http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle en-us Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:07:04 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:02:41 GMT
"During that roll to heads-up is really the first time you get to see the Earth from space," Lindsey recalled of his first launch. "I will never forget that first roll."]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:00:32 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:59:46 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:59:16 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:57:45 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:55:56 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:55:07 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:54:40 GMT
Thousands of shuttle fans have flocked to Brevard County, Fla. -- also known as the Space Coast -- to witness history as NASA's oldest and most experienced space shuttle thunders into orbit for its last scheduled mission.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:53:47 GMT
A spray of sparks will appear beneath Discovery's main engines at T-10 seconds, burning off any residual hydrogen vapors. Finally, at T-6 seconds, the main engines will roar to life. The shuttle will rise from the launch pad after the solid rocket boosters ignite at T-0.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:52:45 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:51:32 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:51:14 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:50:00 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:48:51 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:46:40 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:43:49 GMT
The ground launch sequencer (GLS) is running the show at this point, monitoring about a thousand orbiter functions and issuing commands to the shuttle and ground equipment.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:41:47 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:40:56 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:36:24 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:29:37 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:16:23 GMT
Although we can't link directly to the patch for technical reasons, you can copy and paste the following into your browser's address field to see this colorful design. But be sure to come back to NASA's Launch Blog, because there are more exciting countdown milestones to come.
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/489993main_sts133-s-001_hires.jpg]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:08:29 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:56:19 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:51:19 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:45:19 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:35:19 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:34:07 GMT
Several other astronauts have Twitter accounts, too. You can follow them all at @NASA_Astronauts.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:30:31 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:12:41 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:04:04 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:00:09 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:55:46 GMT
With Drew strapping in, boarding is complete and the Closeout Crew will finish up their work inside the crew module. First, they'll spend about 15 minutes checking around the cabin for platforms, covers and other common "non-flight" items that have to be removed before launch. When that's complete, they'll say goodbye to the crew, climb out of Discovery and start closing the hatch.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:25:29 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:18:34 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:55:40 GMT
Because the shuttle is standing vertically, the astronauts will spend the rest of the countdown flat on their backs. Once they're strapped in, they'll start a round of voice checks with flight controllers at Johnson Space Center in Houston and launch controllers here at Kennedy.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:48:35 GMT
"I never expected to have a shuttle flight," Barratt said in his preflight interview. "When I went away to Russia to fly on the Soyuz, we already knew that the shuttle program was winding down, and I actually recycled all of my shuttle training materials before I got on the plane to go to Russia because I thought that door had been closed. So I was very, very surprised, honored -- shocked, if you will -- to be assigned to a shuttle flight before I even landed. And of course, I had to scramble to find my training materials."]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:39:44 GMT
"Every time I've come back from a spaceflight, usually about two weeks later, I'll wake up asking myself, 'Was I really there?' Because it's so different than being on Earth," Lindsey recalled. "And I can't even describe it in words, but it's just so unique. So what I'll be trying to do as we undock, besides making sure we do it right and safely and successfully, is try to capture that mental picture of what the space station looks like."]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:32:15 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:27:55 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:19:20 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:11:56 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:02:33 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:59:39 GMT
Across Kennedy Space Center inside the Operations and Checkout Building, Discovery's astronauts are getting ready to leave the Astronaut Crew Quarters for the short ride to Launch Pad 39A.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:55:17 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:46:40 GMT
The weather is cooperating thus far and no technical issues are troubling the launch team. Discovery's launch remains set for 4:50 p.m.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:45:28 GMT
We expect to see the STS-133 crew leave for the launch pad at 1 p.m.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:36:25 GMT
Additionally, the Spaceflight Meteorology Group at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston is reporting two good transatlantic abort landing sites at Zaragoza and Moron, both in Spain.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:31:08 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:15:21 GMT
"We're going to put it on space station robotically, and we're going to leave it there," Commander Steve Lindsey explained in an earlier interview. "So, not only will it be full of supplies for the space station, it will also serve in the future as a closet for space station for stowage, which is something that they always need up on the space station."]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:07:07 GMT
Discovery's crew arrived at Kennedy on Feb. 20, touching down on the Shuttle Landing Facility in T-38 aircraft. The astronauts spent the past few days checking the fit of their launch-and-entry suits, reviewing procedures and receiving boarding and weather briefings. Lindsey and Boe also have made several practice landings in Shuttle Training Aircraft, modified Gulfstream jets that handle like a landing shuttle.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:00:16 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:55:00 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:51:54 GMT
The investigation ultimately led to modifications of the intertank's support beams, or "stringers." Discovery returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where technicians added reinforcing metal pieces known as "radius blocks" to 94 of the tank's 108 stringers. An additional five stringers received radius blocks and double-thick stringer tips. The newly repaired shuttle rolled back to Launch Pad 39A on Feb. 1. The ground umbilical carrier plate also has been fixed.

"Anytime we have a long flow of challenges, which we've had for STS-133, that makes the final outcome even sweeter," said Stephanie Stilson, Discovery's NASA flow director, when Discovery returned to the launch pad. "So when we finally get to the launch we really appreciate the work that has happened and all the long hours our team has put in."]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:46:25 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:40:18 GMT
Some of the most historic achievements of the shuttle era were carried out by Discovery, including deployment of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope; the second spaceflight of Mercury astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn; the first rendezvous with Russia's Mir space station; and the final shuttle/Mir docking. Discovery carried out several key International Space Station construction missions, and was chosen to return the shuttles to flight after the Challenger and Columbia accidents. Now, it will be the first in the fleet to retire.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:35:45 GMT
The weather here at Kennedy Space Center has been beautiful all week, and that trend is expected to continue through launch. Today's forecast calls for clear skies and warm temperatures. There's a 90 percent chance of good weather for liftoff, according to Shuttle Launch Weather Officer Kathy Winters.

Out at Launch Pad 39A, Discovery is fully fueled and ready to fly. Inside the Launch Control Center about three miles west of the shuttle's oceanfront launch site, Launch Director Mike Leinbach leads the launch team from his console on the top row of Firing Room 4. Today's blog comes to you from our console right next door in Firing Room 3. Our coverage is just getting started, so stay with us.]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:30:38 GMT Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:16:20 GMT