NASA's Discovery Space Shuttle made a successful launch on Thursday afternoon to deliver a final module to the U.S. segment of the station, the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM), as well as transport the first humanoid robot to fly in space, Robonaut2.
The historic launch came after a last-minute technical glitch with the Air Force's Eastern Range that left only four seconds in the launch window and a practical limit of two seconds, because of draining requirements with the external fuel tank.
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NASA’s Discovery Space Shuttle made a successful launch on Thursday afternoon to deliver a final module to the U.S. segment of the station, the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM), as well as transport the first humanoid robot to fly in space, Robonaut2.
The historic launch came after a last-minute technical glitch with the Air Force's Eastern Range that left only four seconds in the launch window and a practical limit of two seconds because of draining requirements of the external fuel tank.
"It was one more second than Mike Leinbach (shuttle launch director) needed to get the job done, so there was plenty of margin," said Mike Moses, chairman of the Mission Management Team.
In the picture: Space shuttle Discovery lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida
Reuters.Known as the space agency’s “workhouse”, Discovery was the third operational orbiter used for both research purpose and for International Space Station (ISS) missions.
In its 38 missions in space, the shuttle has spent a total of 352 days in orbit and circled the earth 5,628 times.
This was the shuttle which carried the Hubble Space Telescope into space during mission STS-31 in April 1990, and provided both the second and third Hubble servicing missions.
During its many successful trips to space, Discovery has carried satellites aloft, ferried modules and crew to the International Space Station, and provided the setting for countless scientific experiments.
In the picture: Space shuttle Discovery lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Reuters.Headed by Commander Steve Lindsey, the crew members consist of pilot Eric Boe and mission specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Mike Barratt and Nicole Stott.
The mission was a bitter-sweet experience for the space agency as Discovery was heading off on its 39th and final mission.
Commander Lindsey stated that "We're wrapping up the Space Shuttle Program. Besides the excitement of completing the International Space Station and all the things we do, I hope people get a sense of the history of what the shuttle is and what we've done and what's ending…because they'll probably never see anything like it flying again.”
In the picture: Space shuttle Discovery crew members depart their quarters for the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.
Reuters.The mission, scheduled for a total of 11 days will be characterized by specific tasks and goals to be completed each day.
The installation of the PMM along with the Robonaut 2 will take place on Day 6. Depending on how the robot behaves in space, officials will work on further up-gradations to enhance its capabilities and performance.
In the picture: NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and other NASA management watch the launch of space shuttle Discovery (STS-133) from the firing room at Kennedy Space Center.
Reuters.Onlookers watch as NASA's Space shuttle Discovery lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.Reuters.The space shuttle was supposed to start its mission in November 2010. However, due to gas leaks, electrical problems and bad weather, NASA was forced to postpone its launch.
Although it is time for celebration as the space agency managed to fix the defects that caused a three-month, 20-day delay, the STS-133 mission marks the end of Discovery's journey.
In the picture: Space shuttle Discovery continues to orbit as the solid rocket boosters separate from the spacecraft after it lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.
Reuters.
