NASA Gives 'Go' for Space Shuttle Launch on May 31
- From: baalke@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 17:34:32 -0700 (PDT)
May 19, 2008
Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-3749
katherine.trinidad@xxxxxxxx
Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@xxxxxxxx
RELEASE: 08-130
NASA GIVES 'GO' FOR SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH ON MAY 31
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA senior managers completed a review
Monday
of space shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight and selected May 31
as the official launch date for the STS-124 mission. Commander Mark
Kelly and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off to the
International Space Station at 5:02 p.m. EDT.
Discovery's 14-day flight will carry the largest payload so far to
the
station and includes three spacewalks. It is the second of three
missions that will launch components to complete the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. The crew will install Kibo's
large Japanese Pressurized Module and Kibo's robotic arm system.
Discovery also will deliver new station crew member Greg Chamitoff
and bring back Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman, who will end a
three-month stay aboard the outpost.
Discovery's launch date was announced after the conclusion of
Monday's
Flight Readiness Review. During the meeting, top NASA and contractor
managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and
determined the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures
are ready for flight.
Commander Kelly will be joined on STS-124 by Pilot Ken Ham and
Mission
Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Chamitoff and
Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide. For more information about the
STS-124 mission, including images and interviews with the crew,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
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