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Friday’s CSExtra features the latest reporting on space related activities from around the world. Shuttle Discovery’s lift off draws wide attention across the United States because the flight marks the storied orbiter’s last mission. Space enthusiasts flock to Central Florida for a chance to witness the departure. Discovery’s crew will inspect the shuttle’s heat shielding on Friday, arrive at the International Space Station on Saturday. From Washington, NASA intends to merge its space operations and exploration divisions by June. The European Space Agency celebrates a successful docking of the Automated Transfer Vehicle Johannes Kepler with the International Space Station. NASA re-schedules the launching of its Glory climate research mission for March to resolve problems that accompanied a launch attempt on Wednesday.
1. From spaceflightnow.com: Shuttle Discovery overcomes some last minute countdown drama Thursday afternoon to begin a long-delayed final mission. The shuttle’s six astronauts should reach the International Space Station on Saturday afternoon.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts133/110224launch/index.html
A. From the New York Times: Shuttle Discovery leaves the Earth one last time.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/science/space/25shuttle.html?_r=1&hp
B. From Florida Today: “Oh, I see it,” exclaimed Addison Zimmer, 13, who strained to watch Discovery’s lift off from Space View Park in Titusville, Fla. On the spur of the moment, Marc Zimmer, a 40-year-old construction supply specialist from Dublin, Ohio drove his sun to Florida to witness Discovery’s launching. They had plenty of company. “I figure if we’re going to see one, we are going to have to see it now,” Zimmer explained to Florida Today.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110225/NEWS02/110224024/1007/news02/Father-son-revel-last-minute-drive-watch-shuttle-launch
C. From the Orlando Sentinel: Thousands of onlookers rush to Titusville, clog the roads and waterways around Central Florida’s Atlantic coast to witness Discovery’s lift off.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-color-discovery-launch-20110224,0,5277471.story
D. From Collectspace.com: Discovery’s historic mission includes six astronauts, plus Robonaut 2, an experimental humanoid. Followers of the website discuss the flight. http://www.collectspace.com/flightdayjournal/sts-133/index.html
2. From the Associated Press via the Washington Post: Discovery’s astronauts race toward a rendezvous with the International Space Station on Friday, while they survey their spacecraft for signs of damage from the lift off. The six astronauts are scheduled to dock with the station on Saturday, shortly after 2 p.m., EST.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022500851.html
3. From Space News: By early June, NASA will combine its Space Operations and Explorations directorates into a single organization. The new Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate will oversee shuttle, International Space Station and Commercial Crew and Cargo operations as well as Space Launch System and Multi-purpose Crew Vehicle development. Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA’s current space operations chief, is in line to lead the larger organization. Doug Cooke, the current explorations chief, is in line to be the deputy.
http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110224-nasa-merger-operations-exploration-divisions.html
4. From Spaceflightnow.com: Prior to Discovery’s lift off, the European Space Agency’s Automated Transfer Vehicle Johannes Kepler docked with the International Space Station.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ariane/v200/110224docking/
5. From the Associated Press via Yahoo.com: NASA postpones the Glory climate research mission until March to resolve a countdown issue that stopped the launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. on Wednesday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110224/ap_on_sc/us_sci_glory_satellite
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