Japanese hopes ride on Discovery

[Rick]

The Discovery orbiter is set for launch from the Kennedy Space Center on a 14-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The shuttle and its crew of seven will deliver the main section of Japan's science lab known as Kibo, or "Hope".

Discovery's flight is the third orbiter mission of 2008 and the first to fly the "in-line" external fuel tank.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7428814.stm

[Rick]

Nasa's Discovery shuttle has blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a 14-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The shuttle and its crew of seven are delivering a giant cylinder for Japan's Kibo science lab but also a new pump to repair the station's toilet.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7428814.stm

(Just noticed that's the same link as before. I really wish they'd use new pages just a bit more often...)

[Rick]

Discovery yesterday docked successfully with the International Space Station at 18:03 GMT, with mission STS-124 astronauts boarding at 19:36 GMT.

The shuttle arrived bearing mission spcialist Greg Chamitoff, due to join the exisiting Expedition 17 crew, relieving flight engineer Garrett Reisman.

It also carries the second consignment of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory, constisting of the large Japanese Pressurized Module and robotic arm system, plus spares...

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/03/discovery_iss_dock/

[Rick]

The space shuttle Discovery has docked at the International Space Station (ISS) after a two-day voyage, carrying a $1bn (£500m) Japanese laboratory.

The 16-tonne Kibo lab will be the station's biggest room, for the study of biomedicine and material sciences.

The seven astronauts and three station residents will start installing the laboratory on Tuesday.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7432466.stm

[Rick]

Busy STS-124 mission specialists Mike Fossum and Ron Garan yesterday completed their second spacewalk outside the International Space Station, in the process carrying out preparatory work for attachment of the "Experiment Logistics Module - Pressurized Section" to Japan's Kibo laboratory.

During the seven-hour, 11-minute jaunt, the astronauts installed two cameras on Kibo which will be used to "judge clearances for the module's robotic arm", removed an external video camera suffering from a failing power supply and "made preparations for a nitrogen tank assembly swap they will make on their third spacewalk".

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/06/iss_second_spacewalk/

[Rick]

Mission specialists Michael Fossum and Ronald Garan yesterday completed their third and final spacewalk outside the International Space Station - a six-and-a-half hour jaunt which ended at 20:28 GMT.

The pair's main task was to replace a 249kg nitrogen tank which pressurises the station's ammonia cooling system. While Garan tackled that, Fossum busied himself examining one of the paddle-wheel joints which pivot the ISS's solar panels into optimum sun-catching positions and which has become contaminated with metal shavings. Engineers are mulling how best to rectify the problem.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/09/third_iss_spacewalk/

[Ian]

While Garan tackled that, Fossum busied himself examining one of the paddle-wheel joints which pivot the ISS's solar panels into optimum sun-catching positions and which has become contaminated with metal shavings. Engineers are mulling how best to rectify the problem.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/09/third_iss_spacewalk/

He just needs to give it a good blow...

It'd be best if he holds on tight while he does it though

[Rick]

The crew of space shuttle Discovery are today making final preparations for a scheduled landing tomorrow at Kennedy Space Center, following a successful mission STS-124 which saw delivery, attachment and activation of the Pressurized Module of the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/13/discovery_landing/

[Rick]

Astronauts on board the US space shuttle Discovery have reported seeing an object drifting away from the craft.

Shuttle crew said the object was 30-45cm (1-1.5 feet) long. Nasa engineers are trying to identify it from pictures taken by astronauts.

A Nasa official said it was not unusual for objects to become dislodged from the shuttle or its payload bay.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7453503.stm

[Rick]

The American space shuttle Discovery has successfully touched down at the Kennedy space station in the US state of Florida.

Nasa officials gave the go-ahead for the landing, saying it should not be affected by the earlier loss of a metal clip from Discovery's rudder.

The shuttle delivered a Japanese laboratory to the International Space Station (ISS) on its 14-day mission.

The seven crew earlier cheered after getting the green light to land.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7454810.stm