Sunday, January 21, 2001

STS-90 (Columbia)

 1998-022A


STS-90 carried Neurolab, the final Spacelab mission. The first attempt to launch was scrubbed prior to tanking on Apr 16 when a network signal processor, used to relay data to TDRS or MILA, failed in tests. Launch the following day went without a hitch. STS-90 was the first test of the OMS Assist Maneuver, in which the OMS engines are fired shortly after SRB separation to provide extra payload capacity to orbit.

The Spacelab payload carried a variety of life sciences experiments. The BDS carried human renal cells and leukemia cells for study. On Apr 25 the CO2 system (RCDRS, Regenerative Carbon Dioxide Removal System) failed, threatening an early return. However, the system was soon fixed and the mission continued. An unexpectedly large number of the baby rats died during the mission, but otherwise the flight was completed smoothly.


STS-90 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1998 Mar 16  1550  Roll to VAB 
1998 Mar 23  1230  Roll to LC39B 
1998 Apr 16  1215  Scrub with computer failure 
1998 Apr 17  1819:00  Launch by Shuttle from LC39B 
 1821:01  SRB sep 
 1821:15  OMS assist burn, 1:42 
 1822:58  OMS cutoff 
 1827:28 MECO  78 x 280 x 39.0 
   76 x 273 x 39.0 (STS-MR) 
 1827:48  ET sep 
 1900:27 OMS-2 1:50 52.1m/s  
 1902:18 OMS-2 CO 257 x 286 x 39.0 
 1956  PLBD open 
1998 Apr 21    89.90 256 x 282 x 39.0 
1998 Apr 22  2014:00  RCS orbit adjust 1 15s 1m/s  89.86 253 x 282 x 39.0 
1998 Apr 25  0345  CO2 scrub system failed 
1998 Apr 26   System repaired 
1998 Apr 27  1828:59  RCS orb adj 2 7s 0.5m/s  89.80 249 x 278 x 39.0 
1998 May 3  1235  PLBD closed  89.72 247 x 274 x 39.0 
 1510:10 OMS DO 2:19 64.9m/s 
 1512:30  OMS DO CO  87.53 31 x 272 x 39.0 
 1537:14  Entry interface 
 1608:59  MGTD KSC RW33, 15:21:49:59 
 1609:13  NGTD 
 1609:58 Wheels stop 

2230Tow to OPF/3 

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