http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle en-us Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:27:44 GMT Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:07:41 GMT
Commander Lee Archambault introduced five of the seven members of the STS-119 mission crew. Mission Specialist Sandra Magnus remained at crew quarters accompanied by Richard Arnold.

Archambault described the demanding mission that included three spacewalks to install the S6 truss increasing the electrical capability of the station, and how well space shuttle Discovery handled throughout the mission.

"It was an exciting mission … and we're very happy to be back at the Kennedy Space Center," Archambault said.

Archambault also mentioned the call from President Barack Obama and how honored the crew at the station was to speak with him and answer his questions.

Mission Specialist Joseph Acaba said he was amazed at the views from the space station.

"It was kind of surreal to look out the window and see your two buddies out there that you've been training with for a long time and see them out there…it was a special moment," said Acaba.

As Pilot Tony Antonelli maneuvered Discovery away from the station other crew members snapped some amazing shots of the orbiting outpost that they said will stay with them for a long time.

"We worked a long time training for this mission and I was so proud to be a part of it," said Mission Specialist Steve Swanson.

The crew is expected fly back to Houston's Ellington Field Sunday. After arrival they'll be honored with a homecoming celebration for the successful STS-119 mission.



]]> Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:15:19 GMT
NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier expressed his appreciation to the international teams working together to accomplish a very ambitious mission integrating hardware made in different countries that work together."It really took all the countries working together to pull this off," Gerstenmaier said. "I also can't say enough about the people that work on the shuttle," referring to the enormous effort to prepare the shuttle and resolve the issues that delayed the launch.

NASA Space Shuttle Program Deputy Manager LeRoy Cain remarked how extremely well the teams worked together on a very complex mission. "I think we left the station in a configuration we can all be very proud of. It's an amazing team that makes these missions happen," said Cain. "There isn't anything that this team can't accomplish."

NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach congratulated the team for how well Discovery performed. "It's good to have Discovery home, it looks great," said Leinbach. "The crew was ecstatic about how it performed on orbit, and we're ready to get on with the next one."

Leinbach was referring to the next two space shuttles being prepared: Atlantis for the STS-125 Hubble Servicing mission and Endeavour's STS-127 mission to the International Space Station.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:05:29 GMT
The crew is expected fly back to Houston's Ellington Field, departing Kennedy about 5 p.m. on Sunday. After arrival they'll be honored with a homecoming celebration for the successful STS-119 mission.

A post-landing news conference is set for no earlier than 5:30 p.m. EDT and will air live on NASA Television. The participants are Bill Gerstenmaier, LeRoy Cain and Mike Leinbach.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:16:55 GMT
Mission Specialist Sandra Magnus also returned to Earth today with the STS-119 crew. Magnus spent 129 days aboard the International Space Station as flight engineer for Expedition 18. Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata took her place on the orbiting laboratory and will return to Earth with the STS-127 crew.

A post-landing news conference is set for no earlier than 5:30 p.m. EDT and will air live on NASA Television. The participants are Bill Gerstenmaier, LeRoy Cain and Mike Leinbach.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:09:27 GMT
A post-landing news conference is set for no earlier than 5:30 p.m. EDT and will air live on NASA Television. The participants are Bill Gerstenmaier, LeRoy Cain and Mike Leinbach.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:48:46 GMT
When the crew hatch is opened, the astronauts will exit the orbiter and enter the CTV, which contains beds and comfortable seats for a physician to conduct a brief preliminary examination of the STS-119 astronauts.

The post-landing news conference is set for approximately 5 p.m. EDT and will air live on NASA Television. The participants are Bill Gerstenmaier, LeRoy Cain and Mike Leinbach.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:01:14 GMT
When the space shuttle is considered safe from all potential hazards and free of toxic gases, the purge and coolant umbilical access vehicle will move into position at the rear of the orbiter.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:51:34 GMT
After the final steps in "safing" the vehicle are complete, which usually takes about 45 minutes, the STS-119 crew will exit the orbiter.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:49:09 GMT
Work to safely shut down Discovery's systems continues. Crew members are going through a detailed checklist and preparing to deplane the orbiter.

A landing convoy will assemble around the vehicle to work on exterior "safing" procedures.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:32:19 GMT Space shuttle Discovery rolled to a stop at Kennedy Space Center, completing its 13-day journey of more than 5.3 million miles in space.

The post-landing news conference is set for approximately 5:15 p.m. EDT and will air live on NASA Television. The participants are Bill Gerstenmaier, LeRoy Cain and Mike Leinbach. The crew's return to Houston's Ellington Field is expected about 5 p.m. Sunday.

STS-119 was the 125th space shuttle mission, the 36th flight for Discovery and the 28th shuttle visit to the station.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:15:16 GMT Mission Control has given space shuttle Discovery a "go" for the deorbit burn. The burn lasts three to four minutes, slowing Discovery enough to begin its descent. The deorbit burn will occur at 2:08 p.m. EDT, leading to a 3:14 p.m. landing at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:00:32 GMT The weather is looking more favorable for the 2nd landing attempt at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew has been given the "go" to begin drinking fluids that will help them readapt to gravity.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:23:44 GMT The weather forecast is "no go" today for the first landing opportunity at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The next Kennedy landing opportunity is at 3:14 p.m. EDT, with a deorbit burn of 2:08 p.m.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:15:32 GMT The payload bay doors on space shuttle Discovery were closed a little after 10 a.m. EDT and the shuttle’s astronauts are in the process of deactivating Discovery's navigational star trackers and closing the associated doors on the ship's nose. NASA astronaut Brent Jett has just taken off from Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility in a Shuttle Training Aircraft for weather reconnaissance. Weather officers are looking at whether headwinds may exceed our 28 mph rule for landing.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:11:27 GMT Discovery’s crew of seven is preparing for a 1:39 p.m. EDT landing today at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The crew was awakened this morning at 5:13 a.m. to the song “I Have a Dream” performed by ABBA. The song was played for Mission Specialist Sandra Magnus.

Flight controllers reported to the space shuttle crew that weather conditions are forecast to be acceptable for their return home and that they could begin deorbit preparations. Discovery will fire its engines at 12:33 p.m. to begin the descent to Florida on a northeasterly track that will cross over Central America and Cuba.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:55:00 GMT The astronauts on space shuttle Discovery are preparing to spend what is planned to be their final night in orbit, with wake up set for 5:13 a.m. EDT Saturday to ready for a 1:39 p.m. landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Weather conditions are forecast to be acceptable for the shuttle's return home to Florida.

Discovery's crew will go to sleep at 9:13 p.m. Following wake up on Saturday, they will begin deorbit preparations at 8:33 a.m. Discovery will fire its engines at 12:33 p.m. to begin the descent to Florida. A second opportunity is available if needed for Discovery to land at Kennedy on Saturday, beginning with a deorbit burn engine firing at 2:08 p.m. leading to a 3:14 p.m. touchdown.

]]> Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:17:39 GMT The crew’s wakeup song, "Bright Side of the Road" by Van Morrison, was played at 5:13 a.m. EDT for Mission Specialist Richard Arnold.

The STS-119 crew is scheduled to stow items in the crew cabin this morning and complete a check out Discovery’s flight control surfaces. These surfaces will guide the orbiter’s unpowered flight through the atmosphere to a landing.

Landing is scheduled for 1:39 p.m. Saturday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a second opportunity one orbit later at 3:14 p.m.

]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:49:09 GMT The STS-119 crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 9:13 p.m. EDT and awaken tomorrow at 5:13 a.m. to begin deorbit preparations, including cabin stowage and check out of the flight control surfaces. Those surfaces will guide the orbiter’s unpowered flight through the atmosphere to a landing.

Earlier today, Pilot Tony Antonelli used the shuttle's robotic arm to grapple the Orbiter Boom Sensor System enabling the cameras and laser sensors to scan Discovery for signs of damage from orbital debris. The five-hour inspection included the nose cap and wing leading edges.

Imagery experts will review the data and report their assessment to the Mission Management Team tomorrow to formally clear the orbiter for re-entry. Landing is scheduled for 1:39 p.m. Saturday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a second opportunity one orbit later at 3:14 p.m.

]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:02:21 GMT Space shuttle Discovery's crew is continuing to perform the late inspection of the shuttle's heat shield. The operation should conclude later this afternoon and the Orbiter Boom Sensor System reberthed in Discovery's payload bay at about 3:43 p.m. EDT. Today's mission status briefing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Landing time is now 1:38 p.m. EDT on Saturday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, 5 minutes earlier than previously calculated.

]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:37:36 GMT The crew was awakened at 6:13 a.m. EDT today with the song “Enter Sandman” by Metallica, played for Mission Specialist Joseph Acaba. Within a few hours he and Pilot Tony Antonelli will use the shuttle's robotic arm to grapple the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) to kick off today’s inspection.

Starting with the reinforced carbon-carbon panels that line the leading edge of the shuttle’s starboard wing, the crew will guide the OBSS so its cameras and laser sensors can examine the orbiter for signs of damage from orbital debris. The inspection moves from the starboard wing, to the nose cap, to the port wing. The OBSS should be returned to its berth on the starboard sill of the payload bay starting at 3:43 p.m.

]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:11:05 GMT Space shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station at 3:53 p.m. EDT Wednesday. At 5:09 p.m., the first of two separation burns was performed to move Discovery away from the station to start the journey home. The final separation burn occurred at 5:37 p.m.

The STS-119 crew is scheduled to go to sleep at 10:13 p.m. EDT. They will wake at 6:13 a.m. Thursday and perform a late inspection of Discovery’s thermal protection system using the shuttle robotic arm and the Orbital Boom Sensor System around 10:28 a.m.

Discovery's first landing opportunity at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., will be Saturday at 1:43 p.m.

]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:24:03 GMT Space shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station at 3:53 p.m. EDT. The shuttle spent 9 days, 20 hours and 10 minutes docked to the station. Sandy Magnus spent 129 days at the station and 134 days in space.

After completing a fly around of the space station, shuttle Discovery will perform a maneuver to separate from the station.

Today's mission status briefing is scheduled for 6 p.m.

]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:00:59 GMT Crew members from space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station have closed their respective hatches at 1:59 p.m. EDT, ending the joint portion of the STS-119 mission.

The astronauts will now do a series of leak checks.

Undocking from the space station is scheduled for later this afternoon.

]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:12:58 GMT The 10 crew members of STS-119 and Expedition 18 have gathered in the Harmony module for a farewell ceremony before shuttle Commander Lee Archambault leads his crew back into Discovery. He and station Commander Mike Fincke will close the hatches between their two vehicles.

]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:00:37 GMT The International Space Station crew goes to sleep at 9:43 p.m. EDT Tuesday followed by the space shuttle Discovery crew at 10:13 p.m. Wake up comes at 5:13 a.m. Wednesday to start the final hours of the joint mission. Discovery is set undock from the station at 3:53 p.m. after the crew bids farewell to its temporary home and the Expedition 18 crew, leaving behind Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata and bringing home Sandy Magnus after four months aboard the station.

All the crew members aboard Discovery and the space station gathered in the station's Harmony module Tuesday morning and spoke to the President of the United States, members of Congress and students. The president was joined in the White House's Roosevelt Room by Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Bill Nelson, along with Reps. Gabrielle Giffords, Bart Gordon, Parker Griffith, Suzanne Kosmas and Alan Mollohan. The schoolchildren were from the Boys and Girls Club of Washington, D.C., Southeast Elementary Academy of Washington, the Louise Archer Elementary School and Thoreau Middle School in Virginia, and the Parkland Magnet Middle School for Aerospace Engineering in Maryland.

]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:15:35 GMT All the crew members aboard space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station gathered in the station's Harmony module Tuesday morning and spoke to the President of the United States, members of Congress and students. The president was joined in the White House's Roosevelt Room by Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Bill Nelson, along with Reps. Gabrielle Giffords, Bart Gordon, Parker Griffith, Suzanne Kosmas and Alan Mollohan. The schoolchildren were from the Boys and Girls Club of Washington, D.C., Southeast Elementary Academy of Washington, the Louise Archer Elementary School and Thoreau Middle School in Virginia, and the Parkland Magnet Middle School for Aerospace Engineering in Maryland. The call will air again on NASA Television at 6 p.m. EDT.

The shuttle and station crews fielded questions from reporters during a 1:05 p.m. joint crew news conference. At 3 p.m. NASA Television played views of Discovery's launch from cameras mounted on the Solid Rocket Boosters.

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:58:26 GMT All the crew members aboard space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station gathered in the station's Harmony module Tuesday morning and spoke to the President of the United States, members of Congress and students.

Later today they will field questions from reporters during a 1:05 p.m. joint crew news conference. At 3 p.m. NASA Television will play views of Discovery's launch from cameras mounted on the Solid Rocket Boosters.

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:20:19 GMT All the astronauts aboard space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station will gather in the station's Harmony module at 9:49 a.m. EDT to speak to the President of the United States.

Later today they will field questions from reporters during a 1:05 p.m. joint crew news conference. At 3 p.m. NASA Television will play views of Discovery's launch from cameras mounted on the Solid Rocket Boosters.

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:19:05 GMT Today's wakeup music was "Andrew's Song" played at 6:15 a.m. EDT for Discovery astronaut John Phillips by his daughter's band Treestump.

Astronauts aboard Discovery and the space station will participate in a televised downlink event at 9:49 a.m. and a joint crew news conference at 1:05 p.m. and enjoy some off duty time in the afternoon. At 3 p.m. NASA Television will play views of Discovery's launch from cameras mounted on the Solid Rocket Boosters.

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:26:07 GMT Astronauts Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold ended the mission's third spacewalk at 6:04 p.m. EDT. They helped robotic arm operators relocate the Crew Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) cart from the Port 1 to Starboard 1 truss segment, installed a new coupler on the CETA cart, lubricated snares on the "B" end of the space station's robotic arm and performed a few "get ahead" tasks.

They were unable to deploy the Port 3 unpressurized cargo carrier attachment system (UCCAS) and tied it safely in place while engineers evaluate the problem. Because the issue is not yet understood, Mission Control cancelled the installation of a similar payload attachment system on the starboard side.

Today's spacewalk lasted six hours, 27 minutes. It was the second spacewalk for both Acaba and Arnold and the 123rd spacewalk in support of station assembly and maintenance, totaling 775 hours. The three STS-119 spacewalks totaled 19 hours, 4 minutes. Steve Swanson has performed four spacewalks totaling 26 hours, 22 minutes. Acaba has two spacewalks totaling 12 hours, 57 minutes. Arnold has two spacewalks totaling 12 hours, 34 minutes.

NASA Television will carry a news briefing at 7 p.m. with STS-119 Lead Space Station Flight Director Kwatsi Alibaruho and STS-119 Lead Extravehicular Activity Officer Glenda Laws-Brown.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:13:47 GMT Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:17:11 GMT Spacewalkers Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold have been unable to fully deploy the Port 3 unpressurized cargo carrier attachment system (UCCAS). This is the system that Acaba and Steve Swanson previously attempted to deploy during Saturday's second spacewalk. Mission Control has advised the spacewalkers to cease deployment attempts and secure the UCCAS in place using long-duration tethers. This will protect the hardware until another attempt can be made sometime in the future.

Because the problem is not yet understood, Mission Control cancelled Acaba and Arnold's installation of a similar payload attachment system on the starboard side.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:35:49 GMT Robotic arm operators John Phillips and Koichi Wakata, guided by spacewalker Joseph Acaba, moved the Crew Equipment Translation Aid (CETA) cart from the Port 1 truss segment to the Starboard 1 segment. Acaba and fellow spacewalker Richard Arnold will latch the cart to its new location.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:19:16 GMT Astronauts Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold began the last of three STS-119 spacewalks at 11:37 a.m. EDT when they switched their spacesuits to internal battery power. After they exit the hatch, they will move a cart along the rails of the station's truss from the Port 1 segment to Starboard 1, attempt again to deploy the problematic Port 3 unpressurized cargo carrier attachment system (UCCAS), install a similar payload attachment system on the starboard side, lubricate the space station arm's end effector snare and reconfigure some cables that power the station's gyroscopes.

This is the second spacewalk for both Acaba and Arnold and the 123rd in support of space station assembly and maintenance. The spacewalk is expected to last 6.5 hours.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:38:40 GMT Today's wakeup music was "Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens" by Louis Jordan played for Discovery astronaut Steve Swanson at 6:43 a.m. EDT, suggested by his children.

Astronauts aboard Discovery begin the mission's third spacewalk at 11:43 a.m. During the 6.5 hour excursion, Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold will relocate a cart that moves along the rails of the station's truss, attempt again to deploy the unpressurized cargo carrier attachment system, install a similar attachment system on the starboard side, lubricate the space station arm's end effector and reconfigure some cables that power the station's gyroscopes.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:29:21 GMT Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:25:17 GMT At 7:23 p.m. EDT, space shuttle Discovery began reorienting the shuttle-space station stack 180 degrees back to the normal attitude, placing Discovery behind the space station as they travel through space.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:14:04 GMT At 4:31 p.m. EDT, space shuttle Discovery completed maneuvering the shuttle-space station stack 180 degrees to the "undock attitude," placing Discovery in front of the space station as they travel through space. Discovery and the station will stay in this orientation long enough for the natural drag to slow the stack by about a foot per second, estimated to take three hours. This will lower the orbit very slightly over time, enough to avoid a piece of orbital debris whose erratic orbit makes it a potential threat.

The debris is estimated to be about four inches in diameter, part of a spent Chinese satellite upper stage. It is in a similar altitude as Discovery and the station, but in a 98 degree inclination rather than 51.6 degrees. This would have allowed the debris to cross the shuttle-station orbit repeatedly for several days, and the maneuver eliminates that risk. Had we not taken this action, the first time of closest approach would have been about two hours into Monday's spacewalk.

]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:01:30 GMT International Space Station Commander Mike Fincke just replaced a filter assembly in the Urine Processor Assembly (UPA). Mission Control hopes this will increase the rate of urine flowing into the UPA, after a slower-than-expected rate was noted earlier today. This issue is not related to the newly-installed Distillation Assembly.

Fincke is filling the UPA with urine and, if all goes well, will begin to process a sample. It takes four to five hours to process a complete sample.

]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:36:35 GMT At about 4 p.m. EDT, space shuttle Discovery will maneuver the shuttle-space station stack to the "undock attitude" and stay there for about three hours. That attitude will create more drag, slowing the stack by about a foot per second. Over several hours, this will lower the orbit very slightly, enough to avoid a piece of orbital debris whose erratic orbit makes it a potential threat.

]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:37:28 GMT Mission Control in Houston is preparing for a possible debris avoidance maneuver sometime today due to a piece of orbital debris whose erratic orbit makes it a potential threat.

At 2:28 p.m. EDT, Capcom Steve Robinson informed space shuttle Discovery Commander Lee Archambault that Mission Control has decided to perform a maneuver at Mission Elapsed Time 20:46, or 4:30 p.m. Discovery will maneuver the vehicles to the appropriate attitude in the event a debris avoidance maneuver becomes necessary.

]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:59:27 GMT Astronauts aboard the International Space Station and engineers in Mission Control, Houston, are evaluating an issue with the Urine Processor Assembly (UPA). The rate of urine flowing into the UPA is slower than expected. This issue is not related to the newly-installed Distillation Assembly. Mission Control has decided to end troubleshooting the UPA for today.

]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:46:48 GMT Mission Control in Houston gave International Space Station Commander Mike Fincke a "go" to begin processing the first Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) sample since a new Distillation Assembly was installed in the UPA earlier in the mission. It will take four to five hours to process the sample.

]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:10:58 GMT Today's wakeup music was "Alive Again" by Chicago played for space shuttle Discovery Commander Lee Archambault at 7:14 a.m. EDT.

Astronauts aboard Discovery will enjoy some off duty time beginning at 10:18 a.m. before participating in a media interview and planning for Monday's third spacewalk. At 6:12 p.m., Discovery Commander Lee Archambault, Pilot Tony Antonelli, Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, John Phillips and Sandra Magnus and International Space Station Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata will talk to reporters from CNN Espanol, CBS and WOFL-TV in Orlando, Florida. At 7:13 p.m., Acaba and Richard Arnold will review Monday's spacewalk procedures and at 9:09 p.m. they will camp out in the Quest airlock.

]]> Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:41:31 GMT Astronauts Steve Swanson and Joseph Acaba ended the mission's second spacewalk at 7:21 p.m. EDT. They prepared a worksite so that the STS-127 spacewalkers can more easily change out the Port 6 truss batteries later this year. On the Japanese Kibo laboratory they installed a second Global Positioning Satellite antenna that will be used for the planned rendezvous of the Japanese HTV cargo ship in September. They photographed areas of radiator panels extended from the Port 1 and Starboard 1 trusses and reconfigured connectors at a patch panel on the Zenith 1 truss that power Control Moment Gyroscopes.

After struggling with a balky pin that kept an unpressurized cargo carrier attachment system (UCCAS) from fully deploying, they tied UCCAS safely in place. Engineers will evaluate the issue.

Today's spacewalk lasted six hours, 30 minutes. It was Swanson's fourth spacewalk and Acaba's first, and the 122nd spacewalk in support of station assembly and maintenance, totaling 768 hours, 33 minutes.

NASA Television will carry a news briefing at 8 p.m. with STS-119 Lead Space Station Flight Director Kwatsi Alibaruho and STS-119 Lead Extravehicular Activity Officer Glenda Laws-Brown.

]]> Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:29:45 GMT Swanson and Acaba have encountered difficulties installing an unpressurized cargo carrier attachment system (UCCAS) on the Port 3 truss. They struggled with a balky pin that kept the carrier from fully deploying and are leaving the task to accomplish higher priority work. The UCCAS will be used in the future to store equipment and supplies on the outside of the space station.

Next, Swanson will attach a Global Positioning System antenna to the Japanese Kibo laboratory. The GPS will be used for the planned rendezvous of the Japanese HTV cargo ship in September. Meanwhile, Acaba will snap standard and infrared photos of panels on radiators that are deployed from the Port 1 and Starboard 1 trusses.

Inside the space station, the replacement Distillation Assembly is "dry spinning" and station Commander Mike Fincke reports the noises it makes are quiet compared to the failed unit.

]]> Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:48:06 GMT At 2:38 p.m., space shuttle Discovery took over attitude control of the shuttle-station complex when the station's Control Moment Gyroscopes (CMG) became saturated. This is no impact to the spacewalk, and once the CMGs equalize they will resume attitude control.

Spacewalkers Steve Swanson and Joseph Acaba are heading back from the far left end of the space station's truss backbone. They finished the first chore of their 6.5-hour spacewalk, loosening bolts, installing foot restraints and preparing tools so that the STS-127 spacewalkers can more easily change out the Port 6 (P6) truss batteries later this year.

Swanson and Acaba now are moving inboard to the Port 3 truss to install an unpressurized cargo carrier attachment system (UCCAS). The UCCAS will be used to store equipment and supplies on the outside of the space station. Later in the spacewalk they will install a similar carrier on the Starboard 3 truss.

]]> Sat, 21 Mar 2009 19:02:57 GMT Astronauts Steve Swanson and Joseph Acaba began the second of three STS-119 spacewalks at 12:51 p.m. EDT when they switched their spacesuits to internal battery power. After they exit the hatch, they will move to the far left side of the truss to prepare a workstation for the later removal and replacement of Port 6 (P6) batteries by STS-127 spacewalkers. Swanson and Acaba also will prepare a couple of cargo attachment systems for storing equipment and supplies on the outside of the space station, install a GPS antenna on the Japanese segment that will help guide the HTV resupply vehicle later this year, snap photos of a radiator truss whose corner has curled up and reconfigure a patch panel on the station's truss.This is Swanson's fourth spacewalk and Acaba's first. The spacewalk is expected to last 6.5 hours.

]]> Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:52:21 GMT Today's wakeup music was "In a Little While" by the group Pilgrim and Trout played for Discovery astronaut Richard Arnold at 7:43 a.m. EDT.

Astronauts Steve Swanson and Joseph Acaba will begin the mission's second spacewalk at 12:43 p.m. They will prepare a workstation on the Port 6 (P6) truss for later removal and replacement of P6 batteries by the STS-127 crew. The spacewalkers also will prepare a couple of cargo attachment systems for storing equipment and supplies on the outside of the space station, install a GPS antenna on the Japanese segment that will help guide the HTV resupply vehicle later this year, snap photos of a radiator truss whose corner has curled up and reconfigure a patch panel on the station's truss.

]]> Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:03:04 GMT In preparation for Saturday's spacewalk, mission specialists Steve Swanson and Joseph Acaba reviewed spacewalk procedures at 7:43 p.m. EDT and will "camp out" overnight in the Quest airlock beginning at 10:08 p.m. The International Space Station crew goes to sleep at 11:13 p.m. followed by the shuttle crew at 11:43 p.m.

The space station has its final pair of solar panels stretching 240 feet tip to tip after a lessons-learned flawless deploy earlier Friday. The orbiting complex now has nearly an acre’s worth of U.S. arrays producing 120 kilowatts of usable electricity – doubling the amount available for science operations to 30 kilowatts.

]]> Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:21:39 GMT Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:23:24 GMT Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:58:09 GMT Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:46:09 GMT Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:56:17 GMT Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:15:38 GMT When the S6 truss solar arrays are unfurled today, they will extend 240 feet, tip to tip. Overnight, Mission control deployed the arrays a short distance and confirmed they are operating properly. The first array will be extended at 10:48 a.m. EDT.

The new arrays add enough power-generating capacity to double the electricity available for space station science operations, from 15 to 30 kilowatts. Altogether, the station’s arrays will generate as much as 120 kilowatts of usable electricity, enough to power about 42 2800-square-foot homes.

Measurements of the station increased after yesterday's S6 installation. The station now is 336 feet long from the left end of the truss backbone to the right. It is 45 feet high, its solar arrays are 240 feet wide and the complex weighs 669,291 pounds. By mass, it now is 81 percent complete.

]]> Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:56:43 GMT "Box of Rain" by Grateful Dead was this morning's wakeup music, played by Mission Control in Houston for shuttle astronaut John Phillips.

After the S6 segment was installed Thursday to the right end of the International Space Station's truss, today's main activity will be extending the S6 solar array wings. The arrays will be unfurled in phases, allowing the Sun to "bake" the panels and prevent "stiction" from keeping the accordion-like sections from extending. This procedure has worked successfully on past missions. The S6 1B array will deploy to 49 percent at 10:58 a.m. EDT and will "bake" for 45 minutes before it is fully deployed. Its twin S6 3B array will extend to 49 percent at 12:28 p.m., followed by full deployment 45 minutes later.

]]> Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:10:09 GMT Astronauts today installed the International Space Station's final truss segment, Starboard 6, containing the fourth pair of solar arrays. Once the solar array wings are unfurled, the segment will provide the final complement of power to the station.

After station robotic arm drivers John Phillips and Koichi Wakata guided the truss into position, spacewalkers Steve Swanson and Richard Arnold connected bolts to permanently attach S6 to S5. The spacewalkers plugged in power and data connectors to the truss, prepared a radiator to cool it, opened boxes containing the new solar arrays and deployed the Beta Gimbal Assemblies containing masts that support the solar arrays. Mission Control in Houston deployed the radiator, and the stage is set for solar array wing deploy on Friday at 10:58 a.m. EDT.

Today's spacewalk lasted six hours, seven minutes. It was Swanson's third spacewalk and Arnold's first, and the 121st spacewalk in support of station assembly, totaling about 762 hours.

NASA Television will carry a news briefing at 8:30 p.m. with Dan Hartman, Manager, ISS Mission Integration & Operations & IMMT Chair, Kwatsi Alibaruho, STS-119 Lead Space Station Flight Director and Glenda Laws-Brown, Lead Extravehicular Activity Officer for STS-119.

]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:31:57 GMT Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:22:50 GMT Driving the space station robotic arm, astronauts John Phillips and Koichi Wakata guided the S6 truss segment onto its final location, the right side of the S5 truss segment at 2:17 p.m. EDT. The two connected as the station flew above the Atlantic Ocean near the Cape Verde Islands. Spacewalkers Steve Swanson and Richard Arnold will bolt S6 in place and plug in power and data cables to activate the segment.

Later in the spacewalk, they will remove launch restraints from a radiator that cools S6, and from boxes containing the new solar arrays. The arrays will be unfurled later in the mission.

]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:23:24 GMT Astronauts Steve Swanson and Richard Arnold began the first of three STS-119 spacewalks at 1:16 p.m. EDT when they switched their spacesuits to internal battery power. After they exit the hatch, they will perform a number of tasks to help install the S6 truss segment to the far right side of the station's truss, or backbone. Once Swanson and Arnold are in place, Koichi Wakata and John Phillips will operate the station robotic arm to carefully move S6 the remaining 4.5 feet to the side of the S5 truss.

This is Swanson's third spacewalk and Arnold's first. The spacewalk is expected to last 6.5 hours.

]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:24:31 GMT Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:18:28 GMT Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:23:43 GMT
Today's top task is attaching the S6 truss segment to the far right side of the station's truss, or backbone. Robotic arm operators in the station will move the 31,000 pound segment into position and spacewalkers Steve Swanson and Richard Arnold will bolt it in place and make the necessary electrical and data connections to activate its power and cooling systems.

The mission's first spacewalk begins at 1:13 p.m. EDT and is planned to last 6 1/2 hours.

]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:29:21 GMT Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:23:11 GMT Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:45:01 GMT
NASA Television will carry a Mission Status Briefing at 6:30 p.m. EDT with STS-119 Lead Space Station Flight Director Kwatsi Alibaruho.

]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:25:10 GMT Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:25:42 GMT Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:49:44 GMT Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:55:35 GMT Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:58:22 GMT The space shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station at 5:20 p.m. EDT Tuesday, delivering the final truss segment and pair of U.S. solar arrays and a new crew member to take up residence aboard the growing orbital scientific complex.

The shuttle and station crews opened hatches and greeted one another at 6:09 p.m., beginning more than a week of joint operations between the two crews. One of the first major tasks of the crews was to swap station crew member Sandra Magnus for Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. The official swap occurred when a specially fitted seat liner was installed in the Soyuz crew vehicle. That swap at 9 p.m. signified the official designation change making Wakata an Expedition 18 flight engineer and Magnus a shuttle mission specialist.

Prime business for the crews Wednesday will be to lift the truss segment out of Discovery’s payload bay with the shuttle robot arm and hand it off to the station’s mechanical arm for an overnight stay before Thursday’s permanent installation on the station.

]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:35:03 GMT Hatches between space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station are open and the astronauts are assembling in the Harmony module for the welcoming ceremony. Space station commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineers Sandra Magnus and Yury Lonchakov will welcome Discovery Commander Lee Archambault and his crew members Tony Antonelli, Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold, John Phillips and Koichi Wakata.

At 7:15 p.m. EDT, or following the welcoming ceremony, NASA Television will carry a Mission Status Briefing with STS-119 Lead Shuttle Flight Director Paul Dye and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency representative Kuniaki Shiraki.

At about 7:30 p.m., Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Astronaut Wakata will become a member of the station's Expedition 18 crew and Sandra Magnus will become a member of Discovery's crew. Magnus will have been a space station crew member for 121 days.

]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:13:41 GMT At 5:19:53: p.m. EDT, space shuttle Discovery docked to the Pressurized Mating Adaptor on the front of the International Space Station's Harmony module. Docking occurred over Lake Wells, western Australia. During the next eight days, the combined crews of Discovery and the station will install the S6 truss, complete three spacewalks and transfer hundreds of items between the two craft.Hatches between Discovery and the station will be opened at about 7 p.m., followed by the traditional welcoming ceremony.At about 7:30 p.m., Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata will become a member of the station's Expedition 18 crew and Sandra Magnus will become a member of Discovery's crew. Magnus will have been a space station crew member for 121 days.

]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:25:21 GMT Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:45:12 GMT Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:27:51 GMT Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:42:53 GMT Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:54:22 GMT Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:00:49 GMT Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:23:55 GMT Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:54:34 GMT Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:13:26 GMT


The astronauts awoke at 10:13 a.m. beginning their first full day in space, officially known as Flight Day 2.

]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:16:17 GMT
NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier expressed his thanks to the teams from the NASA centers that resolved the technical issues which delayed the launch. "It was a true team effort at NASA," Gerstenmaier said. "There was a lot of critical work that needed to be done and they just did a phenomenal job."

Yukihide Hayashi, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency vice president, was delighted with the launch of Discovery carrying Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata to the orbiting laboratory where he'll take his place as Expedition 18 and 19 flight engineer.

Mission Management Chairman Mike Moses remarked how smooth the launch countdown went and gave special thanks to the reusable solid rocket motor team celebrating their 100th launch since the Challenger redesign. "They’ve built a system that's working fantastic and has been working almost perfect since that day and congratulations to that team," Moses said.

NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach talked about how smoothly the countdown went, including the minor issues that were quickly taken care of. "This was the most visually beautiful launch I've ever seen -- it was just spectacular," Leinbach said. Hundreds of people worked on the flow control valve issue, and for their hard work and long hours they received the coveted Flow Award after launch. "I'm very proud to be a part of this team," Leinbach said.



]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:01:57 GMT
Discovery will arrive at the International Space Station in two days.



]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:19:13 GMT
The twin solid rocket boosters will burnout shortly and fall away as Discovery continues its climb powered by its three main engines. Once in orbit, it will take Discovery about two days to catch up to the International Space Station.

The astronauts of STS-119 are to install the last major set of solar arrays to the orbiting laboratory complex during the mission.

Japan's Koichi Wakata also will switch from the shuttle to the station crew and current station crew member Sandra Magnus will become a member of the Discovery crew.



]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:44:01 GMT
In the next few minutes, the metal bridge to the shuttle, known as the crew access arm, will swivel away. Five minutes later, the "beanie cap" that funnels evaporating oxygen away from the external fuel tank will retract into the fixed service structure.

The astronauts inside Discovery are getting ready for the increased pace as well. They have rehearsed the launch numerous times in simulators at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and during a launch dress rehearsal at Kennedy.

]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:34:27 GMT
Launch is targeted for 7:43 p.m. EDT.



]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:58:54 GMT


]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:45:55 GMT
Weather remains 100 percent "go" and there are no technical issues that would prevent an on-time launch.

The preferred liftoff time has been adjusted by two seconds to 7:43:44 p.m. EDT.



]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:34:20 GMT
The crew members are going through checklists and the launch team is watching over the systems and subsystems of the shuttle as launch time nears.

Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters has upgraded the launch forecast to 100 percent "go" for the 7:43 p.m. EDT liftoff of space shuttle Discovery.

]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:52:16 GMT
The astronauts are strapped inside the shuttle, with four on the flight deck and three on the lower level of the crew compartment. Commander Lee Archambault and Pilot Tony Antonelli are seated in the front seats surrounded by the instrument panels and windows needed to control the shuttle. Steve Swanson will serve as flight engineer during ascent, so he is sitting behind and between Archambault and Antonelli. Joseph Acaba is in a seat behind Antonelli where he, too, can help out during launch.

On the lower deck, Richard Arnold is closest to the hatch. John Phillips is in the center seat and Japan's Koichi Wakata is in the right-most seat. Sandra Magnus will sit in his place during landing, after Wakata transfers to the International Space Station.





]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:09:36 GMT


]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:29:09 GMT
Flanked by security and other vehicles, the Astrovan has been a launch-day fixture for decades. The vehicle is big enough to comfortably hold the seven astronauts in their bulky pressure suits during the ride from the astronaut crew quarters to the launch pad.

The countdown is in a planned hold, but there are no technical issues or weather concerns leading up to the planned 7:43 p.m. EDT launch time.

A team of skilled technicians is already working at the pad to get Discovery ready for its crew. The technicians will help each astronaut into a parachute before ushering them inside the spacecraft and helping them buckle into place. The crew rehearsed the countdown during a previous visit to the launch site.



]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:54:07 GMT
Discovery is due to lift off this evening at 7:43 p.m. EDT on a mission to install the last large set of solar arrays on the International Space Station. The weather looks good for tonight's attempt, with forecasters calling for an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

The launch team at Kennedy is not working any technical issues at this time that could preclude a liftoff.

The arrays, which give the station the look of having wings, are mounted on the last segment of the long truss that is the backbone of the station's architecture. Three other sets of arrays already have been mounted to the orbiting laboratory complex. Once unfurled, the new arrays will give the station an acre of power-producing solar cells to support the laboratories, life support and other systems the station and its crew rely on.

]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:50:14 GMT
The helium level was on the lower side of acceptable limits, and the red team will adjust the pressure to create the proper margin.

This issue will not interfere with today's launch attempt.

]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:25:23 GMT
]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:06:53 GMT
Countdown clocks have entered a planned hold at T-3 hours and everything remains on schedule for a 7:43:46 p.m. EDT launch of space shuttle Discovery.

Launch coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. on NASA Television. (NASA TV link in left-hand column)
]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:25:03 GMT
The vent line that controllers are watching was repaired following a leak that developed during Wednesday's fueling. That countdown was called off so technicians could inspect and repair a valve on the vent line. The vent line connects to the external tank during the countdown and falls away when the shuttle lifts off.

The weather forecast remains at an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time.
]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:28:59 GMT
There is a chance for isolated showers developing this afternoon, but they should dissipate before the 7:43 p.m. liftoff of Discovery. The weather forecast continues to be 80 percent "go," with just a slight chance of a low cloud ceiling at the time of launch.
]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:14:28 GMT
Launch coverage of the STS-119 mission is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:49:17 GMT
Discovery's astronauts awoke for launch at 9 a.m. and ate breakfast at 9:30 a.m. The astronauts will undergo final medical checks at 10:30 a.m., receive a weather briefing from Mission Control in Houston at 3:13 P.M., don their launch and entry suits at 3:23 p.m. and depart for the launch pad at 3:53 p.m.

Launch coverage of the STS-119 mission is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
]]> Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:06:54 GMT Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:54:54 GMT
“I think we’re in really good shape,” said Mike Moses, chairman of the Mission Management Team that reviewed the shuttle’s readiness.

Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director, said the work to replace a suspect quick disconnect assembly on the launch pad is about three hours behind schedule, but that will not delay the countdown. Leak checks will be performed later tonight.

“We feel really good and we’re really excited about launching tomorrow,” Leinbach said.

The weather forecast continues to call for an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions, said Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer.

Launch controllers will begin preparing to pump fuel and oxygen into the external tank Sunday at 10:18 a.m. EDT. Launch time is 7:43 p.m.

]]> Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:07:00 GMT
Early this morning, while installing the replacement seven-inch quick disconnect, crews discovered the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) was not aligned properly with the external tank. The left and right pivot seat was not fully connecting to the external tank's pin receptacle sleeve at the bottom of the GUCP. Crews now are in the process of checking alignments and making adjustments to get a proper fit. Leak checks will be performed following the adjustments.

Overnight, technicians successfully disconnected the gaseous hydrogen vent line and seven-inch quick disconnect. The quick disconnect and vent line seals were removed for thorough inspection and analysis. The replacement seals were installed and final tightening, or torquing, was completed.

The Mission Management Team will meet at 1 p.m. to evaluate the status of the repair work and determine the readiness for launch.

A Prelaunch News Conference will follow the meeting, now beginning no earlier than 2:30 p.m. on NASA Television. Participants will be Mission Management Chair Mike Moses, International Space Station Program Manager Mike Suffredini, space shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach and shuttle weather officer Kathy Winters.

]]> Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:55:27 GMT
The weather forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. Meteorologists are watching for low cloud ceilings, Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters said. The forecast deteriorates for potential Monday and Tuesday attempts.

The mission would last 13 days if Discovery launches Sunday. The astronauts would perform three spacewalks during the flight.

Discovery's astronauts awoke at 9 a.m. and underwent standard medical exams at 10 a.m. Commander Lee Archambault and Pilot Tony Antonelli will practice landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft at 7 p.m.

]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:52:40 GMT


Repairs are underway on the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP) interface, where gaseous hydrogen leaked during Wednesday's launch attempt. The interface then will be retested and leak checked before Sunday's 7:43 p.m. launch attempt. The Mission Management Team will meet on Saturday at 1 p.m. to review the data and the progress of the teams, and make a final determination on the launch. A Prelaunch News Conference will be held no earlier than 3 p.m. following Saturday's MMT.



Discovery's astronauts awoke at 9 a.m. and underwent standard medical exams at 10 a.m. Commander Lee Archambault and Pilot Tony Antonelli will practice landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft at 7 p.m.



]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:07:09 GMT
A request has been sent to the Eastern Range for a possible Sunday attempt.

There will be an STS-119 Launch Status Update on NASA TV at 10:30 a.m. today and a Prelaunch News Conference will be held no earlier than 3 p.m. EDT following Saturday's MMT.

]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:09:22 GMT
]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:02:05 GMT
Today's inspection could set a course for repair options that would allow another launch attempt as soon as Sunday.

Discovery's astronauts remain at Kennedy Space Center. They're spending today reviewing their mission objectives, monitoring developments arising from yesterday's launch scrub, spending time with their families at crew quarters and making phone calls to family and friends.

]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:50:18 GMT
The inspection could set a course for repair options that would allow another launch attempt as soon as Sunday.

Leinbach said the leak developed on the piping that runs from the fixed service structure, or launch tower, to a valve at the intertank section of the shuttle’s external tank. The pipe moves hydrogen gas away from the shuttle and to a flare stack near the launch pad that burns it away safely. He said there was never any danger to the shuttle while it was being fueled, but that the leak allowed too much gaseous hydrogen to escape the vent line.

]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:08:16 GMT
Liftoff on March 15 would be at 7:43 p.m. EDT. The exact launch date is dependent on the work necessary to repair the problem. Managers will meet Thursday at 4 p.m. to further assess the troubleshooting plan.



]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:36:03 GMT
Mission managers are holding a meeting that started at 5 p.m. to discuss potential repair options and Discovery's launch attempt opportunities. The news conference will follow the meeting's conclusion and will air live on NASA Television and the agency Web site.



]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:49:37 GMT


]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:34:19 GMT


]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:48:47 GMT Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:10:03 GMT Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:51:53 GMT Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:03:14 GMT
The weather forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions and NASA Test Director Steve Payne reported no technical concerns with the spacecraft.

“We have no real concerns and we are ready for the exciting mission that lies ahead of us,” Payne said.



]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:04:31 GMT
"We had a very short meeting today, which is a record for us for STS-119," said Mission Management Team Chair Mike Moses. "Today we transitioned from readiness to launch ops. We really didn't have that many issues to discuss."

"Yesterday the crew got in on time and are excited to be here. We started the countdown on time and the next major event is fuel cell load this afternoon," added Launch Director Mike Leinbach. "RSS retract is Tuesday night-Wednesday morning. We're not tracking any issues, so the team is anxious to go."

Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer, gives Discovery a 90 percent chance of good weather for liftoff, and all the transatlantic abort sites will also have favorable weather.

]]> Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:16:09 GMT Sun, 08 Mar 2009 23:18:09 GMT Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:54:05 GMT Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:48:32 GMT
Discovery's launch date was announced following Friday's Flight Readiness Review. During the meeting, top NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight.

At post-readiness review news conference on Friday, Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, said that they completed a very thorough review. "The team came through, worked hard and was efficient. It's time now to step back and think of everything else we need to watch before launch on the 11th. There's no better team than this one and I thank them for putting the right analysis together."

On the resolution of the shuttle's flow control valve issue, John Shannon, Space Shuttle Program manager said, "This is one of those problems requiring a lot of work. It was a little premature before today. The signs were there that we were safe, but the teams went off and came up with definitive data to prove it."

Mike Leinbach, Space Shuttle launch director, said that from a processing standpoint, the shuttle is in good shape. "It feels good to be here with a firm launch date. I saw a lot of people after the meeting and the mood is really upbeat," he added.

]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:34:13 GMT
Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, said that they completed a very thorough review today. "This team really worked hard and put in a tremendous amount of work during this time," he said of the team working the shuttle's flow control valve issue. Following all the tests and analysis, he said "there's no better team than here in Florida and across the county."

Mike Leinbach, Space Shuttle launch director, said that from a processing standpoint, the shuttle is in good shape.

Earlier today, managers completed a review of space shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight and selected the official launch date for the STS-119 mission. Commander Lee Archambault and his six crewmates are now scheduled to lift off to the International Space Station at 9:20 p.m. EDT on March 11.

]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:04:48 GMT
As the conference opened, Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, said that they completed a very thorough review today. "This team really worked hard and put in a tremendous amount of work during this time," he said of the team working the shuttle's flow control valve issue. Following all the tests and analysis, he said "there's no better team than here in Florida and across the county."

Mike Leinbach, Space Shuttle launch director, said that from a processing standpoint, the shuttle is in good shape.

Earlier today, managers completed a review of space shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight and selected the official launch date for the STS-119 mission. Commander Lee Archambault and his six crewmates are now scheduled to lift off to the International Space Station at 9:20 p.m. EDT on March 11.

]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:32:05 GMT
A post-readiness review news conference is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EST today at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It will air live on NASA TV. The briefing participants are: Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, NASA Headquarters in Washington, John Shannon, Space Shuttle Program manager, NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and Mike Leinbach, Space Shuttle launch director, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:07:44 GMT
]]> Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:13:24 GMT
NASA Space Shuttle Program managers gave the go-ahead Wednesday for the Flight Readiness Review, or FRR, following an in-depth review of the testing and inspection data from space shuttle Discovery's gaseous hydrogen flow control valves. Managers concluded at yesterday’s meeting that technicians do not need to add reinforcement to the area known as the elbow bend in the gaseous hydrogen pressure line, which is located near the flow control valves in Discovery’s engine plumbing.

Managers will hold a news conference following Friday's FRR and are expected to announce the official launch date for Discovery’s STS-119 mission. The briefing is scheduled to begin no earlier than 2:30 p.m. EST at Kennedy.

For planning purposes, launch is tentatively targeted for March 11 at 9:20 p.m. EDT.

In anticipation of a launch date, the STS-119 crew has entered quarantine at NASA Johnson Space Center's Astronaut Quarantine Facility, where they will spend the day reviewing their flight plans.

If the March 11 launch date is approved, Discovery's crew will fly to Kennedy on Sunday in advance of the start of the countdown, which begins at 7 p.m.

]]> Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:09:00 GMT
The flight readiness review meeting is expected to set an official launch date for the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. For planning purposes, liftoff now is tentatively targeted for March 11 at 9:20 p.m. EDT.

The Space Shuttle Program moved the targeted launch a day earlier following extensive review of flow control valve inspection data and assessment of ongoing and planned work. A formal presentation of the flow control work and a thorough evaluation of all aspects of flight will be made at Friday's readiness review.

Three flow control valves, one for each space shuttle main engine, channel gaseous hydrogen from the engines through the main propulsion system and back to the external fuel tank. This flow regulation maintains the tank's structural integrity and delivers liquid hydrogen to the engines at the correct pressure. NASA and contractor teams have been working to identify what caused damage to a flow control valve on shuttle Endeavour during its November 2008 flight.

Discovery’s seven astronauts are going into quarantine tonight at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in preparation for next week’s possible launch.

]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:51:12 GMT
NASA has tentatively targeted launch of Discovery for 8:54 p.m. EDT, March 12.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-119 crew members have the day off preparing to enter quarantine in Johnson's Astronaut Quarantine Facility tomorrow night in anticipation of a firm launch date.

]]> Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:49:34 GMT
Discovery's flow control valves were shipped out yesterday and are expected to arrive at NASA's Kennedy Space Center today where workers will begin inspecting them before they are installed and retested.

At Pad 39A launch countdown preparations continue through the week.

The STS-119 crew members are rehearsing entry and ascent procedures in the motion-base simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Following the simulator training, the crew members will fly their T-38 training jets to White Sands Space Harbor in Las Cruses, N.M. for landing practice in NASA’s shuttle training aircraft.

In anticipation of a firm launch date, the astronauts will be preflight quarantined in Johnson's Astronaut Quarantine Facility Thursday evening to keep them isolated from potential infections.

]]> Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:46:55 GMT

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-119 crew members are rehearsing S6 truss installation procedures in the Virtual Reality Laboratory. Also on tap today for the Discovery astronauts are L-10 prelaunch medical checkups.

]]> Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:47:56 GMT
Managers then will be able to decide whether to go ahead with another Flight Readiness Review on March 6. The launch date for STS-119's mission to the International Space Station is tentatively targeted for March 12.

No other work on the shuttle is scheduled for this weekend.

The STS-119 crew members will be enjoying a well-earned weekend of relaxation before resuming their training Monday.

]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:56:08 GMT
At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians have started removing Discovery's three valves, two of which will undergo detailed inspection. Approximately 4,000 images of each valve will be reviewed for evidence of cracks. Valves that have flown fewer times will be installed in Discovery. Engineering teams also will complete analysis and testing to understand the consequences if a valve piece were to break off and strike pressurization lines between the shuttle and external fuel tank. Hardware modifications may be made to the pressurization lines to add extra protection in the unlikely event debris is released.

NASA and contractor teams have been working to identify what caused damage to a flow control valve on shuttle Endeavour during its November 2008 flight. Part of the main propulsion system, the valves channel gaseous hydrogen from the main engines to the external tank. After a thorough review of shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight on Feb. 20, NASA managers decided more understanding of the valve work was required before launching Discovery.

The Space Shuttle Program will hold a meeting March 4 to review new data and assess ongoing work. Managers then will determine whether to move forward with a flight readiness review March 6.

If Discovery’s tentative launch date holds, there will be no effect on the next two shuttle launches: STS-125 to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and STS-127 to the International Space Station.]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:10:55 GMT
Managers continue to evaluate test data in an effort to gather enough information to finalize a plan setting a new target launch date for the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station.

Though the plan has not yet been completed, technicians will install flow control valves that have flown fewer times than the ones currently in Discovery's main propulsion system.

The plan is expected to be finalized today. Once senior managers are in agreement, a Flight Readiness Review meeting will be rescheduled to assess the readiness for launch and set a formal launch target date.

Meanwhile, Discovery’s astronauts are making a quick trip to Kennedy for the day to refresh their training and understanding of the hardware and flight equipment they'll use during the mission.
]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:56:18 GMT
Work continues in evaluation of test data in an effort to gather enough information to finalize a plan setting a new target launch date for the STS-119 mission to the International Space Station.

Though the plan has not yet been completed, technicians will install flow control valves that have flown fewer times than the ones currently in Discovery's main propulsion system.

The plan should be finalized by Wednesday and once senior managers are in agreement, a Flight Readiness Review will be rescheduled to assess the readiness for launch and to set a formal launch target date.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Mission Specialists Steve Swanson and Richard Arnold are in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory practicing spacewalking techniques today.
]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:47:20 GMT
Meanwhile, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Discovery's crew members are out of quarantine and practicing solar array deployment maneuvers in a fixed base simulator.

]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:41:59 GMT
"We need to complete more work to have a better understanding before flying," said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Gerstenmaier chaired Friday's Flight Readiness Review.

"We were not driven by schedule pressure and did the right thing. When we fly, we want to do so with full confidence."

The shuttle has three flow control valves that channel gaseous hydrogen from the main engines to the external fuel tank. Teams also have tried to determine the consequences if a valve piece were to break off and strike part of the shuttle and external fuel tank.

The Space Shuttle Program has been asked to develop a plan to inspect additional valves similar to those installed on Discovery. This plan will be reviewed during a meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Afterward, the setting of a new target launch date may be considered.]]> Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:51:32 GMT
"We had an extremely good review, the teams have done a tremendous amount of work," said Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier. But he indicated more information will be needed to make a solid decision to fly safely.

The decision to delay the launch was based on the need for additional time to evaluate the shuttle's flow control valves.
]]> Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:28:30 GMT
The post-FRR news conference will begin at 10:30 p.m. EST and will air on NASA TV.

The briefing participants are Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier, Space Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon and Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach.
]]> Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:14:24 GMT
NASA TV will host a news conference at the conclusion of the FRR, scheduled for no earlier than 10:30 p.m. EST.

]]> Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:54:22 GMT
An announcement of mission STS-119's official launch date will be made at a news conference at the conclusion of the meeting.

NASA TV will host the broadcast, scheduled for no earlier than 10:15 p.m. EST.
]]> Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:43:01 GMT
At the conclusion of the meeting an announcement will be broadcast no earlier than 8:30 p.m. EST on NASA TV to set the mission's official launch date.


]]> Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:09:11 GMT
The crew is relaxing in quarantine today and will meet with their flight directors in crew quarters tonight with their departure to Kennedy Space Center set for late Sunday afternoon, pending the selection of Feb. 27 as the launch date.

]]> Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:30:16 GMT
At the conclusion of the meeting, NASA TV will host a news conference to announce the official launch date of the STS-119 mission.

Meanwhile, Discovery's astronauts are in launch-countdown mode at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. In anticipation of a firm launch date, the astronauts will be preflight quarantined in Johnson's Astronaut Quarantine Facility to keep them isolated from potential infections.

]]> Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:16:45 GMT
Technicians on Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A continue to process shuttle Discovery for liftoff, currently planned for no earlier than Feb. 27.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, STS-119 Mission Specialists Richard Arnold and Joseph Acaba are in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, running through a bonus training session to brush up on procedures for the third spacewalk they'll perform at the International Space Station.
]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:50:26 GMT
At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-119 astronauts are reviewing robotics work for their upcoming mission while Commander Lee Archambault and Pilot Tony Antonelli break away for landing practice in NASA's shuttle training aircraft in the skies over White Sands Space Harbor in Las Cruces, N.M.

]]> Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:04:36 GMT
The new planning date is not expected to affect the launch dates for missions that will follow Discovery's flight, STS-125 to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and STS-127 to the International Space Station.

The decision on the new dates for Discovery’s STS-119 mission came out of an all-day shuttle program meeting Friday on the valve issue.

Teams from multiple NASA centers and contractor sites have made significant progress in understanding what caused the damage to a flow control valve in shuttle Endeavour during its mission in November. There are three valves in each shuttle that channel gaseous hydrogen from the main engines’ plumbing to the external fuel tank. The engineering teams have performed a tremendous amount of work, including computer modeling and actual tests to determine the consequences if a piece of a valve were to break off and strike shuttle and external fuel tank components. More time was needed to complete analyses and testing necessary to fly safely.]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:55:02 GMT
The official launch date will be announced at the end of the FRR, although for planning purposes, liftoff currently is scheduled for no earlier than Feb. 22.

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, installation of the ordnance that will separate the shuttle from the mobile launcher platform during liftoff is expected to continue into Saturday.

The STS-119 crew members are taking some time off over the weekend for a well-deserved rest.

]]> Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:52:12 GMT
At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians continue to prepare space shuttle Discovery for its STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. Workers will complete final ordnance installation, which now is planned for Saturday.

Today, the STS-119 crew members are involved with administrative activities at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:41:45 GMT
The FRR is held for managers and engineers to discuss the readiness of the shuttle and ground crews for Discovery’s STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. At the end of the meeting the official launch date will be announced. Currently, liftoff is planned for no earlier than Feb. 22.

Technicians at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continue pre-launch preparations on Discovery, which includes loading fuel into the forward set of steering jets. Final installation of the ordnance that will separate the shuttle from the mobile launcher platform at the time of liftoff is planned for Feb. 13.

At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-119 crew is performing entry and ascent simulations today in a motion base simulator. The simulator is a mock-up of a shuttle cockpit and is equipped with the same instruments as a real shuttle.

]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:49:15 GMT
The valves under assessment channel gaseous hydrogen from the shuttle's main engines to the external fuel tank. One of these valves in shuttle Endeavour was found to be damaged after its STS-126 mission in November. As a precaution, Discovery's three gaseous hydrogen valves were removed, inspected and reinstalled.

In light of a positive outcome from the special meeting, the official launch date will be set at the FRR, although for planning purposes, the liftoff currently is scheduled for no earlier than Feb. 22.

Meanwhile, STS-119 Commander Lee Archambault and Pilot Tony Antonelli will fly to White Sands Space Harbor in Las Cruces, N.M., in T-38 training jets late today for night landing practice in NASA's shuttle training aircraft.
]]> Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:39:16 GMT Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:14:06 GMT
Mangers are planning to launch Discovery's STS-119 mission, which will see the last set of main solar arrays installed on the space station, no earlier than Feb. 19. The schedule depends on testing under way on flow control valves used on the space shuttles.

Engineers and shuttle program managers are testing and evaluating possible damage that could occur if small pieces of a value were to break loose during launch. The valves channel gaseous hydrogen from the three main engines to the external fuel tank during a shuttle's trip into orbit. Test results and other criteria will be discussed next week during a review board on Feb. 10 and in the second Flight Readiness Review scheduled for Feb. 12.

At the launch pad, workers continue a precise procession of steps to make Discovery ready for launch. That work will accelerate next week as the launch date grows nearer.

]]> Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:39:39 GMT
NASA and contractor engineers also are working through evaluations of a flow control valve that Shuttle Program managers had questions about during the Flight Readiness Review earlier this week. The flow control valves channel gaseous hydrogen from the main engines to the external fuel tank during launch. The three valves were removed from Discovery, inspected and reinstalled in preparation for the upcoming flight.

Discovery is to lift off no earlier than Feb. 19 on the station construction flight. It will be the first shuttle mission of 2009.

]]> Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:52:23 GMT
Particle impact tests, models and thorough discussions will take place before a shuttle meeting on Feb. 10 to decide the best way to proceed. The Flight Readiness Review that began Tuesday will resume Feb. 12 to evaluate the valve situation and potentially set a launch date for Discovery’s STS-119 mission to the International Space Station.

The flow control valves channel gaseous hydrogen from the main engines to the external fuel tank during launch. The three valves were removed from Discovery, inspected and reinstalled in preparation for the upcoming flight.

Discovery’s crew of seven astronauts are to install the last large set of solar arrays on the space station. Three sets of arrays already are installed on the orbiting laboratory and are being used to convert sunlight into electricity.

]]> Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:04:06 GMT
Discovery's STS-119 mission to the International Space Station originally had been targeted for Feb. 12.

The valve is one of three that channels gaseous hydrogen from the engines to the external fuel tank. One of these valves in shuttle Endeavour was found to be damaged after its mission in November. As a precaution, Discovery's valves were removed, inspected and reinstalled.

The Space Shuttle Program will convene a meeting on Feb. 10 to assess the analysis. On Feb. 12, NASA managers and contractors will continue the flight readiness review, which began Tuesday, to address the flow control valve issue and to select an official launch date.]]> Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:21:02 GMT Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:05:42 GMT
An announcement will be made at the conclusion of the meeting and broadcast no earlier than 7:30 p.m. EST on NASA TV to set the mission's official launch date.]]> Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:00:59 GMT
An announcement will be made at the conclusion of the meeting and broadcast no earlier than 6 p.m. EST on NASA TV to set the mission's official launch date.

At Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A, technicians conducted leak checks on space shuttle Discovery's gaseous hydrogen, or GH2, flow control valves and performed space shuttle main engine flow through tests.

Installation of the ordnance that will separate the shuttle from the mobile launcher platform at the time of liftoff is on hold while an exposed wire located in the forward compartment of the spacecraft is repaired.

Meanwhile, the STS-119 crew members are in launch-countdown mode, which includes shifting sleep patterns and frequent medical exams. Later in the week, the astronauts will be preflight quarantined in Johnson Space Center's Astronaut Quarantine Facility in Houston to keep them isolated from potential infections.
]]> Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:53:30 GMT
Final installation of the ordnance that will separate the shuttle from the mobile launcher platform at the time of liftoff is scheduled to take place late tonight.

Communication checks were successfully conducted between Kennedy and NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. After Discovery lifts off from Kennedy, responsibility of the shuttle is transferred to Johnson.

The STS-119 crew members are in launch-countdown mode, which includes shifting sleep patterns and frequent medical exams. Commander Lee Archambault and Pilot Tony Antonelli will fly to White Sands Space Harbor in Las Cruces, N.M., to practice landing techniques in NASA's shuttle training aircraft.

Later in the week, the astronauts will be preflight quarantined in Johnson's Astronaut Quarantine Facility to keep them isolated from potential infections.

Meanwhile, NASA managers are en route to Kennedy for tomorrow's executive-level Flight Readiness Review, or FRR, to evaluate Discovery’s readiness for launch.

An announcement will be made at the conclusion of the meeting and broadcast no earlier than 6 p.m. Tuesday on NASA TV to set the mission's official launch date.]]> Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:21:31 GMT
At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-119 crew members wrap up their week reviewing flight plans and practicing liftoff maneuvers and abort techniques in a motion base simulator.

The simulator is a mock-up of a shuttle cockpit, balanced on a hydraulic platform and equipped with the same instruments as a real shuttle. The hydraulics and flight scenario software provide the flight crew with a remarkably accurate simulated-liftoff session.

On Feb. 3, NASA managers will meet at Kennedy for the executive-level Flight Readiness Review to evaluate whether Discovery’s mission is prepared before launch.

An announcement will be made and broadcast on NASA TV at the conclusion of the meeting to set the mission's official launch date. Discovery currently is targeted to launch on Feb. 12 at 7:32 a.m. EST.]]> Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:42:01 GMT
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians are awaiting space shuttle Discovery's gaseous hydrogen flow control valves, which are set to arrive Friday. The new valves are meant to synchronize the gas pressure between the external fuel tank and the engines, creating an even flow, and are scheduled to be installed next week.

Technicians completed the solid rocket booster debris containment modification. This modification was performed to ensure the bolts that hold down the boosters on the mobile launcher platform safely fall back to the launch pad and away from the spacecraft at liftoff.

On Feb. 3, NASA managers will meet at Kennedy for the executive-level Flight Readiness Review to discuss the preparedness of Discovery and the ground teams for launch. An announcement will be made and broadcast on NASA TV at the conclusion of the meeting to set the mission's official launch date.
]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:00:57 GMT
Later in the day, Commander Lee Archambault and Pilot Tony Antonelli will fly to White Sands Space Harbor in Las Cruces, N.M., to practice landing techniques in NASA's shuttle training aircraft.

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, engineers have wrapped up communication checks between shuttle landing sites -- Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif., White Sands, Johnson and Kennedy.

Meanwhile, technicians are preparing to install space shuttle Discovery's gaseous hydrogen flow control valves, set to arrive today. The new valve is meant to synchronize the gas pressure between the external fuel tank and the engines, creating an even flow.

Technicians also are performing the solid rocket booster debris containment modification and work is expected to be complete today. This modification is projected to make the bolts that hold down the boosters on the mobile launcher platform safely fall back to the launch pad and away from the spacecraft at liftoff.

On Feb. 3, NASA managers will meet at Kennedy for the executive-level Flight Readiness Review to discuss the preparedness of Discovery and the ground teams for launch. An announcement will be made and broadcast on NASA TV at the conclusion of the meeting to set the mission's official launch date.]]> Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:00:35 GMT
Meanwhile, the STS-119 mission astronauts are rehearsing spacewalking techniques in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, or NBL, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Neutral buoyancy is a term used to describe something that has an equal tendency to float as it does to sink and this effect is accomplished with a combination of weights and flotation devices.

Suited astronauts in the NBL are not truly weightless because they still feel their weight while in the suit. Although the effects are unlike the conditions of space, neutral buoyancy currently is the best available method for long-duration spacewalk training.

NASA managers will meet at Kennedy for the executive-level Flight Readiness Review on Feb. 3 to discuss the preparedness of Discovery and the ground teams for launch. An announcement will be made and broadcast on NASA TV at the conclusion of the meeting to set the mission's official launch date.]]> Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:12:13 GMT
At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-119 astronauts are in the Motion Base Simuator practicing launch procedures.

The simulator is a mock-up of a shuttle cockpit, balanced on a hydraulic platform that is loaded with the same instruments and equipment as a real shuttle. The hydraulics give the sensation of a launching shuttle while flight scenario software provides the commander, pilot and two mission specialists with an amazingly accurate liftoff practice session.

NASA managers will meet for the executive-level Flight Readiness Review on Feb. 3 to discuss the preparedness of the spacecraft and ground teams, as well as determine the mission's official launch date.

Discovery is targeted to launch Feb. 12 at 7:32 a.m. EST.]]> Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:36:58 GMT

Managers will meet again for the executive-level Flight Readiness Review on Feb. 3 to discuss the preparedness of the spacecraft and ground teams, as well as determine the mission's official launch date. Discovery is targeted to launch Feb. 12 at 7:32 a.m. EST.


At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-119 astronauts wrap up the work week by practicing deorbit techniques in a fixed base simulator. The simulator is a replica of a space shuttle cockpit with dials, controls and screens that animate the view from outside a shuttle's window.


Johnson technicians program the simulator's software with various problem situations so the crew is ready to cope with any type of situation while in flight, if necessary.


At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, testing of Discovery and associated components at Launch Pad 39A continues over the weekend.
]]> Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:36:13 GMT
The seven crew members will continue to practice spacewalking techniques and other related training for the upcoming mission to the International Space Station.

Meanwhile, NASA senior managers are wrapping up the Space Shuttle Program's Flight Readiness Review, or FRR, setting the stage for the executive-level FRR scheduled for Feb. 3.

At the conclusion of the executive-level review in February, NASA will hold a news conference to announce the official launch date for the mission.
]]> Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:02:40 GMT
After climbing into their orange flight suits -- the same ones they'll wear on launch day -- the crew was driven to Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A.

The highlight of the day is a simulated launch countdown, which includes climbing into Discovery's flight deck aided by NASA's Closeout Crew. The members of the Closeout Crew help the astronauts strap into the space shuttle's crew module and take care of any other last-minute needs that may arise.

The spacecraft's hatch will be closed briefly for leak checks and then opened again while the astronauts perform all of their countdown procedures -- much like launch day, only the boosters and engines won't ignite.

Later, the astronauts will fly their T-38 jets back to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Liftoff of space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station is targeted for 7:32 a.m. EST on Feb. 12.


]]> Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:09:06 GMT
After arrival Monday, the STS-119 crew members leapt right into training with M-113 armored personnel carrier driving practice, equipment inspection and range safety briefings.

Commander Lee Archambault and Pilot Tony Antonelli suited up and practiced landing techniques in NASA's Shuttle Training Aircraft.

Tuesday's activities during the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT, are putting the astronauts through their paces.

At Launch Pad 39A the crew members practice emergency pad egress via slidewire baskets. They'll also check out Discovery's payload bay with the S6 truss and solar arrays inside.

After the crew attends important safety and operations briefings, Archambault and Antonelli will again take to the skies for landing practice before retiring for the evening.

Wednesday, the astronauts will conduct a full launch dress rehearsal countdown in Discovery's cockpit before flying back to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston for final launch preparations for the targeted Feb. 12 liftoff.


]]> Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:27:18 GMT
After landing, Commander Lee Archambault introduced himself and his crew. Archambault spoke about the training he and his crew have taken part in during the past year to prepare for the STS-119 mission to fly and install the S6 truss and solar arrays to the International Space Station. "We're anxious to get going on the mission," he said.

Every crew member described the specific set of tasks they'll be performing while aboard the station. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata expressed his excitement about his turn as Expedition 18 flight engineer and one of his assignments -- manipulating the Canadarm to install the S6 truss.

With increased electrical capability, the station will be able to accommodate a larger crew, water processing equipment, life support equipment and additional science projects.

]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:51:49 GMT
This traditional preflight training will give the crew members the opportunity to check out the spacecraft and payload, try on their custom-made flight suits, review safety procedures and conduct a simulated launch countdown from the cockpit of Discovery.

Immediately after arrival the crew will speak to the media and answer questions from Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility.

The astronauts' arrival and media event will be carried live on NASA TV.

]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:40:48 GMT
This traditional preflight training will give the crew members the opportunity to check out the spacecraft and payload, try on their custom-made flight suits, review safety procedures and conduct a simulated launch countdown from the cockpit of Discovery.

Immediately after arrival the crew will speak to the media and answer questions from Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility.

The astronauts' arrival and media event will be carried live on NASA TV.

]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:07:57 GMT
This traditional preflight training will give the crew members the opportunity to check out the spacecraft and payload, try on their custom-made flight suits, review safety procedures and conduct a simulated launch countdown from the cockpit of Discovery.
]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:25:17 GMT
Meanwhile, Discovery astronauts are wrapping up spacewalking rehearsals in Johnson Space Center's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston.

Monday morning, the crew will fly to Kennedy to participate in a complete launch dress rehearsal called the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT. This traditional preflight training will give the crew members the opportunity to check out the spacecraft and payload, try on their custom-made flight suits, review safety procedures and conduct a simulated launch countdown from the cockpit of Discovery.

]]> Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:20:52 GMT
The rotating service structure was moved into place around the shuttle to protect it from inclement weather and provide protected access to the orbiter for installation and servicing of payloads at the pad.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-119 crew members are rehearsing spacewalking techniques in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Later today Commander Lee Archambault and Pilot Tony Antonelli will fly to Edwards Air Force Base in California for landing practice in NASA's Shuttle Training Aircraft.

]]> Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:58:14 GMT
Discovery arrived at the pad gate at approximately 10:08 a.m. EST and was secured to the pad at 12:16 p.m.
]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:50:12 GMT
Rollout was delayed slightly so technicians could work minor technical issues related to aft skirt purge and the Mobile Launcher Platform heaters, which are needed when temperatures are below 45 degrees.

The rollout is live on NASA TV available at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.

]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:59:43 GMT
The mission payload, consisting of the S6 truss segment and U.S. solar arrays which was delivered to the pad earlier in the week, was transferred to the pad's changeout room.

The changeout room is the enclosed, environmentally controlled area of the rotating service structure that supports cargo delivery to the pad and installation into the shuttle's payload bay.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-119 mission astronauts are in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory practicing techniques they'll be performing on the mission's fourth spacewalk.
]]> Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:20:06 GMT
The shuttle stack atop the mobile launcher platform is scheduled to roll out to Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A at 4 a.m. EST Jan. 14.

The 3.4-mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad aboard NASA's crawler-transporter will take about six hours.

Discovery's cargo, the S6 truss segment and solar arrays, was transferred to the pad Sunday and is being lifted into the pad's changeout room today. The equipment will remain there until the shuttle arrives and it's loaded into the payload bay.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-119 astronauts are rehearsing in the fixed base simulator. The crew spends many hours training with dials and controls identical to that of the shuttle computer and screens that animate the view from outside the shuttle's window. Johnson technicians program the simulator's software to throw various problem situations at the crew to make sure they can cope with anything while in flight.]]> Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:18:22 GMT