STS-120 - Discovery set to launch on 23rd Oct 16:38 BST

[Blinkz]

Space Shuttle Discovery is "Go" for Launch

Following a detailed flight readiness review on Tuesday, NASA senior managers announced Oct. 23 as the official launch date for space shuttle Discovery. Commander Pam Melroy and her six crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 11:38 a.m. EDT (16:38 BST for UK) on mission STS-120 to the International Space Station.

The 14-day mission includes five spacewalks – four by shuttle crew members and one by the station’s Expedition 16 crew. Discovery is expected to complete its mission and return home at 4:47 a.m. EST on Nov. 6.



For those of us that are interested, STS-120 is going to be lifting on 23rd Oct, at a decent time here in the UK so we won't have to be up early/late to watch it hehe.

 

[Blinkz]

Ex-Ronin is talking about the European science module for the ISS, which is called Columbus. Yea as far as I know its due for launch in December on STS-122

 

[Blinkz]

STS-121 was actually flown in 2006, mainly to test new safety measures after the Columbia disaster. I think STS-121 was the 2nd mission after the Columbia, with STS-114 being the first, don't know if anyone can confirm that?

Basically the Columbia disaster has mucked up the mission names a little, as some of them have had to be delayed. STS-122 is the next shuttle mission after this one though.

-edit- yea just looked on wiki and STS-114 was the return to flight mission, then followed by STS-121.

 

[Blinkz]

If you mean Columbia, that was destroyed in 2003 with the loss of all crew.

Remaining shuttles are - Atlantis, Discovery, Endeavour.

I will be watching. Did I really need to tell you that though?

See my post above lol, Columbus is the name of the next ISS module.

 

[Blinkz]

what time is docking going to be? I missed the launch after being delaying on the motorway on the way home! grrrrr

 

[Blinkz]

thanks, watching now....