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Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB)
July 18 (4 p.m.): Shuttle Program Manager, Director of Shuttle Operations, Dr. Antonio Guell, CNES, and staff meteorologist conduct the pre-launch press conference.
July 18 (4:20 p.m.): Dr. Antonio Guell from the French Space Agency (CNES) answers questions from French reporters after the press conference.
July 19 (6:30 a.m.): Space Shuttle Columbia hides inside the rotating service structure (RSS) at Launch Complex 39, Pad B.
July 19 (6:35 a.m ): The RSS rolls back to unveil the orbiter.
July 19 ( " ): Space Shuttle Columbia awaits launch scheduled for early Tuesday morning.
July 19 ( " ): A BBC crew fights the many mosquitoes at Launch Pad B
July 19 ( " ): Space Shuttle Columbia
July 19 (2:30 p.m.): Astronauts Philippe Perrin and Jean-Jacques Favier visit the press center.
July 19 (9:30 p.m.): NASA staff finish to buckle up Commander Eileen Collins for her third flight to space.
July 19 ( " ): French Space Agency Astronaut Michel Tognini is ready to enter the shuttle.
July 20 (12:36 a.m.): Seconds before launch a cut-off is called after a faulty sensor detected a hydrogen leak in the engine.
July 20 (2:30 a.m.): NASA officials praise the launch team's swiftness during a post launch-attempt news conference.
July 20 (9:30 p.m.): Crew family members and guests tour the launch pad hoping to see the crew.
July 20 (9:35 p.m.): Astronaut Michel Tognini and his wife appear in the dark of the night to spend ten minutes with their guests.
July 21 ( 9:30 a.m. ): Throughout the Kennedy Space Center signs indicate that Columbia's flight has been rescheduled.
July 21 (8:00 p.m.): For the second time, photographers awaits the STS-93 crew.
July 21 (8:45 p.m.): NASA staff and guests applaud the crew leaving the Operations and Checkout Building.
July 21 (8:45 p.m.): Mission Specialist Cady Coleman walks out with the crew to the bus which will take them to the launch pad.
July 21 (8:46 p.m.): The bus leaves for Launch Pad 39 B with the astronauts onboard.
July 21 (9:15 p.m.): Pilot Jeff Ashby gets ready to enter Orbiter Columbia for his first flight to space.
July 21 (9:15 p.m.): If the launch is successful, Eileen Collins will be the first woman in command of the space shuttle.
July 21 (9:20 p.m.): Collins, Ashby, Hawley and Tognini will in the flight deck, while Coleman (picture) will seat in the mid-deck.
July 21 (9:40 p.m.): NASA staff helps Mission Specialist Michel Tognini enter the shuttle for his second journey to space. He flew on Mir in 1992. (photo: CNES)
July 21 (9:30 p.m.): Space Shuttle Columbia's cockpit ready for launch at 12:36 a.m.
July 21 (10:00 p.m.): T-2:24:00 : Columbia awaits launch on PAD 39B.
July 21 (11:45 p.m.): Reporters in the press room file in stories while listening to NASA TV live.
July 22 (12:54 a.m.): Twenty-three minutes into the launch window, reporters gather around the staff meteorologist. (photo: CNES)
July 22 (1:10 a.m.): The countdown remains at T- 5 minutes during the 46-minute launch window due to thunderstorms in the KSC area. A scrub is called and the launch is rescheduled for Friday, July 23, 12:24 a.m.
July 22 (9:05 p.m.): For the third time, NASA staff brings the astronauts' bags into the bus that will take them to the launch pad.
July 22 (9:09 p.m.): STS-93 crew leaves the operations and checkout building for a third launch attempt. (photo: CNES)
July 22 (9:09 p.m.): French Astronaut Michel Tognini.
July 22 (12:25 p.m.): Columbia is ready for lift-off at Launch Pad B. Weather conditions are fair. (photo: CNES)
July 22 (12:31 p.m.): T - 00:00:00, Columbia's engines fire up. (photo: CNES)
July 22 (12:31 p.m.): Lift-off. Columbia will reach the orbit less than nine minutes later.
