NASA has really elevated to the standards they really fit in. As the deadline comes closer to complete the ISS, NASA is trying everything they are acquainted with. Firstly, NASA has upgraded its safety measures, as well as its attitude toward the shuttle program’s risks. Though, Colombia disaster gave it a setback at developing its best technology but NASA finally developed an array of new techniques to look for damage in the night time launch and now is confident that a night launch is no added risk. At least 14 more missions are needed to finish the $100 billion outpost and night launches will be the priority for NASA in that case.
While Discovery crewmembers are prepared for their second spacewalk, NASA announced the next crew of the International Space Station on Wednesday.
Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin will command the Expedition 15 crew of cosmonaut Oleg Kotov and NASA astronauts Clay Anderson and Dan Tani. Computer software engineer Charles Simonyi is also set to become the fifth space tourist when he travels to the station with Yurchikhin and Kotov aboard a Soyuz spacecraft in April 2007. Yurchikhin and Soyuz pilot Kotov will replace two members of the Expedition 14 crew, who will return with Simonyi aboard the Soyuz spacecraft. The two cosmonauts will spend six months aboard the station.
German cosmonaut Thomas Reiter of the European Space Agency will be returning to Earth after his own six-month tour of duty finishes at the end of the 11-day Discovery mission. Replacing him will be U.S. astronaut Suni Williams.
Via: CBC
