STS-119 Mission Updates: Part 1

by SPACE.com Staff

Date: 17 March 2009 Time: 02:47 PM ET

Space shuttle Discovery roars off Launch Pad 39A on the STS-119 mission atop twin towers of fire that light up the sky after sunset at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff was on time at 7:43 p.m. EDT on March 15, 2009.
CREDIT: NASA/Scott Andrews.

Shuttle ?Go? to Approach ISS
17 March 2009 2:25 p.m. EDT

Mission Control has given the space shuttle Discovery the go ahead to fire its engines to start approaching the International Space Station for today?s planned 5:13 p.m. EDT (2113 GMT) docking today.

The engine burn is due to begin at 2:34 p.m. EDT (1834 GMT). Mission Control told space station commander Michael Fincke that Discovery was clear for the maneuver and on track to dock today.

?Great news!? Fincke said. ?We?re looking forward to it.?

Discovery is in the midst of a 13-day mission to deliver a $298 million pair of U.S.-built solar arrays and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata to the station. Wakata will replace NASA astronaut Sandra Magnus as a station flight engineer.

Today is Flight Day 3 of Discovery's 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

Click here for a look at today?s docking day for Discovery?s crew.

?- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-119 mission to the International Space Station on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

Shuttle Crew Prepares for ISS Docking
17 March 2009 12:20 p.m. EDT

The space shuttle Discovery is closing in on the International Space Station with commander Lee Archambault and pilot Tony Antonelli flying a series of maneuvers to hone the spacecraft?s orbital approach.

Discovery will fire its twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines at 2:34 p.m. EDT (1834 GMT) to begin final rendezvous operations in maneuver called the Terminal Initiation (TI) burn.

The shuttle is on track to dock today at about 5:13 p.m. EDT (2113 GMT).

Today is Flight Day 3 of Discovery's 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

Click here for a look at today?s docking day for Discovery?s crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-119 mission to the International Space Station on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Astronauts Rise for Docking Day
17 March 2009 9:50 a.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the shuttle Discovery are awake and getting to work to prepare for today?s 5:13 p.m. EDT (2113 GMT) docking at the International Space Station. Like on Earth, today is St. Patrick?s Day in space.

NASA roused the crew at 9:43 a.m. EDT (1343 GMT) with the song ?Radio Exercise,? a Japanese tune performed by the Tokyo Broadcast Children?s Choir for Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is spending his last day as a Discovery astronaut before joining the station crew tonight.

?Erin go braugh, Discovery, and happy St. Patrick?s Day,? NASA astronaut Janice Voss radioed up from Mission Control.

?It?s another wonderful morning in orbit,? Wakata said. ?I?m looking forward to going into our new base in space later today.?

Today is Flight Day 3 of Discovery's 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Heat Shield Survey Complete
16 March 2009 9:37 p.m. EDT

The seven astronauts aboard NASA?s shuttle Discovery have completed today?s inspection of the spacecraft?s vital heat shield on its wing and noses. The survey took about six hours using Discovery?s sensor-tipped extension of the spacecraft?s robotic arm.

An early look has found Discovery?s heat shield to be in good shape, but engineers will also use data and photos from two subsequent scans to be sure, mission managers said. The shuttle is on track to dock at the International Space Station on Tuesday at 5:13 p.m. EDT (2113 GMT).

Today is Flight Day 2 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the International Space Station. Shuttle heat shield inspections are planned throughout the day.

Click here for a look at today?s orbital work for Discovery?s crew.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-119 mission to the International Space Station on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Inspect Shuttle?s Left Wing
16 March 2009 7:34 p.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery are on the final leg today?s inspection of heat-resistant panels on the spacecraft?s nose cap and wing edges.

They are using laser and camera sensors at the tip of a 50-foot (15-meter) extension of Discovery?s robotic arm to scan the shuttle?s port wing for damage to ensure it healthy for re-entry later in the mission. They have already completed scans of Discovery?s starboard wing and nose cap.

Meanwhile, NASA mission managers have cleared concerns over a piece of space debris that will fly past the space station on early Tuesday. It will not fly close enough to force the station to fire its rocket engines and move out of the way.

Today is Flight Day 2 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the International Space Station. Shuttle heat shield inspections are planned throughout the day.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts to Scan Shuttle Nose for Dings
16 March 2009 4:43 p.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery are one-third of the way through today?s planned inspection of heat-resistant panels on the spacecraft?s nose cap and wing edges.

Click here for a video of Discovery?s Sunday evening launch.

Click here to watch NASA's STS-119 press briefing at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT).

They have completed scanning the shuttle?s starboard wing and are now turning their attention to Discovery?s nose cap. They are using laser and camera sensors at the tip of a 50-foot (15-meter) extension of Discovery?s robotic arm and are expected to spend about an hour scanning the shuttle?s nose before moving on to the spacecraft?s port wing.

Meanwhile, NASA mission managers are keeping track of a piece of space debris that will buzz by the space station on early Tuesday.

Today is Flight Day 2 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the International Space Station. Shuttle heat shield inspections are planned throughout the day.

- Tariq Malik

Discovery Heat Shield Scan Under Way
16 March 2009 2:54 p.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery have begun today?s planned inspection of heat-resistant panels on the spacecraft?s nose cap and wing edges to scan for any signs of damage.

First up are the reinforced carbon carbon panels on Discovery?s starboard wing leading edge. The survey will take about an hour and 45 minutes before the shuttle crew switches to spacecraft?s nose cap, and later the port wing. They are using laser and camera sensors at the tip of a 50-foot (15-meter) extension of Discovery?s robotic arm.

Meanwhile, NASA mission managers are keeping track of a piece of space debris that will buzz by the space station on early Tuesday.

Today is Flight Day 2 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the International Space Station. Shuttle heat shield inspections are planned throughout the day.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Prepare to Inspect Discovery
16 March 2009 1:30 p.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery are preparing to begin today?s planned inspection of heat-resistant panels on the spacecraft?s nose cap and wing edges.

The inspection is due to begin around 2:28 p.m. EDT (1828 GMT) using laser and camera sensors at the tip of a 50-foot (15-meter) extension of Discovery?s robotic arm.

Shuttle pilot Tony Antonelli will oversee the inspection with help from Discovery commander Lee Archambault and mission specialists Joseph Acaba, John Phillips and Koichi Wakata.

Meanwhile, NASA mission managers are keeping track of a piece of space debris that will buzz by the space station on early Tuesday.

Today is Flight Day 2 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the International Space Station. Shuttle heat shield inspections are planned throughout the day.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Plan for Space Debris Near Station
16 March 2009 12:45 p.m. EDT

NASA engineers are keeping close tabs on a piece of Soviet-era space trash to decide whether to move the International Space Station before the arrival of the shuttle Discovery on Tuesday.

Discovery launched toward the station with seven astronauts aboard on late Sunday, and is due to dock at the orbiting lab tomorrow at 5:13 p.m. EDT (2113 GMT). But the offending piece of space debris, a remnant from the Soviet-era navigation satellite Cosmos 1275, will zip close by the station before the shuttle arrives.

?We haven?t gotten data in our office yet on how big it is,? said NASA spokesperson Kylie Clem at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Clem told SPACE.com that flight controllers know the debris is expected to make its closest pass by the space station at 3:14 a.m. EDT (0714 GMT).

If NASA engineers decide they need to move the space station to dodge the space junk, they would fire the rocket engines on the outpost?s Russian-built Zvezda service module at about 9:54 p.m. EDT (0154 March 17 GMT) for a short maneuver.

?We don?t necessarily need to do the burn until we get more data,? station commander Michael Fincke radioed down to Mission Control.

Today is Flight Day 2 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the International Space Station. Shuttle heat shield inspections are planned throughout the day.

- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Astronauts Begin 1^st Full Day in Space
16 March 2009 10:36 a.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard NASA?s space shuttle Discovery have begun their first full day in space after their Sunday evening launch, a day expected to be filled with heat shield inspections.

Flight controllers roused the crew at about 10:18 a.m. EDT (1418 GMT) with the song ?Free Bird? performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd, a tune chosen for shuttle pilot Dominic ?Tony? Antonelli, who is making his first spaceflight.

?Good morning Discovery, and especially to Tony,? Mission Control radioed the crew from NASA?s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

?Good morning Houston, thanks for that great song,? Antonelli called back.

Today is Flight Day 2 of Discovery?s 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

- Tariq Malik

Astronauts Open Shuttle Payload Bay
15 March 2009 9:29 p.m. EDT

Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery have opened the orbiter?s shell-like payload bay doors as they continue to settle into orbital operations after a spectacular sunset launch earlier tonight.

Click here for a view of Discovery?s launch at 7:43 p.m. EDT (2343 GMT). An earlier image can be seen here.

The astronauts opened Discovery?s payload bay at about 9:08 p.m. EDT (0109 March 16 GMT). The shuttle?s payload bay doors act as radiators during flight to shed excess heat from the spacecraft. They are due to dock at the International Space Station on Tuesday at 5:18 p.m. EDT (2118 GMT).

Click here for SPACE.com?s launch wrap up of today?s evening shuttle liftoff.

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-119 mission to the International Space Station on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com's NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left of this page.

- Tariq Malik

Discovery Astronauts Discard Shuttle Fuel Tank
15 March 2009 7:53 p.m. EDT

The STS-119 astronauts aboard the space shuttle Discovery have discarded the 15-story external tank that fed the orbiter?s 8 1/2-minute launch into space.

With the tank jettisoned, Discovery is now in orbit. A flash camera will photograph the tank?s departure to record any foam insulation loss.

Analysts at Mission Control in Houston?s Johnson Space Center will search for any signs of foam loss during launch, and its potential as a debris hazard to Discovery?s heat shield.

- Tariq Malik

Discovery?s Engines Shut Down as Planned
15 March 2009 7:52 p.m. EDT

The five engines boosting Discovery and its external tank towards orbit have shut down as planned about 8 1/2 minutes into flight.

The milestone, known as Main Engine Cut Off (MECO) The spacecraft is flying towards its intended orbit, with the next major task aimed at discarding the shuttle?s external tank.

- Tariq Malik

Solid Rocket Boosters Separate
15 March 2009 7:47 p.m. EDT

The twin solid rocket boosters assisting Discovery?s launch into space have separated as planned from the shuttle?s external tank.

The reusable boosters separate about two minutes and five seconds after liftoff and fall back toward the Atlantic Ocean, where they will land under parachutes and be retrieved by recovery ships. They are equipped with cameras to record the performance of Discovery?s external tank and any foam loss seen during today?s ascent.

- Tariq Malik

LIFTOFF! Shuttle Discovery Launches Spaceward
15 March 2009 7:44 p.m. EDT

The space shuttle Discovery has cleared the launch tower and gaining altitude after lifting off at about 7:43 p.m. EDT (2343 GMT).

Riding spaceward aboard Discovery are STS-119 commander Lee Archaumbault, shuttle pilot Tony Antonelli, mission specialists Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold II, John Phillips and Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. It should take discovery about 8 1/2 minutes to ferry its seven-astronaut crew into orbit.

- Tariq Malik

Shuttle Discovery 'Go for Launch'
15 March 2009 7:34 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. ? Shuttle Discovery has been cleared for launch from Kennedy Space Center's pad 39-A on its 36th mission - the 125th space shuttle flight and the 28th mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The countdown has just picked up following the planned T-9 minute hold as final launch preparations are rushed to completion.

Discovery's preferred launch time is 7:43:44 p.m. EDT (2343:44 GMT) and today's launch window will close at 7:48:44 p.m. EDT (2348:44 GMT).

At the time of launch, the ISS will be orbiting about 224 miles above the southern Indian Ocean.

Weather at the launch site is observed 'Go' on all fronts with no constraints to launch. Conditions at both of the Trans-Oceanic Abort Landing (TAL) sites in Spain remain favorable.

The mission management team has been polled and all have reported 'Go for launch.' The seven STS-119 astronauts, led by mission commander Lee Archambault and pilot Tony Antonelli, are strapped into their seats, running through their pre-launch checklists and are closely monitoring spacecraft systems for their ascent to orbit.

No technical or vehicle issues are being worked at this time, with very little chatter on the internal communication loops.

The Eastern Range is reporting 'Clear for launch.' The two Solid Rocket Booster recovery ships are on-station, northeast of Cape Canaveral and about 8 miles away from the actual impact point of the spent boosters.

Over the next nine minutes, the Orbiter's access arm will be retracted, the hydraulic power system (APU) started, the liquid hydrogen and oxygen tanks pressurized, Discovery's internal flight computers will take control of the countdown and a booster steering test will be conducted. The three space shuttle main engines will ignite at T-minus 6.6 seconds and the twin solid rockets boosters will light at T-minus zero resulting in liftoff.

All spacecraft systems are reported 'Go'. 9 minutes to launch.

-- Roger Guillemette

NASA is broadcasting Discovery?s STS-119 mission live on NASA TV during launch and the flight. You are invited to follow the mission using SPACE.com?s NASA TV feed, which is available by clicking here or using the button at the left.

?Shuttle Discovery Readied for Launch
15 March 2009 7:15 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. ? Shuttle Discovery's hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the seven STS-119 astronauts are strapped into their seats and final preparations are progressing smoothly for this evening's sunset launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center's pad 39-A.

The countdown clock is currently halted at the T-minus 9-minute mark ? a scheduled built-in hold lasting approx. 45 minutes and 44 seconds.

Weather conditions along Florida's Space Coast are perfect and as the countdown enters its final 30 minutes, the launch team is not currently working any technical issues ? with the non-critical exception of a bat that has attached itself to the External Tank. Both Trans-Oceanic Abort Landing (TAL) sites in Spain are both observed and forecast 'Green' or 'Go' to support a launch attempt this evening.

Discovery's preferred launch time has been moved up by two seconds to 7:43:44 p.m. EDT (2343:44 GMT), based upon the most recent position of the International Space Station; tonight's launch window will close at 7:48:44 p.m. EDT (2348:44 GMT).

U.S. Air Force Colonel Lee Archambault is commander of STS-119, and U.S. Navy Commander Tony Antonelli is the pilot. The mission specialists for the flight are NASA astronauts Joseph Acaba, John Phillips, Steve Swanson and Richard Arnold. Discovery will also deliver a new flight engineer, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata, to join the ISS Expedition 18/19 crew, and return current ISS flight engineer Sandra Magnus to Earth.

The astronauts are running through their pre-launch checklists and are closely monitoring their spacecraft systems in preparation for their ascent to orbit. The close-out crew has finished breaking down the 'White Room' surrounding the spacecraft hatch and departed the launch pad.

Discovery's primary objective to deliver the final set of solar array wings and truss element that are needed to complete the International Space Station?s electricity-generating system.

?-- Roger Guillemette

Discovery Countdown Proceeding Smoothly
15 March 2009 6:40 p.m. EDT

The countdown is proceeding smoothly for this evening's launch attempt of shuttle Discovery on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Weather conditions along Florida's Space Coast are perfect and the launch team is not currently working any technical issues as the countdown enters its final hour.

Discovery's preferred launch time is 7:43:46 p.m. EDT (2343:46 GMT), near the midpoint of a 10-minute launch window.

Discovery's hatch has been closed and latched for flight, the seven STS-119 astronauts are strapped into their seats and final preparations are progressing for this evening's launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A. The countdown clock is about to resume following the planned T-minus 20-minute hold and will tick down to T-minus 9-minute hold - a planned, built-in hold to allow the launch team to catch up on any final preparations.

A relatively sparse number of dignitaries are in attendance at the space center's VIP viewing sites for this evening's launch attempt, including Selective Service Director Bill Chatfield, U.S. Senator (and former space shuttle traveler) Bill Nelson and several members of Congress.<