cosmonaut. Ross and Newman also are 

designated extravehicular activity (EVA) crewmembers and will perform 

three spacewalks during the mission.

STS-88 marks Cabana's fourth flight in space. He served as chief of the 

Astronaut Office at JSC from 1994 until his selection for the STS-88 crew. 

Currie and Newman each will be making their third flight into space. Ross 

will be making his sixth space flight. Sturckow will be making his first space 

flight. Krikalev has flown in space three times, twice on the Mir space station 

and once on the Shuttle. Krikalev also is a member of the first crew that will 

live aboard the new station in mid-1999.

Cabana will fly Endeavour to a rendezvous with Zarya, and Currie will use 

the Shuttle's robotic arm to capture the Russian-built spacecraft and attach 

it to the Unity module in the Shuttle cargo bay. Zarya will be the most 

massive object ever moved with the Shuttle's mechanical arm. On later days 

of the flight, Ross and Newman will conduct three spacewalks to finalize the 

connections between Zarya and Unity, beginning five years of orbital 

assembly work that will construct the new space station.

After its assembly work is completed and it has undocked from the station, 

Endeavour will release two small science satellites. After almost 12 days in 

space that begin a new era of exploration and research in orbit, Endeavour 4
STS-88

Endeavour OV105

Launch: Thursday, December 03, 1998 

 3:59 AM (eastern time)

 

Mission Objectives

The STS-88 "Unity" mission is the first manned International Space 

Station assembly flight. The primary mission objective is to rendezvous 

with the already launched Zarya control module and successfully attach 

the Unity connecting module, providing the foundation for future ISS 

components.

Crew

Commander: Robert D. Cabana

Pilot: Frederick (Rick) W. Sturckow

Mission Specialist 1: Jerry L. Ross

Mission Specialist 2: Nancy J. Currie

Mission Specialist 3: James H. Newman

Mission Specialist 4: Sergei Krikalev

Launch

Orbiter Endeavour OV105

Launch Site: Pad 39-A Kennedy Space Center

Launch Window: 10 minutes

Altitude: 173 nm (210 nm for rendezvous)

Inclination: 51.6 degrees

Duration: 11 Days 19 Hrs. 49 Min.

Shuttle Liftoff Weight: 4,518,390 lbs; Orbiter alone is 263,927 lbs.

Software Version: OI-26B

Super Light Weight Tank

Space Shuttle Main Engine

SSME 1: SN-2043 SSME 2: SN-2044 SSME 3: SN-2045

5
Landing

Landing Date: 12/14/98 

Landing Time: 11:48 PM (eastern time)

Primary Landing Site: Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC; ALTERNATE: Edwards 

Air Force Base, CA

Orbiter/Payload Weight at 

Landing:

200,296 lbs.

Abort Landing Sites:

 RTLS: Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC

 TAL: Zaragoza, Spain; ALTERNATES: Ben Guerir, Morocco; Moron, Spain

 AOA: Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC; ALTERNATES: White Sands Space Harbor, NM

Payloads

Cargo Bay

UNITY Connecting Module

IMAX Cargo Bay Camera (ICBC)

MightySat 1

Satelite de Aplicaciones/Cientifico-A (SAC-A)

Getaway Special G-093

Space Experiment Module (SEM-07)

Updated: 11/19/1998

6
STS-88

Crew Profile Menu

Commander: Robert D. Cabana

Cabana’s first flew as pilot of STS-41 in October 1990, deploying the 

Ulysses probe to study the Sun's polar regions. He flew as pilot of 

STS-53 in December 1992, a classified mission, and he commanded 

STS-65 in July 1994, a lab flight with 80 experiments from 15 

countries. He has logged over 353 hours in space and over 5,000 

flying hours in 33 types of aircraft. 

Pilot: Frederick (Rick) W. Sturckow

Sturckow will be making his first space flight

Mission Specialist 1: Nancy J. Currie

Currie first flew on STS-57 in June 1993, a mission that retrieved the 

EURECA satellite. She next flew on STS-70 in July 1995, a mission 

that deployed a NASA communications satellite. Currie has logged 

over 454 hours in space. 

Mission Specialist 2: Jerry L. Ross

Ross flew as a mission specialist on STS 61-B in December 1985; 

STS-27 in December 1988; STS-37 in April 1991; STS-55 in April 

1993; and STS-74 in November 1995. He has logged over 850 hours 

in space, including 23 hours on four spacewalks. 

EV1

7
Mission Specialist 3: James H. Newman

Newman served as a mission specialist on STS-51 in September 1993 

and on STS-69 in September 1995. He has logged more than 496 

hours in space, including 7 hours on one spacewalk. 

EV2

Mission Specialist 4: Sergei Krikalev

Krikalev has flown twice on the Mir space station, in 1988 and in 1991. 

He has flown once on the Space Shuttle - the first cosmonaut to do so 

- on STS-60 in 1994, the first Shuttle rendezvous with Mir. He also is a 

member of the first crew set for launch to the International Space 

Station in July 1999. He has logged more than 1 year and 3 months in 

space, including seven spacewalks.

Updated: 11/13/1998

8
STS-88

Crew Profile

Robert D. Cabana

NAME: Robert D. Cabana (Colonel, USMC) 

NASA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA: 

Born January 23, 1949, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where 

his parents still reside. Married to the former Nancy Joan 

Shimer of Cortland, New York. Three children, Jeffrey, 

Christopher and Sarah. He enjoys jogging, cycling, 

softball, sailing, and woodworking.

EDUCATION: 

Graduated from Washburn High School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1967; 

received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the United 

States Naval Academy in 1971.

ORGANIZATIONS: 

Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Association of Space 

Explorers, the Naval Academy Alumni Association, and Sigma Pi Sigma.

SPECIAL HONORS: 

Recipient of The Daughters of the American Revolution Award for the top 

Marine to complete naval flight training in 1976. Distinguished Graduate, 

U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Awarded the De La Vaulx medal by the 

Federation Aeronautique Internationale in 1994. Personal decorations 

include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying 

Cross, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service 

Medal, the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement, the NASA Medal for 

Outstanding Leadership, two NASA Exceptional Service Medals, and three 

NASA Space Flight Medals.

EXPERIENCE: 

After graduation from the Naval Academy, Cabana attended the Basic 

School in Quantico, Virginia, and completed naval flight officer training in 

Pensacola, Florida, in 1972. He served as an A-6 bombardier/navigator with 

Marine Air Wings in Cherry Point, North Carolina, and Iwakuni, Japan. He 

returned to Pensacola in 1975 for pilot training and was designated a naval 

aviator in September 1976. He was then assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft 

Wing in Cherry Point, North Carolina, where he flew A-6 Intruders. He 

graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1981, and served at the 

Naval Air Test Center in Patuxent River, Maryland, as the A-6 program 

manager, X-29 advanced technology demonstrator project officer, and as a 

test pilot for flight systems and ordnance separation testing on A-6 and A-4 

series aircraft. Prior to his selection as an astronaut candidate he was 

serving as the Assistant Operations Officer of Marine Aircraft Group Twelve 

in Iwakuni, Japan.

He has logged over 5,000 hours in 33 different kinds of aircraft.

9
NASA EXPERIENCE: 

Selected by NASA in June 1985, Cabana completed initial astronaut training 

in July 1986, qualifying for assignment as a pilot on future Space Shuttle 

flight crews. His initial assignment was as the Astronaut Office Space 

Shuttle flight software coordinator until November 1986. At that time he was 

assigned as the Deputy Chief of Aircraft Operations for the Johnson Space 

Center where he served for 2-1/2 years. He then served as the lead 

astronaut in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL) where the 

Orbiter's flight software is tested prior to flight. Cabana has served as a 

spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control during Space 

Shuttle missions, has served as Chief of Astronaut Appearances, and Chief 

of the Astronaut Office. A veteran of three space flights, Cabana has logged 

over 627 hours in space. He served as pilot on STS-41 (October 6-10, 

1990) and STS-53 (December 2-9, 1992), and was mission commander on 

STS-65 (July 8-23, 1994). Cabana will command the crew of STS-88, the 

first Space Shuttle mission to carry hardware to space for the assembly of 

the International Space Station. The 7-day mission is targeted for launch in 

December 1998.

SPACEFLIGHT EXPERIENCE: 

STS-41Discovery launched on October 6, 1990 from the Kennedy Space 

Center, Florida, and landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on 

October 10, 1990. During 66 orbits of the Earth, the five-man crew 

successfully deployed the Ulysses spacecraft, starting the interplanetary 

probe on its four-year journey, via Jupiter, to investigate the polar regions of 

the Sun; operated the Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet instrument 

(SSBUV) to map atmospheric ozone levels; activated a controlled "fire in 

space" experiment (the Solid Surface Combustion Experiment [SSCE]); and 

conducted numerous other middeck experiments involving radiation 

measurements, polymer membrane production, and microgravity effects on 

plants.

STS-53 Discovery launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 

December 2, 1992. The crew of five deployed the classified Department of 

Defense payload DOD-1 and then performed several Military-Man-in-Space 

and NASA experiments. After completing 115 orbits of the Earth in 175 

hours, Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on 

December 9, 1992. 

STS-65 Columbia launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 

July 8, 1994, returning to Florida on July 23, 1994. The STS-65 crew 

conducted the second International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2) mission 

utilizing the long spacelab module in the payload bay. The flight consisted 

of 82 experiments from 15 countries and six space agencies from around 

the world. During the record setting 15-day flight, the crew conducted 

experiments which focused on materials and life sciences research in a 

microgravity environment paving the way for future operations and 

cooperation aboard International Space Station. The mission was 

accomplished in 236 orbits of the Earth in 353 hours and 55 minutes.

AUGUST 1998

Updated: 11/13/1998

10
STS-88

Crew Profile

Frederick (Rick) W. Sturckow

NAME: Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow (Major, USMC) 

NASA Astronaut 

PERSONAL DATA: 

Born August 11, 1961, in La Mesa, California but 

considers Lakeside, California to be his hometown. 

Married to the former Michele A. Street of Great Mills, 

Maryland. He enjoys flying and physical training (PT). His 

father, Karl H. Sturckow, resides in Lakeside and his 

mother, Janette R. Sturckow, resides in La Mesa. 

EDUCATION: 

Graduated from Grossmont High School, La Mesa, California, in 1978. 

Bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from California 

Polytechnic State University, 1984. 

ORGANIZATIONS: 

Member of Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), Marine Corps 

Association (MCA). 

SPECIAL HONORS: 

Single Mission Air Medal with Combat "V", Strike/Flight Air Medals (4), Navy 

and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps 

Achievement Medal. 

EXPERIENCE: 

Sturckow was commissioned in December, 1984. An Honor Graduate of The 

Basic School, he earned his wings in April, 1987. Following initial F/A-18 

training at VFA-125, he reported to VMFA-333, MCAS Beaufort, South 

Carolina. While assigned to VMFA-333 he made an overseas deployment to 

Japan, Korea, and the Philipines and was then selected to attend the Navy 

Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in March, 1990. In August of 1990 he 

deployed to Sheik Isa Air Base, Bahrain for a period of eight months. 

Sturckow flew a total of forty-one combat missions during Operation Desert 

Storm and served as overall mission commander for 30-plane airstrikes into 

Iraq and Kuwait. In January, 1992 he attended the United States Air Force 

Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California. In 1993 he reported to the 

Naval Air Warfare Center- Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland for 

duty as the F/A-18 E/F Project Pilot. Sturckow also flew a wide variety of 

projects and classified programs as an F/A-18 test pilot. 

He has logged approximately 2,500 flight hours and has flown over 40 

different aircraft. 

NASA EXPERIENCE: 

Selected by NASA in December 1994, Sturckow reported to the Johnson 

Space Center in March 1995. He completed a year of training and 11
evaluation and was assigned to work technical issues for the Vehicle 

Systems and Operations Branch of the Astronaut Office. 

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: 

Sturckow will serve as pilot on the crew of STS-88, the first Space Shuttle 

mission to carry hardware to space for the assembly of the International 

Space Station. Launch is targeted for December 1998. 

JULY 1998 

Updated: 11/13/1998

12
STS-88

Crew Profile

Jerry L. Ross

NAME: Jerry L. Ross (Colonel, USAF) 

NASA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA: 

Born January 20, 1948, in Crown Point, Indiana. Married 

to the former Karen S. Pearson of Sheridan, Indiana. They 

have two children. He enjoys softball, racquetball, 

woodworking, photography, model rocketry, and flying. His 

mother, Mrs. Phyllis E. Ross, resides in Crown Point. His 

father, Donald J. Ross, is deceased. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Morris D. 

Pearson, reside in Sheridan, Indiana.

EDUCATION: 

Graduated from Crown Point High School, Crown Point, Indiana, in 1966; 

received bachelor of science and master of science degrees in Mechanical 

Engineering from Purdue University in 1970 and 1972, respectively.

ORGANIZATIONS: 

Member of the Association of Space Explorers, the Air Force Association, Pi 

Tau Sigma; and a lifetime member of the Purdue Alumni Association.

SPECIAL HONORS: 

Awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious 

Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Meritorious Service 

Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; named a Distinguished Graduate of the 

USAF Test Pilot School and recipient of the Outstanding Flight Test 

Engineer Award, Class 75B. Recipient of 5 NASA Space Flight Medals. 

Awarded the American Astronautical Society, Victor A. Prather Award (1985 

and 1990), and Flight Achievement Award (1992 and 1996).

EXPERIENCE: 

Ross, an Air Force ROTC student at Purdue University, received his 

commission upon graduation in 1970. After receiving his master's degree 

from Purdue in 1972, he entered active duty with the Air Force and was 

assigned to the Ramjet Engine Division of Air Force Aero-Propulsion 

Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He conducted 

computer-aided design studies on ramjet propulsion systems, served as the 

project engineer for captive tests of a supersonic ramjet missile using a 

rocket sled track, and as the project manager for preliminary configuration 

development of the ASALM strategic air-launched missile. From June 1974 

to July 1975, he was the Laboratory Executive Officer and Chief of the 

Management Operations Office. Ross graduated from the USAF Test Pilot 

School's Flight Test Engineer Course in 1976 and was subsequently 

assigned to the 6510th Test Wing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. 

While on assignment to the 6510th's Flight Test Engineering Directorate, he 

was project engineer on a limited flying qualities evaluation of the RC-135S 

aircraft and, as lead B-1 flying qualities flight test engineer, was responsible 13
for the stability and control and flight control system testing performed on 

the B-1 aircraft. He was also responsible, as chief B-1 flight test engineer, 

for training and supervising all Air Force B-1 flight test engineer crew 

members and for performing the mission planning for the B-1 offensive 

avionics test aircraft.

Ross has flown in 21 different types of aircraft, holds a private pilot's 

license, and has logged over 2,800 flying hours, the majority in military 

aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE: 

In February 1979, Ross was assigned to the Payload Operations Division at 

the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center as a payload officer/flight controller. 

In this capacity, he was responsible for the flight operations integration of 

payloads into the Space Shuttle.

Ross was selected as an astronaut in May 1980. His technical assignments 

since then have included: EVA, RMS, and chase team; support crewman for 

STS 41-B, 41-C and 51-A; spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) during STS 

41-B, 41-C, 41-D, 51-A and 51-D; Chief of the Mission Support Branch; 

member of the 1990 Astronaut Selection Board; and Acting Deputy Chief of 

the Astronaut Office. A veteran of five space flights, Ross has logged 850 

hours in space, including nearly 23 hours on four spacewalks.

Ross was a mission specialist on the crew of STS 61-B which launched at 

night from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on November 26, 1985. During 

the mission the crew deployed the MORELOS-B, AUSSAT II, and SATCOM 

Ku-2 communications satellites, conducted two 6-hour space walks to 

demonstrate Space Station construction techniques with the EASE/ACCESS 

experiments, and operated numerous other experiments. After completing 

108 orbits of the Earth in 165 hours, STS 61-B Atlantis landed on Runway 

22 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on December 3, 1985.

Ross then flew as a mission specialist on the crew of STS-27, on board the 

Orbiter Atlantis, which launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, 

on December 2, 1988. The mission carried a Department of Defense 

payload, as well as a number of secondary payloads. After 68 orbits of the 

earth in 105 hours, the mission concluded with a dry lakebed landing on 

Runway 17 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on December 6, 1988.

Ross flew as a mission specialist on STS-37 aboard the Orbiter Atlantis. 

The mission launched from KSC on April 5, 1991, and deployed the 35,000 

pound Gamma Ray Observatory. Ross performed two space walks totaling 

10 hours and 49 minutes to manually deploy the stuck Gamma Ray 

Observatory antenna and to test prototype Space Station Freedom 

hardware. After 93 orbits of the Earth in 144 hours, the mission concluded 

with a landing on Runway 33, at Edwards Air Force Base, on April 11, 1991.

From April 26, 1993 through May 6, 1993, Ross flew as Payload 

Commander/Mission Specialist on STS-55 aboard the Orbiter Columbia. 

The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center and landed at Edwards 

Air Force Base, Runway 22, after 160 orbits of the Earth in 240 hours. 

Nearly 90 experiments were conducted during the German-sponsored 

Spacelab D-2 mission to investigate life sciences, material sciences, 

physics, robotics, astronomy, and the Earth and its atmosphere.

14
Most recently, Ross was a mission specialist on STS-74, NASA's second 

Space Shuttle mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space 

Station Mir. STS-74 launched on November 12, 1995, and landed at 

Kennedy Space Center on November 20, 1995. During the 8 day flight the 

crew aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis attached a permanent docking module 

to Mir, conducted a number of secondary experiments, and transferred 1-1/2 

tons of supplies and experiment equipment between Atlantis and the Mir 

station. The STS-74 mission was accomplished in 129 orbits of the Earth, 

traveling 3.4 million miles in 196 hours, 30 minutes, 44 seconds.

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: 

Colonel Ross will serve on the crew of STS-88, the first Space Shuttle 

mission to carry hardware to space for the assembly of the International 

Space Station. He is scheduled to conduct 3 space walks on this mission. 

Launch is targeted for July 1998.

JANUARY 1998

Updated: 11/13/1998

15
STS-88

Crew Profile

Nancy J. Currie

NAME: Nancy Jane Currie, Ph.D. (Lieutenant Colonel, 

USA) 

NASA Astronaut 

PERSONAL DATA:

Born December 29, 1958, in Wilmington, Delaware, but 

considers Troy, Ohio, to be her hometown. Married to 

David W. Currie (CW5, USA) of Hookstown, Pennsylvania. 

One daughter. She enjoys running, swimming, triathlons, 

weight lifting, skiing, and scuba diving. Her parents, Warren & Shirley 

Decker, reside in Troy. His mother, Mrs. Delores Simmons, resides in 

Freedom, Pennsylvania. His father, Mr. Lee Currie, is deceased.

EDUCATION:

Graduated from Troy High School, Troy, Ohio, in 1977; received a bachelor 

of arts degree in biological science from Ohio State University, Columbus, 

Ohio, in 1980, a master of science degree in safety engineering from the 

University of Southern California in 1985, and a doctorate in industrial 

engineering from the University of Houston in 1997.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Member of Army Aviation Association of America, Phi Kappa Phi, Ohio State 

University and ROTC Alumni Associations, Institute of Industrial Engineers, 

and Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

SPECIAL HONORS:

Arts and Sciences Award for Scholarship, Ohio State University (1980), 

Distinguished Graduate of the Army Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic 

Course (1981), Honor Graduate of the Army Rotary Wing Aviator Course 

(1982), Honor Graduate of the Army Aviation Officer Advanced Course 

(1986), NASA Flight Simulation Engineering Award (1988), NASA Space 

Flight Medal (1993, 1995), Defense Superior Service Medal (1993), Ohio 

Veteran's Hall of Fame (1994), Troy, Ohio Hall of Fame (1996), Silver Order 

of St. Michael, Army Aviation Award (1997), Ohio State University Army 

ROTC Hall of Fame (1996).

EXPERIENCE:

Following graduation, Nancy served as a neuropathology research assistant 

at the Ohio State University College of Medicine. She was commissioned as 

a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in July 1981, and attended the Air 

Defense Officer Basic Course and the United States Army Aviation School. 

Following flight training she was assigned to Fort Rucker, Alabama as a 

helicopter instructor pilot. She also served as a section leader, platoon 

leader, and brigade flight standardization officer for all phases of rotary wing 

flight, including combat skills and night vision goggle operations. Prior to her 

assignment at NASA she completed the Aviation Officer Advanced Course, 

the Combined Arms Services Staff School, and the Fixed Wing Multi-Engine 16
Qualification Course. A senior army aviator, she has logged 3,500 flying 

hours in a variety of rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft.

NASA EXPERIENCE:

Assigned to NASA Johnson Space Center in September 1987 as a flight 

simulation engineer on the Shuttle Training Aircraft, a complex airborne 

simulator which models flight characteristics of the Orbiter. Selected by 

NASA in January 1990, she became an astronaut in July 1991. Nancy has 

held various technical assignments within the Astronaut Office including: 

flight crew representative for crew equipment; Shuttle Remote Manipulator 

System (RMS); spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) providing a 

communications interface between ground controllers and flight crews. A 

veteran of two space flights, she has logged over 454 hours in space. She 

was a mission specialist on STS-57 in 1993, and STS-70 in 1995.

STS-57 launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on June 21, 

1993, and returned there on July 1, 1993. The primary objective of this flight 

was the retrieval of the European Retrievable Carrier satellite (EURECA) 

using the RMS. Additionally, this mission featured the first flight of 

Spacehab, a commercially-provided middeck augmentation module for the 

conduct of microgravity experiments, as well as a spacewalk by two crew 

members, which also involved the use of the Shuttle's robotic arm. 

Spacehab carried 22 individual flight experiments in materials and life 

sciences research. STS-57 was accomplished in 155 orbits of the Earth in 

239 hours.

STS-70 launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on July 13, 

1995, and returned there July 22, 1995. The five-member crew aboard 

Space Shuttle Discovery deployed the final NASA Tracking and Data Relay 

Satellite to complete the constellation of NASA's orbiting communication 

satellite system. The crew also conducted a myriad of biomedical and 

remote sensing experiments. During this 8 day 22 hour mission, the crew 

completed 142 orbits of the Earth, traveling 3.7 million miles. STS-70 was 

the first mission controlled from NASA's new combined control center. 

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT:

Nancy Currie will serve on the crew of STS-88, the first Space Shuttle 

mission to carry hardware to space for the assembly of the International 

Space Station. Launch is targeted for December 1998.

AUGUST 1998 

Updated: 11/13/1998

17
STS-88

Crew Profile

James H. Newman

NAME: James H. Newman (Ph.D) 

NASA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA: 

Born October 16, 1956, in the Trust Territory of the Pacific 

Islands, but considers San Diego, California, to be his 

hometown. Married to Mary Lee Pieper. Two children. He 

enjoys hiking, soccer, softball, squash, and soaring. His 

mother, Ms. Ruth Hansen, and his father, Dr. William 

Newman, are both residents of San Diego. Her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Wylie 

Bernard Pieper, reside in Houston, Texas. 

EDUCATION: 

Graduated from La Jolla High School, San Diego, California in 1974; 

received a bachelor of arts degree in physics (graduated cum laude) from 

Dartmouth College in 1978, a master of arts degree and a doctorate in 

physics from Rice University in 1982 and 1984, respectively.

ORGANIZATIONS: 

Member of the American Physical Society and Sigma Xi.

SPECIAL HONORS: 

Awarded a Citation in Senior Thesis Research from Dartmouth College in 

1978. Elected to Sigma Xi in 1980. Recipient of 1982-83 Texaco Fellowship, 

the Sigma Xi Graduate Merit Award in 1985, and 1988 NASA Superior 

Achievement Award. Selected by NASA JSC to attend the 1989 summer 

session of the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. 1996 

NASA Exceptional Service Medal. Institute of Navigation 1995 Superior 

Achievement Award (1996).

EXPERIENCE: 

After graduating from Rice University in 1984, Dr. Newman did an additional 

year of post-doctoral work at Rice. His research interests are in atomic and 

molecular physics, specifically medium to low energy collisions of atoms and 

molecules of aeronomic interest. His doctoral work at Rice University was in 

the design, construction, testing, and use of a new position-sensitive 

detection system for measuring differential cross sections of collisions of 

atoms and molecules. In 1985, Dr. Newman was appointed as adjunct 

professor in the Department of Space Physics and Astronomy at Rice 

University. That same year he came to work at NASA's Johnson Space 

Center, where his duties included responsibility for conducting flight crew 

and flight control team training for all mission phases in the areas of Orbiter 

propulsion, guidance, and control. He was working as a simulation 

supervisor when selected for the astronaut program. In that capacity, he 

was responsible for a team of instructors conducting flight controller training. 

Selected by NASA in January 1990, Dr. Newman began a year of astronaut 18
candidate training in July 1990 and became an astronaut in July 1991. His 

technical assignments since then include: Astronaut Office Mission Support 

Branch where he was part of a team responsible for crew ingress/strap-in 

prior to launch and crew egress after landing; Mission Development Branch 

working on the Shuttle on-board laptop computers; Chief of the Computer 

Support Branch in the Astronaut Office, responsible for crew involvement in 

the development and use of computers on the Space Shuttle and Space 

Station. A veteran of two space flights (STS-51 in 1993 and STS-69 in 

1995), Newman has logged over 496 hours in space.

On his first flight, Newman was a mission specialist on STS-51, which 

launched on September 12, 1993. During the ten-day flight, the crew of five 

aboard the Shuttle Discovery deployed the Advanced Communications 

Technology Satellite (ACTS) and the Orbiting and Retrievable Far and 

Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer on the Shuttle Pallet Satellite 

(ORFEUS/SPAS). Newman was responsible for the operation of the SPAS, 

was the backup operator for the RMS, and on flight day five conducted a 

seven-hour spacewalk with Carl Walz. The extravehicular activity (EVA) 

tested tools and techniques for use on future missions. In addition to 

working with numerous secondary payloads and medical test objectives, the 

crew successfully tested a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to 

determine real-time Shuttle positions and velocities and completed a test 

routing Orbiter data to on-board laptop computers. After 158 orbits of the 

Earth in 236 hours, 11 minutes, the mission concluded on September 22, 

1993, with the first night landing at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. 

Most recently, Newman was a mission specialist on STS-69 which launched 

on September 7, 1995. The crew successfully deployed and retrieved a 

SPARTAN satellite and the Wake Shield Facility (WSF). Also on board was 

the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker payload, numerous 

secondary payloads, and medical experiments. Newman was responsible 

for the crew's science involvement with the WSF and was also the primary 

RMS operator on the flight, performing the WSF and EVA RMS operations. 

He also operated the on-orbit tests of the Ku-band Communications 

Adaptor, the Relative GPS experiment, and the RMS Manipulator 

Positioning Display. Endeavour landed at the Kennedy Space Center on 

September 18, 1995 after 171 orbits of the Earth in 260 hours, 29 minutes.

CURRENT ASSIGNMENT: 

Newman will serve on the crew of STS-88, the first Space Shuttle mission to 

carry hardware to space for the assembly of the International Space Station. 

Launch is targeted for December 1998.

AUGUST 1998

Updated: 11/13/1998

19
STS-88

Crew Profile

Sergei Krikalev

NAME: Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev 

Russian Cosmonaut

PERSONAL DATA: 

Born August 27, 1958, in Leningrad, Russia, which has 

been renamed St. Petersburg. Married to Elena Terekhina 

of Samara, Russia. They have one daughter. He enjoys 

swimming, skiing, bicycle riding, aerobatic flying, and 

amateur radio operations, particularly from space. His 

parents, Konstantin and Nadia, reside in Leningrad, Russia. Her parents, 

Faina and Yuri, reside in Samara, Russia.

EDUCATION: 

Graduated from high school in 1975; in 1981, received mechanical 

engineering degree from the Leningrad Mechanical Institute, now called St. 

Petersburg Technical University.

SPECIAL HONORS: 

He was a member of the Russian and Soviet national aerobatic flying teams, 

and was Champion of Moscow in 1983, and Champion of the Soviet Union 

in 1986. For his space flight experience, he was awarded the title of Hero of 

the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin, the French title of L'Officier de la 

L'egion d'Honneur, and the new title of Hero of Russia. He also has been 

awarded the NASA Space Flight Medal (1994).

EXPERIENCE: 

After graduation in 1981, he joined NPO Energia, the Russian industrial 

organization responsible for manned space flight activities. He tested space 

flight equipment, developed space operations methods, and participated in 

ground control operations. When the Salyut 7 space station failed in 1985, 

he worked on the rescue mission team, developing procedures for docking 

with the uncontrolled station and repairing the station's on-board system. 

Krikalev was selected as a cosmonaut in 1985, completed his basic training 

in 1986, and, for a time, was assigned to the Buran Shuttle program. In early 

1988, he began training for his first long-duration flight aboard the MIR 

space station. This training included preparations for at least six EVA's 

(space walks), installation of a new module, the first test of the new Manned 

Maneuvering Unit (MMU), and the second joint Soviet-French science 

mission. Soyuz TM-7 was launched on November 26, 1988, with Krikalev as 

flight engineer, Commander Alexander Volkov, and French Astronaut JeanLoup Chretien. The previous crew (Vladimir Titov, Musa Manarov, and 

Valeri Polyakov) remained on MIR for another twenty-five days, marking the 

longest period a six-person crew had been in orbit. After the previous crew 

returned to Earth, Krikalev, Polyakov, and Volkov continued to conduct 

experiments aboard the MIR station. Because arrival of the next crew had 

been delayed, they prepared the MIR for a period of unmanned operations 

before returning to Earth on April 27, 1989. 20
In April 1990, Krikalev began preparing for his second flight as a member of 

the backup crew for the eighth long-duration MIR mission, which also 

included 5 EVA's and a week of Soviet-Japanese operations. In December 

1990, Krikalev began training for the ninth MIR mission which included 

training for 10 EVA's. Soyuz TM-12 launched on May 19, 1991, with 

Krikalev as flight engineer, Commander Anatoly Artsebarsky, and British 

astronaut Helen Sharman. Sharman returned to Earth with the previous 

crew after one week, while Krikalev and Artsebarsky remained on MIR. 

During the summer, they conducted six EVA's to perform a variety of 

experiments and some station maintenance tasks. 

In July 1991, Krikalev agreed to stay on MIR as flight engineer for the next 

crew, scheduled to arrive in October because the next two planned flights 

had been reduced to one. The engineer slot on the Soyuz-13 flight on 

October 2, 1991, was filled by Toctar Aubakirov, an astronaut from the 

Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, who had not been trained for a long-duration 

mission. Both he and Franz Viehbok, the first Austrian astronaut, returned 

with Artsebarsky on October 10, 1991. Commander Alexander Volkov 

remained on board with Krikalev. After the crew replacement in October, 

Volkov and Krikalev continued MIR experiment operations and conducted 

another EVA before returning to Earth on March 25, 1992. 

In completing his second mission, Krikalev logged more than 1 year and 3 

months in space, including seven EVA's. 

In October 1992, NASA announced that an experienced cosmonaut would 

fly aboard a future Space Shuttle mission. Krikalev was one of two 

candidates named by the Russian Space Agency for mission specialist 

training with the crew of STS-60. In April 1993, he was assigned as prime 

mission specialist. In September 1993, Vladimir Titov was selected to fly on 

STS-63 with Krikalev training as his back-up. 

Krikalev flew on STS-60, the first joint U.S./Russian Space Shuttle Mission. 

Launched on February 3, 1994, STS-60 was the second flight of the Space 

Habitation Module-2 (Spacehab-2), and the first flight of the Wake Shield 

Facility (WSF-1). During the 8-day flight, the crew of Discovery conducted a 

wide variety of materials science experiments, both on the Wake Shield 

Facility and in the Spacehab, earth observation, and life science 

experiments. Krikalev conducted significant portions of the Remote 

Manipulator System (RMS) operations during the flight. Following 130 orbits 

of the Earth in 3,439,705 miles, STS-60 landed at Kennedy Space Center, 

Florida, on February 11, 1994. With the completion of this flight, Krikalev 

logged an additional 8 days, 7 hours, 9 minutes in space. 

Krikalev returned to duty in Russia following his American experience on 

STS-60. He periodically returns to the Johnson Space Center in Houston to 

work with CAPCOM in Mission Control and ground controllers in Russia 

supporting joint U.S./Russian Missions. To date he has supported STS-63, 

STS-71, STS-74 and STS-76. Krikalev is assigned to the first International 

Space Station crew. A three person crew will be launched to the Space 

Station aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan 

in July 1999. Krikalev will serve on the crew of STS-88, the first Space 

Shuttle mission to carry hardware to space for the assembly of the 

International Space Station. Launch is targeted for December 1998. 21
STS-88

Flight Plan

Mission Milestones

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/03/98 03:59 AM 1 000/00:00:00 LAUNCH Crew

12/04/98 05:29 PM 3 001/13:30:00 NODE UNBERTH CDR, MS2, MS3, 

PLT

12/04/98 06:14 PM 3 001/14:15:00 NODE INSTALL MS2, MS3, CDR, 

PLT

12/04/98 07:14 PM 3 001/15:15:00 NODE UNGRAPPLE CDR, MS2, MS3

12/05/98 01:59 PM 4 002/10:00:00 ISS RENDEZVOUS PLT, CDR

12/05/98 08:18 PM 4 002/16:19:00 FGB INSTALL Crew

12/05/98 09:59 PM 4 002/18:00:00 FGB UNGRAPPLE MS2, MS3

12/09/98 03:09 PM 8 006/11:10:00 NODE INGRESS CDR, MS1

12/09/98 04:29 PM 8 006/12:30:00 FGB INGRESS MS1, CDR, MS4

12/10/98 05:54 PM 9 007/13:55:00 FGB EGRESS Crew

12/10/98 05:59 PM 9 007/14:00:00 NODE EGRESS Crew

12/11/98 09:34 PM 10 008/17:35:00 SAFER DTO MS1, MS3

12/12/98 02:39 PM 11 009/10:40:00 UNDOCK SEP OPS PLT

12/12/98 11:59 PM 11 009/20:00:00 SAC-A DEPLOY CDR, MS1, PLT

12/13/98 09:39 PM 12 010/17:40:00 MIGHTY SAT DEPLOY CDR, PLT, MS1

12/14/98 10:44 PM 13 011/18:45:00 DEORBIT BURN Crew

12/14/98 11:48 PM 13 011/19:49:00 LANDING Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

22
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 1

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/03/98 03:59 AM 1 000/00:00:00 LAUNCH Crew

12/03/98 06:29 AM 1 000/02:30:00 HITCHHIKER ACT PLT

12/03/98 06:29 AM 1 000/02:30:00 RMS ON-ORBIT INIT MS2

12/03/98 06:39 AM 1 000/02:40:00 RADIATOR DEPLOY PLT

12/03/98 07:19 AM 1 000/03:20:00 OMS BURN CDR, PLT, MS2

12/03/98 08:19 AM 1 000/04:20:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/03/98 08:59 AM 1 000/05:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

23
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 2

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/03/98 04:59 PM 2 000/13:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/03/98 07:24 PM 2 000/15:25:00 OMS BURN CDR, PLT, MS2

12/03/98 07:29 PM 2 000/15:30:00 SAFER CHECKOUT MS1, MS3

12/03/98 09:19 PM 2 000/17:20:00 RMS CHECKOUT MS2, MS3

12/03/98 11:19 PM 2 000/19:20:00 AIRLOCK PREP PLT, MS1, MS3

12/03/98 12:19 AM 2 000/20:20:00 EMU CHECKOUT 1,3 PLT, MS1, MS3

12/03/98 12:34 AM 2 000/20:35:00 MULTI AXIS RCS BURN CDR, MS2

12/03/98 02:34 AM 2 000/22:35:00 EMU CHECKOUT 

(EMU2)

PLT, MS1, MS3

12/04/98 04:29 AM 2 001/00:30:00 RCS BURN PLT, CDR, MS2

12/04/98 05:29 AM 2 001/01:30:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/04/98 06:59 AM 2 001/03:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

24
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 3

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/04/98 02:59 PM 3 001/11:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/04/98 04:29 PM 3 001/12:30:00 +X RCS BURN PLT, CDR, MS2

12/04/98 05:14 PM 3 001/13:15:00 RMS POWERUP MS2

12/04/98 05:29 PM 3 001/13:30:00 NODE UNBERTH CDR, MS2, MS3, 

PLT

12/04/98 06:14 PM 3 001/14:15:00 NODE INSTALL MS2, MS3, CDR, 

PLT

12/04/98 07:14 PM 3 001/15:15:00 NODE UNGRAPPLE CDR, MS2, MS3

12/04/98 07:59 PM 3 001/16:00:00 NODE PRESS PREP MS2

12/04/98 08:24 PM 3 001/16:25:00 RMS PWDN(MPMS OUT) MS2

12/04/98 11:14 PM 3 001/19:15:00 OMS BURN CDR, MS2, PLT

12/04/98 11:29 PM 3 001/19:30:00 RNDZ TOOLS C/O MS3, CDR

12/04/98 02:19 AM 3 001/22:20:00 OMS BURN CDR, PLT, MS2

12/04/98 03:04 AM 3 001/23:05:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/05/98 04:59 AM 3 002/01:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

25
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 4

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/05/98 11:59 AM 4 002/08:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/05/98 01:59 PM 4 002/10:00:00 ISS RENDEZVOUS PLT, CDR

12/05/98 08:18 PM 4 002/16:19:00 FGB INSTALL Crew

12/05/98 09:59 PM 4 002/18:00:00 FGB UNGRAPPLE MS2, MS3

12/05/98 09:59 PM 4 002/18:00:00 ODS PREP FOR INGR MS1, PLT

12/05/98 11:09 PM 4 002/19:10:00 VTR PLAYBACK MS1

12/05/98 11:24 PM 4 002/19:25:00 RMS PWDN(MPMS OUT) MS2

12/05/98 12:59 AM 4 002/21:00:00 MCC-M COMM CHECK CDR, MS4

12/05/98 01:09 AM 4 002/21:10:00 MIDDECK PREP FOR 

EVA

MS1, MS3, PLT, 

MS4

12/05/98 02:59 AM 4 002/23:00:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/06/98 04:59 AM 4 003/01:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

26
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 5

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/06/98 12:59 PM 5 003/09:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/06/98 04:09 PM 5 003/12:10:00 RMS POWERUP MS2

12/06/98 04:44 PM 5 003/12:45:00 EMU PURG/PRBRTH

(:50)

MS1, MS3

12/06/98 05:34 PM 5 003/13:35:00 A/L DEPRESS MS1, MS3

12/06/98 05:54 PM 5 003/13:55:00 EVA1 POST 

DEPRESS/EG

MS1, MS3

12/06/98 06:39 PM 5 003/14:40:00 PMA2 TO NODE UMBIL MS3, MS1

12/06/98 08:24 PM 5 003/16:25:00 SLIDEWIRE INSTALL MS1, MS3

12/06/98 08:54 PM 5 003/16:55:00 PMA1 TO NODE UMBIL MS3, MS1

12/06/98 10:39 PM 5 003/18:40:00 NODE INIT STEPS 1-3 CDR, MS4

12/06/98 10:54 PM 5 003/18:55:00 FGB TO PMA1 UMBIL MS1, MS3

12/06/98 11:24 PM 5 003/19:25:00 EVA1 SORTIE CLEANUP MS1

12/06/98 11:44 PM 5 003/19:45:00 NODE1 INITIALIZATION CDR, MS4

12/06/98 11:54 PM 5 003/19:55:00 RM MDM THERM CVRS MS2, MS1, MS3

12/06/98 12:09 AM 5 003/20:10:00 EVA1 

INGRESS/PREREPR

MS1, MS3

12/06/98 12:24 AM 5 003/20:25:00 A/L REPRESS MS1, MS3

12/06/98 01:04 AM 5 003/21:05:00 RMS PWDN(MPMS OUT) MS2

12/06/98 02:19 AM 5 003/22:20:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/07/98 04:59 AM 5 004/01:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

27
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 6

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/07/98 12:59 PM 6 004/09:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/07/98 03:29 PM 6 004/11:30:00 REBOOST MNVR CDR

12/07/98 03:59 PM 6 004/12:00:00 INGRESS PREP MS3, MS1

12/07/98 07:04 PM 6 004/15:05:00 SAFER CHECKOUT MS1, MS3

12/07/98 01:29 AM 6 004/21:30:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/08/98 03:59 AM 6 005/00:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

28
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 7

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/08/98 11:59 AM 7 005/08:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/08/98 03:34 PM 7 005/11:35:00 EMU PURG/PRBRTH

(:50)

MS1, MS3

12/08/98 03:59 PM 7 005/12:00:00 RMS POWERUP MS2

12/08/98 04:24 PM 7 005/12:25:00 A/L DEPRESS MS1, MS3

12/08/98 04:44 PM 7 005/12:45:00 EVA2 POST 

DEPRESS/EG

MS1, MS3

12/08/98 05:59 PM 7 005/14:00:00 EVA TRANS/AIDS INST MS3, MS1

12/08/98 06:59 PM 7 005/15:00:00 ECOMM EQUIP INST MS1, MS3

12/08/98 08:44 PM 7 005/16:45:00 N1 SUNSHADE INSTALL MS3, MS1

12/08/98 09:14 PM 7 005/17:15:00 TRUNNION PIN COVER MS3, MS2

12/08/98 10:59 PM 7 005/19:00:00 EVA2 

INGRESS/PREREPR

MS3, MS1

12/08/98 11:14 PM 7 005/19:15:00 A/L REPRESS MS1, MS3

12/08/98 11:34 PM 7 005/19:35:00 RMS PWDN(MPMS OUT) MS2

12/08/98 01:29 AM 7 005/21:30:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/09/98 03:59 AM 7 006/00:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

29
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 8

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/09/98 11:59 AM 8 006/08:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/09/98 02:39 PM 8 006/10:40:00 ODS & PMA2 INGRESS CDR, MS1

12/09/98 03:09 PM 8 006/11:10:00 NODE INGRESS CDR, MS1

12/09/98 03:39 PM 8 006/11:40:00 PMA1 INGRESS MS1, CDR

12/09/98 04:14 PM 8 006/12:15:00 FGB AIR SAMPLE MS4

12/09/98 04:29 PM 8 006/12:30:00 FGB INGRESS MS1, CDR, MS4

12/09/98 04:54 PM 8 006/12:55:00 FGB AIR SAMPLE MS4

12/09/98 04:54 PM 8 006/12:55:00 ECOMM INST IN NODE MS1

12/09/98 06:14 PM 8 006/14:15:00 EARLY COMM INIT ACT MS3, CDR, MS1

12/09/98 06:59 PM 8 006/15:00:00 FGB FILTER C/O PLT, MS2

12/09/98 06:59 PM 8 006/15:00:00 EARLY COMM VIDEO 

C/O

MS1, MS3, CDR

12/09/98 07:29 PM 8 006/15:30:00 FGB LNCH RSTNT 

BOLTS

MS2, PLT

12/09/98 07:44 PM 8 006/15:45:00 FGB EPCS RECEPT C/O MS4, MS3

12/09/98 08:14 PM 8 006/16:15:00 TRANSFER OPS MS1, MS3, MS4

12/09/98 10:09 PM 8 006/18:10:00 PAO OPPTY Crew

12/09/98 10:29 PM 8 006/18:30:00 CREW PHOTO Crew

12/09/98 01:04 AM 8 006/21:05:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/10/98 03:59 AM 8 007/00:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

30
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 9

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/10/98 11:59 AM 9 007/08:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/10/98 03:04 PM 9 007/11:05:00 NODE HEPA FILTER MS2, PLT

12/10/98 05:54 PM 9 007/13:55:00 FGB EGRESS Crew

12/10/98 05:59 PM 9 007/14:00:00 NODE EGRESS Crew

12/10/98 06:29 PM 9 007/14:30:00 ODS PMA2 EGRESS Crew

12/10/98 08:59 PM 9 007/17:00:00 PAO OPPTY Crew

12/10/98 09:49 PM 9 007/17:50:00 REBOOST MNVR CDR, PLT, MS2

12/10/98 01:59 AM 9 007/22:00:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/11/98 03:59 AM 9 008/00:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

31
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 10

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/11/98 11:59 AM 10 008/08:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/11/98 03:29 PM 10 008/11:30:00 EMU PURG/PRBRTH

(:50)

MS1, MS3

12/11/98 03:59 PM 10 008/12:00:00 RMS POWERUP CDR

12/11/98 04:29 PM 10 008/12:30:00 A/L DEPRESS MS1, MS3

12/11/98 04:49 PM 10 008/12:50:00 EVA3 POST 

DEPRESS//E

MS1, MS3

12/11/98 06:34 PM 10 008/14:35:00 APAS HARNESS MS3, MS1

12/11/98 07:34 PM 10 008/15:35:00 FGB HANDRAIL INSTALL MS1, MS3

12/11/98 09:34 PM 10 008/17:35:00 SAFER DTO MS1, MS3

12/11/98 10:34 PM 10 008/18:35:00 EVA3 

INGRESS/PREPREP

MS1, MS3

12/11/98 10:49 PM 10 008/18:50:00 A/L REPRESS MS1, MS3

12/11/98 11:34 PM 10 008/19:35:00 RMS PWDN(MPMS OUT) CDR

12/11/98 01:56 AM 10 008/21:57:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/12/98 03:59 AM 10 009/00:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

32
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 11

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/12/98 11:59 AM 11 009/08:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/12/98 01:54 PM 11 009/09:55:00 NODE1 LEAK CHECK PLT

12/12/98 02:39 PM 11 009/10:40:00 UNDOCK SEP OPS PLT

12/12/98 09:59 PM 11 009/18:00:00 PAO OPPTY Crew

12/12/98 10:19 PM 11 009/18:20:00 VIP CALL Crew

12/12/98 11:29 PM 11 009/19:30:00 EVA TOOL STOW MS1, MS3, MS4

12/12/98 11:44 PM 11 009/19:45:00 MNVR SAC-A-DPLY PLT

12/12/98 11:59 PM 11 009/20:00:00 SAC-A DEPLOY CDR, MS1, PLT

12/12/98 02:24 AM 11 009/22:25:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/13/98 04:59 AM 11 010/01:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

33
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 12

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/13/98 12:59 PM 12 010/09:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/13/98 04:59 PM 12 010/13:00:00 DEORBIT PREP BRIEF Crew

12/13/98 05:49 PM 12 010/13:50:00 RCS HOT FIRE MS2, PLT, CDR

12/13/98 09:24 PM 12 010/17:25:00 MSAT DEPLOY MNVR CDR

12/13/98 09:39 PM 12 010/17:40:00 MIGHTY SAT DEPLOY CDR, PLT, MS1

12/13/98 10:44 PM 12 010/18:45:00 LANDING COMM C/O CDR

12/13/98 11:24 PM 12 010/19:25:00 CABIN CONFIG/STOW Crew

12/13/98 01:59 AM 12 010/22:00:00 PRE SLEEP Crew

12/14/98 04:59 AM 12 011/01:00:00 SLEEP Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

34
STS-88

Flight Plan

Summary Timeline - Day 13

DATE TIME (EST) DAY MET EVENT CREW

12/14/98 12:59 PM 13 011/09:00:00 CREW WAKE Crew

12/14/98 04:39 PM 13 011/12:40:00 HITCHHICKER DEACT PLT

12/14/98 06:44 PM 13 011/14:45:00 DEORBIT PREP SS Crew

12/14/98 10:44 PM 13 011/18:45:00 DEORBIT BURN Crew

12/14/98 11:48 PM 13 011/19:49:00 LANDING Crew

Updated: 11/19/1998

35
STS-88

RENDEZVOUS

Zarya Rendezvous and Capture

Overview

The 

Shuttle’s 

rendezvous 

with Zarya 

actually 

begins with 

the 

precisely 

timed 

launch of 

Endeavour. 

Periodically 

during the 

48 hours 

following 

launch, a 

series of 

rendezvous 

maneuvers 

will be 

performed 

by Cabana 

and 

Sturckow 

to slowly 

close in on 

the orbiting 

Zarya. 

A day 

before the 

final 

rendezvous 

with Zarya, 

Currie will 

use the 

Shuttle's 

robotic arm 

to lift Unity from its horizontal berth in the aft cargo bay and securely latch it vertically 

atop the Orbiter Docking System in the forward portion of the bay. 

The early approach to Zarya will be similar to those flown by the Shuttle during dockings 

with the Russian Mir Space Station. As the Shuttle closes in on Zarya, Currie will 

maneuver the robotic arm to a position above the cargo bay, in place to latch onto the 

module. 

36
The final approach to the Zarya will be flown manually by Cabana, beginning about an 

hour before capture as he crosses about 600 feet directly beneath Zarya, crossing an 

imaginary line running from Zarya toward Earth called the "R-Bar," or radius vector. 

Cabana will then fly a half circle around Zarya, crossing the module's direction of travel, 

to again reach what is referred to the minus R-bar at a point about 250 feet directly 

above the module. Cabana will then move down toward Zarya along the R-bar. Cabana 

will complete the rendezvous by placing the edge of Endeavour’s payload bay within 

about 10 feet of Zarya, allowing Currie to capture the module with the arm and dock it on 

the Node's mating adapter. 

Because the view of the Zarya from the crew cabin windows will be blocked by Unity, the 

final minutes of the rendezvous and capture will be conducted by the crew using only 

television monitors and the assistance of the Orbiter Space Vision System, an optical 

alignment aid that has been extensively tested on Shuttle flights leading up to STS-88. 

The alignment system uses the orbiter’s closed circuit television system’s view of special 

markings on the Zarya module to create a precise maneuvering aid for the crew when a 

direct line of sight is unavailable. 

To mate Zarya and Unity, Currie will precisely position Zarya's docking mechanism 

above and adjacent to the mechanism on Unity. Then, as she puts the arm in a "limp" 

mode that allows movement, Cabana will fire Endeavour's thrusters to force the 

mechanisms together, similar to operations done earlier in the flight to dock Unity to the 

shuttle's docking mechanism. 

Following the completion of assembly on flight day 11, Sturckow will undock from the 

newly assembled International Space Station and back away above, in reverse of the 

final approach. Then, Sturckow will perform a full-circle flyaround of the modules from a 

distance of about 450 feet for about an hour before firing thrusters to separate 

Endeavour from the vicinity.

37
STS-88

EVAs

Zarya/Unity Assembly Space Walks

Overview

Once Zarya and Unity are attached, Ross and 

Newman will conduct three spacewalks, or EVAs, to 

connect power and data transmission cables 

between Unity, the mating adapters and Zarya; to 

install antennas and remove protective covers from 

some exterior equipment; and to install 

spacewalking gear that will be used on later 

assembly missions. One approximately six-hour 

spacewalk will be carried out every other day, with the first occurring on the 

fifth day of the mission, the day after the Zarya rendezvous and docking.

The first spacewalk will consist primarily of attaching umbilicals and 

connectors between the mating adapters, Unity and Zarya. Ross and 

Newman will begin by setting up the Shuttle payload bay and worksites for 

the three spacewalks. A slidewire will be installed for safety and to provide 

clearance while the spacewalkers connect umbilicals between the first 

mating adapter and Unity. Eight umbilicals will be connected, four primary 

and four backup. Following the umbilical connections, Ross and Newman 

will remove thermal covers from the exterior computers, called multiplexerdemultiplexers (MDMs), on Unity.

Command checks between Mission Control, Houston, and Mission Control, 

Moscow, will be conducted the next day, day six of the flight, while the crew 

pressurizes the Orbiter Docking System vestibule, completes leak checks 

and prepares S-band communications equipment for installation on the 

second spacewalk. The ground control checks will include verifying the 

ability to command Zarya from Houston via the Moscow control center. The 

mating adapter attached to the Zarya will be pressurized via remote 

commands and checked for leaks. Filters and fans in Unity and Zarya will be 

powered on as well.

On the second spacewalk, day seven of the mission, Ross and Newman will 

install six handrails and other worksite interfaces as well as remove hatch 

and petal launch restraints from both the left and top berthing ports on Unity. 

The two astronauts also will install antennas on the port and starboard 

hatches of Unity for an S-band early communications system as well as a 

cable for that communications system that runs to the Zarya. Finally a 

sunshade for the MDM computers will be installed as well as covers for the 

trunnion pins which latched Unity in the Shuttle cargo bay.

The next day, day eight, the day before the final spacewalk, the crew will 

enter Unity and Zarya through the Shuttle docking mechanism for the first 

time. Once inside, portable fans and lights will be installed along with 

additional components of the S-band early communications system. The 

crew will perform an early checkout of the early communications system, 

exterior components of which were installed by Ross and Newman on the 

previous day. They also will transfer spare equipment from Endeavour to the 38
station modules. Inside the Zarya, they will checkout the video 

teleconference capability of the early communications system, conduct a 

photographic survey of the interior, and replace filters.

The third and final spacewalk will be mostly devoted to tasks that prepare for 

future station assembly work and not activities needed specifically for Zarya 

and Unity assembly. The astronauts will start out disconnecting a wiring 

harness on one of Unity's mating adapters and safely covering the 

connectors. Next, tool boxes will be stowed on the outside of Unity for use 

by future assembly spacewalkers. Ross and Newman then will venture to 

the far end of Zarya to install a handrail that cannot be installed on the 

module prior to launch due to the fairing that covers the module during liftoff.

Near the end of the third spacewalk, Ross will test fire the Simplified Aid for 

Extravehicular Activity Rescue jet backpack. The SAFER backpacks act as 

a type of space lifejacket, available for use by a crew member in the event 

they become untethered and need to fly back to the station. During an 

earlier flight test, on Shuttle mission STS-86, a valve failed and prevented 

the propulsion jets on the backpack from firing. The valve was redesigned 

and extensively tested on the ground, however this test, during which Ross 

will remain tethered at all times, will assist in checking out the new design.

The next day, Endeavour will undock from the new station, completing the 

first International Space Station assembly mission.

Updated: 11/20/1998

39
STS-88

Payloads

Getaway Special G-093

Payload Bay

Prime: Jerry Ross

Backup: James Newman

Overview

The GAS payload G-093 is sponsored 

by the University of Michigan. The 

objective of this experiment is to 

investigate the propagation of a vortex 

ring through a liquid-gas interface in 

microgravity.

During ascent, a barometric altitude 

switch will activate the G-093 payload 

power and Thermal Control System 

(TCS). Early in the mission the crew will 

unstow and set up the Payload and General Support Computer/Bus 

Interface Adapter (PGSC/BIA) in the Aft Flight Deck (AFD). The crew will 

then initiate the experiment, just prior to a low-g period (1.0 X 10-4) lasting 8 

hours. It is desired that no Orbital Maneuvering Subsystem (OMS) firings 

occur during this time. The experiment is controlled by an internal 

sequencer, which will allow the experiment to operate for 8 hours. A 

minimum of 8 hours after experiment activation, the crew will deactivate the 

experiment, and remove experiment power.

Updated: 11/13/1998

3840
STS-88

Payloads

IMAX Cargo Bay Camera (ICBC)

Payload Bay

664 lb. lbs.

Prime: Jerry Ross

Backup: James Newman

Overview

The primary objectives of ICBC on STS-88 are to film the Node 1 installation 

onto the orbiter docking system (ODS), the functional cargo block (FGB) 

rendezvous, FGB docking, extravehicular activity (EVA) tasks, separation 

burn, and flyaround.

The ICBC is a space-qualified, 65 mm color motion picture camera system 

consisting of a camera, lens assembly, and a film supply magazine 

containing approximately 3,500 feet of film and an empty take-up magazine. 

The camera is housed in an insulated, pressurized enclosure with a 

movable lens window cover. The optical centerline of the 30 mm camera 

lens is fixed and points directly out of the payload bay along the orbiter Zaxis with a 23-degree rotation toward the orbiter nose. Heaters and thermal 

blankets provide proper thermal conditioning for the camera electronics, 

camera window, and film magazines.

For STS-88, the delivery reel is loaded with 3,500 feet of film (nominally), 

enough for approximately 10.5 minutes of filming at normal camera speed 

(24 frames per second, fps). On this flight, the camera speed can be 

changed to 6 fps for photographing slower moving objects. The ICBC can 

also be loaded with a 2,200-foot film magazine. A single 30 mm wide-angle 

lens is mounted on the camera; lenses and film cannot be changed during 

the flight. ICBC operations are terminated when all film is exposed.

The ICBC is controlled from the aft flight deck with the enhanced GAS 

autonomous payload controller (GAPC) and uses orbiter dc power. A crew 

member can command the ICBC to turn main power on, go to a standby 

mode, adjust f-stop and focus, and film a scene. A spotmeter will be used by 

the crew to aid in setting the IMAX camera f-stops. By using the GAPC, the 

crew member can also determine the status of the camera, such as the 

current f-stop and the amount of film exposed. A light level measurement 

unit is used to set the lens aperture. A fixed focus zone and seven aperture 

settings are available for this flight. A tape recorder is also provided for crew 

documentation. All the GAS hardware, such as the GAS control decoders, 

status responder units, GAPCs, and the GAS signal and control cable, are 

owned, serviced, and certified by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

The basic operational profile of the ICBC is as follows: enable the heaters 

within seven hours of launch or approximately 30 minutes before a planned 

3941
payload activity to be filmed, maintain thermal conditioning of the camera 

and film magazine, perform a typical filming sequence, and return to thermal 

conditioning.

A typical filming sequence begins with powering the camera in standby 

mode. This consists of powering up the internal camera electronics, feed 

magazine and drive, take-up magazine and drive, IMAX interface 

electronics, and the lens drive to a standby mode. The f-stop, focus, and 

frame rate are adjusted to the desired settings. Actual filming occurs when 

the door motor and camera drive motor are operated. The camera then 

returns to standby until the end of the filming sequence.

History/Background

The IMAX project is a collaboration between NASA, the Smithsonian 

Institution's National Air and Space Museum, IMAX Systems Corp., and the 

Lockheed Corp. This system, developed by IMAX Systems Corp. of Toronto, 

Canada, uses specially designed 65 mm cameras and projectors to record 

and display very high definition color motion pictures which, accompanied 

by six-channel high-fidelity sound, are displayed on screens in IMAX and 

OMNIMAX theaters that are up to ten times larger than a conventional 

screen, producing a feeling of "being there."

The 65 mm film from STS-88 will be transferred to 70 mm motion picture film 

for use in a future large-format feature film. An audio tape recorder with 

microphones in the crew compartment will record middeck sounds and crew 

comments during camera operations. The audio will then be transferred to 

tapes or compact disks to accompany the motion picture.

IMAX cameras have been flown on space shuttle missions STS-41-C, 41-D, 

41-G, -29, -34, -32, -31, -42, -46, -51, -61, -63, -71, and -74 to document 

crew operations in the payload bay and the orbiter's middeck and flight deck 

as well as to film spectacular views of space and Earth. Film from those 

missions was used as the basis for the IMAX productions "The Dream Is 

Alive," "The Blue Planet," and "Destiny in Space."

Benefits

The IMAX project is designed to document significant space activities and 

promote NASA's educational goals using the IMAX film medium.

Updated: 11/13/1998

402
STS-88

Payloads

MightySat 1

Payload Bay

705 lb. lbs.

Prime: Frederick (Rick) 

Sturckow

Backup: Robert Cabana

Overview

The MightySat 1 payload consists of a nonrecoverable all-composite 

spacecraft structure and experiments integrated with a Hitchhiker (HH) 

ejection system (HES), then mounted inside a lidless carrier. The HH 

equipment consists of one HH lightweight avionics plate (LAP), the HH 

avionics, one 5-cubic-foot HH canister, and one HH adapter beam assembly 

(ABA). The payload will be mounted in the orbiter bay 6 port location on a 

GSFC-provided HH ABA, with the MightySat 1 canister mounted in the 

forward position and the HH avionics mounted in the aft position.

After the payload bay doors are opened, the crew will activate the power 

and signal path to the HH carrier via the standard switch panel. The satellite 

will be ejected from the HH canister on Flight Day 12. MightySat 1 remains 

in a dormant state until following ejection from the orbiter cargo bay. 

MightySat 1 is spring-ejected at a minimum rate of 1.7 fps and requires an 

overflight of a specific location in Albuquerque, N.M. within 6 hours of 

deploy. Once ejection is complete, flight operations are complete for the 

satellite. Telemetry and command capability will then be via the Payload 

Operations Control Center (POCC) at GSFC.

The MightySat 1 experiments include the Alkali Metal Thermal-to-Electric 

Converter (AMTEC) and the Automated Wafer Cartridge System (AWCS). 

AMTEC and AWCS were developed by AMPS, Inc.

The AMTEC cell is designed for efficient conversion of heat into electrical 

energy through a thermally regenerated electrochemical process with 

metallic sodium (Na) as the working fluid. A ceramic material called Beta 

Alumina Solid Electrolyte (BASE) is at the heart of the device and serves to 

separate a higher pressure region of up to 9 psia from a lower pressure 

region of less than 1 psia. These pressures are determined by the vapor 

pressure of Na in the various regions of the cell. It is the pressure difference 

and the properties of BASE that allow AMTEC to operate.

The AWCS consists of an automated material handling system and an 

autonomous manufacturing process control system. The experiment will 

provide automated movement of semiconductor wafers from a storage area 

to a simulated processing area near the top of one of the HH canisters. The 

wafers will be moved from and to storage locations to demonstrate the 

413
handling mechanisms.

History/Background

MightySat 1 is the first flight of a U.S. Air Force (USAF) Philips 

Laboratory/Space Experiments Directorate ejectable technology 

demonstration platform. Four advanced technologies will be demonstrated 

on MightySat 1. These technologies include a composite structure, 

advanced solar cells, advanced electronics, and a shock device.

Benefits

The overall goals of the AMTEC experiment are to validate AMTEC 

technology for developers and operators of military and commercial space 

systems and to demonstrate AMTEC technology as a prime candidate as 

the power system for the NASA Pluto Express mission.

The goal of the AWCS flight experiment is to validate the AWCS automation 

process and autonomous control systems as the prime candidate for future 

material development and manufacturing facilities and to stimulate interest 

in the private sector for selection as an "off-the-shelf" product for 

commercial space missions.

Updated: 11/13/1998

424
STS-88

Payloads

Satelite de Aplicaciones/Cientifico-A (SAC-A)

Payload Bay

590 lb. lbs.

Prime: Frederick (Rick) 

Sturckow

Backup: Robert Cabana

Overview

The SAC-A payload consists of the SAC-A installed in a Hitchhiker (HH) 

canister equipped with an HH ejection system and an HH motorized door 

assembly (HMDA). SAC-A is mounted in the forward position on an adapter 

beam, which is attached to the side wall of the orbiter in the Bay 2 port 

location.

The satellite power will not be applied until the flight crew opens the HMDA. 

As the HMDA opens, a switch on top of the satellite will engage, and power 

from the satellite batteries will be applied to a single momentum wheel. The 

satellite may be ejected after a minimum of 3 minutes to provide time for the 

momentum wheel to reach its operating speed.

SAC-A will be deployed from a near-circular orbit with an inclination greater 

than 38°. It requires a postejection mean orbit height of 200 nautical miles. 

The end of SAC-A orbital operational lifetime occurs at 135 nautical miles.

A mean altitude of 200 nautical miles at ejection will give the SAC-A an 

estimated orbit lifetime between five months (using a worst-case solar flux) 

and nine months (using a best-case solar flux), with seven months being a 

best estimate. The minimum acceptable lifetime for SAC-A is five months.

SAC-A will have a minimum ejection velocity of 2.6 fps. During the payload 

deployment operations, the orbiter attitude control will nominally be 

maintained by the Vernier Reaction Control System (VRCS). The VRCS will 

be inhibited prior to payload deployment until visual verification that SAC-A 

has cleared the payload bay. Should the VRCS fail, the Primary Reaction 

Control System (PRCS) will be selected for attitude control. The PRCS will 

be inhibited prior to the payload deployment until visual verification that the 

payload has cleared the payload bay.

At a predetermined time after ejection, another set of switches will engage, 

and the batteries will provide power to the remaining SAC-A systems.

During the mission, SAC-A will be controlled from the Payload Operations 

Control Center (POCC) located at GSFC.

History/Background

435
This is the first flight of SAC-A, a small, nonrecoverable satellite built by the 

Argentinean National Commission of Space Activities (CONAE). The 

satellite payload includes a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), 

a charge coupled device (CCD) camera, Argentinean-built silicon solar 

cells, and a magnetometer.

Benefits

SAC-A will test and characterize the performance of new equipment and 

technologies that may be used in future operational or scientific missions. 

Updated: 11/13/1998

446
STS-88

Payloads

Space Experiment Module (SEM-07)

Payload Bay

Prime:

Backup:

Overview

The SEM program is an educational initiative to increase student access to 

space. Kindergarten through University students are represented. The SEM07 utilizes a standard 5 cubic-foot GAS canister with a Goddard Space 

Flight Center (GSFC)-provided internal support structure, battery, power 

distribution system, data sampling and storage devices, and harness. It will 

be mounted on an SSP/JSC-provided adaptor beam in Bay 13, port side, 

forward position. SEM-07 will be PASSIVE. There will be no batteries or 

power supplied by the Orbiter.

History/Background

NASA began the Space Experiment Module (SEM) program in 1995 as an 

offshoot of the Getaway Special program, managed by the Shuttle Small 

Payloads Project at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Since 

1982, GAS canisters had flown on the shuttle, offering economic access to 

space to a broader array of experimenters, particularly students. But 

participation was still somewhat limited by the high-level engineering skills 

required to design GAS experiments. 

In 1995, the program directors started SEM to relieve students of the 

engineering burden and let them concentrate on creating their experiments. 

Since the module is equipped with electrical power, there is no need to 

engineer and build battery boxes, etc. Students of all ages can create, 

design, and build experiments with a little help from teachers or mentors. 

The experiments--which can be simple or complicated, active or passive--

are placed in half-moon-shaped SEMs, ten of which are then stacked in a 

GAS canister.

Updated: 11/16/1998

457
STS-88

Payloads

UNITY Connecting Module

Payload Bay

25,600 lbs lbs.

Prime:

Backup:

Overview

The first U.S.-built component of the 

International Space Station, a six-sided 

connecting module and passageway, or 

node, named Unity, will be the primary 

cargo of Space Shuttle mission STS-88, 

the first mission dedicated to assembly of 

the station.

The Unity connecting module, technically 

referred to as node 1, will lay a 

foundation for all future U.S. 

International Space Station modules with 

six berthing ports, one on each side, to 

which future modules will be attached. 

Built by The Boeing Company at a 

manufacturing facility at the Marshall 

Space Flight Center in Huntsville, 

Alabama, Unity is the first of three such 

connecting modules that will be built for 

the station. Sometimes referred to as 

Node 1, the Unity module measures 15 

feet in diameter and 18 feet long.

Meeting in Space

Carried to orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, Unity will be mated 

with the already orbiting Zarya control module, or Functional Cargo Block 

(Russian acronym FGB), a U.S.-funded and Russian-built component that 

will have been launched earlier aboard a Russian rocket from Kazakstan. In 

addition to connecting to the Zarya module, Unity eventually will provide 

attachment points for the U.S. laboratory module; Node 3; an early exterior 

framework, or truss for the station; an airlock; and a multi-windowed cupola.

Vital Resources

Essential space station resources such as fluids, environmental control and 

468
life support systems, electrical and data systems are routed through Unity to 

supply work and living areas.

More than 50,000 mechanical items, 216 lines to carry fluids and gases, and 

121 internal and external electrical cables using six miles of wire were 

installed in the Unity node. The detailed and complex hardware installation 

required more than 1,800 drawings. The node is made of aluminum.

Pressurized Mating Adapters

Two conical docking adapters will be attached to each end of Unity prior to 

its launch aboard Endeavour. The adapters, called pressurized mating 

adapters (PMAs), allow the docking systems used by the Space Shuttle and 

by Russian modules to attach to the node's hatches and berthing 

mechanisms. One of the conical adapters will attach Unity to the Zarya, 

while the other will serve as a docking port for the Space Shuttle. The Unity 

node with the two mating adapters attached, the configuration it will be in for 

launch, is about 36 feet long and weighs about 25,600 pounds.

Attached to the exterior of one of the pressurized mating adapters are 

computers, or multiplexer-demultiplexers (MDMs), which will provide early 

command and control of the Unity node. Unity also will be outfitted with an 

early communications system that will allow data, voice and low data rate 

video with Mission Control, Houston, to supplement Russian 

communications systems during the early station assembly activities.

The two remaining nodes are being built by the European Space Agency 

(ESA) for NASA in Italy by Alenia Aerospazio. Nodes 2 and 3 will be slightly 

longer than the Unity node, measuring almost 21 feet long, and each will 

hold eight standard space station equipment racks in addition to six berthing 

ports. ESA is building the two additional nodes as partial payment for the 

launch of the ESA Columbus laboratory module and other equipment on the 

Space Shuttle. Unity holds four equipment racks.

479
Benefits

The International Space Station will allow scientists to conduct long-duration 

experiments and research in the environment of space. It is the largest 

peacetime scientific mission in history and combines the resources of 16 

nations. When completely assembled in 2004, the International Space 

Station will have a mass of more than 1 million pounds and provide more 

than 46,000 cubic feet of pressurized living and working space for up to 

seven astronauts and scientists.

Updated: 11/16/1998

4850
STS-88

DTO/DSO/RMEs

ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN FACTORS CONFIGURATION A 

DSO 904

In-Cabin

Prime: Nancy Currie Principal Investigator: B. Woolford, M. 

Whitmore

Backup: Robert Cabana

Overview

By studying variations between preflight training and in-flight task 

performance and timeline, factors affecting human productivity during space 

flight may be discerned. This evaluation will specifically analyze humanmachine, human-environment, and human-human interfaces. Conclusions 

from this data will lead to timeline guidelines by classes of experimental 

activities to assist future principal investigators (PIs) with experiment design, 

and to improve habitat, hardware, and software designs. The participating 

crewmember will apply targets (stickers) to specified areas of the body to 

assist postflight evaluation, and will perform a video setup prior to EVA1 and 

EVA3. In addition, the participating crewmember will complete a 

questionnaire on orbit.

Updated: 11/13/1998

4951
STS-88

DTO/DSO/RMEs

EFFECTS OF MICROGRAVITY ON CELL MEDIATED IMMUNITY 

AND REACTIVATION OF LATENT VIRAL INFECTIONS 

DSO 497

In-Cabin

Prime: Principal Investigator: Raymond P. 

Stowe/UTMBGalveston; Alan D.T. 

Barrett, Ph.D./UTMBGalveston; Duane L. 

Pierson, Ph.D.

Backup:

Overview

This investigation will assess the immune system function using the immune 

cells from the standard Flight Medicine blood draw. The objective of this 

study is to examine the mechanisms of spaceflight-induced alterations in 

human immune function and latent virus shedding. There are no on-orbit 

activities associated with this DSO.

Updated: 11/16/1998

502
STS-88

DTO/DSO/RMEs

INDIVIDUAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TO POST-SPACEFLIGHT 

ORTHOSTATIC INTOLERANCE 

DSO 496

Prime: Frederick (Rick) Sturckow Principal Investigator: Janice M. Yelle, 

M.S.; Michael G. 

Ziegler, M.D.; Peggy 

A. Whitson, Ph.D.

Backup: Jerry Ross

Overview

Significant alteration of cardiovascular function by space flight is well 

documented. One of the most important changes negatively affecting flight 

operations and crew safety is the postflight loss of orthostatic tolerance. 

Susceptibility to postflight orthostatic intolerance is highly individual. Some 

astronauts are affected very little and others have severe symptoms. The 

goal of the proposed studies is to elucidate mechanisms responsible for 

these differences in order to customize countermeasure protocols. There 

are no on-orbit activities associated with this DSO.

Updated: 11/16/1998

513
STS-88

DTO/DSO/RMEs

THE INTERACTION OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH AND 

ENTRY SUIT AND SUSTAINED WEIGHTLESSNESS ON EGRESS 

DSO 331

In-Cabin

Prime: Robert Cabana Principal Investigator: Michael C. 

Greenisen, Ph.D.

Backup: Nancy Currie

Overview

DSO 331 will identify the impact of the Launch Entry Suit/Advanced Crew 

Escape Suit (LES/ACES) and sustained weightlessness on egress 

locomotion mechanical efficiency as measured by oxygen consumption and 

gait alteration. Participating crewmembers will apply instrumentation during 

suit donning in Deorbit Prep.

Updated: 11/13/1998

524
STS-88

DTO/DSO/RMEs

LOW-IODINE RESIDUAL SYSTEM 

DTO 691

In-Cabin

Prime: James Newman Principal Investigator: Richard L. Sauer

Backup: Sergei Krikalev

Overview

This DTO will use a newly developed technology replacing the Galley Iodine 

Removal Assembly (GIRA) to reduce the concentration of iodine in shuttle 

potable water system. It will demonstrate that iodine concentrations in 

Shuttle drinking water can be reduced to medically-acceptable levels while 

maintaining microbial control in the water distribution system. Ground based 

microbial and iodine analysis of in-flight water samples will be used to verify 

performance. When this DTO proves the performance, the process to 

become operational hardware will be implemented. The crew will set up the 

LIRS on FD01, perform daily checks and stow on FD13 with water samples 

taken on FD01 and FD13. If the LIRS does not perform properly the GIRA is 

flown as a backup.

Updated: 11/13/1998

535
STS-88

DTO/DSO/RMEs

SINGLE STRING GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM 

DTO 700-14

Prime: James Newman Principal Investigator: Ray Nuss, Wayne 

Hensley, Michael 

Sarafin

Backup: Sergei Krikalev

Overview

The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate the performance and 

operations of the GPS during Orbiter ascent, on-orbit operations, entry, and 

landing phases utilizing a modified military GPS receiver processor and the 

existing Orbiter GPS antennas. The DTO will be unstowed on FD02 and 

setup for entry on FD12. There will be a harddrive changeout performed on 

FD06. Three other on-orbit activities will be performed during the postundock timeframe. One of these activities will perform a test in Ops 2. The 

second test activity requires transitioning to Ops 3. The third activity, the 

PVA Mode analysis, will require powering off the MDM for 90 minutes

Updated: 11/13/1998

546
STS-88

DTO/DSO/RMEs

SPACE INTEGRATED GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM/INERTIAL 

NAVIGATION SYSTEM (SIGI) 

DTO 700-15

Prime: James Newman Principal Investigator: Pamela Lupo, Mark 

Mangieri, Scott 

Murray, Moises 

Montez, Joe 

Thibodeau, Ray 

Nuss, and Tony 

Pham

Backup: Sergei Krikalev

Overview

The Space Integrated Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System 

(SIGI) is intended to replace the shuttle onboard TACAN and, eventually, 

the HAINS Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). The SIGI DTO will mitigate 

the technical and schedule risks of applying this new technology to the 

Shuttle navigation systems by evaluating the system’s performance in 

spaceflight. SIGI will be unstowed on FD02 and set up for entry on FD12. 

There will be a harddrive changeout performed on FD09. Data downlinks 

are scheduled after unstow, harddrive changeout, and entry setup.

Updated: 11/13/1998

557
STS-88

DTO/DSO/RMEs

STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS MODEL VALIDATION

DTO 257

Prime: Robert Cabana Principal Investigator: K. Schultz

Backup: Frederick (Rick) Sturckow

Overview

This test will excite the structural dynamics of the joined Shuttle and 

International Space Station (ISS) to acquire several critical natural 

frequencies and their corresponding structural damping. This test will allow 

confirmation that Shuttle primary jet control algorithm tuning is acceptable 

prior to attitude control which uses this algorithm. This test will be performed 

on several early Shuttle/ISS assembly flights for which Shuttle must provide 

attitude control until ISS primary structural configuration is static.

History/Background

The combined Shuttle and ISS structure after docking on-orbit has some 

modeling uncertainty which must be validated to be within preflight 

predictions. These predictions are used to certify flight readiness for 

structural loads and attitude control stability.

Updated: 11/13/1998

568
STS-88

DTO/DSO/RMEs

USA SAFER FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION

DTO 689

Prime: Jerry Ross Principal Investigator: C. Woolley

Backup: James Newman

Overview

The purpose of the 

DTO is to 

demonstrate 

through an end-toend on-orbit 

functional checkout 

that the USA 

Simplified Aid for 

EVA Rescue 

(SAFER) design 

performs as 

expected.

Updated: 11/13/1998

579
STS-88

Media Assistance

NASA Television Transmission

NASA Television is available through the GE2 satellite system which is 

located on Transponder 9C, at 85 degrees west longitude, frequency 3880.0 

MHz, audio 6.8 MHz.

The schedule for television transmissions from the orbiter and for mission 

briefings will be available during the mission at Kennedy Space Center, FL; 

Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL; Dryden Flight Research 

Center, Edwards, CA; Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX; and NASA 

Headquarters, Washington, DC. The television schedule will be updated to 

reflect changes dictated by mission operations.

 

Status Reports

Status reports on countdown and mission progress, on-orbit activities and 

landing operations will be produced by the appropriate NASA newscenter

Briefings

A mission press briefing schedule will be issued before launch. During the 

mission, status briefings by a flight director or mission operations 

representative and when appropriate, representatives from the payload 

team, will occur at least once each day. The updated NASA television 

schedule will indicate when mission briefings are planned.

Internet Information

Information is available through several sources on the Internet. The 

primary source for mission information is the NASA Shuttle Web, part of the 

World Wide Web. This site contains information on the crew and its mission 

and will be updated regularly with status reports, photos and video clips 

throughout the flight. The NASA Shuttle Web's address is:

http://shuttle.nasa.gov

If that address is busy or unavailable, Shuttle Information is available 

through the Office of Space Flight Home Page:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/

General information on NASA and its programs is available through the 

NASA Home Page and the NASA Public Affairs Home Page:

http://www.nasa.gov

or

5860
http://www.nasa.gov/newsinfo/index.html

Information on other current NASA activities is available through the 

Today@NASA page:

http://www.nasa.gov/today.html

The NASA TV schedule is available from the NTV Home Page:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Status reports, TV schedules and other information also are available from 

the NASA headquarters FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server, 

ftp.hq.nasa.gov. Log in as anonymous and go to the directory /pub/pao. 

Users should log on with the user name "anonymous" (no quotes), then 

enter their E-mail address as the password. Within the /pub/pao directory 

there will be a "readme.txt" file explaining the directory structure:

* Pre-launch status reports (KSC): ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/statrpt/ksc

* Mission status reports (KSC): ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/statrpt/jsc

* Daily TV Schedules: ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/statrpt/jsc/tvsked.

NASA Spacelink, a resource for educators, also provides mission 

information via the Internet. Spacelink may be accessed at the following 

address:

http://spacelink.nasa.gov

Access by Compuserve

Users with Compuserve accounts can access NASA press releases by 

typing "GO NASA" (no quotes) and making a selection from the categories 

offered.

Updated: 11/12/1998

5961
STS-88

Media Contacts

NASA PAO CONTACTS

Fred Brown DFRC Landing Operations 805-258-2663

Dryden Flight Research Center

Edwards, CA

fred.brown@dfrc.nasa.gov

June Malone External Tank, Solid Rocket 

Boosters, Shuttle Main Engines

205-544-7061

Marshall Space Flight Center

Huntsville, AL

June.Malone@msfc.nasa.gov

Bruce Buckingham Launch Processing, KSC 

Landing Information

407-867-2468

John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida 

Florida, 

bruce.buckingham-1@kmail.ksc.nasa.gov

Eileen Hawley Shuttle Flight Crew Operations, 

Mission Operations, Astronauts

281-483-5111

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, TX

eileen.hawley1@jsc.nasa.gov

Dwayne Brown Space Shuttle, Space Station, 

NASA Policy

202-358-1726

NASA Headquarters

Washington, DC

dwayne.brown@hq.nasa.gov

Jennifer McCarter Space Shuttle, Space Station, 

NASA Policy

202-358-1639

NASA Headquarters

Washington, DC

jennifer.mccarter@hq.nasa.gov

Developed by 

Updated: 11/17/1998

602
Table prepared by Richard W. Orloff, 02/2001 

SHUTTLE FLIGHTS AS OF DECEMBER 1998 

92 TOTAL FLIGHTS OF THE SHUTTLE SYSTEM -- 67 SINCE RETURN TO FLIGHT 

STS-90 

04/17/98 - 05/03/98 

STS-95 

10/29/98 - 11/07/98 

STS-87 

11/19/97 - 12/05/97 

STS-91 

06/02/09 - 06/12/98 

STS-94 

07/01/97 - 07/17/97 

STS-85 

08/07/97 - 08/19/97 

STS-83 

04/04/97 - 04/08/97 

STS-82 

02/11//97 - 02/21/97 

STS-80 

11/19/96 - 12/07/96 

STS-70 

07/13/95 - 07/22/95 

STS-78 

06/20/96 - 07/07/96 

STS-63 

02/03/95 - 02/11/95 

STS-86 

09/25/97 - 10/06/97 

STS-75 

02/22/96 - 03/09/96 

STS-64 

09/09/94 - 09/20/94 

STS-84 

05/15/97 - 05/24/97 

STS-73 

10/20/95 - 11/05/95 

STS-60 

02/03/94 - 02/11/94 

STS-81 

01/12/97 - 01/22/97 

STS-65 

07/08/94 - 07/23/94 

STS-51 

09/12/93 - 09/22/93 

STS-79 

09/16/96 - 09/26/96 

STS-62 

03/04/94 - 03/18/94 

STS-56 

04/08/83 - 04/17/93 

STS-76 

03/22/96 - 03/31/96 

STS-58 

10/18/93 - 11/01/93 

STS-53 

12/02/92 - 12/09/92 

STS-74 

11/12/95 - 11/20/95 

STS-55 

04/26/93 - 05/06/93 

STS-42 

01/22/92 - 01/30/92 

STS-71 

06/27/95 - 07/07/95 

STS-52 

10/22/92 - 11/01/92 

STS-48 

09/12/91 - 09/18/91 

STS-66 

11/03/94 - 11/14/94 

STS-50 

06/25/92 - 07/09/92 

STS-39 

04/28/91 - 05/06/91 

STS-46 

07/31/92 - 08/08/92 

STS-89 

01/22/98 - 01/31/98 

STS-40 

06/05/91 - 06/14/91 

STS-41 

10/06/90 - 10/10/90 

STS-45 

03/24/92 - 04/02/92 

STS-77 

05/19/96 - 05/29/96 

STS-35 

12/02/90 - 12/10/90 

STS-51L 

01/28/86 

STS-31 

04/24/90 - 04/29/90 

STS-44 

11/24/91 - 12/01/91 

STS-72 

01/11/96 - 11/20/96 

STS-32 

01/09/90 - 01/20/90 

STS-61A 

10/30/85 - 11/06/85 

STS-33 

11/22/89 - 11/27/89 

STS-43 

08/02/91 - 08/11/91 

STS-69 

09/07/95 - 09/18/95 

STS-28 

08/08/89 - 08/13/89 

STS-51F 

07/29/85 - 08/06/85 

STS-29 

03/13/89 - 03/18/89 

STS-37 

04/05/91 - 04/11/91 

STS-67 

03/02/95 - 03/18/95 

STS-61C 

01/12/86 - 01/18/86 

STS-51B 

04/29/85 - 05/06/85 

STS-26 

09/29/88 - 10/03/88 

STS-38 

11/15/90 - 11/20/90 

STS-68 

09/30/94 - 10/11/94 

STS-9 

11/28/83 - 12/08/83 

STS-41G 

10/05/84 - 10/13/84 

STS-51-I 

08/27/85 - 09/03/85 

STS-36 

02/28/90 - 03/04/90 

STS-59 

04/09/94 – 04/20/94 

STS-5 

11/11/82 - 11/16/82 

STS-41C 

04/06/84 - 04/13/84 

STS-51G 

06/17/85 - 06/24/85 

STS-34 

10/18/89 - 10/23/89 

STS-61 

12/02/93 - 12/13/93 

STS-4 

06/27/82 - 07/04/82 

STS-41B 

02/03/84 - 02/11/84 

STS-51D 

04/12/85 - 04/19/85 

STS-30 

05/04/89 - 05/08/89 

STS-57 

06/21/93 - 07/01/93 

STS-3 

03/22/82 - 03/30/82 

STS-8 

08/30/83 - 09/05/83 

STS-51C 

01/24/85 - 01/27/85 

STS-27 

12/02/88 - 12/06/88 

STS-54 

01/13/93 - 01/19/93 

STS-2 

11/12/81 - 11/14/81 

STS-7 

06/18/83 - 06/24/83 

STS-51A 

11/08/84 - 11/16/84 

STS-61B 

11/26/85 - 12/03/85 

STS-47 

09/12/92 - 09/20/92 

STS-1 

04/12/81 - 04/14/81 

STS-6 

04/04/83 - 04/09/83 

STS-41D 

08/30/84 - 09/05/84 

STS-51J 

10/03/85 - 10/07/85 

STS-49 

05/07/92 - 05/16/92 

 

OV-102 

Columbia 

(25 flights) 

OV-099 

Challenger 

(10 flights) 

OV-103 

Discovery 

(25 flights) 

OV-104 

Atlantis 

(20 flights) 

OV-105 

Endeavour 

(12 flights)