Feb 24 2011
From The Space Library
STS-133 was launched from Cape Canaveral on 24 February 2011 at 16:53 UT. Shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station's (ISS) Harmony module on 26 February 2011 at 19:14 UT. The mission is the 39th and final flight of Discovery and the 133rd flight of the Space Shuttle program. STS 133 carried six astronauts. The primary goals of the shuttle mission are to deliver critical spare parts, supplies and a U.S. storage module to the International Space Station.
MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-056 NASA ASSESSING NEW LAUNCH DATES FOR THE GLORY MISSION
WASHINGTON -- Preparations for the launch of NASA's Glory mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California have been suspended temporarily. Engineers continue to troubleshoot a malfunction in ground support equipment associated with the Taurus XL rocket. On Feb. 23, a false indication was received about the rocket's status after commands were sent approximately 15 minutes before launch to activate the Taurus. "We had an indication that a 'hold-fire' command was sent when indeed it had not," said Omar Baez, NASA launch director. The commands originated from the Vehicle Interface Control Console in the mobile launch support van stationed a few miles from the launch pad. The problem has not yet been isolated, and troubleshooting continues. Managers are evaluating possible Glory launch opportunities in early to mid-March. "The Glory spacecraft is doing fine," reported Bryan Fafaul, Glory project manager from NASA's Goddard Space Flight in Greenbelt, Md. "We are continuing to slow charge the battery until we have a new launch date." The Glory satellite will be launched aboard a Taurus on a mission to improve our understanding of how the sun and tiny atmospheric particles called aerosols affect Earth's climate. Glory launch management is provided by NASA's Launch Service Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orbital Sciences Corp. is providing the Taurus XL launch vehicle and is responsible for spacecraft operations.
RELEASE: 11-054 NASA'S SHUTTLE DISCOVERY HEADS TO SPACE STATION ON ITS FINAL MISSION
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The final flight of space shuttle Discovery lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 4:53 p.m. EST Thursday to deliver a new module and critical supplies to the International Space Station. The STS-133 mission is delivering the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM), a facility created from the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module named Leonardo. The module can support microgravity experiments in areas such as fluid physics, materials science, biology and biotechnology. Inside the PMM is Robonaut 2, a dextrous robot that will become a permanent resident of the station. Discovery also is carrying critical spare components to the space station and the Express Logistics Carrier 4, an external platform that holds large equipment. "With Discovery's mission, the United States once again reaches for new heights, pushes the boundaries of human achievement and contributes to our long-term future in space," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "Discovery's crew - including the first-ever dexterous robot crew member, Robonaut 2 - will continue America's leadership in human and robotic spaceflight, and support important scientific and technical research aboard the space station." STS-133 Commander Steve Lindsey will command the flight. He is joined on the mission by Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott. Bowen replaced Tim Kopra as mission specialist 2 following a bicycle injury on Jan. 15 that prohibited Kopra from supporting the launch window. Bowen last flew on Atlantis in May 2010 as part of the STS-132 crew. Flying on the STS-133 mission will make Bowen the first astronaut ever to fly on consecutive missions. The shuttle crew is scheduled to dock to the station at 2:16 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26. The mission's two spacewalks will focus on outfitting the station and storing spare components outside the complex. After completing the 11-day flight, the shuttle's first landing opportunity at Kennedy is scheduled for 12:44 p.m. on Monday, March 7. STS-133 is the 133rd shuttle flight, the 39th flight for Discovery and the 35th shuttle mission dedicated to station assembly and maintenance. NASA's web coverage of STS-133 includes mission information, a press kit, interactive features, news conference images, graphics and videos.
