WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

STS-107 Pilot William "Willie" McCool
smiles at spectators as he arrives at KSC for pre-launch
preparations. STS-107 is a mission devoted to research and will
include more than 80 experiments that will study Earth and space
science, advanced technology development, and astronaut health and
safety. The payload on Space Shuttle Columbia includes 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. The crew includes Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon, the
first Israeli astronaut. Other crew members are Commander Rick
Husband, Payload Commander Michael Anderson and Mission Specialists
Kalpana Chawla, David Brown and Laurel Clark. Launch of Columbia is
targeted for Jan. 16 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.