NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding briefs media on Discovery preparations. Photo Credit/NASA TV
Forecasters predict generally favorable weather conditions this week as NASA prepares to launch the shuttle Discovery from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the spacecraft’s 39th and final flight.
Lift off for Discovery and her crew of six astronauts is planned for Thursday at 4:50 p.m., EST.
The weather outlook at Kennedy for daily launch attempts Thursday, Friday and Saturday is is 80 percent, 70 percent and 60 percent favorable. There are slight concerns for low clouds and isolated rain showers which could force a scrub during the five minute launch periods. A cold front that is predicted to move through Florida on Friday will make Thursday the most favorable day overall.
However, forecasters will also be watching conditions at the shuttle’s emergency runways in California and New Mexico. High winds are forecast for Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and dust storms could lower the visibility at White Sands, N. M.
“Right now, the weather is looking good for us,” Kathy Winters, the U. S. Air Force shuttle launch weather officer, told a news briefing on Monday, as NASA prepared to start Discovery’s countdown.
Discovery will deliver an equipment storage module to the space station; an external rack for spare parts; and other supplies, including Robonaut 2. Robonaut, a humanoid developed in a partnership between NASA and General Motors, will be evaluated by space station crews for its suitability to work along side humans both outside and inside the station.
Robonaut 2 headed for the International Space Station aboard Discovery. Photo Credit/NASA
Two spacewalks are planned during Discovery’s 11 to 12-day mission as well.
Near the end of Discovery’s visit, three of the space station’s crew may depart the orbital outpost briefly in a Russian Soyuz capsule to take a photograph. The image would capture Discovery; Japan’s Kounotori unmanned cargo carrier; Europe’s Johannes Kepler space freighter; as well as the Russian Progress and Soyuz spacecraft docked at the station. The occasion will mark the first time each major station partner has had a spacecraft parked at the outpost.
Once planned for an early November departure, Discovery’s flight was postponed by troubles with the external fuel tank and an unrelated hydrogen leak that have since been resolved.
“It’s been an exciting, challenging few months for us,” said NASA test director Jeff Spaulding.
NASA’s shuttle program is facing retirement later this year, following one and perhaps two more missions beyond Discovery’s.
“Discovery has been remarkable for us,” said Spaulding. “She has a few more miles to go.”
