The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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The primary objective of the shuttle mission STS-98 was to deliver and install the US Destiny Laboratory onto the International Space Station. Also, the STS-98 astronauts relocated the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 from the Unity Node to the forward Common Berthing Mechanism on Destiny. These two primary tasks were performed with the aid of three space walks and the use of Space Shuttle Atlantis' robotic arm.
The Crew comprised of Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Mark Polansky and Mission Specialists Rober Curbeam, Marsha Ivins and Thomas Jones.
This NASA TV downlink, taken on 08 March 2001, provides a summary of final crew preparations, countdown and lift-off and flight orbital insertion. It comprises of a 3 minute edited crew activity report with English voiceover and a longer flight day highlights with international sound.
00:05:26:00 Crew Activity Report
00:07:57:09 Flight Day HIghlights