After delays, Discovery begins mission to rewire International space station. Low clouds forced the space agency to scrub a launch attempt Thursday night during a countdown that ran down to the wire. Managers decided not to try again Friday because the forecast looked even worse. But, a cloudy sky with blustery winds gave way to clear skies and a gentle breeze at launch time.
NASA’s hope to launch its third mission in six months and get a jump on the looming deadline to finish International Space Station assembly before the shuttle fleet is retired in 2010 was fulfilled late Saturday. The shuttle’s fiery ascent turned night into day for spectators at the Kennedy Space Center. After Discovery’s mission, 13 more shuttle flights are needed to complete the space lab.
During their 12-day mission, Discovery’s crew will rewire the space station, deliver an $11 million addition to the space lab and bring home one of the space station’s three crewmembers, German astronaut Thomas Reiter of the European Space Agency. American astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams will replace him, staying for six months.
The new about the Discovery’s crew is the greenest in eight years when it comes to spaceflight experience. Five astronauts have never flown in a shuttle before. It also is among the most culturally diverse of any shuttle crew. Therefore, this is an example of how we coexist in the future. this implies ISS being an international project are doing a lot for the progress of humanity. This is the first step towards living as one unified entity, and doing everything so that all the people on Earth will live well.
Via:MSNBC
