Editing STS-88 (section)

==Mission timeline==

===Launch preparations===
At 12:15&nbsp;am [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]] on Monday, 23 June 1997, an [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] [[C-5 Galaxy|C-5]] air cargo plane arrived at the [[Shuttle Landing Facility]] carrying [[Unity (ISS module)|''Unity'']] (Node 1).<ref name="UnityAtKSC">{{cite web |url=http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/release/1997/93-97.htm |title=KSC Release No. 93-97 |author=NASA/George H. Diller |date=19 June 1997 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528083519/http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/release/1997/93-97.htm |archive-date=28 May 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 1 February 1998, [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']] was towed to [[Orbiter Processing Facility]] Bay 1.<ref name="EndeavourToOPF">{{cite web |url=http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/stsstat/1998/feb/2-02-98s.htm |title=2 February 1998 Space Shuttle Status Report |author=NASA/KSC Public Affairs |date=2 February 1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=29 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528083435/http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/stsstat/1998/feb/2-02-98s.htm |archive-date=28 May 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 15 October 1998, ''Endeavour'' was moved from Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1 to the [[Vehicle Assembly Building]].<ref name="EndeavourToVAB">{{cite web |url=http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/stsstat/1998/oct/10-15-98.htm |title=15 October 1998 Space Shuttle Status Report |author=NASA/KSC Public Affairs |date=15 October 1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528083215/http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/stsstat/1998/oct/10-15-98.htm |archive-date=28 May 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 21 October 1998, ''Endeavour'' was transported atop the [[Crawler-transporter|Crawler Transporter]] to [[Kennedy Space Center]]'s [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|Launch Pad 39A]].<ref name="EndeavourTo39A">{{cite web |url=http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/stsstat/1998/oct/10-21-98.htm |title=21 October 1998 Space Shuttle Status Report |author=NASA/KSC Public Affairs |date=21 October 1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528083318/http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/status/stsstat/1998/oct/10-21-98.htm |archive-date=28 May 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===3–4 December (Flight Day 1, Launch)===
[[Space Shuttle]] [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']] launched at 3:35:34&nbsp;am [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]] from the [[Kennedy Space Center]]'s [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|Launch Pad 39A]]. STS-88 was the first shuttle flight to the [[International Space Station]]. After launch, the crew opened the shuttle's payload bay doors, deployed the [[Ku-Band]] [[Antenna (radio)|antenna]], and activated the shuttle's Hitchhiker payload. The crew also started preparing for the multiple engine firings that will be performed to bring shuttle ''Endeavour'' within the [[Shuttle Remote Manipulator System]]'s reach of the [[Zarya (ISS module)|''Zarya FGB'']]. At launch, ''Zarya'' was 240 statute miles above the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and the module was on its 222nd orbit of the Earth since its launch.<ref name="FD1Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-01-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 1 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827012252/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-01-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===4 December (Flight Day 2)===
On Flight Day 2, the crew of [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']] performed several tasks to get ready for the docking on Sunday and the [[Extra-vehicular activity|extra-vehicular activities]] (EVA) to be completed on the mission. [[Nancy J. Currie|Nancy Currie]] conducted a photo survey of [[Unity (ISS module)|''Unity'']] and ''Endeavour'''s payload bay, using the shuttle's robotic arm, [[Shuttle Remote Manipulator System|Canadarm]]. [[Jerry L. Ross|Jerry Ross]] and [[James H. Newman|Jim Newman]] checked out the spacesuits they would use on the three EVAs and prepared the shuttle's [[airlock]] for use during the spacewalks. [[Frederick W. Sturckow|Rick Sturckow]], who would be choreographing the EVAs from inside the shuttle, joined Ross and Newman to check out the [[Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue|SAFER]] units to be worn during the spacewalks in case Ross or Newman were to become separated from ''Endeavour'' during one of the spacewalks.<ref name="FD2Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-02-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 2 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827012900/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-02-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===5 December (Flight Day 3)===
On Flight Day 3, [[Nancy J. Currie|Currie]] used [[Shuttle Remote Manipulator System|Canadarm]] to grapple and place [[Unity (ISS module)|''Unity'']] onto the [[Androgynous Peripheral Attach System|Orbiter Docking System]] at 6:45&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]. The crew pressurized [[Pressurized Mating Adapter#PMA-2|PMA-2]] and entered it. They put several caps over vent valves to prepare for the entrance into ''Unity'' later in the week. Commander [[Robert D. Cabana|Bob Cabana]] performed a debris avoidance maneuver to move ''Endeavour'' out of the way of a casing from a [[Delta II]] rocket that launched on 6 November from [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] in California.<ref name="FD3Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-03-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 3 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=19 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219194307/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-03-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===6 December (Flight Day 4, Docking with Zarya)===
On Flight Day 4, [[Robert D. Cabana|Bob Cabana]] fired [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']]'s rockets several times to maneuver the shuttle within [[Shuttle Remote Manipulator System|Canadarm]]'s reach of the [[Zarya (ISS module)|''Zarya'' FGB]]. At 6:47&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], [[Nancy J. Currie|Currie]] grappled ''Zarya''. Later, at 9:07&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], Cabana fired ''Endeavour'''s downward jets to bring the two modules together.<ref name="FD4Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-04-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 4 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827012138/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-04-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===7 December (Flight Day 5, EVA 1)===
During a 7-hour, 21-minute [[Extra-vehicular activity|spacewalk]], astronauts [[Jerry L. Ross|Jerry Ross]] and [[James H. Newman|Jim Newman]] helped activate the [[Unity (ISS module)|''Unity'' node]], the first module to the U.S. segment of the [[International Space Station]]. They connected 40 connectors and cables running along the 35-ton, {{convert|76|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} space station. At 10:49&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], flight controllers in Houston saw ''Unity'''s systems come on.<ref name="FD5Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-05-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 5 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=17 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917074716/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-05-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===8 December (Flight Day 6)===
On the 6th day of ''Endeavour''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s STS-88 mission, Mission Specialists [[Jerry L. Ross|Jerry Ross]] and [[James H. Newman|Jim Newman]] relaxed after their long spacewalk on Flight Day 5. Ross, Newman, [[Nancy J. Currie|Nancy Currie]], and [[Sergei Krikalev]] prepared equipment for Flight Day 7's EVA. Commander [[Robert D. Cabana|Bob Cabana]] and Pilot [[Frederick W. Sturckow|Rick Sturckow]] fired ''Endeavour'''s main reaction control system jets for 22 minutes to raise the [[International Space Station|ISS]] approximately 5{{frac|1|2}} statute miles. The crew conducted interviews with [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]], [[Discovery Channel]], and [[MSNBC]].<ref name="FD6Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-06-highlights.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010205090500/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-06-highlights.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2001 |title=STS-88 Day 6 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 }}</ref>

===9 December (Flight Day 7, EVA 2)===
At 3:33&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], Mission Specialists [[Jerry L. Ross|Jerry Ross]] and [[James H. Newman|Jim Newman]] commenced on a 7-hour, 2-minute [[Extra-vehicular Activity|EVA]] to continue the installation of [[Unity (ISS module)|''Unity'']]. The two spacewalkers first installed two antennas on the outside of ''Unity''. The astronauts also removed launch restraint pins on the four radial [[Common Berthing Mechanism|common berthing mechanisms]] of ''Unity''. They installed covers on ''Unity'''s two data relay boxes to protect them from sunlight. Lastly, Newman freed a backup rendezvous system antenna on the [[Zarya (ISS module)|''Zarya FGB'']].<ref name="FD7Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-07-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 7 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=17 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917074911/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-07-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===10 December (Flight Day 8, Entrance into the ISS)===
Flight Day 8 was a historic day as the [[International Space Station]] was opened for the first time on orbit. At 2:54&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], Commander [[Robert D. Cabana|Bob Cabana]] and [[Russia]]n [[Cosmonaut]] [[Sergei Krikalev]] opened the hatch to the [[Unity (ISS module)|''Unity'' Node]] of the new International Space Station. The other members of the crew started unstowing gear and turning on the lights. At 4:12&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], Cabana and Krikalev opened the hatch into ''[[Zarya (ISS module)|Zarya]]''. [[Jerry L. Ross|Jerry Ross]] and [[James H. Newman|Jim Newman]] assembled a S-band communications system in ''Unity'', and Krikalev and [[Nancy J. Currie|Nancy Currie]] replaced a problematic battery discharging unit in ''Zarya''.<ref name="FD8Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-08-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 8 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=17 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917074902/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-08-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===11 December (Flight Day 9)===
On Flight Day 9, Pilot [[Frederick W. Sturckow|Rick Sturckow]] and Mission Specialist [[Nancy J. Currie|Nancy Currie]] continued unstowing hardware in [[Unity (ISS module)|''Unity'']]. After turning off the lights, the crew later closed the hatches to ''[[Zarya (ISS module)|Zarya]]'' and ''Unity''. The crew prepared for the mission's third and final spacewalk on Flight Day 10. ''Endeavour'''s crew also conducted interviews with [[CNN]] and [[CBS News]].<ref name="FD9Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-09-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 9 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827012627/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-09-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===12 December (Flight Day 10, EVA 3)===
At 3:33&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], [[astronaut]]s [[Jerry L. Ross|Jerry Ross]] and [[James H. Newman|Jim Newman]] commenced on a 6-hour, 59-minute [[Extra-vehicular activity|EVA]] to finish the installation of the [[Unity (ISS module)|''Unity'' Node]] to ''[[Zarya (ISS module)|Zarya]]''. The two stowed tools on the side of ''Unity'' to prepare for the spacewalks on [[STS-96]], the next mission to the [[International Space Station|ISS]]. Ross also freed another antenna on ''Zarya'', similar to the one Newman freed on EVA-2. The spacewalkers also tested the redesigned [[Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue|SAFER]] jet packs, to be used in the event an astronaut became separated from the spacecraft during a spacewalk. After the EVA, Pilot [[Frederick W. Sturckow|Rick Sturckow]] depressurized the vestibule between ''Endeavour'' and PMA-2 to prepare for the undocking of the two spacecraft on Flight Day 11.<ref name="FD10Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-10-highlights.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010205091500/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-10-highlights.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2001 |title=STS-88 Day 10 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 }}</ref>

===13 December (Flight Day 11, Undocking)===
On Flight Day 11, [[Space Shuttle]] ''Endeavour'' undocked from the [[International Space Station]]. At 3:25&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], Pilot [[Frederick W. Sturckow|Rick Sturckow]] backed ''Endeavour'' {{convert|450|ft|m}} away from the station and started a nose-forward fly-around of the station, so that the crew could take pictures of the space station. At 4:49&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], [[Frederick W. Sturckow|Sturckow]] performed a final separation burn. Later, the crew deployed SAC-A, a small satellite for the [[Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales|Argentinean National Commission of Space Activities]].<ref name="FD11Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-11-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 11 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827012219/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-11-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===14 December (Flight Day 12)===
On the last full day on orbit, the crew deployed a small [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] [[satellite]] called [[MightySat-1]]. The crew tested the orbiter's aerosurfaces and steering jets to be used on landing day and stowed equipment.<ref name="FD12Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-12-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 12 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827012939/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-12-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===15 December (Flight Day 13, Landing)===
Flight Day 13 was landing day for [[Space Shuttle]] ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' and its crew of six. At 7:07&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], the orbiter's payload bay doors were closed for entry. [[Flight Director]] John Shannon gave the go for the crew to fire the [[Space Shuttle Orbital Maneuvering System|orbital maneuvering system engines]] for the deorbit burn at 9:46&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]] so that ''Endeavour'' could slow down to enter the [[Earth]]'s atmosphere. At 10:54&nbsp;pm [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]], ''Endeavour'' and crew landed on the [[Kennedy Space Center]]'s Runway 15. ''Endeavour'' wrapped up a 4.7&nbsp;million mile mission, and the first to the [[International Space Station]].<ref name="FD13Highlights">{{cite web |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-13-highlights.html |title=STS-88 Day 13 Highlights |author=NASA |year=1998 |publisher=NASA |access-date=26 May 2010 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827013026/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-88/sts-88-day-13-highlights.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>