Once again, the shuttle Discovery will blast into space and once again, it will dock with the International Space Station. And it all comes to continue the process of building the half-completed orbiting laboratory in a mission full of nerve-racking challenges.
The nerve-racking challenges start several days after space shuttle Discovery arrives at the international space station, with some of the lights will go out, some communications with the Mission Control will stop, and the backup power will be lost. That may sound scary for the astronauts orbiting 220 miles above Earth, but they’ll be ready for it. The space lab’s being rewired.
Parts of the U.S. section of the space station will be powered down during Discovery’s visit as spacewalking astronauts reconnect the space lab’s electrical system from a temporary to a permanent power source.
This has to be done because it’s important for the future of the space program and science. Today’s space system is a crucial element of building tomorrow’s. But, this has to be done pretty quick as along with tight budgets, NASA faces an even tighter deadline, completing the station by 2010, when the agency is also planning to retire the shuttle fleet.
Maintaining the station and its equipment is a continuing challenge. Maintaining astronauts’ health is even greater one. These scientific missions are just first steps towards keeping astronauts healthy on long missions to the Moon and Mars.
Via:Redorbit
