Atlantis returns to Earth; NASA calls mission success

Space shuttle Atlantis mission specialists Yuri V. Usachev, left, of Russia, and James Voss, right, wave to a gathering at the landing strip at Kennedy Space Center on Monday

May 29, 2000
Web posted at: 7:34 a.m. EDT (1134 GMT)

In this story: Crew repairs, replaces items Shuttle raises station's orbit RELATED STORIES, SITES

From Space Correspondent Miles O'Brien

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (CNN) -- After 155 orbits covering 4 million miles, the space shuttle Atlantis descended from the skies over Cape Canaveral early Monday -- its urgent repair mission to the International Space Station complete.

It was the 14th night landing in shuttle history -- the conclusion to the 98th mission since the program began in 1981.

"All of our mission objectives have been accomplished," said NASA manager Jim Van Lack. "We left the station in excellent mechanical condition."

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During the 10-day mission, the crew of seven, led by Cmdr. Jim Halsell, left the 70,000-pound embryonic space station higher, better equipped, brimming with supplies and, quite literally, energized.

Top priority for the crew was the installation of four new 800-amp batteries on the Russian-built "Zarya" module -- replacing cells that were ruined during charging procedures at mission control in Moscow.

Crew repairs, replaces items

Ground controllers said the new batteries were working as designed -- and that the station was at full power for the first time in many months. The 18-month-old space station has orbits the earth every 90 minutes.

The crew changed several other items -- smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, air filters and fans. A faulty communications box was replaced.

The crew also carried aboard numerous items expected to be used by the station's future long-term residents: a treadmill, garbage bags, can openers, sewing kits, notepads and English/Russian and Russian/English dictionaries.

"Jim, congratulations to you and the crew on just a super mission to the international space station," Mission Control told Halsell.

Crewmembers Jeff Williams and Jim Voss logged a successful 6 1/2 hour spacewalk -- when they lashed down an improperly installed U.S. crane, finished constructing a Russian crane and replaced an antenna.

Atlantis (foreground) is docked with the International Space Station

Shuttle raises station's orbit

During a trio of thruster-firing sessions in as many docked days, Halsell gave the station a 28-mile upward push -- leaving it in the desired orbit for the critical docking of the Russian-built Service Module.

That piece of the million-pound station will provide control, guidance and living quarters for the vanguard crews. It is to be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in mid-July -- more than two years behind schedule.

Assuming the launch takes place, Atlantis will return to the space station in mid-August -- with a new crew trained to outfit the Service Module for the station's first long-term occupants -- scheduled to arrive in November.

The short turn-around for Atlantis will put Kennedy Space Center technicians to the test -- there are 60 working days from landing to launch.

Atlantis crew prepares to wrap up space station mission
May 25, 2000
Shuttle astronauts repair, stock space station, and lift it higher
May 24, 2000
Shuttle crew revives space station, prepares for 2nd orbital boost
May 24, 2000
Shuttle set to haul space station into higher orbit
May 23, 2000
Space station gets a shove to higher orbit
May 23, 2000

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