STS-121

[GENESIS]

Image above: The Discovery crew at a launch rehearsal at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Photo

The Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew are set for a July 1 flight to the International Space Station. The STS-121 mission will visit the International Space Station and continue evaluating new shuttle safety improvements. At least two spacewalks are planned during the 12-day mission, which also includes repair work to the station.

NASA managers gave the green light after a lengthy Flight Readiness Review held June 16-17, a traditional meeting in which top NASA managers and engineers set launch dates, determine whether the shuttle's complex array of equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight and assess any risks associated with the mission.
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"The ice/frost ramps were one of the most vigorously discussed items," said Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier. This [foam loss], is what we expect to see in flight. So when we get this data down, you should not be surprised."

The ice/frost ramps are structures made of insulation foam that cover 34 brackets on the outside of the shuttle's external fuel tank. The ramps have been cited as a potential source of foam loss, which could cause damage to the shuttle. The Flight Readiness Review board decided the current design does not pose sufficient risk to delay the upcoming mission while design improvements for later flights are under way.

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Image above: The Progress 20 cargo spacecraft is pictured docked to the International Space Station's Russian Pirs docking compartment. The Progress 20 undocked to burn up over the Pacific Ocean on Monday, June 19. Credit: NASA

Flight Engineer Jeff Williams checked out the station’s robotic arm, maneuvering it in position as Expedition 13 awaits the arrival of Space Shuttle Discovery. Williams will support shuttle crewmembers Lisa Nowak and Stephanie Wilson as they work with the station's arm. Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled for launch July 1 at 3:49 p.m. EDT delivering a third crewmember to the station -- European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter.

Williams and station Commander Pavel Vinogradov also configured headsets they will use to communicate as the shuttle performs a backflip, or R-bar pitch maneuver, when it approaches the station. The flight engineer also serviced American spacesuits on the station that will be used for spacewalks during the STS-121 mission.

A new cargo spacecraft, a Russian Progress 22, will launch from Kazakhstan Saturday morning at 11:08 EDT and dock to the station two days later. The Progress 20 cargo ship undocked from the station Monday morning and burned up over the Pacific Ocean.

NASA astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Sunita Williams and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin have been named as the 14th crew of the International Space Station. Expedition 14 is scheduled to begin this fall.

[nikolab]

hvala bogu,
ponovo TROCLANA posada

[GENESIS]

Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749

Tracy Young
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468

   July 17, 2006
RELEASE: 06-280


NASA Welcomes Space Shuttle Crew Back to Earth

The Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew are home after a 13-day, five million-mile journey in space. The mission, STS-121, succeeded in testing shuttle safety improvements, repairing a rail car on the International Space Station and producing never-before-seen, high-resolution images of the shuttle during and after its July 4th launch.

Discovery's Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Mark Kelly and mission specialists Mike Fossum, Piers Sellers, Lisa Nowak and Stephanie Wilson landed Monday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 9:14 a.m. EDT.

Following landing, Lindsey and his crew did the traditional walk around, post-landing inspection of the shuttle. "I have been on four flights, and this is the cleanest vehicle I've ever seen," said Lindsey. "We had two major objectives and we accomplished both of those, and we're ready to assemble the space station."

NASA's Space Shuttle Program managers also were pleased with Discovery's performance. The flight verified the safety of the biggest aerodynamic change to the external fuel tank in shuttle history. The protuberance air load ramps were removed after a piece of foam came off this area during Discovery's flight last year.

STS-121 is the most photographed shuttle mission ever, with more than 100 high definition, digital, video and film cameras documenting the launch and climb to orbit. Data from these images helped assess whether the orbiter sustained any damage and whether that damage posed any risk to Discovery's return to Earth.

The STS-121 mission also bolstered the International Space Station. Fossum and Sellers, with the help of crewmates, completed three spacewalks. The third spacewalk was confirmed after mission managers determined there was enough electrical power to add another day to the flight.

The astronauts tested the shuttle's 50-foot robotic arm boom extension as a work platform. They removed and replaced a cable that provides power, command and data and video connections to the station's mobile transporter rail car. The transporter is used to move a platform containing the station's robotic arm along the truss of the complex. During the third spacewalk, the astronauts tested techniques for inspecting and repairing the reinforced carbon-carbon segments that protect the shuttle's nose cone and leading edge of the wings.

Discovery delivered more than 28,000 pounds of equipment and supplies to the station, as well as a third crew member. European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter joined Russian Pavel Vinogradov and American Jeff Williams. This marks the first time since May 2003 that the station crew has three members.

President George W. Bush called the astronauts to congratulate them on a successful mission and to thank them for their work to further America's Vision for Space Exploration. The vision calls for NASA to return humans to the moon, and then venture to Mars and beyond.

Texas Governor Rick Perry also made a call during the mission to fellow Texas A&M University graduate Fossum.

With Discovery and its crew safely home, the stage is set for the resumption of International Space Station assembly. Preparations continue for Space Shuttle Atlantis' launch targeted for late August/early September for the STS-115 mission to deliver additional truss segments to the station. Atlantis is expected to be moved to the launch pad early next month, and NASA managers plan to meet shortly thereafter to clear the shuttle for its first mission since October 2002.