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NASA Discusses Launch Plan for Space Shuttle Discovery

by Tariq Malik, Senior Editor
Date: 19 May 2008 Time: 11:24 AM ET
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Space Shuttle Discovery Moves to Launch Pad
Access platforms at Launch Pad 39A are moved into position against Space Shuttle Discovery. Discovery arrived at its seaside launch pad and was hard down at 6:06 a.m. EDT on May 3.
CREDIT: NASA/Troy Cryder

NASA engineers and mission managers are expected to set a firm May launch date today for the shuttle Discovery and a massive Japanese laboratory bound for the International Space Station (ISS).

Discovery and its seven-astronaut crew are scheduled to launch toward the space station on May 31 from NASA?s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Cape Canaveral, Fla., to deliver Japan?s tour bus-sized Kibo laboratory module during a planned 14-day mission.

?Processing-wise, things are going very well,? NASA spokesperson Allard Beutel, of KSC, told SPACE.com.

Shuttle mission managers are convening in a traditional Flight Readiness Review to determine whether Discovery is ready for its planned 5:02 p.m. EDT (2102 GMT) liftoff on May 31. They are expected to announce their decision in a press briefing later this afternoon.

?They?re fully into their discussions,? Beutel said. ?Now we?re hoping for a May 31 launch date.?

Commanded by veteran spaceflyer Mark Kelly, Discovery?s STS-124 astronauts plan to perform three spacewalks to deliver the 37-foot (11-meter) Kibo lab module and perform other station maintenance. They will also swap out one member of the space station?s three-man crew before returning to Earth.

Since its previous launch last October, Discovery has experienced the fewest problems to date related to turning an orbiter around for its next flight, shuttle officials have said. Aside from a glitch that forced engineers to use two days out of their week of reserve time to replace a computer part, Discovery?s launch preparations have gone smoothly, Beutel said.

Discovery launch will mark NASA?s third shuttle flight dedicated to hauling new living and laboratory space to the station this year. The space agency hopes to launch up to five shuttle missions - the most since the 2003 Columbia accident - in 2008.

NASA will hold a press briefing no earlier than 4:00 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT) on NASA TV to discuss today's Flight Readiness Review meeting for Discovery?s STS-124 shuttle mission. Click here for SPACE.com's shuttle mission coverage and NASA TV feed.

 

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