[Archived] Space Shuttle - Latest News

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Discovery's Launch Countdown Begins June 28

The media advisory is reproduced below:

June 23, 2006

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

MEDIA ADVISORY: M06-106

NASA Space Shuttle Discovery's Launch Countdown Begins June 28

NASA will begin the countdown for the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery at 5 p.m. EDT June 28. The countdown includes nearly 28 hours of built-in hold time leading to a scheduled launch at about 3:49 p.m. on July 1. The launch window extends for nearly five minutes. The launch team at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., will conduct the countdown from the newly renovated Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center.

This mission is designated STS-121. It is the 115th shuttle flight and the 18th U.S. flight to the International Space Station. Discovery's mission is scheduled to last about 12 days and end with 10:45 a.m. landing at Kennedy on July 13. The crew will test new equipment and procedures to improve shuttle safety, as well as deliver supplies and make repairs to the International Space Station.

COUNTDOWN MILESTONES (TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Launch-3 Days (Wednesday, June 28): Countdown begins at the T-43 hour mark (5 p.m.)

Launch-2 Days (Thursday, June 29)
Remove mid-deck and flight-deck platforms (1 a.m.);
Complete preparation to load power reactant storage and distribution system (4 a.m.)
Activate and test navigational systems (6 a.m.);
Flight deck preliminary inspections complete (9 a.m.)
Enter first built-in hold at T-27 hours for duration of 4 hours (9 a.m.); Clear launch pad of all non-essential personnel; Perform test of the vehicle's pyrotechnic initiator controllers
Resume countdown (1 p.m.) Begin operations to load cryogenic reactants into Discovery's fuel cell storage tanks (2:30 p.m.)
Enter 4-hour built-in hold at T-19 hours (9 p.m.); Demate orbiter mid-body umbilical unit (9:30 p.m.) Resume orbiter and ground support equipment closeouts

Launch-1 Day (Friday, June 30)
Resume countdown (1 a.m.); Final preparations of shuttle's three main engines for main propellant tanking and flight (1 a.m.); Begin filling pad sound suppression system water tank (2 a.m.); Pad sound suppression system water tank filling complete (5 a.m.); Close out the tail service masts on the mobile launcher platform

Enter planned hold at T-11 hours for 13 hours, 53 minutes (9 a.m.);
Begin star tracker functional checks (9:50 a.m.); Activate orbiter's inertial measurement units; Activate the orbiter's communications systems; Install film in numerous cameras on the launch pad (10:55 a.m.); Flight crew equipment late stow (2:50 p.m.); Move Rotating Service Structure (RSS) to the park position (6:30 p.m.); Perform ascent switch list; Fuel cell flow-through purge complete Resume countdown at T-11 hours (10:53 p.m.)

Launch Day (Saturday, July 1)
Activate the orbiter's fuel cells (12:02 a.m.); Clear the blast danger area of all non-essential personnel; Switch Discovery's purge air to gaseous nitrogen (12:53 a.m.)
Enter planned 2-hour built-in hold at the T-6 hour mark (3:53 a.m.); Launch team verifies no violations of launch commit criteria prior to cryogenic loading of the external tank; Clear pad of all personnel
Resume countdown (5:53 a.m.); Chill down of propellant transfer lines (5:53 a.m.); Begin loading the external tank with about 500,000 gallons of cryogenic propellants (about 6:03 a.m.); Complete filling the external tank with its flight load of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants (about 8:53 a.m.); Final Inspection Team proceed to launch pad
Enter planned 3-hour built-in hold at T-3 hours (8:53 a.m.); Perform inertial measurement unit preflight calibration; Align Merritt Island Launch Area (MILA) tracking antennas; Perform open loop test with Eastern Range
Resume countdown at T-3 hours (11:53 a.m.); Crew departs Operations and Checkout Building for the pad (11:58 a.m.); Complete closeout preparations in the white room
Check cockpit switch configurations; Flight crew begins entry into the orbiter (about 12:28 p.m.); Astronauts perform air-to-ground voice checks with Launch and Mission Control. Begin to close Discovery's crew hatch (about 1:38 p.m.); Begin Eastern Range final network open loop command checks; Perform hatch seal and cabin leak checks; Complete white room closeout; Closeout crew moves to fallback area; Primary ascent guidance data is transferred to the backup flight system
Enter planned 10-minute hold at T-20 minutes (2:33 p.m.); NASA test director conducts final launch team briefings; Complete inertial measurement unit preflight alignments
Resume countdown at T-20 minutes (2:43 p.m.); Transition the orbiter's onboard computers to launch configuration; Start fuel cell thermal conditioning; Close orbiter cabin vent valves; Transition backup flight system to launch configuration
Enter estimated 40-minute hold at T-9 minutes (2:54 p.m.); Launch director, mission management team and NASA test director conduct final polls for go/no go to launch
Resume countdown at T-9 minutes (about 3:40 p.m.); Start automatic ground launch sequencer; Retract orbiter crew access arm (T-7:30); Start mission recorders (T-6:15)
Start Auxiliary Power Units (T-5:00); Arm SRB and ET range safety safe and arm devices (T-5:00); Start liquid oxygen drainback (T-4:55); Start orbiter aerosurface profile test (T-3:55); Start main engine gimbal profile test (T-3:30); Pressurize liquid oxygen tank (T-2:55);
Begin retraction of the gaseous oxygen vent arm (T-2:55); Fuel cells to internal reactants
(T-2:35); Pressurize liquid hydrogen tank (T-1:57); Deactivate bi-pod heaters (T-1:52); Deactivate SRB joint heaters (T-0:60 seconds); Orbiter transfers from ground to internal power (T-0:50 seconds); Ground Launch Sequencer go for auto sequence start (T-0:31 seconds); SRB gimbal profile (T-0:21 seconds); Ignition of three space shuttle main engines (T-6.6 seconds); SRB ignition and liftoff (T-0)

STS-121 CREW & LAUNCH DAY ACTIVITIES
Commander Steve Lindsey; Pilot Mark Kelly; mission specialists Michael Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson, Piers Sellers and Thomas Reiter of the European Space Agency

• 5:15 a.m. Crew wakes up
• 10:10 a.m. Breakfast
• 10:48 a.m. Weather briefing for STS-121 commander and two crew members
• 11:30 a.m. Astronauts put on flight suits
• 11:58 a.m. Depart for launch pad
• 12:28 p.m. Arrive at white room and begin to enter Discovery
• 1:43 p.m. Close crew hatch
• 3:49 p.m. Launch

For information about the STS-121 crew and its mission to the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For NASA TV downlink and scheduling information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

- end -

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Source: NASA media advisory M06-121

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Countdown to Launch

Image above: NASA Test Director Ted Mosteller (left) briefs the media

about Firing Room 4, which has been undergoing renovations for two years.

The new launch control center is now designated the primary firing room

for all remaining shuttle launches.

Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

Countdown for the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery begins at 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday, June 28, at the T-43 hour. Included in the countdown is nearly 28 hours of built-in hold time prior to a targeted 3:49 p.m. EDT launch on Saturday, July 1, with a launch window that extends for about five minutes. The launch countdown will be conducted from the newly renovated Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA TV will provide live coverage of two exciting events on Tuesday, June 27. At 8:54 a.m. EDT, Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov and Flight Engineer Jeff Williams will discuss their flight and the preparations being made at the International Space Station for the arrival of the STS-121 mission crew on Discovery.

At around noon EDT Tuesday, the crew of Discovery is expected to arrive at Kennedy. Commander Steven Lindsey will have an opportunity to speak briefly to the media about the mission.

The STS-121 crew includes Lindsey, Pilot Mark Kelly and Mission Specialists Michael Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson, Piers Sellers and Thomas Reiter, an astronaut with the European Space Agency. Reiter will remain with the Expedition 13 crew on the station.

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

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Discovery's Crew Arrives

Image above: The Discovery crew members land their T-38 jets at

Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility.

Photo credit: NASA/KSC

The crew members of STS-121 arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida shortly after 10 a.m. EDT today for the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on Saturday. Landing aboard their T-38 training jets, the seven astronauts flew in from Johnson Space Center in Houston to Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility.

Kennedy Space Center Director, Jim Kennedy and NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach were out on the tarmac to personally greet the astronauts.

Commander Steven Lindsey welcomed the media and introduced his crew. Pilot Mark Kelly said "It's great to be here. We hear Discovery's ready to go and we're ready to go as well." Mission Specialist Lisa Nowak, making her first shuttle flight enthusiastically commented "it is really great to be here in Florida for the launch." "After having our practice countdown, it's really good to be back here and do this for real," said Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson about the upcoming launch.

Lindsey ended the interview by saying "We're really excited to be here, we're as prepared as we're going to be, the vehicle's looking good and everything is 'go' and weather permitting -- we're going to be airborne on July 1."

The STS-121 crew includes Lindsey, Pilot Mark Kelly and Mission Specialists Michael Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson, Piers Sellers and Thomas Reiter, an astronaut with the European Space Agency. Reiter will remain with the Expedition 13 crew on the station.

The astronauts will spend the remaining days at Kennedy preparing for the launch. Liftoff of Discovery is currently set for 3:49 p.m. EDT Saturday, July 1.

Tune in to NASA TV Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. for a Countdown Status Briefing with NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding, STS-121 Payload Manager Debbie Hahn and Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters. During the briefing, updates will be provided about the status of launch preparation for STS-121.

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

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It's a Jungle Out There!

A close encounter of the "bird" kind during last year's return-to-flight launch of Space Shuttle Discovery prompted NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to look at ways to reduce the possibility of future occurrences.

During the launch, a large vulture struck the top of the external tank during ascent. Now Kennedy is taking precautions to avoid another encounter with a large bird.


Image above: While it might make a good picture, birds like those seen
during this liftoff of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-110 can pose
a serious hazard to the orbiter and crew. New programs being tested
aim to limit the possibility of birds striking the space shuttle during launch.
Image credit: NASA

A working group was formed to discuss reducing the risk and the "Bird Abatement Plan" was created. Several contractor organizations are involved, including Space Gateway Support, Yang Enterprises, InDyne Inc., United Space Alliance, ASRC Aerospace, Dynamac Corp., and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the nearby Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Even a veterinary pathologist from Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida, which has a bird control program, was invited to the center to share wildlife management expertise.

Part of the plan involves determining ways to reduce the vulture population at the space center. "First we wanted to look at the root of the problem, which is the food source, and create an awareness program to help remove that source," said Steve Payne, a NASA test director in the Shuttle Processing directorate.

With that goal in mind, a "Roadkill Roundup" program, led by Space Gateway Support, began in April. Workers are encouraged to report the location of dead animals on or near the side of space center roads so that workers can remove the roadkill.

Yang Enterprises entomologist Glenn Willis said more than 100 animals have been removed so far, including raccoons, possums, armadillos, hogs, turtles, otters and even a few alligators.


Image above: A vulture sits by the roadside at NASA's Kennedy Space
Center in Florida, which shares a boundary with the Merritt Island
National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 92,000 acres that
are a habitat for more than 331 species of birds, 31 mammals, 117 fishes,
and 65 amphibians and reptiles. The marshes and open water of the refuge
provide wintering areas for 23 species of migratory waterfowl, as well as a
year-round home for great blue herons, great egrets, wood storks,
cormorants, brown pelicans and other species of marsh and shore birds, a
well as a variety of insects.
Image credit: NASA

"The center, located on 160,000 acres of wildlife refuge, is a steward of this environment and there exists a unique balance between launches and preservation of the wildlife," Willis said.

Many organizations and contractors are playing a vital role in the efforts to reduce the vultures and avoid collisions with them during liftoff. Measures being taken include collecting data such as roadkill locations to determine where "wildlife crossing" signs should be installed, testing a catch-and-release enclosure, trying various sounds to startle or scare large birds away from the launch pads, and developing software for bird tracking based on camera images.

Remote cameras are placed around the launch pads to track the vultures, and a radar system is being tested to detect bird activity around the pads before liftoff.

"Camera images and radar would allow us to look before we launch. We don't want the vehicle to get damaged in any way," Payne said. "And while this program does have some 'chuckle factor' to it, we do take it seriously."


Linda Herridge
NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center

Source: NASA - Shuttle - Behind the Scenes

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Next Space Shuttle Mission:

STS-121 Discovery/ International Space Station Flight ULF1.1

Launch Pad: 39B

Launch Date: July 1, 2006

Launch Time: 3:49 p.m. EDT

Landing: July 13, 2006

Duration: 12 days

Orbital Insertion Altitude: 122 nautical miles

Orbit Inclination: 51.60°

Countdown begins: T-43 hours

4 Days and Counting

Image above: Under a hazy Florida sky, the countdown sign at Kennedy

Space Center signals only 4 days to go until the launch of Discovery on

Mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.

Photo credit: NASA/KSC

+ View High-Res Image

06.26.06 Status Report

Discovery's aft is closed for flight, and workers have successfully completed the aft confidence test. This involves powering up and testing all aft systems, such as the main propulsion system circuits.

Workers began flight pressurization of the orbital maneuvering system and main propulsion system this weekend, and those operations continue today. Workers also continue preparing for the launch countdown, which will begin at the T-43 hour mark on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

External Tank

The water that was discovered last week in one of the stringers of the intertank on ET-118 has been removed. Stringers are reinforcing channel structures located on the outside of the intertank skin. Preliminary water analysis indicates that corrosion and salinity levels are low and will not affect the launch-on-need support for STS-121 or the STS-115 mission.

Source: NASA - Shuttle - Launch and Landing

Edited June 28, 2006 by Waspie_Dwarf

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Countdown Continues

Image above: The After their arrival at Kennedy to prepare for launch

on July 1, the STS-121 crew greets the media on the Shuttle Landing

Facility. At the microphone is Pilot Mark Kelly. From left are

Commander Steven Lindsey, Mission Specialists Lisa Nowak and

Michael Fossum, Kelly, and Mission Specialists Stephanie Wilson,

Piers Sellers and Thomas Reiter.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Schifflet

Tune in to NASA TV at 10 a.m. today for a Countdown Status Briefing with NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding, STS-121 Payload Manager Debbie Hahn and Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters. During the briefing, updates concerning Space Shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight, and the launch weather outlook will be provided.

+ NASA TV

The launch countdown for Discovery officially begins at 5 p.m. EDT today, at T-43 hours. Included in the countdown is nearly 28 hours of built-in hold time prior to a targeted 3:49 p.m. EDT launch on Saturday. A five minute launch window is available. The launch countdown will be conducted from the newly renovated Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

During the STS-121 mission to the International Space Station, the crew members of Discovery will continue testing new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of space shuttles. They also will perform maintenance on the space station and deliver more supplies and cargo for future station expansion.

The STS-121 crew arrived at 10 a.m. yesterday at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility from Johnson Space Center in Houston. The astronauts will spend the remaining days at Kennedy preparing for the launch.

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

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Next Space Shuttle Mission:

STS-121 Discovery/ International Space Station Flight ULF1.1

Launch Pad: 39B

Launch Date: July 1, 2006

Launch Time: 3:49 p.m. EDT

Landing: July 13, 2006

Duration: 12 days

Orbital Insertion Altitude: 122 nautical miles

Orbit Inclination: 51.60°

Countdown begins: T-43 hours

3 Days till Launch

Image above: Under a hazy Florida sky, the countdown sign at Kennedy

Space Center signals only 3 days to go until the launch of Discovery on

Mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.

Photo credit: NASA//Debbie Odom

+ View High-Res Image

06.27.06 Status Report

Final preparations for the launch of Discovery's mission to the International Space Station continue at Launch Pad 39B. Flight pressurization of the orbital maneuvering system and main propulsion system continues and initial helium tank pressurization is complete.

Launch countdown preparations are nearing completion in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center. The STS-121 launch countdown begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday, at the T-43 hour mark.

Source: NASA - Shuttle - Launch and Landing

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The Clock is Ticking

Image above: The After their arrival at Kennedy to prepare for launch

on July 1, the STS-121 crew greets the media on the Shuttle Landing

Facility. At the microphone is Pilot Mark Kelly. From left are

Commander Steven Lindsey, Mission Specialists Lisa Nowak and

Michael Fossum, Kelly, and Mission Specialists Stephanie Wilson,

Piers Sellers and Thomas Reiter.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Schifflet

The launch countdown officially began at 5 p.m. EDT today at the T-43 hour mark. Included in the countdown are nearly 28 hours of built-in hold time prior to a targeted 3:49 p.m. launch on Saturday; it is the middle point in a launch window that extends for 10 minutes. The launch countdown will be conducted from the newly renovated Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at Kennedy.

During a countdown status briefing this morning at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding announced that "Discovery is in excellent shape."

"We're tracking no issues in our preparation at this point. Our teams have been working tirelessly during this last year to help make this flight and all shuttle flights as safe as possible for the crews," he said. "As we approach our nation's 230th birthday, I'm proud to announce that the launch vehicle, the launch and flight teams and flight crew are ready to launch and continue our mission completing the space station."

STS-121 Payload Manager Debbie Hahn indicated the payloads have been loaded into the orbiter and are ready for flight.

Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters reported there is a 60-percent chance that weather may prevent launch on Saturday. A Bermuda high could improve the weather, but the Space Coast will be dealing with thunderstorms and anvil clouds which could be an issue because of lightning strikes. In the event of a 24-hour delay, the forecast is identical -- with a 60-percent chance of weather delaying the launch. The chance of weather constraints, if the launch is delayed 48 hours, stays at the 60-percent mark because of thunderstorm activity.

Tune in to NASA TV at 10 a.m. Thursday for the Countdown Status Briefing and an update on the launch status and weather forecast for mission STS-121 with NASA Test Director Pete Nicolenko and Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winter.

At 4 p.m. Thursday, NASA TV will host a Launch Readiness News Conference with Mission Management Team chairman, John Shannon; Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager; Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director; Alan Thirkettle, International Space Station Program manager for the European Space Agency; and U.S. Air Force First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron. They will discuss the preparations for the 32nd flight of Space Shuttle Discovery.

Both exciting events can be seen live on NASA TV.

+ Watch NASA TV

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

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Taking the Right Approach

Image above: In the early dawn of Wednesday morning, STS-121 Pilot

Mark Kelly prepares to takeoff in the Shuttle Training Aircraft at

Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility. The modified Grumman Gulfstream II

jet simulates the flight characteristics of an orbiter when practicing

landing approaches or other maneuvers.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Schifflet

+ View Larger Image

At 10 a.m. today, NASA TV will broadcast live a Countdown Status Briefing with Pete Nickolenko, NASA test director and Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer. Nickolenko will provide an update on the readiness of Space Shuttle Discovery for flight and Winters will give us a look at the weather forecast for launch day.

At 4 p.m., NASA TV will host a Launch Readiness News Conference with John Shannon, chairman of the Mission Management Team; Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager; Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director; Alan Thirkettle, International Space Station Program manager for the European Space Agency and U.S. Air Force First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron. They will discuss the preparedness for the 32nd flight of Discovery.

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

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Next Space Shuttle Mission:

STS-121 Discovery/ International Space Station Flight ULF1.1

Launch Pad: 39B

Launch Date: July 1, 2006

Launch Time: 3:49 p.m. EDT

Landing: July 13, 2006

Duration: 12 days

Orbital Insertion Altitude: 122 nautical miles

Orbit Inclination: 51.60°

Countdown begins: T-43 hours

2 Days and Counting

Image above: Under a bright sunny sky, the countdown sign at Kennedy Space Center signals only 2 days to go until the launch of Discovery on Mission STS-121 to the International Space Station.

Photo credit: NASA//Debbie Odom

+ View High-Res Image

06.28.06 Status Report

Discovery's flight crew is relaxing today and reviewing its flight data file. The Launch Complex 39 avian detection and monitoring continues through launch.

On Tuesday afternoon, a lightning strike was detected near the south perimeter of Pad B. Discovery was not powered up and was not struck. There was one report of hail that was not confirmed. Initial walkdowns indicate there was some damage to facility electrical equipment supporting liquid hydrogen operations, but no vehicle damage was reported. None of the damage is expected to impact Discovery's launch. Further assessments of the shuttle and facilities will continue today.

Source: NASA - Shuttle - Launch and Landing

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Taking the Right Approach

Image above: In the early dawn of Wednesday morning, STS-121 Pilot

Mark Kelly prepares to takeoff in the Shuttle Training Aircraft at

Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility. The modified Grumman Gulfstream II

jet simulates the flight characteristics of an orbiter when practicing

landing approaches or other maneuvers.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Schifflet

+ View Larger Image

STS-121 Launch Readiness Press Conference

At today's Launch Readiness Press conference NASA senior officials were in agreement that Discovery is ready to launch.

Mission Management Team chairman, John Shannon said, "other than some questionable weather we have no constraints for launch. We are extremely proud of the team and ready to go on Saturday and do what the team does best."

Mike Leinbach added, "cryogenic fuel loading is on hold due to a weather advisory. We have plenty of hold time remaining in the countdown so this is not an issue. We are not working any technical issues."

According to First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren giving a launch-day weather forecast, "one of our main concerns for launch is watching the anvils and we may have an isolated shower. In view of those things we are looking at a 60% probability of Kennedy weather prohibiting launch. There is just a 10% chance of probability of weather affecting tanking."

Participants included Mission Management Team chairman, John Shannon; Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager; Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director; Alan Thirkettle, International Space Station Program manager for the European Space Agency and U.S. Air Force First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron.

At the launch pad, preparations continue with the removal of the mid-deck and flight-deck platforms. Navigational systems are being tested and cryogenic reactants will be loaded into Discovery's fuel cell storage tanks.

Friday's Countdown Status Briefing with NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding, STS-121 Payload Manager Debbie Hahn and Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters will be broadcast live on NASA TV starting at 10 a.m. EDT.

+ Watch NASA TV

The launch countdown officially began at 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, at T-43 hours. Included in the countdown is nearly 28 hours of built-in hold time prior to a targeted 3:49 p.m. EDT launch on Saturday; it is the middle point in a launch window that extends for 10 minutes. The launch countdown will be conducted from the newly renovated Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at Kennedy.

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

Edited June 30, 2006 by Waspie_Dwarf

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Bye Bye, Birdies

Birds come with the territory at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which usually doesn't mind when any of the nearby Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge's 310 species of birds swoop through for a visit.

But one particular type of bird is causing concern: vultures. That's why NASA plans to test special radar to track any vultures around Launch Pad 39B during the countdown to liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-121.


Image above: In the wrong place at the wrong time, a bird is silhouetted
against the clear blue Florida sky (upper left) as it falls away from Space
Shuttle Discovery after hitting the external tank during liftoff of mission
STS-114 in July 2006. NASA hopes an avian radar detection system will
help avoid such strikes in the future.
Image credit: NASA

While birds might seem harmless, there's a good reason for the concern. During the July 2005 launch of Discovery on mission STS-114, a vulture soaring around the launch pad impacted the shuttle's external tank just after liftoff. With a vulture's average weight ranging from 3 to 5 pounds, a strike at a critical point on the shuttle -- like the nose or wing leading thermal protection panels -- could cause catastrophic damage to the vehicle. The foam chunk that fatefully stuck Columbia's wing in 2003 weighed only 1.7 pounds.

As a preventative measure, a bird abatement program has been under way at the center to limit the possibility of a future bird strike on liftoff. One aspect of the program has been to rapidly remove "roadkill" around Kennedy, eliminating an easy food source that keeps the birds around. Workers already have tried using noise deterrents at the launch site, but determined this had little effect on the vultures. A trap-and-release effort is planned for launch day.

But by far the best final line of defense is bird detection radar, already proven affective for aviation, where the threats posed by bird strikes have long been a problem.


Image above: The avian radar in position at Launch Complex 39 offers
the ability to monitor either of the two shuttle launch pads during a
countdown. Technicians adjust the system's two customized marine
radars that provide both horizontal and vertical scanning.
Image credit: NASA

The vultures are more active during the day as they search for food and circle high into the bright blue Florida sky, soaring on the thermal gradients. To mitigate the danger, an avian radar system known as "Aircraft Birdstrike Avoidance Radar" is in position to track their movement around the launch area and relay the data to launch control experts. The system was developed by a company called DeTect of Panama City, Fla., which primarily has served the commercial aviation industry and the military.


Image above: Inside the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy
Space Center, data relayed from the avian radar (right laptop) aided by
camera images (left laptop) will help controllers recognize when any large
birds are in dangerously close proximity to the vehicle and hold the
countdown when necessary.
Image credit: NASA

The goal is to provide the launch team with real-time detection for on-the-spot launch decisions up to one minute before liftoff. To do that, the system uses two customized marine radars -- one for horizontal scanning and one for vertical scanning. While vultures have been identified as the main threat, the radar system has enough power to detect even small birds.

The launch of Discovery will provide the first test for the technology during an actual shuttle launch. If the test proves successful, the unit's location will allow it to monitor either of the launch pads at Launch Complex 39 during future space shuttle launches, providing a new margin of safety for astronaut crews.


Cheryl L. Mansfield
NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center

Source: NASA - Shuttle - Behind the Scenes Edited June 30, 2006 by Waspie_Dwarf

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Checking Discovery

Image above: STS-121 Mission Specialists Lisa Nowak and Piers Sellers

inspect cables in the mid-body of Space Shuttle Discovery on Launch

Pad 39B. The crew is making final preparations for the launch on July

to the International Space Station.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Schifflet

+ View Hi-Res Image

L-1 Morning Briefing

At this morning's Countdown Status Briefing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding said, "we're tracking no issues at all that would affect Saturday's launch of Space Shuttle Discovery."

Pre-launch preparations are continuing on schedule. Work on final pad closeouts will continue throughout the remainder of the night in anticipation of external tank loading at approximately 6 a.m. There will be two attempts at launch, Saturday and Sunday and then a stand down-on Monday. Two more attempts can then be made on Tuesday and Wednesday before another stand-down to reservice the on board reactants.

Spaulding closed his comments by saying, "While it's taken us nearly a year of hard work to get back to this point, I'm proud to announce that the vehicle, our launch team and our flight crew are ready to launch and all of us are ready kick off our nation's 230th birthday celebration a little early this weekend."

STS-121 Payload Manager Debbie Hahn confirmed that the multi-purpose logistics module, Leonardo and all elements are loaded into Discovery's payload bay and ready for flight.

Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters reported on the weather forecast for launch. Winters said Kennedy Space Center is in a typical weather pattern of morning coastal showers. The concern for launch day continues to be the upper level winds and anvil clouds that could be harmful to the space shuttle.

The forecast looks good for the Rotating Service Structure rollback this afternoon and the weather for tanking early tomorrow morning has increased slightly to a 20 percent chance of violating the constraints because of the possibility of coastal showers or thunderstorms.

Winters said that the weather pattern for this time of year in central Florida prevails and there remains a 60 percent chance of weather conditions delaying the launch tomorrow and most likely the same for Sunday.

At approximately 3 p.m. today, NASA TV will televise a live NASA Update led by Administrator Mike Griffin and Deputy Administrator Shana Dale.

+ Watch NASA TV

A pre-launch webcast is scheduled for 11 a.m. EDT today, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center's Internet broadcasting network, known as NASA Direct. It will feature a mission overview hosted by Discovery Flow Manager Stephanie Stilson and featuring NASA astronaut and STS-116 crew member William Oefelein, who will discuss the STS-121 mission and astronaut training.

+ Astronaut Web Cast

In the meantime at the launch pad, Discovery's three main engines are ready to be loaded with propellants, the water tank that holds the sound suppression system will be filled, and a number of the orbiter's systems will be activated.

The launch pad's Rotating Service Structure is scheduled to roll away from Discovery at about 7 p.m. today. When in place, the giant revolving enclosure is used to install payloads into an orbiter's cargo bay and provide protection from inclement weather.

On Saturday, launch day, propellant loading is set to begin at approximately 6 a.m. EDT, with the pumping of more than 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen into the vehicle's orange external tank.

NASA TV's coverage of the launch and live launch countdown coverage from NASA's Launch Blog begins at 10 a.m. EDT Saturday.

+ NASA Launch Blog.

NASA TV will broadcast a Post-launch News Conference with senior managers Saturday, about an hour after launch.

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Training for the Mission of a Lifetime

STS-121 mission specialist Piers J. Sellers, wearing a training version of the space suit used for extravehicular activity (EVA), participates in an EVA simulation while anchored to a training version of the shuttle's robotic arm in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center. The robotic arm has a 50-foot boom, which would be used to reach underneath the orbiter to access tiles. Lora Bailey (right), Manager, JSC Engineering Tile Repair, assisted Sellers. Astronaut Michael E. Fossum (center) also participated in the testing the arm.

Image credit: NASA

+ Full Resolution


Source: NASA - Multimedia - Image of the Day Gallery

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Next Space Shuttle Mission:

STS-121 Discovery/ International Space Station Flight ULF1.1

Launch Pad: 39B

Launch Date: July 1, 2006

Launch Time: 3:49 p.m. EDT

Landing: July 13, 2006

Duration: 12 days

Orbital Insertion Altitude: 122 nautical miles

Orbit Inclination: 51.60°

Countdown begins: T-43 hours

One Day to Go

Image above: With the Vehicle Assembly Building in the background,

the countdown sign at Kennedy Space Center signals only 1 day left to

the launch of Discovery on Mission STS-121 to the International Space

Station.

Photo credit: NASA//Debbie Odom

+ View High-Res Image

06.30.06 Update Report: The Countdown to Launch Continues

Launch week for the STS-121 mission officially began on Tuesday, June 27, with the arrival of Commander Steven Lindsey and his crew at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Flying into the center in a squadron of T-38 jets, Discovery's crew arrived ready and excited for liftoff.

On Wednesday, Pilot Mark Kelly returned to the skies at the controls of the Shuttle Training Aircraft to practice landing approaches into Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility. The other members of the crew have also been busy making final prelaunch checks of Discovery, the orbiter's payloads and their personal equipment.

At press conferences throughout the week, NASA managers have repeatedly expressed their confidence in Discovery's fitness to fly. Discovery currently awaits launch atop Launch Pad 39B. According to NASA officials, the space shuttle's final preparations are going as planned and moving swiftly toward launch. The only obvious possible stumbling block is the fickle Florida weather.

Afternoon Showers Could Dampen Discovery's Day

Kathy Winters, shuttle launch weather officer, has forecasted a 60-percent chance of regional thunderstorms grounding the launch for Saturday and Sunday. While rain is expected to be falling in nearby Orlando, anvil clouds from the storms could stretch back toward the Kennedy coast. The danger posed by anvil clouds is that the shuttle could trigger lightning by flying near them.

What's Up Next

At 7 p.m. tonight, pad 39B's rotating service structure surrounding the space shuttle will be retracted as a part of final preparations for Saturday's first launch attempt. On launch morning, technicians will begin pumping liquid hydrogen and oxygen propellants into Discovery's orange external tank at 5:30 a.m. to fuel the ship for flight. Launch week's events will culminate with the targeted liftoff of Discovery at 3:49 p.m. EDT on Saturday. The final countdown to launch can be followed on the Web with NASA's Launch Blog and NASA TV.

A replay of this morning's "STS-121 Astronaut Webcast" is now available online.

+ Watch STS-121 Astronaut Webcast

Source: NASA - Shuttle - Launch and Landing

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Tanking Countinues and Weather Improves

Image above: Against a dimming sky after sunset, lights on the structures

on Launch Pad 39B cast a warm glow on Space Shuttle Discovery.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Schifflet

+ View Hi-Res Image

8:30 a.m. Status Update

NASA launch managers are currently working an issue with the thruster heater in the left orbital maneuvering system pod and believe there is plenty of time to work the issue.

The loading of Discovery's orange external tank with 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen began at approximately 6 a.m. EDT today. The "topping off" of propellants into the tank will continue until Discovery's launch. The chance of weather preventing the launch lowered from 60 percent to 40 percent.

The crew of space shuttle Discovery will continue to test new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of space shuttles during the STS-121 mission to the International Space Station. It also will perform maintenance on the space station and deliver more supplies and cargo for future station expansion.

This mission is to carry on analysis of safety improvements that debuted on the Return to Flight mission, STS-114, and build upon those tests.

NASA TV's coverage of the launch and live launch countdown coverage from NASA's Launch Blog begins at 10 a.m. EDT Saturday.

+ NASA Launch Blog.

NASA TV will broadcast a Post-launch News Conference with senior managers Saturday, about an hour after launch.

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Discovery Delayed

Image above: Space Shuttle Discovery at Launch Pad 39B.

Photo credit: NASA

Launch Scrubbed

Today's launch of Space Shuttle Discovery has been postponed for 24 hours because of weather. The preferred launch time for tomorrow is 3:26 p.m. from Kennedy Space Center.

Steven Lindsey commands a crew of five American astronauts, Pilot Mark Kelly and Mission Specialists Michael Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson and Piers Sellers, and one astronaut from the European Space Agency, Thomas Reiter. This is the 18th U.S. flight to the International Space Station and the 32nd flight for Space Shuttle Discovery.

In Discovery's payload bay, the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo, built by the Italian Space Agency, will deliver more than two tons of supplies, equipment and tools on its fourth trip to the station.

While docked, the STS-121 crew will test new equipment and procedures to improve shuttle safety, as well as make repairs to the station. Reiter will remain with the Expedition 13 crew on the station.

Live Coverage

NASA TV coverage of the launch and live launch countdown coverage from NASA's Launch Blog begin tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. EDT, July 2.

NASA TV will broadcast a Post-launch News Conference with senior managers Saturday, about an hour after launch.

Source:

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Next Space Shuttle Mission:

STS-121 Discovery/ International Space Station Flight ULF1.1

Launch Pad: 39B

Launch Date: July 2, 2006

Launch Time: 3:26 p.m. EDT

Landing: July 14, 2006

Duration: 12 days

Orbital Insertion Altitude: 122 nautical miles

Orbit Inclination: 51.60°

Countdown begins: T-43 hours

Weather Delays Launch

Image above: Space Shuttle Discovery stands in quiet repose at Kennedy's Launch Pad 39B

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

+ View High-Res Image

NASA Launch Managers have scrubbed today's launch. The primary concern was for anvil clouds within 20 miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility. There is a 24-hour turnaround for liftoff and the preferred launch time for tomorrow is 3:26 p.m. from Kennedy Space Center.

+ View Archived Launch Attempt

Launch week for the STS-121 mission officially began on Tuesday, June 27, with the arrival of Commander Steven Lindsey and his crew at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

At press conferences throughout the week, NASA managers have repeatedly expressed their confidence in Discovery's fitness to fly. Discovery currently awaits launch atop Launch Pad 39B. According to NASA officials, the space shuttle's final preparations are going as planned and moving toward launch.

A replay of yesterday's "STS-121 Astronaut Webcast" is now available online.

+ Watch STS-121 Astronaut Webcast

Source: NASA - Shuttle - Launch and Landing

Edited July 3, 2006 by Waspie_Dwarf

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Image above: Discovery poised for launch.

Photo credit: NASA

Independence Day Space Shuttle Launch

The launch of Space Shuttle Discovery has been postponed until 2:38 p.m. EDT, Tuesday, July 4. If the weather cooperates this will be the first space shutlle to launch on Independence Day.

+ Press Release

Launch Postponement Briefing

The STS-121 Mission Management Team held a briefing Sunday about the postponement of the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery.

Mission Management Team chairman, John Shannon said, "As far as what happened yesterday and today, the team really performed in exemplary fashion and got the vehicle ready to go and the crew ready to go."

"It was that one thing that we really don't control -- the weather -- it's what kept us from launching," he continued.

"We had a pretty good shot at launching today," NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach said. "There was an area that was fairly clear south and west of us. It looked like it was moving towards us from the south and we thought the timing of that open area would be just right to allow us to have an opportunity [to launch] today."

Leinbach said he and Shannon agreed that it was in the best interest of the Program to scrub early allowing the workers enough time to go out to the pad to perform the necessary procedures to get the space shuttle prepared for a Tuesday launch. There will be an update tomorrow on the progress at the pad to confirm the readiness of the vehicle for flight.

First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron was on hand to provide a weather forecast for the next few days. He reported that on Tuesday there is a 40 percent chance of weather violation for launch. But there apparently isn't any issue with anvil clouds. There is weather that's percolating in the Bahamas that could bring some cumulous clouds and showers.

On Wednesday the probability of the launch delayed by weather bumps up to 60 percent due to low levels winds bringing more thunderstorms. Thursday, the constraint goes down again to a 40 percent chance for a launch delay; mainly because the launch would be scheduled earlier in the day and would miss the afternoon storms typical here in Central Florida.

Live Coverage

NASA TV coverage of the launch and live launch countdown coverage from NASA's Launch Blog will begin on Tuesday, July 4, at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

+ Watch NASA TV

+ NASA Launch Blog

NASA TV will broadcast a Post-launch News Conference with senior managers Saturday, about an hour after launch.

+ STS-121 Shuttle Mission TV Schedule

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Image above: Discovery poised for launch.

Photo credit: NASA

Status Update - 10 a.m.

During a routine inspection overnight after the draining of the tank, a crack was discovered in the foam near a bracket on the external fuel tank that holds the liquid oxygen feedline in place. The Mission Management Team is meeting to discuss this and to determine what, if any, impact this will have on our launch date.

The Mission Management Team will conduct a briefing on NASA TV following the meeting no earlier than today at noon EDT. Questions will only be taken by the media at the Kennedy Space Center.

+ Watch NASA TV

Live Coverage

NASA TV coverage of the launch and live launch countdown coverage from NASA's Launch Blog will begin on Tuesday, July 4, at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

+ Watch NASA TV

+ NASA Launch Blog

NASA TV will broadcast a Post-launch News Conference with senior managers Saturday, about an hour after launch.

+ STS-121 Shuttle Mission TV Schedule

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Image above: Image of the external fuel tank area showing the liquid

oxygen feedline bracket.

Photo credit: NASA

+ View High-Res Image

Shuttle Team Working Foam Issue

During a routine inspection overnight after the draining of the external fuel tank, a crack was discovered in the foam near a bracket that holds the liquid oxygen feedline in place. This piece of foam has been estimated to be 0.0057 pounds. It is believed that the rain experienced during yesterday's launch attempt caused water to run down the feedline and form ice near the top of the strut next to the feedline bracket. As the tank warmed and expanded, the ice that formed most likely pinched the foam on the top of the strut, causing a crack and eventual loss of the small piece of foam.

At a Mission Management Team meeting this morning, a decision was made to continue analyzing available data before making a final decision regarding tomorrow's launch attempt. The question is whether there needs to be a hands-on inspection of the area around the foam crack before launch.

The Mission Management Team will meet again at 6:30 p.m. EDT to hear the results of the analysis and make a decision on whether we will attempt to launch tomorrow or Wednesday. Currently, there is a 60 percent of favorable launch weather for tomorrow and a 40 percent chance of favorable weather for Wednesday.

Briefing Materials

External Tank View of Crack Before Foam Separation:

+ High-Res

External Tank View of Crack After Foam Separation:

+ High-Res | + Low-Res

Foam Piece Viewed Separately:

+ High-Res

Location of Liquid Oxygen Feedline Bracket:

+ Mission Management Team Briefing Slide | + Photo Graphic

Live Coverage

NASA TV coverage of the launch and live launch countdown coverage from NASA's Launch Blog will begin on Tuesday, July 4, at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

+ Watch NASA TV

+ NASA Launch Blog

NASA TV will broadcast a Post-launch News Conference with senior managers Saturday, about an hour after launch.

+ STS-121 Shuttle Mission TV Schedule

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

Edited July 3, 2006 by Waspie_Dwarf

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Next Space Shuttle Mission:

STS-121 Discovery/ International Space Station Flight ULF1.1

Launch Pad: 39B

Launch Date: July 4, 2006

Launch Time: 2:38 p.m. EDT

Landing: July 16, 2006

Duration: 12 days

Orbital Insertion Altitude: 122 nautical miles

Orbit Inclination: 51.60°

Countdown begins: T-43 hours

Image above: Space Shuttle Discovery remains on Launch Pad 39B after

the countdown was halted due to the presence of anvil clouds and

thunderstorms within 20 miles of the launch site.

Photo credit: Nikon/Scott Andrews

+ View High-Res Image

Next Space Shuttle Mission:

STS-121 Discovery/ 18th International Space Station Flight ULF1.1

Launch Pad: 39B

Launch Date: July 4, 2006

Launch Time: 2:38 p.m. EDT

Landing: July 16, 2006

Duration: 12 days

Orbital Insertion Altitude: 122 nautical miles

Orbit Inclination: 51.60°

Countdown begins: T-43 hours

Launch Update

The Mission Management Team is meeting Monday morning to discuss Discovery's launch preparations.

A crack in the foam insulation at the Liquid Oxygen feedline bracket was found during a routine inspection after the external tank was drained following the scrub on Sunday. The 4 to 5 inch crack is about one-eighth to one-quarter inch wide at the top-most bracket that attaches the liquid oxygen feedline to the hydrogen tank.

The Mission Management Team will meet again at 6:30 p.m. EDT to hear the results of the analysis and make a decision on whether we will attempt to launch tomorrow or Wednesday. Currently, there is a 60 percent of favorable launch weather for tomorrow and a 40 percent chance of favorable weather for Wednesday.

+ View July 1 Launch Attempt

+ View July 2 Launch Attempt

Launch week for the STS-121 mission officially began on Tuesday, June 27, with the arrival of Commander Steven Lindsey and his crew at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

At press conferences throughout the week, NASA managers have repeatedly expressed their confidence in Discovery's fitness to fly. Discovery currently awaits launch atop Launch Pad 39B. According to NASA officials, the space shuttle's final preparations are going as planned and moving toward launch.

A replay of yesterday's "STS-121 Astronaut Webcast" is now available online.

+ Watch STS-121 Astronaut Webcast

Source: NASA - Shuttle - Launch and Landing

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Image above: Discovery poised for launch.

Photo credit: NASA/KSC

Discovery's a "Go" for Independence Day

After analysis of available data, the Mission Management Team has given a "go" for Tuesday's launch of Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station.

During a routine inspection overnight after the draining of the external fuel tank, a crack was discovered in the foam near a bracket that holds the liquid oxygen feedline in place. It is believed that the rain experienced during yesterday's launch attempt caused water to run down the feedline and form ice near the top of the strut next to the feedline bracket. As the tank warmed and expanded, the ice that formed most likely pinched the foam on the top of the strut, causing a crack and eventual loss of the small piece of foam. The Mission Management Team met Monday at 6:30 p.m. EDT to discuss the results of the infomation before making a final decision regarding Tuesday's launch attempt.

Currently, there is a 60 percent chance of favorable launch weather for tomorrow and a 40 percent chance of favorable weather for Wednesday according to Air Force First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron. If the weather cooperates this will be the first Independence Day launch of a space shuttle!

Afternoon Briefing Video: + Windows | + Real

Briefing Materials

External Tank View of Crack Before Foam Separation:

+ High-Res

External Tank View of Crack After Foam Separation:

+ High-Res | + Low-Res

Foam Piece Viewed Separately:

+ High-Res

Location of Liquid Oxygen Feedline Bracket:

+ Mission Management Team Briefing Slide | + Photo Graphic

Live Coverage

NASA TV coverage of the launch and live launch countdown coverage from NASA's Launch Blog will begin on Tuesday, July 4, at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

+ Watch NASA TV

+ NASA Launch Blog

NASA TV will broadcast a Post-launch News Conference with senior managers Saturday, about an hour after launch.

+ STS-121 Shuttle Mission TV Schedule

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Atlantis and Crew on Deck for STS-115

Even as Discovery stands poised for liftoff on Launch Pad 39B, the crew for the following mission, STS-115 on Space Shuttle Atlantis, arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center for the three-day crew equipment interface test that is part of their training. Before every mission, each crew spends time at Kennedy working with the actual payloads and orbiter they will take into space.


Image above: In the Orbiter Processing Facility, STS-115 Commander
Brent Jett inspects the window of the cockpit in the orbiter Atlantis.
The crew is at KSC for Crew Equipment Interface Test activities,
which involve equipment familiarization and inspection, a routine
part of astronaut training and launch preparations.
Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflet

Mission Commander Brent Jett, a veteran of three space missions, will lead the STS-115 crew on the 19th mission to the International Space Station. The crew of Atlantis is scheduled to deliver and install the P3/P4 truss segment along with solar array set 2A and 4A and batteries to continue constructing the station.


Image above: In the Orbiter Processing Facility, Pilot Christopher
Ferguson (left) and Commander Brent Jett examine tiles on the orbiter
Atlantis, the designated launch vehicle for the STS-115 mission.
Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflet

Joining Jett on the mission are three other space shuttle veterans -- Mission Specialists Joe Tanner, Dan Burbank, and Steve MacLean. Rounding out the crew are Pilot Chris Ferguson and Mission Specialist Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, both making their first space flight.

The orbiter Atlantis, which lifted off on its maiden voyage on Oct. 3, 1985, will make its 27th trip to space. Atlantis last few in October 2002 for STS-112, when it delivered the S1 integrated truss segment to the space station. The vehicle has also delivered several other vital components to the station, including the U.S. Destiny Laboratory and the Quest Joint Airlock modules.


Image above: In the Orbiter Processing Facility, Mission Specialist
Joseph Tanner examines a mockup of a camera that the crew will use to
take photographs while in orbit. With him are crewmates Steven MacLean,
who represents the Canadian Space Agency, and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn
-Piper.
Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflet

STS-115 will mark the return to construction of the station, the main goal of the remaining space shuttle flights. The P3/P4 segments -- which are approximately 45.3 feet long -- will attach to the P1 truss on the port side of the station's integrated truss segment. Once in place, the addition of the P3/P4 trusses with their two large solar arrays will provide one-fourth of the total power-generation capability of the completed station.


Image above: In the Space Station Processing Facility Mission Specialists
(foreground, from left) Dan Burbank, Joe Tanner, Heidemarie
Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Maclean fit check equipment in a
large Orbital Replaceable Unit transfer bag.
Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflet


Cheryl L. Mansfield
NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center

Source: NASA - Shuttle - Behind the Scenes

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Discovery's a "Go" for Independence Day

Image above: Commander Lindsey gets situated on the flight-deck.

Photo credit: NASA

Crew Onboard Discovery - Noon Update

The astronauts are buckled into their seats inside Discovery's cabin. The STS-121 crew is now going through final checks inside the orbiter to prepare for liftoff.

Discovery stands ready for liftoff on Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA's Freedom Star and Liberty Star are in position for launch. Both recovery ships are currently stationed out in the Atlantic Ocean prepared to tow the solid rocket boosters back to Kennedy. The boosters will then be recycled and put back into service for another shuttle launch.

Currently, there is an 80-percent chance of favorable weather forecasted for launch time. If the weather cooperates, Discovery will liftoff at 2:38 p.m. for the International Space Station and be the first Independence Day launch of a space shuttle!

Steven Lindsey commands a crew of five American astronauts, Pilot Mark Kelly and Mission Specialists Michael Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson and Piers Sellers, and one astronaut from the European Space Agency, Thomas Reiter. This is the 18th U.S. flight to the International Space Station and the 32nd flight for Space Shuttle Discovery.

In Discovery's payload bay, the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo, built by the Italian Space Agency, will deliver supplies, equipment and tools on its fourth trip to the station.

While docked, the STS-121 crew will test new equipment and procedures to improve shuttle safety, as well as make repairs to the station. Reiter will remain with the Expedition 13 crew on the station

Live Coverage

NASA TV coverage of the launch and live launch countdown coverage from NASA's Launch Blog will begin on Tuesday, July 4, at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

+ Watch NASA TV

+ NASA Launch Blog

NASA TV will broadcast a Post-launch News Conference with senior managers Saturday, about an hour after launch.

+ STS-121 Shuttle Mission TV Schedule

Source: NASA - Space Shuttle