04 December 1998
SHUTTLE CREW LIFTS OFF TO START BUILDING SPACE STATION
(Begins new era of international space cooperation) (1050) By Jim Fuller USIA Science Writer Washington -- The U.S. space shuttle Endeavour has blasted off with six crew members who will begin construction of the International Space Station -- the largest and most complex cooperative space venture in history. Endeavour lifted off early December 4 at 0835 GMT from Kennedy Space Center in Florida carrying into orbit the Unity connecting module, the first U.S.-built space station module. During the 12-day mission, Endeavour's crew members will join the U.S. module to a Russian-built module already in orbit 386 kilometers above Earth -- completing the first interlocking of space station segments in orbit. The Russian control module, called Zarya (the Russian word for "sunrise"), was launched on a three-stage Proton rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on November 20. It will act as a type of tugboat during early construction of the space station, providing propulsion, power and communications. The International Space Station draws upon the scientific and technological resources of the United States and 15 other nations -- Canada, Japan, Russia, Brazil and the 11 nations of the European Space Agency. "We're ready to start on a new era of international cooperation in space and get this space station built," said Endeavour commander Robert Cabana just prior to the launch of the space shuttle. In a statement released by the White House, President Clinton said that the launch of the first U.S.-built space station component represents "a bold and exciting step toward a permanent U.S. presence in space." "A passion for discovery and a sense of adventure -- both deeply rooted American qualities -- spur our determination to explore new frontiers in space and spark our can-do spirit of technological determination," he said. "All Americans join me in congratulating the thousands of men and women in our space program that are transforming the dream of an orbiting space station into a reality." U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was among the dignitaries from around the world who watched the lift off of Endeavour at Kennedy Space Center. Afterwards Albright praised the efforts of so many countries "working together on the kind of issues the 21st century is going to be all about." "I do believe in the space program and I want to do everything I can to help," she added. "As secretary of state, all day long I deal with disputes on the ground, countries that can't get along, and it's great to look at this space station endeavor." Albright was also at Kennedy on December 3 when the shuttle launch was called off at the last second and delayed one day because of a cockpit alarm that was later determined to be no threat to the mission. "In foreign policy, we have our version of launches and we don't get it right the second time often, so all my admiration to you," she said, congratulating the launch team following the successful lift off on December 4. The crew aboard Endeavour is scheduled to rendezvous with the Russian module Zarya on December 6. Then astronaut Nancy Currie will use the shuttle's robotic arm to capture the spacecraft and attach it to the Unity module located in the shuttle's cargo bay. On later days of the flight, astronauts Jerry Ross and Jim Newman will conduct three spacewalks to finalize the connections between Zarya and Unity, beginning the five years of orbital assembly work that it will take to construct the new space station. Unity will serve as the main connecting point for later U.S. station modules and components. The Endeavour crew also includes shuttle pilot Frederick Sturckow and Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, who has flown in space three times -- twice on the Russian Mir space station and once on the shuttle. Krikalev also is a member of the first crew that will live aboard the new space station. The Endeavour shuttle flight is the prelude to over 40 similar flights to come, where large station components will be attached using robotic equipment before final connections are made by space walking astronauts. There are five more assembly flights scheduled for next year. They will include the Russian-built and launched service module, which will provide living quarters during the early stages of station construction; two space shuttles filled with interior supplies; an early exterior framework; and the first huge U.S. solar arrays to provide power to the growing station. The Russian government's delay in funding construction of the crucial service module has already put the station a year behind schedule. Last year, the financially-troubled Russian Space Agency agreed to sell the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) $60 million worth of future research time and cargo space on the new station, money expected to help the agency complete the module in time for its currently scheduled lift off in July 1999. A permanent human presence aboard the station begins with the launch of an international crew in January 2000. The assembly in orbit is scheduled to be completed in 2004. The completed International Space Station will have a mass of more than 450,000 kilograms, will measure 106 meters across and 87 meters long, and will include nearly a half hectare of solar panels -- making it four times as large as the Russian Mir space station. The new space station will include a U.S. laboratory, two Russian research modules, a European laboratory, a Japanese laboratory and a Canadian-built robotic arm. The station's orbit will permit Earth observations that cover 85 percent of the globe. Officials believe that research in the station's laboratories will lead to discoveries in medicine, materials and fundamental science that will benefit people around the world, and that the station will also serve as an indispensable step in preparation for future human space exploration. After completing their station assembly work, the Endeavour crew is due to release two small science satellites. One of the satellites, called Satelite de Aplicaciones/Cientifico-A, is a cooperative mission between NASA and the Argentine National Commission on Space Activities. The satellite will test science instruments and equipment that will be used later in a more complex spacecraft for the Argentine space program.
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