Shuttle cleared for May 31 launch
Posted: Tue, May 20, 2008, 7:02 AM ET (1102 GMT)
NASA shuttle managers approved plans Monday to launch the space shuttle Discovery on a mission to the International Space Station at the end of this month despite continuing concerns about the safety of the station's Soyuz spacecraft. Discovery is scheduled to launch on mission STS-124 at 5:02 pm EDT (2102 GMT) on May 31. The primary purpose of the mission is to install the main elements of the Japanese lab module Kibo to the station. In addition, the mission will replace ISS crew member Garrett Reisman with Gregory Chamitoff. NASA had considered either delaying the mission or not bringing Reisman to the station until Russia better understands why the last two Soyuz missions have ended in ballistic reentries, but elected to go forward since Chamitoff would only use Soyuz in the event of an emergency evacuation.
NASA shuttle managers approved plans Monday to launch the space shuttle Discovery on a mission to the International Space Station at the end of this month despite continuing concerns about the safety of the station's Soyuz spacecraft. Discovery is scheduled to launch on mission STS-124 at 5:02 pm EDT (2102 GMT) on May 31. The primary purpose of the mission is to install the main elements of the Japanese lab module Kibo to the station. In addition, the mission will replace ISS crew member Garrett Reisman with Gregory Chamitoff. NASA had considered either delaying the mission or not bringing Reisman to the station until Russia better understands why the last two Soyuz missions have ended in ballistic reentries, but elected to go forward since Chamitoff would only use Soyuz in the event of an emergency evacuation.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX performs two Falcon 9 launches less than an hour apart
Posted: Sun, Aug 16 10:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) Virgin Galactic delays resumption of commercial flights to 2027
Posted: Sun, Aug 16 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, August 17
Ukrainian Flamingo Missiles Reportedly Hit Russia’s Progress Space-Rocket Centre in Samara
EU Today — 4:53 am ET (0853 GMT) Flamingo may have hit Russia's space program at its weakest link
RBC — 4:52 am ET (0852 GMT) MDA Space Satellites for Globalstar Successfully Launched
MDA — 4:51 am ET (0851 GMT) Rocket Lab Satellite Platforms Built for MDA Space Successfully Reach Orbit, Supporting Globalstar Direct-to-Device Communications Services
Rocket Lab — 4:50 am ET (0850 GMT) WA names Space Angel as recipient of spaceport establishment grant
Space and Defense — 4:44 am ET (0844 GMT) |
