All eyes in the VIP stand at KSC focus on
Space Shuttle Columbia as it roars toward space on mission
STS-107. Following a flawless and uneventful countdown, liftoff
occurred on-time at 10:39 a.m. EST. The 16-day research mission will
include FREESTAR (Fast Reaction Experiments Enabling Science,
Technology, Applications and Research) and the SHI Research Double
Module (SHI/RDM), known as SPACEHAB. Experiments on the module range
from material sciences to life sciences.. Landing of Columbia is
scheduled at about 8:53 a.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 1. This mission is
the first Shuttle mission of 2003. Mission STS-107 is the 28th flight
of the orbiter Columbia and the 113th flight overall in NASA's Space
Shuttle program.