spacearium wrote:
Story and video clips are available at
http://www.spacearium.com/article.php?story=20080503190644906
After safely reaching its launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center,
space shuttle Discovery now awaits its next major milestone for the
upcoming STS-124 mission. A launch dress rehearsal, known as the
terminal countdown demonstration test, is scheduled to take place at
Kennedy from May 6 to 9.
The crawler-transporter left the KSC Vehicle Assembly Building at
11:47 p.m. Friday, 13 minutes ahead of schedule, perched on its mobile
launch platform and carried by a giant crawler-transporter for the 3.4
mile trip to launch complex 39-A. Discovery arrived at the pad at 4:25
a.m. EDT Saturday and was secured on the launch pad at 6:06 a.m.
Saturday.
Discovery is targeted to launch May 31 on a 13-day mission to the
International Space Station. The shuttle's seven crew members will
deliver the Kibo laboratory's large Japanese Pressurized Module, or
JPM, and its remote manipulator system to the International Space
Station. Three spacewalks will be conducted during the flight.
Well, I hope they are taking up useful Soyuz spare parts. Like a portable,
all around, heat shield for the capsule. Layers of
carbon(graphite),glass(high temp),SIC cloth formed into a nice, easily
installed bag.
Have they added a spare heat-shield for the Soyuz? Even if they don't use
it, the materials could be used for a shuttle repair.
wonders> Which Russian group do I talk to about purchasing the Orbital
Module?<It would make a nice room for Space Tourist
--
Craig Fink
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