Stock Photo - 01/31/2000 ___ The STS_99 crew wave to onlookers as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building enroute to Launch Pad 39A and liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour, targeted for 12:47 p.m. EST. In their orange launch and entry suits, they are foreground Pilot Dominic Gorie and Commander Kevin Kregel. Behind them left to right are Mission Specialists Janice Voss Ph.D., Mamoru Mohri Ph.D., Gerhard Thiele and Janet Lynn Kavandi Ph.D.. Mohri is with the National Space Development Agency NASDA of Japan, and Thiele is with the European Space Agency. The SRTM will chart a new course to produce unrivaled 3_D images of the Earth´s surface, using two antennae and a 200_foot_long section of space station_derived mast protruding from the payload bay. The result of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission could be close to 1 trillion measurements of the Earth´s topography. Besides contributing to the production of better maps, these measurements could lead to improved water drainage modeling, more realistic flight simulators, better locations for cell phone towers, and enhanced navigation safety. The mission is expected to last about 11days, with Endeavour landing at KSC Friday, Feb. 11, at 4:55 p.m. EST