STS 124 UPDATES

[Chipstone306]

Discovery's STS-124 Mission Targeted for Launch May 31

Image above: Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the external tank for space shuttle Discovery is suspended over the transfer aisle as it is lifted up into a checkout cell for processing. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossman
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NASA is targeting May 31 as the launch date for space shuttle Discovery's STS-124 mission. STS-124 is the 26th shuttle flight to the International Space Station and the second of three flights to deliver components of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory.

The Japanese Pressurized Module will be the station's largest science laboratory, measuring 37 feet long and 14 feet in diameter, about the size of a large tour bus. The shuttle also will deliver the lab's robotic arm system that support operations outside of Kibo. The lab's logistics module, which was installed in a temporary location during STS-123 in March, will be attached to the new lab.

Mark Kelly will command the seven-member crew, which includes Pilot Ken Ham, Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Jr., Mike Fossum, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and Greg Chamitoff. Chamitoff will replace Expedition 16/17 Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman and remain aboard the station as a member of the Expedition 17 crew. Reisman will return to Earth with the STS-124 crew.

 

[bujin]

I see the pilot is unfortunate enough to share his name with the creationist numpty!

 

[Chipstone306]

Discovery's STS-124 Mission Targeted for Launch May 31

Image above: As space shuttle Discovery's payload bay doors are closing, seen at center is a Ku-band antenna that is used in space to transmit and receive information from the ground. Photo credit: NASA/Chris Rhodes
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NASA is targeting May 31 as the launch date for space shuttle Discovery's STS-124 mission. STS-124 is the 26th shuttle flight to the International Space Station and the second of three flights to deliver components of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory.

The Japanese Pressurized Module will be the station's largest science laboratory, measuring 37 feet long and 14 feet in diameter, about the size of a large tour bus. The shuttle also will deliver the lab's robotic arm system that support operations outside of Kibo. The lab's logistics module, which was installed in a temporary location during STS-123 in March, will be attached to the new lab.

Mark Kelly will command the seven-member crew, which includes Pilot Ken Ham, Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and Greg Chamitoff. Chamitoff will replace Expedition 16/17 Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman and remain aboard the station as a member of the Expedition 17 crew. Reisman will return to Earth with the STS-124 crew.

 

[Chipstone306]

STS-124 Launch Preparations Continue

Image above: In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, space shuttle Discovery's external tank is lowered into high bay 4 between the solid rocket boosters waiting on the mobile launcher platform. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
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At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is being readied for its STS-124 mission, currently targeted for launch May 31.

Inside the orbiter processing facility, shuttle workers are preparing for the orbiter's April 26 move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it will be joined with its external tank and solid rocket boosters. Rollout of the entire space shuttle assembly to Launch Pad 39A is set for May 3.

STS-124 is the second of three flights to deliver the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station. At 37 feet long and 14 feet wide, the Japanese Pressurized Module will be the station's largest science laboratory. The shuttle also will deliver the lab's robotic arm system that supports operations outside of Kibo. The lab's logistics module, which was installed in a temporary location during STS-123 in March, will be attached to the new lab.

Mark Kelly will command the seven-member crew, which includes Pilot Ken Ham, Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Greg Chamitoff and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide. Chamitoff will replace Expedition 16/17 Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman and remain aboard the station as a member of the Expedition 17 crew. Reisman will return to Earth with the STS-124 crew.

 

[ryan]

She's looking mighty fine.

 

[Chipstone306]

Discovery Ready to Roll

Image above: Space shuttle Discovery is attached to a transporter for the upcoming move to the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder
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At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is being readied for its STS-124 mission, currently targeted for launch May 31.

Inside the orbiter processing facility, shuttle workers are preparing for the orbiter's April 26 move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it will be joined with its external tank and solid rocket boosters. Rollout of the entire space shuttle assembly to Launch Pad 39A is set for May 3.

STS-124 is the second of three flights to deliver the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station. At 37 feet long and 14 feet wide, the Japanese Pressurized Module will be the station's largest science laboratory. The shuttle also will deliver the lab's robotic arm system that supports operations outside of Kibo. The lab's logistics module, which was installed in a temporary location during STS-123 in March, will be attached to the new lab.

Mark Kelly will command the seven-member crew, which includes Pilot Ken Ham, Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Greg Chamitoff and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide. Chamitoff will replace Expedition 16/17 Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman and remain aboard the station as a member of the Expedition 17 crew. Reisman will return to Earth with the STS-124 crew.

 

[DaveS]

Discovery has now rolled over from OPF-3 to the VAB transfer aisle. First motion was at 7:17 am EDT andt he orbiter was spotted in the VAB at 8:05 am EDT.

S0004 ops are now in work which will lead to A5214 SSV XFER TO PAD A ops next Saturday. They aim to have the orbiter vertical around 9 pm EDT tonight.

 

[ryan]

Space Shuttle Discovery is almost assembled.

Hey guys, the Space Shuttle Discovery is now finishing it's fianl asemmbley procedures and it's not currenty getting ready for rollout on it's giant crawler.

More can be found here.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

 

[DaveS]

The Mobile Launcher Platform(MLP) is separate from the Crawler Transporter(CT).

Hardmate of the Orbiter to the ET was accomplished early Sunday.

This afternoon engineers in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center will begin S0008 Shuttle Interface Test which will verify all mechanical and electrical interfaces between the SRBs, ET and Orbiter as whole integrated stack.

Meanwhile, technicians will continue closing out various areas of the stack for rollout early Saturday.

 

[DaveS]

S0008 Call To Stations was yesterday at 8:47 pm EDT and the stack was powered up at 10 pm EDT.

The payload went to the pad at 5 pm EDT and arrived at 7:20 pm. It will be transferred from the canister to the PCR later this morning around 9-10 am EDT.

Rollout is still scheduled for 12:01 am EDT Saturday. Overall, a smooth VAB and pad flow so far.

 

[DaveS]

Discovery has now completed the rollout. She is now at pad 39A. The JPM will be loaded into the payload bay on Monday.

 

[Chipstone306]

Space Shuttle Discovery Arrives at Launch Pad 39A

Image above: Space shuttle Discovery reaches Launch Pad 39A for launch of mission STS-124 to the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder
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May 3
Space shuttle Discovery made the long, slow trek out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on May 2. The 3.4-mile trek is one of the last major milestones leading up to the launch of Discovery on the STS-124 mission. Launch is targeted for May 31.

Carried by the slow-moving crawler-transporter, the shuttle assembly and mobile launcher platform began rolling out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at 11:47 p.m. EDT Friday night and was secured at the pad at 6:06 a.m. on Saturday.

The canister carrying the STS-124 payloads arrived at the launch pad April 29. Primary payloads are the tour-bus-sized Japanese Experiment Module-Pressurized Module and the lab's robotic arm system. The components will soon be installed in the orbiter's payload bay.

The STS-124 crew members, commanded by astronaut Mark Kelly, are set to arrive at Kennedy on May 6 for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. The three-day event concludes May 9 with a full dress rehearsal of the launch countdown.

 

[Chipstone306]

Discovery's Payloads Installed

Image above: At Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, the STS-124 payloads are transferred from the launch pad's payload changeout room to space shuttle Discovery's payload bay. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossman
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May 5
Space shuttle Discovery made the long, slow trek out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Saturday. Carried by the slow-moving crawler-transporter, the shuttle assembly atop the mobile launcher platform began rolling out of the Vehicle Assembly Building at 11:47 p.m. EDT Friday night and was secured at the pad at 6:06 a.m. The 3.4-mile journey is one of the last major milestones leading up to the launch of Discovery on the STS-124 mission, targeted for May 31.

The canister carrying the STS-124 payloads arrived at the launch pad April 29. Primary payloads are the tour-bus-sized Japanese Experiment Module-Pressurized Module and the lab's robotic arm system. With Discovery in place at the launch pad, the payload components have been installed in the orbiter's payload bay.

The STS-124 crew members, commanded by astronaut Mark Kelly, are set to arrive at Kennedy on May 6 for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. The three-day event concludes May 9 with a full dress rehearsal of the launch countdown.

 

[DaveS]

The STS-124 crew is arriving early for TCDT, at 4:30 pm EDT. Arrival will be live on NASA TV.

 

[DaveS]

First T-38 has arrived at KSC! 4:14 pm EDT.

 

[DaveS]

3 T-38's on the tarmac at KSC now.

 

[DaveS]

The 4th and last T-38 with the last STS-124 crew members are now down and taxiing to parking.

 

[Chipstone306]

STS-124 Crew Trains for Launch

Image above: STS-124 Commander Mark Kelly is seen through the cockpit window of NASA's Shuttle Training Aircraft, or STA, before taxiing to the runway at the NASA Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility to practice space shuttle landings. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
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May 7
The STS-124 crew members arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 6 for the terminal countdown demonstration test. During this three-day prelaunch training event, crew members will try on their orange launch and entry suits, practice an emergency escape from the launch pad, and complete a fully suited dress rehearsal of their upcoming launch aboard space shuttle Discovery.

The canister carrying the STS-124 payloads arrived at Launch Pad 39A on April 29 and Discovery rolled out on May 3. Primary payloads are the tour-bus-sized Japanese Experiment Module-Pressurized Module and the lab's robotic arm system.

 

[James.Denholm]

So now I know where the US tax money goes...

I want one!

 

[Chipstone306]

update

STS-124 Astronauts Wrap Up Launch Rehearsal

Image above: STS-124 Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg (left) and Ron Garan prepare to depart NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the terminal countdown demonstration test. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
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May 9
The seven-member STS-124 crew participated Friday in a launch dress rehearsal at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Part of the three-day terminal countdown demonstration test, the rehearsal called for the astronauts to be fully suited for liftoff as they simulated the final hours of the countdown. They concluded the event by practicing an emergency escape from Launch Pad 39A.

Friday afternoon, the astronauts returned to their home base at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. They'll report to Kennedy once again a few days before their launch aboard space shuttle Discovery, currently targeted for May 31.

The canister carrying the STS-124 payloads arrived at Launch Pad 39A on April 29 and Discovery rolled out on May 3. Primary payloads are the tour-bus-sized Japanese Experiment Module-Pressurized Module and the lab's robotic arm system.