News From Space!

Discovery has completed the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver, and is about to dock to the ISS. Capture should happen at 8:45AM EDT, a few minutes after the original schedule. NASA reports:

Docking Nears for Discovery, Flip Maneuver Complete

Image Above: Discovery orbits the Earth above the Andes Mountains while approaching the International Space Station. Image credit: NASA TV

Space Shuttle Discovery is approaching the International Space Station. Docking is slated to take place at 8:33 a.m. EDT today. Discovery’s arrival will set the stage for the next phase of the station’s on-orbit construction and a change in the Expedition 16 crew.

Commander Pam Melroy and Pilot George Zamka fired Discovery’s engines at 5:55 a.m. to refine the approach to the station. Melroy and Zamka performed a back-flip maneuver over an hour and a half later allowing the Expedition 16 crew to photograph the shuttle’s protective heat-resistant tiles. The imagery will be sent to engineers on Earth for analysis.

Station Crew to Greet New Visitors Aboard Station

Image Above: The International Space Station is viewed from Discovery’s orbiter docking ring several hundred feet away. Image credit: NASA TV

Expedition 16 Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineers Yuri Malenchenko and Clay Anderson will welcome a new set of visitors aboard the International Space Station today. Space Shuttle Discovery is slated to dock with the station at 8:33 a.m. EDT and the STS-120 crew will enter the station for the first time about 10:30 a.m.

One of the first major tasks is the station crew rotation. STS-120 Mission Specialist Daniel Tani will switch places with Anderson, who will be wrapping up a four-month tour of duty as an Expedition crew member. Tani is scheduled to stay on the station until he returns to Earth with STS-122 later this year.

The two crews will also begin joint operations to begin preparations for STS-120’s first spacewalk to continue the on-orbit construction of the station. A new station module, called Harmony, will be attached to the station and sets the stage for the arrival of new research laboratories.

Five spacewalks are scheduled during Discovery’s stay at the station to attach Harmony and to relocate the station’s P6 truss and solar arrays.

In addition to Harmony, Discovery is delivering supplies and equipment to the station.

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

Thursday will see Discovery dock with the ISS. NASA reports:

Docking Nears for Discovery, Space Station

Image Above: Space shuttle Discovery’s robotic arm with the attached boom extension is moved into position shortly after completion of the heat shield inspection. Image credit: NASA

Space Shuttle Discovery is approaching the International Space Station. Docking is slated to take place at 8:33 a.m. EDT today. Discovery’s arrival will set the stage for the next phase of the station’s on-orbit construction and a change in the Expedition 16 crew.

+ View docking animation
+ View rendezvous animation
+ View rendezvous pitch maneuver animation
+ View shuttle approaching the space station animation

Commander Pam Melroy and Pilot George Zamka fired Discovery’s engines at 5:55 a.m. to refine the approach to the station. About an hour before docking, Melroy and Zamka will guide the shuttle through a back-flip maneuver that will allow the Expedition 16 crew to photograph the shuttle’s protective heat-resistant tiles. The imagery will be sent to engineers on Earth for analysis.

After Discovery docks, the shuttle and station crews will conduct pressure and leak checks before the hatches between the two spacecraft open at 10:33 a.m. The crews will greet each other and quickly begin joint operations.

One of the first major tasks is the station crew rotation. STS-120 Mission Specialist Daniel Tani will switch places with Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson, who will be wrapping up a four-month tour of duty as an Expedition crew member. Tani is scheduled to stay on the station until he returns to Earth with STS-122 later this year.

Also, preparations will begin today for the first of five scheduled STS-120 spacewalks. It is set to kick off at 6:28 a.m. Friday.

Flight Day 2 videos are up at the JSC Gallery. ABC Pics here. Discussion here. Status Report #05 here. Check the links at right for play-by-play and NASA TV.