STS-88
Launched: December 4, 1998, 3:35:34.075 a.m. EST
Landing: December 15, 1998, 10:53:29 p.m. EST, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Space Shuttle: Endeavour
Crew: Commander Robert D. Cabana, Pilot Frederick W. Sturckow, Mission Specialists Nancy J. Currie, Jerry L. Ross, James H. Newman and Sergei K. Krikalev
The purpose of the STS-88 mission was to begin construction of the International Space Station (ISS). During the 12-day mission to begin assembly of the International Space Station (ISS), all objectives were met. On December 5, the 12.8-ton Unity connecting module was first connected to Endeavour's docking system; on December 6, using the 50-foot-long robot arm, the Zarya control module was captured from orbit and mated to Unity; and astronauts Ross and Newman conducted three space walks to attach cables, connectors and hand rails. Astronauts completed assembly of an early S-band communications system that allows flight controllers in Houston to send commands to Unity's systems and keep tabs on the health of the station, plus conducted a successful test of the videoconferencing capability of the early communications system which the first permanent crew will use. Krikalev and Currie also replaced a faulty unit in Zarya. A new spacewalk record was established as Ross completed his seventh walk, totaling 44 hours, nine minutes. Newman moved into third place with four walks totaling 28 hours, 27 minutes.
Credit: NASA
Image Number: sts088-s-001
Date: September 1998
STS-88
Launched: December 4, 1998, 3:35:34.075 a.m. EST
Landing: December 15, 1998, 10:53:29 p.m. EST, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Space Shuttle: Endeavour
Crew: Commander Robert D. Cabana, Pilot Frederick W. Sturckow, Mission Specialists Nancy J. Currie, Jerry L. Ross, James H. Newman and Sergei K. Krikalev
The purpose of the STS-88 mission was to begin construction of the International Space Station (ISS). During the 12-day mission to begin assembly of the International Space Station (ISS), all objectives were met. On December 5, the 12.8-ton Unity connecting module was first connected to Endeavour's docking system; on December 6, using the 50-foot-long robot arm, the Zarya control module was captured from orbit and mated to Unity; and astronauts Ross and Newman conducted three space walks to attach cables, connectors and hand rails. Astronauts completed assembly of an early S-band communications system that allows flight controllers in Houston to send commands to Unity's systems and keep tabs on the health of the station, plus conducted a successful test of the videoconferencing capability of the early communications system which the first permanent crew will use. Krikalev and Currie also replaced a faulty unit in Zarya. A new spacewalk record was established as Ross completed his seventh walk, totaling 44 hours, nine minutes. Newman moved into third place with four walks totaling 28 hours, 27 minutes.
Credit: NASA
Image Number: sts088-s-001
Date: September 1998