STS-120 Discovery

cIclops · 2007-09-04 07:00:47

From left: Scott E. Parazynski, Douglas H. Wheelock, Stephanie D. Wilson, all mission specialists;
George D. Zamka, pilot; Pamela A. Melroy, commander; Daniel M. Tani, Expedition 16 flight engineer;
and Paolo A. Nespoli, ESA mission specialist

Mission overview

STS-120 is the 23rd shuttle mission to the International Space Station, and will launch an Italian-built U.S. multi-port module for the station.
Air Force Col. Pamela A. Melroy will command the STS-120 mission to take the Node 2 connecting module to the station. Melroy, a veteran shuttle pilot, is the second woman to command a shuttle. Marine Corps Col. George D. Zamka will serve as pilot. The flight's mission specialists will be Scott E. Parazynski, Army Col. Douglas H. Wheelock, Stephanie D. Wilson and Paolo A. Nespoli, a European Space Agency astronaut from Italy. Zamka, Wheelock and Nespoli will be making their first spaceflight.
Expedition 15/16 Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson will return to Earth from the space station aboard shuttle mission STS-120. That flight will carry his replacement, Daniel Tani, to the station. Tani will return on shuttle mission STS-122.

cIclops · 2007-09-07 11:40:05

ET attached to the SRBs inside the VAB at KSC - imaged 5 Sep 2007

Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians on Wednesday attached the external tank to the twin solid rocket boosters in preparation for the launch of mission STS-120, targeted for Oct. 23.
In the nearby Orbiter Processing Facility, preparations of Discovery continue, and its payload bay doors have been closed in advance of the orbiter's move to the giant assembly building. The main payload for the mission, the U.S. Harmony Node 2 module for the International Space Station, will be loaded inside Discovery at the launch pad.

Higher resolution image and details

cIclops · 2007-09-11 08:21:40

Video of ET mating with its SRBs inside the VAB (6:39 mins)

cIclops · 2007-09-14 21:58:00

Space multimedia have captured the NASA TV briefings from 14 Sep 2007 covering this complex mission:

Space Shuttle and Space Station Program Overview Briefing

Mission Overview Briefing

cIclops · 2007-09-20 02:46:30

Working on the starboard landing gear - imaged 19 Sep 2007

Technicians with United Space Alliance and B.F. Goodrich have changed four seals on space shuttle Discovery's right main-gear strut. The struts act as shock absorbers during the shuttle's landing. The strut began leaking hydraulic fluid last week during preparations for Discovery’s move from its processing hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
The next step in the process is a round of testing on the landing gear. Shuttle managers will review the repair results Thursday morning and finalize testing plans, which will help determine when Discovery will be ready to move to the Vehicle Assembly Building There it will be attached to its external fuel tank and two solid rocket boosters for its upcoming mission, STS-120, to the International Space Station.

cIclops · 2007-09-24 13:03:15

Ready for mating with the SRBs and ET - imaged 23 Sep 2007

cIclops · 2007-09-25 07:47:37

Inside the VAB positioned next to SRB/ET stack - imaged 24 Sep 2007

cIclops · 2007-09-30 14:25:33

Arrived today at pad 39A - imaged 30 Sep 2007

cIclops · 2007-10-11 03:59:51

Mission Specialist Paolo Nespoli inspecting the Harmony module inside the payload bay - imaged 9 Oct 2007

The STS-120 astronauts capped off three days of exercises and training at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida by boarding space shuttle Discovery for a simulated countdown Wednesday morning. After the rehearsal concluded, the crew members flew back to their home base in Houston to complete their final preparations for the targeted launch of Discovery on Oct. 23.

SpaceNut · 2007-10-11 10:24:37

Yesterday Discovery's seven astronauts climbed aboard the shuttle at the launch pad for a practice countdown for a scheduled lift off Oct. 23 . But this was with an unknown still being explored as to wheather they would launch with it or not as the outer coating on three of the wing panels shows degradation.

NASA studies problem with shuttle wings

The question of go no go I think lays with if nasa can get replacements panels...

cIclops · 2007-10-13 11:36:21

Cargo bay with the 14 t Harmony node and ODS ready to go - imaged 9 Oct 2007

cIclops · 2007-10-17 06:08:50

"Go" for Space Shuttle Launch on Oct. 23 - 16 Oct 2007

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA senior managers Tuesday completed a detailed review of space shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight and selected Oct. 23 as the official launch date. Commander Pam Melroy and her six crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 11:38 a.m. EDT on the STS-120 mission to the International Space Station.
Tuesday's meeting included a discussion about concerns raised by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center regarding the reinforced carbon carbon on three of Discovery's wing leading edge panels. This issue initially was brought before the Space Shuttle Program during a two-day, preliminary review held last week to assess preparations for Discovery's mission.
"After a thorough discussion and review of all current engineering analysis, we have determined that Discovery's panels do not need to be replaced before the mission," said Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier, who chaired Tuesday's meeting.

Press kit (PDF 9 MB)

cIclops · 2007-10-23 05:54:38

Snapshot of the crew on their way to the launch pad - 23 Oct 2007

cIclops · 2007-10-23 09:41:51

Launch snapshot - go Discovery

EuroLauncher · 2007-10-23 12:06:27

Great launch, it looked great and looks like they understood how to fix that ice buildup problem. They have a lot of work ahead with Harmony node 2 and solar wings on the station, a number of EVAs are timetabled for the next few days I hope it all goes well and they return home safe.

SpaceNut · 2007-10-23 20:47:02

Yes a great launch and safely to orbit even with lingering questions...

Space Shuttle Integration; Lessons Learned

cIclops · 2007-10-25 02:38:15

Launch video in HD

cIclops · 2007-10-31 06:23:47

Mission extended one day - 29 Oct 2007

Under the revised schedule, Discovery would undock from the space station early Nov. 5 for a landing back at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, Nov. 7. The latest projections show a deorbit rocket firing at 4:09 a.m. EST on Nov. 7 with landing expected around 5:11 a.m.

cIclops · 2007-11-07 12:09:18

Discovery touches down safely after a successful dramatic mission - 7 Nov 2007

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#1 2007-09-04 07:00:47

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#2 2007-09-07 11:40:05

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#3 2007-09-11 08:21:40

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#4 2007-09-14 21:58:00

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#5 2007-09-20 02:46:30

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#6 2007-09-24 13:03:15

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#7 2007-09-25 07:47:37

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#8 2007-09-30 14:25:33

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#9 2007-10-11 03:59:51

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#10 2007-10-11 10:24:37

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#11 2007-10-13 11:36:21

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#12 2007-10-17 06:08:50

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#13 2007-10-23 05:54:38

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#14 2007-10-23 09:41:51

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#15 2007-10-23 12:06:27

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#16 2007-10-23 20:47:02

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#17 2007-10-25 02:38:15

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#18 2007-10-31 06:23:47

Re: STS-120 Discovery

#19 2007-11-07 12:09:18

Re: STS-120 Discovery

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