Top NASA officials are gathered today at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to assess preparations for space shuttle Discovery's STS-124 mission to the International Space Station. Known as the Flight Readiness Review, the meeting is expected to include the selection of an official launch date. Discovery is targeted to launch May 31 at 5:02 p.m. EDT.
A press conference is scheduled to announce the findings of the review. Participants will include Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier, Space Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon, International Space Station Program Manager Mike Suffredini and STS-124 Assistant Launch Director Ed Mango. The event will be carried live on NASA TV.
During the STS-124 mission, space shuttle Discovery and a seven-member astronaut crew will deliver the tour-bus-sized Japanese Experiment Module-Pressurized Module and accompanying robotic arm system to the International Space Station.
Source: NASA
Related stories:
Jules Verne prepares for ISS departure
(PhysOrg.com) -- In just a few days time, the historical Jules Verne mission will draw to an end. After the ATV Control Centre commands the opening of the Automated Transfer Vehicle hooks, ESA's first resupply and reboost vehicle will perform a fully automated undocking with the International Space Station on 5 September at 23:30 CEST (21:30 UT).
Space Shuttle Atlantis To Move To Launch Pad Saturday
(PhysOrg.com) -- Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 30. Atlantis is targeted to lift off Oct. 8 to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
Preparation begins for new European space mission to Mars
(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists searching for life on Mars are now preparing for the most in-depth probe of the Red Planet ever undertaken.
External Tank, Solid Rocket Boosters, Readied for Next Shuttle Launch
External tank ET-127 and the twin solid rocket boosters, which will fly with space shuttle Atlantis on the next shuttle mission, were joined Aug. 3 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The next processing milestone will be the attachment of the external tank and boosters to Atlantis, scheduled Aug. 18. STS-125, the fifth and final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Center on Oct. 8 at 12:34 a.m. CDT.
Space Shuttle External Tank ET-128 Sets New Performance Standard During STS-124 Mission
When NASA's space shuttle Discovery launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., May 31, it was lifted from the launch pad with the help of a "new" external fuel tank, ET-128, which featured design changes made to improve performance and flight safety.
NASA sets date for final shuttle mission in 2010
Following a detailed, integrated assessment, NASA selected target launch dates for the remaining eight space shuttle missions on the current manifest in 2009 and 2010.
Jules Verne ATV reveals unexpected capabilities
Eleven weeks into its integrated service to the International Space Station, Jules Verne ATV has followed up its successful automatic docking on 3 April 2008 by achieving all its scheduled objectives - and much more. ATV is providing capabilities never planned for before its mission.
Shuttle Discovery Glides Home After Successful Mission
With Commander Mark Kelly and Pilot Ken Ham at the controls, space shuttle Discovery descended to a smooth landing at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The STS-124 crew concluded their successful assembly mission to the International Space Station when the shuttle landed at 11:15 a.m. EDT.
