STS-92 was a landmark mission for NASA, celebrating the organization's 100th Space Shuttle flight. This particular mission launched on October 11, 2000, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the Space Shuttle Discovery serving as the vehicle. Under the command of Jeffrey Ashby, the STS-92 crew included pilot Charles Hobaugh and mission specialists Koichi Wakata, Paul Lockhart, Michael Lopez-Alegria, Soichi Noguchi, and William McArthur. The mission's primary goal was to deliver and install the Z1 Truss and a Pressurized Mating Adapter, crucial components of the International Space Station (ISS), which was in the midst of active construction at that time.

The launch was a culmination of years of planning and collaboration involving multiple countries and agencies, emphasizing the international spirit of cooperation in space exploration. The mission lasted 11 days, during which the crew accomplished complex assembly tasks in low Earth orbit. Spacewalks conducted during this time allowed astronauts to practice necessary techniques that would be used for future assembly and maintenance of the ISS. Notably, the mission was also one of the first to use the new, improved robotic arm on the Shuttle, which facilitated the installation of modules into the ISS.

The successful completion of STS-92 highlighted the importance of the Space Shuttle program in the broader context of human spaceflight and ISS assembly. It reinforced NASA's capabilities in operating complex missions involving international cooperation, diverse technology, and the vital task of ensuring the ISS reached its full operational capability. The mission's achievements were instrumental in paving the way for future science and research endeavors aboard the space station.