Discovery launches on ISS mission
Posted: Sun, Jun 1, 2008, 12:26 PM ET (1626 GMT)
The space shuttle Discovery lifted off Saturday afternoon on a mission to deliver a Japanese lab module to the International Space Station. Discovery lifted off on schedule at 5:02 pm EDT (2102 GMT) Saturday, after a virtually problem-free countdown, and entered orbit eight minutes later. The primary purpose of the STS-124 mission is to install the main component of the Japanese lab module Kibo on the station. The shuttle is scheduled to dock with the station on Monday afternoon. The shuttle crew will spend much of Sunday performing an inspection of the exterior of the orbiter, looking for any damage from the launch. Video of the launch showed several pieces of foam falling off the external tank during ascent, although shuttle managers believed the foam came off late enough during the launch that they would not pose a risk to the orbiter.
The space shuttle Discovery lifted off Saturday afternoon on a mission to deliver a Japanese lab module to the International Space Station. Discovery lifted off on schedule at 5:02 pm EDT (2102 GMT) Saturday, after a virtually problem-free countdown, and entered orbit eight minutes later. The primary purpose of the STS-124 mission is to install the main component of the Japanese lab module Kibo on the station. The shuttle is scheduled to dock with the station on Monday afternoon. The shuttle crew will spend much of Sunday performing an inspection of the exterior of the orbiter, looking for any damage from the launch. Video of the launch showed several pieces of foam falling off the external tank during ascent, although shuttle managers believed the foam came off late enough during the launch that they would not pose a risk to the orbiter.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 12
Final ‘go’ for Vega launch
ESA — 10:27 am ET (1527 GMT) Our spaceship has arrived: Museum of Flight takes delivery of Soyuz capsule
GeekWire — 9:01 am ET (1401 GMT) Glenn reflects on his mission, future of space
Zanesville (OH) Times-Recorder — 8:59 am ET (1359 GMT) A lawyer's idea of marketing
Las Cruces (NM) Sun-News — 8:59 am ET (1359 GMT) 'Hang me for so-called omission... but let them go through democratic process'
Indian Express — 8:57 am ET (1357 GMT) |