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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is set to launch its space shuttle Discovery from Kennedy on STS-133 mission to the International Space Station at 4:40 pm EDT on November 1, which will be the 35th shuttle mission.
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The mission will deliver and install the Permanent Multipurpose Module, the Express Logistics Carrier 4 and also provide critical spare components to the International Space Station.
Discovery's launch preparations are on schedule and technicians will finish the work on shuttle's airlock in August and flush piping for the spacecraft's thruster system.
The crew of STS-133 is practicing in Houston for undocking the shuttle from the International Space Station and the subsequent flyaround.
The STS-133 crew will deliver robot Robonaut 2 (R2) to the International Space Station. Cocooned inside an aluminum frame and foam blocks cut out to its shape, R2 is heading to the station inside the Permanent Multipurpose Module in space shuttle Discovery's payload bay.
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R2, with its humanlike hands and arms and stereo vision, is expected to perform some of the repetitive or more mundane functions inside the orbiting laboratory to free astronauts for more complicated tasks and experiments.
Designed by NASA and General Motors as a robotic assistant for astronauts working in space, R2 looks like the upper torso of a sculpted bodybuilder and is topped with a helmeted head that includes two cameras to give it three-dimensional vision plus other sensors.
NASA will hold the third shuttle launch Tweetup at its Kennedy Space Center in Florida starting October 31. NASA will randomly select 150 of its Twitter followers from online registrations. The selected followers will get an exclusive insider's look at the space program and a chance to view the space shuttle launch in person.
The Tweetup helps to learn more about NASA, explore NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and experience a space shuttle launch.
“With only two scheduled shuttle flights remaining, we want new audiences to experience the excitement of a launch. Our guests at the Tweetup then can share the experience with their followers around the world,” said Stephanie Schierholz, social media manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Space shuttle Discovery was NASA's third space orbiter to join the fleet, arriving for the first time at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in November 1983. It was launched on August 30, 1984 for its first mission 41-D to deploy three communications satellites.
Since the inaugural flight, Discovery shuttle has completed more than 30 successful missions, surpassing the number of flights made by any other orbiter in NASA's fleet.
