spacetoday.net: Shuttle mission continues smoothly

Posted: Sun, Jan 19, 2003, 6:01 PM ET (2301 GMT)
STS-107 patch (NASA)

A variety of experiments on board the shuttle Columbia have kept the crew of mission STS-107 busy, but astronauts report no problems three days into their flight. Shuttle commander Rick Husband told reporters Saturday that the mission has gotten off to a good start, saying that both the shuttle and the experiments being performed within it are going very well. Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, said that he was so busy Friday working on experiments, such as a camera designed to monitor terrestrial dust patterns, that he didn't have time to mark the Sabbath. The shuttle, on the first dedicated science mission in several years, will remain in orbit until February 1.