News From Space!

Cloud cover over the launch area forced a scrub of Discovery’s launch today. They will try again tomorrow, with the launch window lasting until July 19. NASA reports:

Launch Scrubbed
Today’s launch of Space Shuttle Discovery has been postponed for 24 hours because of weather. The new launch time will be at 3:26 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
 

Updated Flight Facts here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.

Fox News is interviewing astronauts Tom Jones and David Wolf, and they just broke in with news that NASA has scrubbed the launch due to weather. Next attempt: 3:26PM EDT tomorrow (Sunday, July 2nd).

Less than an hour to go! NASA reports:

2:30 p.m. Status Update
Discovery’s thruster issue has been cleared for launch by the Mission Management Team. The weather is still in question but there are no other major issues being worked at this time.

The crew is in the orbiter and the hatch is closed. Discovery stands ready for liftoff on Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA’s Freedom Star and Liberty Star are in position for launch. Both recovery ships are currently stationed out in the Atlantic Ocean prepared to tow the solid rocket boosters back to Kennedy Space Center. The boosters will then be scraped, painted and repaired (if necessary) and put back into service for another shuttle launch.

Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.

Discovery’s crew has donned their orange Launch And Entry suits, and they are heading to the launchpad for this afternoon’s flight. NASA reports:

11:30 a.m. Status Update
The Discovery crew members had an early morning wake-up call and ate their traditional launch-day breakfast at the Operations and Checkout Building. Commander Steven Lindsey and two crew members attended a briefing with flight controllers to discuss details on weather conditions at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in addition to alternate landing site availability.

Later they joined their crewmates and the entire flight team donned orange flight suits that contain an oxygen supply, communications equipment and a temperature control system. The suits also offer protection in the event of an emergency. After suiting up, the astronauts will make their way out of their quarters to a vehicle waiting to take them to Launch Pad 39B.

NASA launch managers and engineers continue to work an issue with the thruster heater in the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

Steven Lindsey commands a crew of five American astronauts, Pilot Mark Kelly and Mission Specialists Michael Fossum, Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson and Piers Sellers, and one astronaut from the European Space Agency, Thomas Reiter. This is the 18th U.S. flight to the International Space Station and the 32nd flight for Space Shuttle Discovery.

In Discovery’s payload bay, the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo, built by the Italian Space Agency, will deliver more than two tons of supplies, equipment and tools on its fourth trip to the station.

While docked, the STS-121 crew will test new equipment and procedures to improve shuttle safety, as well as make repairs to the station. Reiter will remain with the Expedition 13 crew on the station.

Weather is currently “go” but conditions could change rapidly.

Discovery is fueled up, but mission managers are debating about whether to fly with a failed maneuvering thruster. NASA reports:

Discovery sits ready for launch
NASA’s “Ice Team” is at the launch pad to inspect the exterior, fuel tank and other hardware on Space Shuttle Discovery for any evidence of ice or debris. The seven-member team makes this final safety survey for every shuttle launch.
NASA launch managers and engineers continue to work an issue with the thruster heater in the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

The launch pad’s Rotating Service Structure rolled away from Discovery yesterday evening in preparation for today’s liftoff. When in place, the giant revolving enclosure is used to install payloads into an orbiter’s cargo bay and provide protection from inclement weather.

+ STS-121 Fact Sheet (552 Kb PDF)
+ External Tank Risk Assessment Masses (81 kb PDF)
+ External Tank-119 Fact Sheet (460 Kb PDF)

Check the links at right for real-time updates and NASA TV.

Discovery is fueling up for this afternoon’s launch. A thruster heater failed, and work to replace it could delay liftoff. NASA reports:

Countdown Countinues
NASA launch managers are currently working an issue with the thruster heater in the left orbital maneuvering system pod and believe there is plenty of time to work the issue.

The loading of Discovery’s orange external tank with 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and hydrogen began at approximately 6 a.m. EDT today. The “topping off” of propellants into the tank will continue until Discovery’s launch. The chance of weather preventing the launch lowered from 60 percent to 40 percent.

The crew of space shuttle Discovery will continue to test new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of space shuttles during the STS-121 mission to the International Space Station. It also will perform maintenance on the space station and deliver more supplies and cargo for future station expansion.

This mission is to carry on analysis of safety improvements that debuted on the Return to Flight mission, STS-114, and build upon those tests.

NASA TV coverage of the launch will begin at 10 a.m. EDT and live launch countdown coverage from NASA’s Launch Blog begins at 10 a.m., July 1.
+ NASA Launch Blog

NASA TV will broadcast a Post-launch News Conference with senior managers Saturday, about an hour after launch.
+ Watch NASA TV

Here is yesterday’s Shuttle Status Report. More to come…