At NASA's Kennedy Space station Center in Florida, technicians are putting the finishing touches on space shuttle Discovery one day before its scheduled liftoff on mission STS-124. Launch is set for May 31 at 5:02 p.m. EDT."After months of hard work and preparation, space Discovery and its crew are ready to fly," said NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding during a morning briefing on Space station Discovery's countdown status. "All of our solar systems are in great shape, we're tracking no issues, and we're right on schedule for tomorrow's launch."
The weather is looking promising for launch day, according to space station Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters. Isolated coastal showers may be in the area during the morning hours, but a sea breeze will develop in the afternoon, clearing the coast and causing any showers to move inland. There is an 80 percent chance of favorable weather at launch time.
This space mission will carry the largest payload so far to the space station and includes three solar system spacewalks. It is the second of three space missions that will launch components to complete the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. The crew will install Kibo's large Japanese Pressurized Module and Kibo's robotic arm system. Space Discovery also will deliver new space station crew member Greg Chamitoff and bring back Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman, who will end a three-month stay aboard the outpost.
This space mission will carry the largest payload so far to the space station and includes three solar system spacewalks. It is the second of three space missions that will launch components to complete the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. The crew will install Kibo's large Japanese Pressurized Module and Kibo's robotic arm system. Space Discovery also will deliver new space station crew member Greg Chamitoff and bring back Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman, who will end a three-month stay aboard the outpost.
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