The primary purpose of the flight is to deliver and install the ISS Airlock. The Joint Airlock is a pressurized flight element consisting of two cylindrical chambers attached end-to-end by a connecting bulkhead and hatch. Once installed and activated, the ISS airlock becomes the primary path for International Space Station space walk entry and departure for U.S. spacesuits, which are known as Extravehicular Mobility Units, or EMUs. In addition, the Joint Airlock is designed to support the Russian Orlan spacesuit for EVA activity.
The Joint Airlock is 20ft long, 13ft in diameter and weighs 6.5 tons. It was built at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) by the Space Station Prime Contractor Boeing. The ISS-airlock has two main components: a crew airlock and an equipment airlock for storing EVA gear and EVA preflight preps. STS-104 also carries a spacelab pallet with four High Pressure Gas Assembly containers that will be attached to the exterior of the airlock.
July 12, 2001 5:04 a.m. EDT. 10 min window. Tanking operations were completed at 10:35 p.m. EDT. At 4:55 a.m., the countdown clock came out of the T-minus 9 minute hold and entered the final count. The Crew Access Arm was retracted at 4:56 a.m. EDT. Launch occured at the opening of the launch window.
Duration: 12 days, 18 hours, 36 minutes, 39 seconds.
Atlantis was given "a go" for an on time deorbit burn to bring to an end missions STS-104.
The second landing attempt for KSC was waived off and landing is now scheduled for 11:39 p.m. Tuesday July 24, 2001.
At 11:20 pm EDT, a "no go" was given for the first landing attempt due to rain showers in the area. The second landing attempt is scheduled with a deorbit burn at 1:08 am with a touchdown at 2:14 am EDT.