International Space Station (ISS) Diary
Zvezda Arrives

No major activities took place 2000 May - July. This section of the diary covers 2000 July to 2000 October. The third large module of the International Space Station finds its way into space and links up with Zarya, Shuttle crews continue to build on to the station by adding the Z-1 Truss and PMA-3 docking adaptor to Unity.

Date and Time (GMT)		Event
2000 Jul 8	-	Proton rocket carrying the Zvezda space station module moved Launch Complex 23 at the Baikonur cosmodrome
2000 Jul 12	04:56	Zvezda launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch Complex 23 by Proton rocket into 179 x 332 kilometre orbit at 51.6 degrees inclination - ISS orbit is 363 x 370 kilometers
2000 Jul 14	-	Zvezda orbit raised to 288 x 357 kilometers
2000 Jul 18	-	ISS orbit raised to 367 x 373 kilometres
2000 Jul 26	00:45	Zvezda docks with the aft port if the ISS Zarya module - orbit is 364 x 371 kilometres at 51.6 degrees inclination - the ISS now consists of three modules, Zvezda, Zarya and Unity
2000 Aug 6	18:26	Progress M1-3 cargo supply ship launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Launch Complex 1 by Soyuz-U rocket
2000 Aug 6	18:35	Progress M1-3 separates from its rocket and enters 215 x 246 kilometre orbit at 51.6 degrees inclination
2000 Aug 7	-	Progress M1 3 in 272 x 297 kilometre transfer orbit
2000 Aug 8	20:13	Progress M1-3 docks with rear port of the Zvezda module while the International Space Station passes above northern Kazakhstan - orbit is 349 x 365 kilometres at 51.6 degrees inclination
2000 Aug 10	-	Fuel is transferred to the Zvezda module of the ISS from the Progress M1-3 cargo vessel
2000 Aug 11	-	A start is made on transferring oxidiser to Zvezda from Progress M1-3 but is halted automatically when a sensor detects an anomaly
2000 Aug 14	03:20	Space Shuttle Atlantis begins roll-out to Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center
2000 Aug 14	13:30	Space Shuttle Atlantis installed on Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center
2000 Aug 15	-	Progress M1-3 performs a test firing of its thrusters, resulting in the orbit of the ISS being raised from 348 x 363 kilometeres to 350 x 363 kilometres
2000 Aug 17	-	Two firings of Progress M1-3's engine are used to raise the ISS orbit from 350 x 363 kilometres to 357 x 370 kilometres
2000 Aug 31	-	NASA reports that transfer of fuel and oxidiser (260 kilogrammes total) from Progress M1-3 to both pairs of tanks within the Zvezda module of the ISS has been completed
2000 Sep 8	12:45	Space Shuttle Atlantis launched from Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-106 into an orbit of 280 x 331 kilometres at 51.6 degrees inclination - crew consists of Col Terrence Wilcutt, USMC (commander), Cdr Scott D Altman, USN (pilot), and mission specialists Dr Edward Tsang Lu, Richard A Mastracchio, Lt-Cdr Daniel C Burbank, USCG, Col Yuri Malenchenko, Russian Air Force, and Dr Boris I Morukov (Russia)
2000 Sep 10	05:51	Atlantis docks with the PMA-2 docking adaptor on the Unity Module of the International Space Station while passing over Khazakhstan and within range of Russian tracking stations - it is Atlantis's second visit to the ISS - orbit is 352 x 366 kilometres
2000 Sep 11	04:55	Lu and Malenchenko open Atlantis's hatch to start a space walk in order to connect nine cables between Zarya and Zvezda (four cables to carry power from a future solar array to Zarya and Zvezda, two to carry video, two to allow Zvezda to control the positioning of Zarya's solar arrays, and one optical fibre to carry future communications between US and Russian astronauts undertaking space walks), and to erect a magnetometer boom on the exterior of Zvezda which will used to gauge the station's attitude in space
2000 Sep 11	11:01	Lu and Malenchenko seal Atlantis's hatch at the end of the space walk
2000 Sep 11	12:30	Approx time - ISS orbit is 352 x 366 kilometres - Atlantis's manoeuvring engines are fired thirty six times times over the period of one hour to raise the ISS orbit - after the firing, the orbit is 361 x 369 kilometres
2000 Sep 11	-	Space Shuttle Discovery rolled-out to Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center
2000 Sep 12	02:40	Wilcutt and Lu open the hatch to PMA-2 and enter the International Space Station - over the next few days they will remove restraints which held down equipment inside Zvezda during launch, unload supplies from Progress M1-3, and remove unwanted equipment from inside the station (including the docking probe from Progress M1-3) for return to Earth
2000 Sep 12	05:20	Wilcutt and Malenchenko open the hatch to Zvezda and report that the module is in excellent condition and that environmental conditions are good - during the course of the day they begin transferring cargo from Atlantis to the Unity module
2000 Sep 12	06:22	The hatch to Progress M1-3 is opened
2000 Sep 12	15:00	NASA announces that Atlantis will be allowed to stay in orbit for an extra day to allow more time for preparation of the International Space Station to receive its first full crew visit late October
2000 Sep 13	-	The crew instals three batteries in Zvezda which were left out at launch to save weight, they also replace two batteries in Zarya, continuing work started by the previous visiting crew - work continues on unloading cargo into the ISS
2000 Sep 14	06:13	For a second time, Atlantis's manoeuvring engines are fired 36 times over the period of one hour to raise the ISS orbit - after the firing, the orbit is 369 x 372 kilometres
2000 Sep 14	-	Unloading work from Atlantis includes two Russian Orlan-DMA spacesuits for use on future space walks - a toilet is unpacked from Progress M1-3
2000 Sep 15	06:46	For a third time, Atlantis 's manoeuvring engines are fired 36 times over the period of one hour to raise the ISS orbit - after the firing, the orbit is 373 x 380 kilometres
2000 Sep 16	-	Unloading activities include a treadmill - the crew also begins to replace equipment in PMA-2 which was removed by an earlier crew to make access to the station easier
2000 Sep 17	03:30	For a fourth and final time, Atlantis 's manoeuvring engines are fired 36 times over the period of one hour to raise the ISS orbit - after the firing, the orbit is 377 x 388 kilometres
2000 Sep 17	12:01	The hatch between Atlantis and the ISS is closed ready for the Shuttle's departure
2000 Sep 18	03:46	While passing over the Ukraine, a spring mechanism pushes Atlantis away from the ISS to allow elements of the docking units to clear each other - Atlantis then uses its thrusters to move away and fly twice round the station to inspect and photograph it
2000 Sep 18	17:35	Atlantis fires its RCS and begins to move away from the ISS
2000 Sep 19	-	The crew of Atlantis spends the day testing the Shuttle's control systems and preparing to return to Earth
2000 Sep 20	06:50	Atlantis fires its OMS engines to initiate re-entry
2000 Sep 20	07:56	Atlantis lands on the Kennedy Space Center runway
2000 Sep 20	07:58	Wheel stop - Atlantis's mission is completed
2000 Oct 6	01:38	Originally planned launch time for Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station - lift off postponed due to concerns over the separation of the orbiter from the external tank following analysis of the Atlantis/STS-106 lift off - engineers are also concerned about a slow response from a pressure valve in Discovery's fuel system
2000 Oct 7	01:16	Planned launch attempt for Space Shuttle Discovery - postponed 24 hrs before lift-off and prior to re-commencing the countdown due to continued concerns over one of Discovery's fuel valves
2000 Oct 10	00:04	Second launch attempt for Space Shuttle Discovery - postponed due to high wind conditions at the Kennedy Space Center
2000 Oct 10	23:40	Third launch attempt for Space Shuttle Discovery - postponed due to the presence of an equipment retaining pin lodged in the orbiter support structure and noticed by launch-pad inspection crews - mission managers are concerned about possible damage to the Orbiter should it fall during launch
2000 Oct 11	23:17	Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on mission STS-92 into orbit of 160 x 321 kilometres at 51.6 degrees inclination with crew consisting of Col Brian Duffy, USAF (commander), Lt-Col Pamela Ann Melroy, USN (pilot), and mission specialists Koichi Wakata (Japan National Space Development Agency), Leroy Chiao, Peter J K Wisoff, Cdr Michael E Lopez-Alegria, USN, and Col William Surles McArthur Jnr, USA
2000 Oct 12	-	Discovery's Ku-band antenna has failed, preventing communication via the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) - this will limit the transmission of television pictures and high-speed data - the mission itself will be unaffected
2000 Oct 13	17:45	Discovery docks with the PMA-2 docking adaptor on the Unity Module of the International Space Station while passing over the Ukraine and within range of Russian tracking stations
2000 Oct 13	20:30	Approximate time - Lopez-Alegria opens Discovery's docking hatch
2000 Oct 13	21:15	Approximate time - Lopez-Alegria opens the hatch to PMA-2 and Duffy enters the Unity module of the International Space Station, followed by Lopez-Alegria, Chiao and Melroy - they begin to offload supplies for the first resident crew of the station due to arrive 2000 November
2000 Oct 13	-	Duffy and McArthur use the Remote Manipulator System to conduct a camera survey of the exterior of the ISS
2000 Oct 14	16:50	Approximate time - Wakata and Lopez-Alegria use Remote Manipulator System to lift the Z-1 Truss out of the cargo bay - the operation begins about 2 hours and 15 minutes late due to an electrical short-circuit aboard Discovery and the need to re-route electrical power to several of Discover's systems
2000 Oct 14	18:20	The Z-1 Truss is latched in place on Unity's upper surface
2000 Oct 14	-	Melroy and Wisoff open a hatch inside Unity which leads to the Z-1 truss pressurised compartment and link-up electrical earth (ground) connections between the Truss and Unity
2000 Oct 14	22:57	The outer hatch between Discovery and Unity is closed - the cabin pressure inside Discovery is then reduced in preparation for a space walk to take place 2000 October 15
2000 Oct 15	14:27	McArthur and Chiao begin a space walk to connect two sets of power cables (a group of six and a group of four) to provide power to heaters and conduits on the Z-1 Truss - the two astronauts also relocate two communication antenna assemblies and install a toolbox on the outside of the Truss - they are assisted by Wakata, who operates the RMS to move them around the shuttle's payload bay and outside the ISS
2000 Oct 15	20:55	McArthur and Chiao seal Discovery's hatch at the end of the space walk.
2000 Oct 16	14:15	Wisoff and Lopez-Alegria begin a space walk to oversee installation of PMA-3 on the lower face of Unity, they also prepare the Z-1 truss for fitting of solar panels during the next Shuttle visit - they release PMA-3 from it's stowage pallet and guide Wakata as he manoeuvres it into position- Melroy then operates the remote control system to tighten the securing bolts - finally, Wisoff and Lopez-Alegria connect cables between the Adaptor and Unity
2000 Oct 16	21:04	Approximate time - Discovery's manoeuvring engines are fired eighteen times, for 1.4 seconds each occasion, over a period of thirty minutes in order to raise the ISS orbit to 380 x 381 kilometres
2000 Oct 16	21:22	Wisoff and Lopez-Alegria seal Discovery's hatch at the end of the space walk
2000 Oct 17	14:30	McArthur and Chiao begin a space walk to attach power convertors to the Z-1 Truss in preparation for it to have solar arrays attached, to complete the connection of cables between Unity and the Z-1 Truss and between Unity and PMA-3, and to re-route and reconfigure cables between PMA-2 and PMA-3 ready for the next Shuttle mission to use the new docking port - they are assisted by Lopez-Alegria and Wakata, who operate the RMS to move them around the outside of the ISS
2000 Oct 17	21:18	McArthur and Chiao seal Discovery's hatch at the end of the space walk.
2000 Oct 17	21:30	Approximate time - for a second time, Discovery's manoeuvring engines are fired eighteen times, for 1.4 seconds each occasion, over a period of thirty minutes in order to raise the ISS orbit to 381 x 386 kilometres
2000 Oct 18	15:00	Wisoff and Lopez-Alegria begin a space walk to remove a grapple fixture from the Z-1 Truss which was used when lifting it from Discovery's cargo bay, complete preparations for the Z-1 Truss to receive a future solar panel, and test a gas-operated manoeuvring unit designed to allow an adrift astronaut to make it back to the space station - they cancelled a demonstration of recovering an incapacitated astronaut back into the Shuttle due to a lack of time
2000 Oct 18	21:53	Approximate time - for a third time, Discovery's manoeuvring engines are fired eighteen times, for 1.4 seconds each occasion, over a period of thirty minutes in order to raise the ISS orbit to 381 x 391 kilometres
2000 Oct 18	21:56	Wisoff and Lopez-Alegria seal Discovery's hatch at the end of the space walk
2000 Oct 20	15:08	Discovery undocks from the International Space Station
2000 Oct 20	15:53	Approximate time - Discovery fires its RCS and moves away from the International Space Station
2000 Oct 22	18:14	Originally-planned landing time for Discovery at the Kennedy Space Center, but the attempt (and a later one) are called off because crosswinds are too high
2000 Oct 23	-	Landing opportunities for Discovery at the Kennedy Space Center and at Edwards Air Force Base in California are waived due to continued winds and low cloud at KSC and rainfall at Edwards
2000 Oct 24	19:52	Discovery fires its OMS engines for three minutes to initiate re-entry
2000 Oct 24	20:59	Discovery lands on the Edward Air Force Base Runway
2000 Oct 24	21:00	Wheel stop - Discovery's mission is completed

Zarya and Unity

ISS Index

Expedition 1