Discovery roars into space
17 Mar 2009
Space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Centre at 10:43am Sydney time on Monday to deliver the final set of power-generating solar array wings and a new crew member to the International Space Station.
Discovery's STS-119 flight is carrying the space station's fourth and final set of solar array wings, completing the station's truss, or backbone. The arrays will provide the electricity to fully power science experiments and support the station's expanded crew of six in May.
The 13-day mission will feature three spacewalks to help install the S6 truss segment to the starboard, or right, side of the station and deploy its solar arrays. The flight also will replace a failed unit for a system that converts urine to potable water.
Shortly before launch, Commander Lee Archambault thanked the teams that helped make the launch possible.
"It's truly an honour to be part of this team representing NASA, the nation and the international partners," Archambault said. "See you in a couple of weeks."
Archambault is joined on STS-119 by Pilot Tony Antonelli and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold, John Phillips and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata.
Wakata will replace space station crewmember Sandra Magnus, who has been aboard the station for more than four months. He will return to Earth during the next station shuttle mission, STS-127, targeted to launch in June 2009.
Former science teachers Acaba and Arnold are now fully-trained NASA astronauts. They are making their first journey to orbit on the mission and will to step outside the station to conduct critical spacewalking tasks.
Discovery's launch was postponed on Wednesday, March 11, after a leak associated with the gaseous hydrogen venting system was detected during fuelling. Technicians rebuilt and replaced seals and other components associated with the system. No leaks were detected during Sunday's fuelling.
More information:
NASA STS-119 mission information
International Space Station
LATEST HEADLINES & TOP STORIES:
> Discovery roars into space
> 100th set of booster motors launches Discovery
> Super-scope will have metal mirrors
> NASA launches 'Eyes on the Earth 3D'
> Shuttle Discovery prepares for lift-off
> Explorer satellite will study the Earth's surface and core
> NASA space telescope sees the invisible universe
> Stars are the leading lights in a new galaxy image
> Aussie scientists study stars with NASA
> Hubble: new evidence for dark matter
> Cassini spacecraft gets it's back up
> Watch the space station on webcam!
> Texas telescope to help spot Earth-like planets
> Tantalising signs of water activity on Mars
> Mars probe's computer rebooted
> Shuttle mission delayed by fuel leak
> A close-up look at Mars' moon Deimos
> Telescopes team up for 3D view of galaxies
> Teaming up to find new Earths
> Satellite spots the start of a cosmic explosion
> Build your own space station!
> MAIN NEWS PAGE…
Search SpaceInfo…
