T-25 minutes to go for the final launch of space shuttle discovery
you can watch live here if you care:mrgreen:
http://www.space.com/nasa_tv.php
A little bit of info on it
Facts by the Numbers
The space shuttle Discovery took four years to build from 1979 until 1983. It was the third orbiter to be in service for NASA's space shuttle program. In the current fleet of three orbiters, Discovery is the oldest. The name has a long history -- it was the name of Capt. James Cook's ship which discovered the islands of Hawaii.
Discovery has ferried nearly 250 astronauts to and from earth orbit, the most of any orbiter. It has flown around the earth more than 5,500 times and traveled nearly 143 million miles. Counting the mission blasting off in 2011, Discovery has flown 39 times and will have spent 363 days in space, almost a full year.
Important Missions
The first flight of Discovery occurred Aug. 30, 1984. The mission lasted six days and carried six astronauts into orbit. Discovery was also the first orbiter back in space after the Challenger accident when it flew in 1988. It served the same purpose after the Columbia accident in 2003.
Perhaps the most important and most memorable mission was launching the Hubble Space Telescope in April of 1990. It also flew a servicing mission to Hubble in 1997. Discovery's delivery of the most impressive space telescope has led to spectacular understandings of our universe with otherwise wouldn't be possible.
Several historic flights were made in the orbiter's long history. In 1998 it carried John Glenn back into space for the first time in 35 years. Discovery also carried a sitting member of Congress, Jake Garn in 1985 on its fourth flight.
Current Mission
The current mission, STS-133, is the 133rd launch in the space shuttle program since its beginning in 1981. Discovery will deliver three critical parts to the International Space Station, the 35th flight to dock with the structure.
The Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) provides storage and an area to conduct experiments. The Express Logistics Carrier contains spare parts for the station. Lastly, a humanoid robot called the Robonaut 2 (R2) will be delivered to the station. It is the first human-looking robot in outer space and will assist the human crew with tasks too dangerous for biological organisms.
The crew of six includes Commander Steve Lindsey, a retired Air Force colonel; Pilot Eric Boe, and four Mission Specialists. In addition to the final flight of Discovery, this is the first shuttle launch for 2011. This current launch window was originally scheduled for November but was delayed due to technical difficulties.
This mission begins the final series of three shuttle flights to occur in the space program's history. The last shuttle launch is scheduled for June. Discovery will eventually end up in a museum after its long and storied flight history is complete.
you can watch live here if you care:mrgreen:
http://www.space.com/nasa_tv.php
A little bit of info on it
Facts by the Numbers
The space shuttle Discovery took four years to build from 1979 until 1983. It was the third orbiter to be in service for NASA's space shuttle program. In the current fleet of three orbiters, Discovery is the oldest. The name has a long history -- it was the name of Capt. James Cook's ship which discovered the islands of Hawaii.
Discovery has ferried nearly 250 astronauts to and from earth orbit, the most of any orbiter. It has flown around the earth more than 5,500 times and traveled nearly 143 million miles. Counting the mission blasting off in 2011, Discovery has flown 39 times and will have spent 363 days in space, almost a full year.
Important Missions
The first flight of Discovery occurred Aug. 30, 1984. The mission lasted six days and carried six astronauts into orbit. Discovery was also the first orbiter back in space after the Challenger accident when it flew in 1988. It served the same purpose after the Columbia accident in 2003.
Perhaps the most important and most memorable mission was launching the Hubble Space Telescope in April of 1990. It also flew a servicing mission to Hubble in 1997. Discovery's delivery of the most impressive space telescope has led to spectacular understandings of our universe with otherwise wouldn't be possible.
Several historic flights were made in the orbiter's long history. In 1998 it carried John Glenn back into space for the first time in 35 years. Discovery also carried a sitting member of Congress, Jake Garn in 1985 on its fourth flight.
Current Mission
The current mission, STS-133, is the 133rd launch in the space shuttle program since its beginning in 1981. Discovery will deliver three critical parts to the International Space Station, the 35th flight to dock with the structure.
The Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) provides storage and an area to conduct experiments. The Express Logistics Carrier contains spare parts for the station. Lastly, a humanoid robot called the Robonaut 2 (R2) will be delivered to the station. It is the first human-looking robot in outer space and will assist the human crew with tasks too dangerous for biological organisms.
The crew of six includes Commander Steve Lindsey, a retired Air Force colonel; Pilot Eric Boe, and four Mission Specialists. In addition to the final flight of Discovery, this is the first shuttle launch for 2011. This current launch window was originally scheduled for November but was delayed due to technical difficulties.
This mission begins the final series of three shuttle flights to occur in the space program's history. The last shuttle launch is scheduled for June. Discovery will eventually end up in a museum after its long and storied flight history is complete.
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