The ‘Ice team’ are just finishing up their inspection of the vehicle on the pad and the countdown clock is running once again.
The crew a dressing in their space suits and will soon be entering the orbiter.
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): shuttle, nasa, Space Shuttle, Space Shuttle Discovery, Discovery, Space, Science, STS-121]
NASA’s Space shuttle Discovery is all set for launch on what will be the second mission since the loss of Columbia.
Mission STS-121 (Discovery’s 32nd flight) should see Discovery launch at around 1549 EDT (1949 GMT) but is dependent on local weather conditions being suitable.
Modifications
NASA have made a number of modifications to the orbiter, the most significant being the changes to the external tank. The Proterberance Air Load Ramps have been removed from the fuel tank as this was the area that foam was previously shed from. Following extensive testing and analysis the PAL Ramps have been deemed unnecessary.
Changes have been made to Discoverie’s heat shield. More than 5000 gap fillers have been replaced and the heat tiles around the front landing gear doors have been replaced with ‘hardened’ tiles as this is a particularly vulnerable area.
Discovery Crew
From the left are astronauts Stephanie D. Wilson, Michael E. Fossum, both mission specialists; Steven W. Lindsey, commander; Piers J. Sellers, mission specialist; Mark E. Kelly, pilot; European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany; and Lisa M. Nowak, both mission specialists. Image credit: NASA
Matt
(Image credit: NASA/KSC)
[Technorati tag(s): shuttle, nasa, Space Shuttle, Space Shuttle Discovery, Discovery, Space, Science, STS-121]
It’s good news that the Shuttle is likely to carry out three missions this year, I’m a big fan of the shuttle programme.
I have one question that perhaps someone can clear up for me:
Is the problem with the insulation foam breaking off the external tank a new one?
Over the years I have followed the Shuttle missions even when the media deemed space flight routine but its only recently that I heard about the foam problem. I know the ET used to be painted but this was stopped fairly early on as the paint added to the weight. Did the paint add some strength?
I think I heard somewhere that they had to change what the foam was made of. Anyone able to confirm this and why?
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): shuttle, nasa, Space Shuttle, Space Shuttle Discovery, Discovery, Space, Science]
The US space agency Nasa has announced plans to return to the Moon by 2020.
Nasa administrator Dr Michael Griffin said four astronauts would be sent in a new space vehicle, in a project that would cost $104bn (£58bn).
“We will return to the Moon no later than 2020 and extend human presence across the Solar System and beyond,” Dr Griffin said on Monday.
Nasa sent several manned missions to the Moon between 1968 and 1972. A total of 12 men walked on the lunar surface.
Different modules could be launched separately into space then joined together for the journey to lunar orbit.
The new missions would use rocket technology already employed on the space shuttle to cut the costs of development.
Matt
(Source: BBC News)
[Technorati tag(s): Moon, nasa, Space, lunar base, Discovery, Science, Hubble Space Telescope]
Microsoft plans to make its next generation games console, the Xbox 360, as difficult as possible to hack.
The 360 will have security built directly into the hardware, said Xbox engineer Chris Satchell.
Fans have modified the first Xbox to turn it into a media centre, upgrade the hard drive or allow it to play imported games.
Modifying a console is illegal in the UK as it can be used to get around anti-piracy measures on the Xbox.
While I don’t condone piracy in any form, I think its a really bad idea for Microsoft to shout about the 360 and it being hack proof. That’s basically asking inviting any would-be hacker to give it a try!
Matt
(Source: BBC News)
In a recent Memo Nasa warns that there may not be any more shuttle missions for at least a year. This is because of the fuel tank problems and hurricane Katrina. Nasa’s Michoud facility is in New Orleans so has been affected by the recent hurricane as well as the on-going affects.
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): shuttle, nasa, Space Shuttle, Space Shuttle Discovery, Discovery, Space, Science]
Nasa has turned the Hubble Space Telescope to point at the moon to begin lookig for a suitable site to build a ‘Moon Base’.
What Nasa is looking for are sites with a good supply of ilmenite, a mineral from which to extract oxygen, hydrogen and helium. As well as producing air and water, the flammable gases could be burned to generate electricity. Nasa scientists know to look for ilmenite, as it was found in soil samples brought back by the Apollo missions.
Nasa is looking to build a colony on the Moon as soon as 2018. I wonder if they will decide to build on my Lunar Plot? I wonder what rent I could charge!
Matt
[Technorati tag(s): Moon, nasa, Space, lunar base, Discovery, Science, Hubble Space Telescope]
Discovery has been successfully de-mated from Nasa’s specially modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and has now been towed into the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3 where the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Raffaello, still inside, will be removed from the payload bay and transferred to the Space Station Processing Facility.
What is interesting is that Nasa are now calling this latest mission a ‘Test Mission’. Previously it was called their ‘Return To Flight’ mission. Is this a damage limitation exercise?
Matt
(Image credit: NASA/KSC)
[Technorati tag(s): shuttle, nasa, Space Shuttle, Space Shuttle Discovery, Discovery, Space, Science]
Discovery was demated from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft early Monday morning at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Discovery was towed late Monday afternoon to the nearby Orbiter Processing Facility, where it will be readied for mission STS-121.
Matt
(Image credit: NASA/KSC)
[Technorati tag(s): shuttle, nasa, Space Shuttle, Space Shuttle Discovery, Discovery, Space, Science]
Within the last few minutes the Space Shuttle Discovery touched down safely at Kenedy Space Center in Florida.
Matt
(Image credit: NASA/KSC)
[Technorati tag(s): shuttle, nasa, Space Shuttle, Space Shuttle Discovery, Discovery, Space, Science]
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