Discovery launches on its final mission
Posted: Thu, Feb 24, 2011, 9:39 PM ET (0239 GMT)
The space shuttle Discovery lifted off Thursday afternoon on its final scheduled mission, overcoming a last-minute range issue that threatened to scrub the launch. Discovery lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at 4:53 pm EST (2153 GMT) after a nearly flawless countdown. The only major problem was with a computer problem with the range safety system run by the Air Force at Cape Canaveral, which forced the shuttle into an unplanned hold at T-5 minutes. The problem was resolved, though, and the shuttle lifted off in the final seconds of the launch window. Shuttle managers said several pieces of foam came off the shuttle's external tank during its ascent, but not at critical times, so there is no concerns about possible damage to the orbiter's tiles and panels. Discovery is scheduled to dock at the International Space Station at 2:16 pm EST (1916 GMT) Saturday. During Discovery's mission, STS-133, the six-person crew will install a permanent cargo module to the station and also carry out maintenance spacewalks. The launch is the 39th for Discovery, and also the final scheduled mission for the orbiter, with only two other shuttle missions remaining before the program ends.
The space shuttle Discovery lifted off Thursday afternoon on its final scheduled mission, overcoming a last-minute range issue that threatened to scrub the launch. Discovery lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at 4:53 pm EST (2153 GMT) after a nearly flawless countdown. The only major problem was with a computer problem with the range safety system run by the Air Force at Cape Canaveral, which forced the shuttle into an unplanned hold at T-5 minutes. The problem was resolved, though, and the shuttle lifted off in the final seconds of the launch window. Shuttle managers said several pieces of foam came off the shuttle's external tank during its ascent, but not at critical times, so there is no concerns about possible damage to the orbiter's tiles and panels. Discovery is scheduled to dock at the International Space Station at 2:16 pm EST (1916 GMT) Saturday. During Discovery's mission, STS-133, the six-person crew will install a permanent cargo module to the station and also carry out maintenance spacewalks. The launch is the 39th for Discovery, and also the final scheduled mission for the orbiter, with only two other shuttle missions remaining before the program ends.
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