Discovery lifts off
Posted: Tue, Jul 4, 2006, 4:09 PM ET (2009 GMT)
The space shuttle Discovery lifted off Tuesday afternoon on the first space shuttle mission in nearly a year. Discovery started STS-121 mission with a liftoff at 2:37:55 pm EDT (1837:55 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch took place on the third attempt to put the shuttle in orbit; launch attempts on Saturday and Sunday were scrubbed because of weather. NASA proceeded with the launch after investigating a crack in external tank foam discovered early Monday and concluding that the crack, and the small piece of foam that fell off, did not pose a safety risk to the shuttle. Discovery will dock with the ISS on Thursday morning after performing a survey of its exterior, looking for any damage to its tiles and panels from the launch. Discovery will remain docked to the station for over a week, delivering supplies as well as a new station crewmember, German astronaut Thomas Reiter. Two to three EVAs are also scheduled for the mission.
The space shuttle Discovery lifted off Tuesday afternoon on the first space shuttle mission in nearly a year. Discovery started STS-121 mission with a liftoff at 2:37:55 pm EDT (1837:55 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch took place on the third attempt to put the shuttle in orbit; launch attempts on Saturday and Sunday were scrubbed because of weather. NASA proceeded with the launch after investigating a crack in external tank foam discovered early Monday and concluding that the crack, and the small piece of foam that fell off, did not pose a safety risk to the shuttle. Discovery will dock with the ISS on Thursday morning after performing a survey of its exterior, looking for any damage to its tiles and panels from the launch. Discovery will remain docked to the station for over a week, delivering supplies as well as a new station crewmember, German astronaut Thomas Reiter. Two to three EVAs are also scheduled for the mission.
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