STS-120 Crew to Deliver Harmony

Md Moshiur Rahman 24hours news (space)/nasa

Image above: Inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-120 crew members familiarize themselves with Harmony in preparation for their mission to deliver the module to the International Space Station. From left are Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski, Commander Pam Melroy and Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson. Image credit: NASA/Kim Shifflet
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Discovery Remains on Target for October
Even with the work in progress on the external tank, the STS-120 launch remains targeted for Oct. 23. Since the schedule leading to Discovery's liftoff contains about five extra days, mission managers believe it provides enough room to make the changes and still launch on time.

The preparation of Discovery continues in the Orbiter Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the nearby Vehicle Assembly Building, stacking and closeout of the solid rocket boosters are finished. Pending completion of foam repair work on the external tank's liquid oxygen feedline support brackets, attachment of the tank to the boosters is targeted for Sept. 5.

STS-120

Image above: Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, the STS-120 crew members await the start of a training session in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at Johnson Space Center. From the left are astronauts Pamela A. Melroy, STS-120 commander; Daniel M. Tani, Expedition 15 flight engineer; George D. Zamka, STS-120 pilot; Douglas H. Wheelock, Scott E. Parazynski, Stephanie D. Wilson and European Space Agency's (ESA) Paolo Nespoli, all mission specialists. Image credit: NASA

STS-120 is the 23rd shuttle mission to the International Space Station, and will launch an Italian-built U.S. multi-port module for the station.

Air Force Col. Pamela A. Melroy will command the STS-120 mission to take the Node 2 connecting module to the station. Melroy, a veteran shuttle pilot, is the second woman to command a shuttle. Marine Corps Col. George D. Zamka will serve as pilot. The flight's mission specialists will be Scott E. Parazynski, Army Col. Douglas H. Wheelock, Stephanie D. Wilson and Paolo A. Nespoli, a European Space Agency astronaut from Italy. Zamka, Wheelock and Nespoli will be making their first spaceflight.

Expedition 15/16 Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson will return to Earth from the space station aboard shuttle mission STS-120. That flight will carry his replacement, Daniel Tani, to the station. Tani will return on shuttle mission STS-122.

Mission Information
+ STS-120 Mission Overview
+ Harmony Node 2
+ Space Shuttle Discovery

Technorati : STS-120