STS-133 press releases

[jacqmans]

Space Shuttle's Final Flight Tank Spliced Together

Date(s): 3/2/2010 7:35:00 PM


NEW ORLEANS, LA., March 2nd, 2010 -- The Space Shuttle Program's final flight tank designated External Tank-138 has completed a critical production milestone at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) builds the External Tanks in New Orleans where its engineers and technicians mechanically spliced ET-138s liquid oxygen (LO2)/intertank to the liquid hydrogen (LH2) tank, thus producing a whole tank for the first time in the production process.

The work is performed in Cell A in the 20-story-tall Vertical Assembly Building, and is the only time during production that the tank is standing upright. Workers also completed foam closeouts on the LH2 to intertank flange.

An External Tank is actually three components in one. The 54.6-foot-tall bullet-shaped LO2 tank sits at the top. The 22.5-foot-long intertank separates the LO2 tank and the LH2 tank and does not hold fuel. Unpressurized, the intertank serves as the forward attachment point for the Solid Rocket Boosters. The bottom vessel is the 96.7-foot-tall LH2 tank. The LO2 tank and intertank are already spliced together when they enter Cell A.

Lockheed Martin employees loaded the tanks into the cell and completed the splicing and laydown of the tank in a record 40 days. The prior eight tanks averaged 60 days in Cell A.

ET-138 now proceeds to the Final Assembly area for more processing and is scheduled for completion June 29. When ET-138 is delivered to NASA, it will be 15 stories tall (154 feet), nearly 28 feet in diameter, and weigh 58,500 pounds empty. When filled with 534,000 gallons of propellant on the launch pad, the tank will weigh nearly 1.7 million pounds. ET-138 is scheduled to launch with Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-133) on September 16 -- the final shuttle launch of the 29-year program. ET-138 will help propel Discovery to orbit and then separate from the shuttle 8½ minutes post-launch after Main Engine Cut-off or MECO.

ET-138 will be the 134th flight tank that Lockheed Martin has constructed for the shuttle program. To see high-res and low-res photos of the tanks laydown from Cell A, go tohttp://www.lockheedmartin.com/ssc/michoud/MichoudImages/ET138.html

Besides building the ET in New Orleans, Lockheed Martin is also working on the successor to the Space Shuttle, the Orion crew exploration vehicle. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.


Media Contact:
Harry Wadsworth, 504-257-0094, 504-872-7688

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-086

NASA TO LAUNCH HUMAN-LIKE ROBOT TO JOIN SPACE STATION CREW

WASHINGTON -- NASA will launch the first human-like robot to space
later this year to become a permanent resident of the International
Space Station. Robonaut 2, or R2, was developed jointly by NASA and
General Motors under a cooperative agreement to develop a robotic
assistant that can work alongside humans, whether they are astronauts
in space or workers at GM manufacturing plants on Earth.

The 300-pound R2 consists of a head and a torso with two arms and two
hands. R2 will launch on space shuttle Discovery as part of the
STS-133 mission planned for September. Once aboard the station,
engineers will monitor how the robot operates in weightlessness.
Throughout its first decade in orbit, the space station has served as
a test bed for human and robotic teamwork for construction,
maintenance and science.

R2 will be confined to operations in the station's Destiny laboratory.
However, future enhancements and modifications may allow it to move
more freely around the station's interior or outside the complex.

"This project exemplifies the promise that a future generation of
robots can have both in space and on Earth, not as replacements for
humans but as companions that can carry out key supporting roles,"
said John Olson, director of NASA's Exploration Systems Integration
Office at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "The combined potential of
humans and robots is a perfect example of the sum equaling more than
the parts. It will allow us to go farther and achieve more than we
can probably even imagine today."

The dexterous robot not only looks like a human but also is designed
to work like one. With human-like hands and arms, R2 is able to use
the same tools station crew members use. In the future, the greatest
benefits of humanoid robots in space may be as assistants or stand-in
for astronauts during spacewalks or for tasks too difficult or
dangerous for humans. For now, R2 is still a prototype and does not
have adequate protection needed to exist outside the space station in
the extreme temperatures of space.

Testing the robot inside the station will provide an important
intermediate environment. R2 will be tested in microgravity and
subjected to the station's radiation and electromagnetic interference
environments. The interior operations will provide performance data
about how a robot may work side-by-side with astronauts. As
development activities progress on the ground, station crews may be
provided hardware and software to update R2 to enable it to do new
tasks.

R2 is undergoing extensive testing in preparation for its flight.
Vibration, vacuum and radiation testing along with other procedures
being conducted on R2 also benefit the team at GM. The automaker
plans to use technologies from R2 in future advanced vehicle safety
systems and manufacturing plant applications.

"The extreme levels of testing R2 has undergone as it prepares to
venture to the International Space Station are on par with the
validation our vehicles and components go through on the path to
production," said Alan Taub, vice president of GM's global research
and development. "The work done by GM and NASA engineers also will
help us validate manufacturing technologies that will improve the
health and safety of our GM team members at our manufacturing plants
throughout the world. Partnerships between organizations such as GM
and NASA help ensure space exploration, road travel and manufacturing
can become even safer in the future."

For more information about Robonaut 2, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/robonaut.html


For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-157

NASA UPDATES SHUTTLE TARGET LAUNCH DATES FOR FINAL TWO FLIGHTS

WASHINGTON -- NASA is targeting approximately 4:33 p.m. EDT on Nov. 1
for the launch of space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission and 4:19
p.m. EST on Feb. 26, 2011, for the liftoff of shuttle Endeavour's
STS-134 flight from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The target dates were adjusted because critical payload hardware for
STS-133 will not be ready in time to support the previously planned
Sept. 16 launch. With STS-133 moving to November, STS-134 cannot fly
as planned, so the next available launch window is in February 2011.

NASA will schedule the official launch date for each mission following
the agency's Flight Readiness Reviews, which typically occur about
two weeks prior to launches. All target launch dates are subject to
change.

For more information about the shuttle missions and their crews,
visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


The shuttle launch manifest is available at:


http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html 


-end-

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-183

NASA'S FIRST ROBOTIC CREW MEMBER TO TWEET FROM SPACE STATION, AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS



HOUSTON -- NASA's Robonaut 2 has no voice but is ready to tell you its
story -- in 140 characters or less. The prototype robot will travel
to space this fall to give NASA a deeper understanding of
human-robotic interaction.

Called R2, the robot has started sending updates about its upcoming
mission from its new Twitter account, @AstroRobonaut. With the help
of its supporting team, R2 will document its preparations for launch
and, eventually, its work aboard the International Space Station.

"Hello World! My name is Robonaut 2 -- R2 for short," R2 and the team
tweeted this week. "Follow my adventures here as I prepare for
space!"

Follow R2's updates on Twitter at:

http://www.twitter.com/AstroRobonaut


Reporters are invited to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston at 1
p.m. CDT on Aug. 4 to see demonstrations of R2 in action. They can
speak with members of the STS-133 space shuttle crew, who will
deliver the robot to the station, and engineers who created R2.
Interested news media representatives should e-mail Brandi Dean at
[email protected] by noon on Aug. 3.

The public will get the first chance to interview the robot when R2
and its team answer questions submitted via Twitter at 10 a.m. on
Aug. 4. Twitter followers can submit their questions to R2 in real
time by including the hashtag #4R2 in their questions tweeted to
@AstroRobonaut.

R2 will be shipped next month from Johnson, where it was created, to
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for final testing and packing.
It will launch aboard space shuttle Discovery as part of the STS-133
mission, targeted to lift off in November.

Robonaut 2 was created through a joint project between NASA and
General Motors that began in 2007. R2 originally was intended to be
an Earth-bound prototype, but engineers wanted to see how it fared in
microgravity so the robot is being sent to space in Discovery's cargo
bay.

R2 is already the most advanced dexterous humanoid robot in existence.
Once in space, it will become the first humanoid robot to reach orbit
and the first American-built robot at the space station. Over time,
as its creators learn more about operating R2 in space, upgrades and
modifications could be made that would allow the robot to assist
astronauts inside and outside of the station with routine tasks or
those too dangerous for humans.

For more information about Robonaut 2, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/robonaut


For more information about the STS-133 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133


For more information about the space station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station


Robonaut is just one of many NASA missions using Twitter and other
social media sites. Find them all at:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-109

NASA INVITES MEDIA TO VIEW SPACE STATION CARGO FOR STS-133 MISSION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will
host a media event at 1 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Aug. 12, to highlight
the next hardware that will fly to the International Space Station.
The permanent multi-purpose module, or PMM, will fly aboard space
shuttle Discovery on its STS-133 mission, targeted to launch on Nov.
1.

During the event, reporters at Kennedy's Space Station Processing
Facility will have the opportunity to speak with mission managers and
team members involved in processing the elements for flight. Media
planning to attend must arrive at Kennedy's news center by 12 p.m.
for transportation to the event. Participants must be dressed in
full-length pants, flat shoes that entirely cover the feet and shirts
with sleeves.

Reporters without permanent Kennedy credentials should submit their
requests online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Foreign journalists must apply for credentials by 4:30 p.m., Aug. 4,
and U.S. reporters must apply by noon on Aug. 11.

The module will carry a variety of spare parts and supplies to the
station as well as Robonaut 2, or R2. The module will be left on the
station and will be used for microgravity experiments in fluid
physics, materials science, biology and biotechnology. R2, a humanoid
robot created through a joint project between NASA and General
Motors, was originally intended to be an Earth-bound prototype. But
engineers wanted to see how it fared in microgravity, so the robot is
being sent to space in Discovery's cargo bay.

R2 will be shipped from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to
Kennedy on Aug. 8 to begin processing for flight.

For more information about the STS-133 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133

For more information about R2, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/robonaut

For more information about the space station, its research and crews,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-187

NASA ANNOUNCES TWEETUP FOR NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH

WASHINGTON -- NASA will give 150 of its Twitter followers an insider's
look at the nation's space program and the opportunity to view a
space shuttle launch in person. The third shuttle launch Tweetup,
scheduled Oct. 31 through Nov. 1, will be held at NASA's Kennedy
Space Center in Florida.

Attendees will tour the center, view the shuttle launch and speak with
NASA managers, astronauts, shuttle technicians and engineers. NASA
randomly will select 150 participants from online registrations.
Shuttle Discovery is targeted to lift off from Kennedy on its mission
to the International Space Station at 4:40 p.m. EDT on Nov. 1.

"With only two scheduled shuttle flights remaining, we want new
audiences to experience the excitement of a launch," said Stephanie
Schierholz, social media manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
"Our guests at the Tweetup then can share the experience with their
followers around the world."

Registration opens at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and closes at noon on
Wednesday, Aug. 25. For more information about the Tweetup and to
sign up, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/tweetup


Find all the ways to connect and collaborate with NASA at:


http://www.nasa.gov/connect


For more information about space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission,
visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle   


-end-

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-193

NASA ASKS PUBLIC FOR FINAL SHUTTLE MISSIONS' WAKEUP SONGS

HOUSTON -- If you like music, the space program and are a little
nostalgic, NASA has the perfect opportunity for you. For the first
time, the public can help choose songs to wake up the astronauts
during the last two scheduled space shuttle missions.

Traditionally, the songs played to wake up the astronauts are selected
by friends and family of the crews. For the last two scheduled
missions, NASA is inviting the public to visit the "Wakeup Song
Contest" website to select songs from a list of the top 40 previous
wakeup calls or to submit original tunes for consideration. To vote
or submit a song, visit:

https://songcontest.nasa.gov

The two songs with the most votes from the top 40 list will be played
as crew wakeup calls on the final scheduled flight of space shuttle
Discovery. Discovery's STS-133 mission is targeted to launch on Nov.
1.

"We're looking forward to hearing which songs the public wants played
for us," STS-133 Commander Steve Lindsey said. "It's going to be a
difficult choice, because there have been so many great songs played
over the years."

Original songs must have a space theme and be submitted to NASA by 4
p.m. CST on Jan. 10, 2011. The songs will be reviewed by agency
officials and the top finalists put to a public vote. The top two
songs will be used to wake space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 crew.
Endeavour's mission is the last scheduled space shuttle flight. It is
targeted to launch on Feb. 26, 2011.

"Space shuttle crews really enjoy the morning wake-up music," STS-134
Commander Mark Kelly said. "While we don't have the best quality
speaker in the space shuttle, it will be interesting to hear what the
public comes up with. We are looking forward to it."

The song contest campaign follows NASA's ongoing "Face in Space"
project. It invites the public to send electronic images of their
faces into orbit aboard one of the final remaining space shuttle
missions. To submit your image, visit:

http://faceinspace.nasa.gov


For more information about the Space Shuttle Program and the STS-133
and STS-134 missions to the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-121

NASA SETS MEDIA DEADLINES FOR NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT

WASHINGTON -- NASA has set media accreditation deadlines for the
November space shuttle flight to the International Space Station.
Shuttle Discovery and six astronauts are targeted to launch on the
STS-133 mission on Nov. 1 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida.

Deadlines also have been set for journalists who want to cover the
shuttle's move from its processing facility to the launch pad and
practice countdown. Reporters must apply for credentials to attend
the launch or cover the mission from other NASA centers. To be
accredited, reporters must work for verifiable news-gathering
organizations. No substitutions of credentials are allowed at any
NASA facility.

The 11-day mission will be the 35th flight to the station and the 39th
and final scheduled flight for Discovery. The mission will deliver
and install the Permanent Multipurpose Module, the Express Logistics
Carrier 4, an external platform that holds large equipment, and
critical spare components for the station. Discovery also will
deliver Robonaut 2, or R2, to become a permanent resident of the
station as the first human-like robot in space.

NASA's Office of Protective Services recently made changes to the
policy for foreign national processing. All journalists who are
lawful permanent residents, have dual or multiple U.S. citizenship,
or are U.S. citizens representing international media outlets will
have their credential applications processed in the same way as U.S.
citizens who represent domestic media.

Additional time may be required to process accreditation requests by
journalists from certain designated countries. Designated countries
include those with which the United States has no diplomatic
relations, countries on the State Department's list of state sponsors
of terrorism, those under U.S. sanction or embargo, and countries
associated with proliferation concerns.

Contact the accrediting NASA center for details. Journalists should
confirm they have been accredited before traveling.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

Reporters applying for credentials at Kennedy should submit requests
via the Web at:



https://media.ksc.nasa.gov


Reporters must use work e-mail addresses, not personal accounts, when
applying. After accreditation is approved, applicants will receive
confirmation via e-mail.

Accredited media representatives with mission badges will have access
to Kennedy from launch through the end of the mission. The
application deadline for mission badges is Oct. 20 for all reporters
requesting credentials.

Discovery's move from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch
Pad 39A, planned for Sept. 21, follows its rollover from Orbiter
Processing Facility-3 to the VAB, which is targeted for Sept. 8. To
attend rollout, international journalists must apply by 5 p.m. EDT
Sept. 13 to allow time for processing, and U.S. media representatives
must apply by Sept. 17.

The practice countdown, known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration
Test, and related training are scheduled for Oct. 12-15. To cover the
activities, international journalists must apply by 5 p.m. Oct. 1,
and U.S. media representatives must apply by Oct. 7.
Reporters with special logistic requests for Kennedy, such as space
for satellite trucks, trailers, electrical connections or work space,
must contact Laurel Lichtenberger by Oct. 20 at:



[email protected]


Wireless Internet access is not provided at Kennedy's news center.
Work space in the news center and the news center annex is provided
on a first-come basis, limited to one space per organization. To set
up temporary telephone, fax, ISDN or network lines, media
representatives must make arrangements with BellSouth at
800-213-4988. Reporters must have an assigned seat in the Kennedy
newsroom prior to setting up lines. To obtain an assigned seat,
contact Patricia Christian at:



[email protected]


Journalists must have a public affairs escort to all other areas of
Kennedy except the Launch Complex 39 cafeteria.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
Reporters may obtain credentials for NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston by calling the center's newsroom at 281-483-5111 or by
presenting STS-133 mission credentials from Kennedy. Media
representatives planning to cover the mission only from Johnson need
to apply for credentials only at the center. The application deadline
for mission badges is Oct. 18 for all reporters requesting
credentials.
Journalists covering the mission from Johnson using Kennedy
credentials must contact the center's newsroom by Oct. 18 to arrange
workspace, phone lines and other logistics. Johnson is responsible
for credentialing media if the shuttle lands at NASA's White Sands
Space Harbor, N.M. If a landing is imminent at White Sands, Johnson
will arrange credentials.

DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER

Notice for a shuttle landing at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center
in Edwards Air Force Base in California could be short. Domestic
media outlets should consider accrediting Los Angeles-based personnel
who could travel quickly to Dryden.

Deadlines for submitting Dryden accreditation requests are Oct. 4 for
non-U.S. media, regardless of citizenship, and Nov. 8 for U.S. media
who are U.S. citizens or who have permanent residency status.

For Dryden media credentials, U.S. citizens representing domestic
media outlets must provide their full name, date of birth, place of
birth, media organization, driver's license number with the name of
the issuing state, and the last six digits of their social security
number.
In addition to the above requirements, foreign media representatives,
regardless of citizenship, must provide data including their
citizenship, visa or passport number and its expiration date. Foreign
nationals representing either domestic or foreign media who have
permanent residency status must provide their alien registration
number and expiration date.

Journalists should e-mail requests to:



[email protected]


Requests must include a phone number and business e-mail address for
follow-up contact. Journalists who previously requested credentials
for this mission will not need to do so again.

NASA PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS:

Kennedy Space Center: Allard Beutel, 321-867-2468,
[email protected]

Johnson Space Center: James Hartsfield, 281-483-5111,
[email protected]

Dryden Flight Research Center: Leslie Williams, 661-276-3893,
[email protected]

For information about the International Space Station, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/station


For information about the STS-133 mission, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


-end-

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-129

NASA'S SHUTTLE DISCOVERY TO MAKE ITS FINAL TRIP TO LAUNCH PAD

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Journalists are invited to cover space shuttle
Discovery's last move from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to
Launch Pad 39A on Sept. 20 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Six astronauts are set to launch aboard the shuttle on Nov. 1. The

STS-133 mission to the International Space Station is the final
scheduled flight for Discovery before it is retired.

Live coverage of Discovery's rollout will air on NASA Television
beginning at 8 p.m. EDT. NASA TV's Video File will broadcast
highlights of the move.

Discovery's first motion out of the VAB to the pad is scheduled for 8
p.m. The shuttle's 3.4- mile journey atop a giant crawler-transporter
is expected to take approximately six hours. Activities include an 8
p.m. photo opportunity of the move followed by an interview
availability at 8:30 p.m. with Discovery Flow Director Stephanie
Stilson. Media must arrive at Kennedy's news center by 7:30 p.m. for
the rollout photo opportunity.

There also will be a sunrise photo opportunity at the launch pad on
Sept. 21, following Discovery's arrival. Reporters need to be at the
news center for transportation to the viewing area by 6 a.m. Updates
for events are available at 321-867-2525.

To attend rollout and the sunrise pad photo opportunity, international
journalists must apply by 5 p.m. Sept. 13 to allow time for
processing their requests. U.S. media representatives must apply by
Sept. 17. Reporters requesting accreditation must apply online at:



https://media.ksc.nasa.gov


Badges for rollout may be picked up starting at 6 a.m., Sept. 20, at
the Kennedy Space Center Badging Office on State Road 405.

The 11-day mission will be the 35th flight to the station and the 39th
flight for Discovery. The mission will deliver and install the
Permanent Multipurpose Module, the Express Logistics Carrier 4 - an
external platform that holds large equipment - and critical spare
components for the space station. Discovery also will deliver
Robonaut 2, or R2, to become a permanent resident of the station as
the first human-like robot in space.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information about the STS-133 mission and crew, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-131

NASA OFFERS SATELLITE INTERVIEWS INSIDE NEW SPACE STATION MODULE; THE MODULE WILL CARRY A HUMAN-LIKE ROBOT TO ORBIT IN NOVEMBER

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA is offering live satellite interviews on
Thursday, Sept. 16, from inside the next component of the
International Space Station. The Permanent Multipurpose Module, or
PMM, will launch in November aboard space shuttle Discovery.

Scott Higginbotham, payloads manager for Discovery's STS-133 mission,
will conduct the interviews from the Space Station Processing
Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. To maintain a
pristine environment inside the PMM, Higginbotham will be dressed in
protective blue clothing, known as a "bunny suit," that prevents even
the smallest dust particles from causing contamination.

Interview slots are available from 6 - 9 a.m. EDT. To schedule
interviews, media should contact Alysia Lee at 321-861-3530 or
[email protected]  by noon on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

The PMM will carry a variety of spare parts and supplies, as well as
Robonaut 2, or R2, the first human-like robot in space. The PMM can
support experiments in fluid physics, materials science, biology,
biotechnology and other microgravity experiments. A prepackaged video
of Higginbotham providing a tour of the PMM and video b-roll of the
PMM's interior will air on NASA TV Sept. 16 from 5:30 - 6 a.m., and
between interviews when possible.

Higginbotham has worked for NASA since 1987, beginning his career in
the Space Shuttle Program as a mechanical systems engineer for the
external fuel tank. He currently is a mission manager in the
International Space Station and Spacecraft Processing Directorate
responsible for leading teams of engineers and technicians that
assemble and test experiments, satellites, and station components to
fly aboard the shuttle.

The NASA Television Live Interview Media Outlet channel will be used
for the interviews. The channel is a digital satellite C-band
downlink by uplink provider Americom. It is on satellite AMC 3,
transponder 9C, located at 87 degrees west, downlink frequency 3865.5
Mhz based on a standard C-band, horizontal downlink polarity. FEC is
3/4, data rate is 6.0 Mbps, symbol rate is 4.3404 Msps, transmission
DVB-S, 4:2:0.

The interviews also will air live on NASA TV. For streaming video,
downlink and scheduling information, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


To view a podcast about the module, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/pmm.html


For more information about the STS-133 mission and its crew, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


-end-

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-133

NASA'S SHUTTLE DISCOVERY AT LAUNCH PAD, LIFTOFF PRACTICE SET

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- After safely reaching its launch pad at NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery awaits the
next major milestone for its upcoming and final mission to the
International Space Station, STS-133.

Reporters are invited to cover a launch dress rehearsal, known as the
Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT), scheduled at Kennedy
from Oct. 12 to 15. Six astronauts are set to launch aboard Discovery
on Nov. 1 for the final scheduled flight before the orbiter is
retired.

To attend TCDT, international journalists must apply by 5 p.m. EDT on
Oct. 1 to allow time for processing. U.S. media representatives must
apply by Oct. 7.

Reporters requesting accreditation must apply online at:


https://media.ksc.nasa.gov


Discovery arrived at the pad early Tuesday morning on top of a giant
crawler-transporter. The crawler-transporter left Kennedy's Vehicle
Assembly Building at about 7:23 p.m. Monday and travelled less than 1
mph during the 3.4-mile journey. The shuttle was secured on the
launch pad at 1:49 a.m. Tuesday.

The TCDT will provide Discovery's astronauts and ground crews with an
opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities,
including equipment familiarization and emergency training.

The following media events are associated with the test. All times are
Eastern.

-- Oct. 12: STS-133 crew arrival: The astronauts will arrive at
approximately 5 p.m. at the Shuttle Landing Facility and make a
statement. The arrival will be broadcast live on NASA Television.
-- Oct. 14: STS-133 crew media availability: The crew will take media
questions at Launch Pad 39A at 8:40 a.m. The session will be carried
live on NASA TV.
-- Oct. 15: STS-133 crew walkout photo opportunity: The astronauts
will depart from the Operations and Checkout Building at 7:45 a.m. in
their launch entry suits in preparation for the countdown
demonstration test at the launch pad. The walkout will not be
broadcast live, but will be part of the NASA TV Video File.

Updates for all events are available at: 321-867-2525.

To attend crew arrival, reporters must pick up badges between 6 a.m.
and 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Kennedy Space Center Badging
Office on State Road 405. For information about covering these
events, including proper attire and meeting locations, credentialed
media should visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/media.html


The 11-day mission will be the 35th flight to the station and the 39th
flight for Discovery. The mission will deliver and install the
Permanent Multipurpose Module, the Express Logistics Carrier 4, an
external platform that holds large equipment, and critical spare
components for the space station. Discovery also will deliver
Robonaut 2, or R2, to become a permanent resident of the station as
the first human-like robot in space.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information about the STS-133 mission and crew, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle 

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-137

NASA TO PREVIEW FINAL FLIGHT OF SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY

HOUSTON -- NASA will preview the next space shuttle mission, the final
flight of shuttle Discovery and the next to last scheduled shuttle
flight, during a series of news briefings Thursday, Oct. 21, at the
agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA Television and the
agency's website will broadcast the briefings live. Reporters will be
able to ask questions from participating NASA locations.

Discovery is targeted to launch Nov. 1 on the 11-day STS-133 mission
to the International Space Station. The shuttle will deliver the
Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM), which was converted from the
multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo. The PMM will provide
additional storage for the station crew, and experiments may be
conducted inside it. Discovery also will carry critical spare
components and the Express Logistics Carrier 4, an external platform
that holds large equipment that can only be transported using the
unique capability of the shuttle. Robonaut 2, or R2, will be the
first human-like robot in space when it flies on Discovery inside the
PMM to become a permanent resident of the station.

Astronaut Steve Lindsey will command Discovery. Eric Boe is the pilot.
They will be joined by Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Tim Kopra,
Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott. Kopra and Drew are scheduled to
perform two spacewalks to do maintenance work and install new
components.

The schedule of briefings is (all times CDT):
8 a.m. -- Program Overview
9:30 a.m. -- STS-133 Mission Overview
12 p.m. -- STS-133 Spacewalk Overview
1 p.m. - Robonaut 2 Briefing
2 p.m. -- STS-133 Crew News Conference

The crew will be available for interviews at Johnson by phone or in
person after the briefings. Reporters must contact Gayle Frere at
281-483-8645 by 5 p.m. on Oct. 18 to reserve an interview
opportunity. Reporters planning to attend the briefings or interviews
in Houston must contact the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 by 5
p.m. on Oct. 14 for credentials.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For the latest information about the STS-133 mission and its crew,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For more information about the space station and its crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M49-10

NASA INVITES MEDIA TO PHOTO OPPORTUNITY AT LAUNCH PAD OCT. 6

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Media representatives are invited to a photo
opportunity at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.,
at 7 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Oct. 6. The payload for space shuttle
Discovery's STS-133 mission to the International Space Station is
scheduled to roll out to the pad starting at 12:01 a.m.

The payload being delivered is the Permanent Multipurpose Module
Leonardo filled with a variety of spare parts and supplies, as well
as Robonaut 2, or R2, the first human-like robot to travel to the
station. Discovery's launch is targeted for Nov. 1.

During the Oct. 6 event, journalists will have the opportunity to
speak with Kennedy's STS-133 payload Mission Manager, Scott
Higginbotham, and Boeing Payload Flow Manager, Mike Kinslow.

Media representatives planning to attend must arrive at Kennedy's news
center by 6:30 a.m. for transportation to the event. Reporters
without permanent Kennedy credentials should submit their requests
online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov 

U.S. reporters must apply for credentials by 4 p.m., Monday, Oct. 4.
Accreditation for international journalists is closed.

Participants must be dressed in full-length pants, flat shoes that
entirely cover the feet, and shirts with sleeves. Wireless
microphones and cell phones are not permitted at the launch pad.

The rotating service structure, which protects the shuttle from
inclement weather and provides access to parts of the shuttle while
at the pad, will be retracted to support the lifting of the payload
canister for transfer to its final processing area and installation
into Discovery's payload bay.

For information about the STS-133 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle 

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M50-10

NASA RESCHEDULES LAUNCH PAD PHOTO OPPORTUNITY TO OCT. 7

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The move for space shuttle Discovery's STS-133
mission payload to NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A has
been rescheduled for Thursday, Oct. 7, starting at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
The photo opportunity is scheduled for 7 a.m.

During the installation of the Permanent Multipurpose Module to the
payloads transportation canister, an issue occurred with the system
used to measure the weight and center of gravity of the module. The
24-hour delay will allow technicians additional time to verify weight
and center of gravity.

During the event, reporters will have the opportunity to speak with
Kennedy's STS-133 Payload Mission Manager, Scott Higginbotham, and
Boeing Payload Flow Manager, Mike Kinslow.

Media planning to attend must arrive at Kennedy's news center by 6:30
a.m. for transportation to the event. Participants must be dressed in
full-length pants, flat shoes that entirely cover the feet and shirts
with sleeves. Wireless microphones and cell phones are not permitted
at the launch pad. Changes to this event will be updated on Kennedy's
media phone line: 321-867-2525.

Discovery will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module, Leonardo,
filled with a variety of spare parts and supplies, as well as
Robonaut 2, or R2, the first human-like robot to travel to the
station. Launch is targeted for Nov. 1.

For information about the STS-133 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-146

NASA INVITES REPORTERS TO NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH AND TWEETUP

WASHINGTON -- At the next space shuttle launch, NASA will host 150
people from around the world and provide them with a
behind-the-scenes perspective to share with their followers via the
social networking service Twitter.

Reporters are invited to cover the NASA Tweetup and the liftoff of
shuttle Discovery, targeted for 4:40 p.m. EDT on Nov. 1, from the
agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. To cover the launch
on-site, U.S. reporters must request credentials from Kennedy by
Wednesday, Oct. 20. Media representatives should submit requests
online at:


https://media.ksc.nasa.gov   


Participants at the NASA Tweetup on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 will tour
Kennedy and meet with shuttle technicians, managers, engineers and
astronauts. They also will get a demonstration of Robonaut, a
human-like robot similar to the one that will be delivered to the
space station with this mission. The Tweetup culminates with the
viewing of the shuttle launch. At 2:15 p.m. EDT on Oct. 31, NASA will
use UStream to broadcast an hour of the Tweetup program at:


http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-television   


People are expected to attend from 38 states, the District of
Columbia, Australia, Canada, Chile, England, Japan, Latvia, New
Zealand and the Philippines.

Tweetup participants are coming from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. Attendees were selected randomly
from more than 2,700 online registrations.

Reporters interested in interviewing Tweetup attendees should contact
Stephanie Schierholz at 202-358-4997 or [email protected]
.

To follow the Tweetup participants on Twitter as they experience the
prelaunch events and shuttle liftoff, follow the #NASATweetup hashtag
and the list of attendees at:


http://twitter.com/nasatweetup/sts-133-launch   


NASA also has a website where anyone -- including those not on Twitter
-- can follow along with the events:


http://buzzroom.nasa.gov   


To follow NASA on Twitter, visit:


http://www.twitter.com/NASA   


For more information about space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission,
visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle   


To follow STS-133 crew member Nicole Stott as she tweets during the
mission, visit:


http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Nicole   


-end-

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-145

NASA SCHEDULES NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA managers will hold a news conference on
Monday, Oct. 25, at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to
discuss the status of the next space shuttle launch. The briefing
will begin after the Flight Readiness Review, a meeting to assess
preparations for shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission to the
International Space Station.

Live status updates, including the start time for the news conference,
will be provided during the meeting via the NASA News Twitter feed.
To access the feed, go to the nasa.gov homepage or visit:



http://www.twitter.com/nasa


NASA expects to announce an official launch date at the conclusion of
the review. Discovery and six NASA astronauts are targeted to lift
off at 4:40 p.m. EDT on Monday, Nov. 1.

The briefing participants are:
-- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
-- Mike Moses, Space Shuttle Program launch integration manager
-- Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director

NASA Television and the agency's website will broadcast the briefing
live. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations,
and should contact their preferred NASA center to confirm
participation. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling
information, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For STS-133 crew and mission information, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


-end-

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-148

SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S FLIGHT DIRECTORS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS

HOUSTON -- NASA Flight Directors Bryan Lunney from Houston and Royce
Renfrew from Marble Falls, Texas, are available for live satellite
interviews from 6 to 7 a.m. CDT Thursday, Oct. 28.

Lunney and Renfrew will discuss space shuttle Discovery's STS-133
space shuttle mission to the International Space Station, targeted to
launch Nov. 1. This will be the final flight for Discovery, NASA's
oldest and most historic shuttle.

To participate in the interviews, reporters should contact Derek
Sollosi at 281-792-7515 before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27.

Discovery and its crew are scheduled to lift off at 4:40 p.m. EDT on
Nov. 1, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission will
deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) to the space station
as well as supplies for the crew. The PMM will provide additional
storage for the station crew and experiments may be conducted inside
it, such as fluid physics, materials science, biology and
biotechnology. There will be two spacewalks during the flight.

Renfrew, the lead station flight director for the mission, will be
available from 6 to 6:30 a.m. He has been a NASA flight director
since 2008. He earned a bachelor's in computer science in 1985 and a
bachelor's in history, as well as a secondary school teaching
certification in 1989 from Trinity University. He spent seven years
teaching high school mathematics. He also worked for several years as
a robotics instructor for the station crews and a robotics flight
controller inside the Mission Control Center at NASA's Johnson Space
Center in Houston.

Lunney, the lead shuttle flight director for the mission, will be
available from 6:30 to 7 a.m. He has served as a flight director for
both the station and the shuttle since 2001.

Lunney received a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering from
Texas A&M University in 1989. He joined NASA that same year and
served in various roles inside mission control, including propulsion
officer and attitude determination and control officer.

The NASA Television Live Interview Media Outlet (LIMO) channel will be
used for the interviews. The channel is a digital satellite C-band
downlink by uplink provider Americom. It is on satellite AMC 3,
transponder 9C, located at 87 degrees west, downlink frequency 3865.5
Mhz based on a standard C-band, horizontal downlink polarity, FEC is
3/4, data rate is 6.0 Mbps, symbol rate is 4.3404 Msps, transmission
DVB-S, 4:2:0.

B-roll footage of preparations for the STS-133 mission will begin
airing at 5:30 a.m. on the NASA TV LIMO channel.

The interviews also will air live on the NASA TV public and media
channels. For streaming video, downlink and scheduling information,
visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information about the STS-133 mission, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


For more information about the space station, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/station


-end-

[rdale]

STS-133 Press Kit at http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/491387main_STS-133%20Press%20Kit.pdf

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-274

NASA SETS LAUNCH DATE FOR SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY MISSION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to begin
an 11-day mission to the International Space Station with a launch at
4:40 p.m. EDT on Monday, Nov. 1, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida. The STS-133 mission is Discovery's final scheduled flight.

Discovery's launch date was announced Monday at the conclusion of a
flight readiness review at Kennedy. During the meeting, senior NASA
and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the
mission and determined the shuttle and station's equipment, support
systems and personnel are ready.

The six astronauts for the mission will deliver the Permanent
Multipurpose Module (PMM) to the station. The PMM was converted from
the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo and will provide
additional storage for the station crew. Experiments in such fields
as fluid physics, materials science, biology and biotechnology may be
conducted inside the module. The PMM also carries Robonaut 2, the
first human-like robot in space, which will become a permanent
resident of the station. In addition, the flight will deliver
critical spare parts and the Express Logistics Carrier 4, an external
platform that holds large equipment.

STS-133 Commander Steve Lindsey and his crew are scheduled to arrive
at Kennedy on Thursday, Oct. 28, for final launch preparations.
Joining Lindsey are Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin
Drew, Tim Kopra, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott. Drew and Kopra
will conduct two spacewalks to install new components and do some
maintenance work. STS-133 is the fourth and final shuttle mission
planned for 2010. It is Discovery's 39th flight and 35th shuttle
mission to the station.

For more information about the STS-133 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Stott will send mission updates to her Twitter account:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Nicole

For more information about the space station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

       
-end-

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-281

NASA HOSTS TWEETUP DURING UPCOMING SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION

HOUSTON -- NASA will give 50 Twitter followers the opportunity to go
inside the heart of a space shuttle mission during a Tweetup Tuesday,
Nov. 9, at the agency's Johnson Space Center. Space shuttle Discovery
is scheduled to launch on an 11-day mission to the International
Space Station on Nov. 1 at 4:40 p.m. EDT.

Tweetup participants will tour the center; view mission control and
astronauts' training facilities; and speak with managers, flight
directors, trainers and astronauts. The participants also will meet
the team behind the tweets on @NASA and @NASA_Johnson.

"The Tweetup attendees will get to visit the home of mission control
during one of the last two scheduled shuttle flights," said Stephanie
Schierholz, social media manager at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
"In addition, they will get to share their experience of the
excitement of human spaceflight with their followers around the
world."

Registration opens at 10 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 26, and closes at
10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28. NASA will select participants randomly
from those who register online. For more information about the
Tweetup and to sign up, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/tweetup


Astronaut Nicole Stott, one of the crew members on Discovery's mission
to the space station, will be posting tweets about the mission. To
follow her on Twitter, visit:



http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Nicole


In addition to this mission Tweetup, NASA has invited 150 Twitter
followers to a two-day event Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 for the launch of
shuttle Discovery. To follow the participants as they experience the
launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, visit:



http://twitter.com/nasatweetup/sts-133-launch


Find all the ways you can connect and collaborate with NASA at:



http://www.nasa.gov/connect


For more information about space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission,
visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


For more information about the space station, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/station

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 52-10

AIRSPACE, ROAD, BRIDGE AND WATERWAY CLOSURES FOR STS-133

Launch Date: Nov. 1, 2010
Launch Vehicle: Space shuttle Discovery
Launch Pad: 39A
Launch Window: 4:35:20 - 4:45:20 p.m. EDT
Targeted Launch Time: 4:40:20 p.m.

NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AREA AVIATION FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS

What: Cape Canaveral Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)

When: Monday, Nov. 1 from 11:35 a.m. EDT until no later than 5:19 p.m.
If postponed to Tuesday, Nov. 2, from 9:12 a.m. EDT until no later
than 4:53 p.m.

Where: General aviation and VFR operations are prohibited within a
30-nautical-mile radius of Launch Pad 39A from the surface to (but
not including) 18,000 feet (located on the Melbourne VOR/DME
004-degree radial at 30.6 nautical miles). Pilots should obtain NOTAM
information regarding affected airports.

Aeronautical Chart in Use: Orlando Class B terminal area and
Jacksonville sectional

Additional airspace restrictions: Within an airspace radius between 30
and 40 nautical miles of Pad 39A, a discrete transponder code must be
obtained and clearance granted from air traffic control before
entering this airspace. Continuous radio communications must be
maintained. All VFR aircraft are restricted to 180 knots or less
unless a variance is granted by air traffic control. Pilots should
obtain NOTAM information to determine the affected airports within
this radius before departure.

NOTAM Information: St. Petersburg Flight Service Station
Telephone: 1-800-992-7433
Radio frequencies: 123.6 MHz (Titusville), 122.6 MHz (Melbourne)

Radio Communications: FAA Orlando Approach Control
Titusville/Cocoa area: 134.950 MHz
Melbourne area: 132.650 MHz
South Volusia County: 125.350 MHz
Space Coast Regional Airport control tower: 118.9 MHz

PUBLIC ACCESS ROAD CLOSURES:

- The Cape Canaveral National Seashore (Playalinda Beach) will close
for launch on Thursday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. and will reopen after
launch. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge will close on
Sunday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. and will reopen after launch.

- State Road 406 east to State Road 3, and State Road 3 from the
Haulover Canal bridge south to County Road 402 leading to Titusville
will be open to badged personnel only beginning on Sunday, Oct. 31,
at 6 p.m. These roads will close to all vehicle traffic on Monday,
Nov. 1, at 2:40 p.m. until after a successful launch is confirmed.

- State Road 3 from the Gate 2 News Media Pass and Identification
Building to State Road 405 (NASA Causeway) via Space Commerce Way
will be closed for launch to unauthorized vehicles beginning at 8:30
a.m. on Monday, Nov. 1. NASA Causeway between the U.S. Astronaut Hall
of Fame and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will also close
starting at that time. The roads will reopen two hours after launch.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AREA BOATING RESTRICTIONS

ATLANTIC OCEAN: Beginning at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28 (L-4 days),
and continuing through launch, a general exclusion zone will be in
effect three miles offshore from the Haulover Canal, on the northern
end of Kennedy Space Center, and southward to Port Canaveral. Four
hours prior to launch, all ocean-going traffic will be restricted
from entering an area measured from nine statute miles north and
south of the launch pad and extending 64 nautical miles east into the
ocean. An additional three-mile-wide exclusion zone will be extended
eastward along the flight path of the space shuttle.

INDIAN RIVER: Restrictions apply from the NASA Causeway north to
Haulover Canal and east of the Indian River's main channel.
Restrictions are in effect four days prior to launch beginning at 6
a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28.

MOSQUITO LAGOON: This area south of Haulover Canal in the Mosquito
Lagoon is off limits to all boats four days prior to launch beginning
at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28.

BANANA RIVER: Security limits begin at the Banana River Barge Canal
south of Kennedy which is located immediately above State Road 528
and extends north. The area includes KARS Park on Merritt Island.
This restriction is effective four days prior to launch beginning at
6 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28.

All boating restrictions will be lifted one hour after launch. Boating
interests should monitor U.S. Coast Guard Radio transmitting on
Marine Channel 16 from Port Canaveral.

For more information about Discovery's STS-133 mission and its crew,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-151

NASA ANNOUNCES STS-133 PRELAUNCH EVENTS AND COUNTDOWN DETAILS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida has set
the news conferences, events and operating hours for the news center
for the final scheduled launch of space shuttle Discovery.

The spacecraft's STS-133 mission to the International Space Station is
set to lift off at 4:40 p.m. EDT on Monday, Nov. 1.

A NASA blog will update the countdown beginning at 11:15 a.m. Nov. 1.
Originating from Kennedy's Launch Control Center, the blog is the
definitive Internet source for information leading up to launch.
During the mission, visitors to NASA's shuttle website may read about
the crew's progress and watch the mission's two spacewalks live.

As Discovery's flight concludes, the NASA blog will detail the
spacecraft's return to Earth. For NASA's launch blog and continuous
mission updates, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


Detailed lists of countdown milestones, news briefing times and
participants, and hours of operation for Kennedy's news center and
media credentialing office are posted online. Journalists at the news
center and its annex will be provided free wireless Internet access.
Instructions for wireless access will be available at the news
center. For the detailed lists of events, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news


The NASA News Twitter feed will be updated throughout the shuttle
launch countdown, mission and landing. To follow, visit:


http://www.twitter.com/nasa


NASA astronaut and STS-133 Mission Specialist Nicole Stott will be
tweeting about her pre-launch preparations and is expected to provide
updates to her Twitter account during the shuttle mission. Stott can
be followed at:


http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Nicole


NASA is offering the public two ways to play a small role in the last
shuttle flights. Visitors to the "Face in Space" website can upload
their portrait to fly with the astronauts aboard shuttle Discovery's
STS-133 mission. Almost 150,000 photos already have been submitted.
The deadline for your image to fly on Discovery is 6 p.m. Nov. 1.
NASA will continue to accept images to fly on shuttle Endeavour's
STS-134 mission, which currently is scheduled for February 2011. To
submit your image, visit:


https://faceinspace.nasa.gov


NASA also is inviting the public to choose songs to wake up the
astronauts during the upcoming shuttle missions. Visit the "Wakeup
Song Contest" website to select songs from a list of the top 40
previous wakeup calls or to submit original tunes for consideration.
More than 2.1 million votes have been cast for songs for STS-133.
Voting will end when Discovery lifts off on Nov. 1. The deadline to
submit original compositions for consideration as a wakeup song for
STS-134 is Jan. 10. To submit a song or vote on a wakeup tune, visit:



https://songcontest.nasa.gov


For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information,
visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/ntv 

       
-end-

[Space Pete]

Swan Song Flight of Space Shuttle Discovery to Carry Two Payloads Built by CU-Boulder.

NASA's space shuttle Discovery will make its swan song flight Nov. 1 carrying two University of Colorado at Boulder-built biomedical payload devices, including one to help scientists better understand changes in the virulence of nasty bacteria in the low gravity of space as a way to help researchers prevent or control infectious diseases.

The experiments will be carried aboard Discovery in sets of specially designed fluid-processing cylinders known as GAPs, said Louis Stodieck, director of BioServe Space Technologies in the aerospace engineering sciences department. The bacteria experiment will target how microgravity affects the growth of bacteria, in this case Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, also known as MRSA.

The GAPs will ride inside BioServe's Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus, an automated, suitcase-sized device developed at CU-Boulder that has been launched on more than 20 NASA space shuttle missions, with two of the CGBA devices now on the International Space Station. BioServe is providing the hardware, integration and operations support for all Discovery GAP experiments.

Astronauts will control the individual GAP experiments using hand cranks to trigger and then later terminate cell growth via fluid mixing, said Stodieck. The samples will remain on the space station until the next shuttle mission slated to launch at the end of February, at which time they will be returned to Earth for further study.

The experiment is sponsored by Astrogenetix, Inc. headquartered in Austin, Tex., and designed by researchers at the Durham VA Medical Center in North Carolina. MRSA is a growing problem in hospitals and health clinics because of its ability to resist antibiotics in the penicillin class of drugs. "It can cause a variety of infections, some potentially fatal," said Stodieck.

"Because astronauts show decreases in their immune systems during spaceflight, we would like to know more about how bacteria behave in space, including their apparent increase in virulence and resistance to antibiotics," said Stodieck. "The findings may have applications not only for keeping space crew members safe by helping scientists better understand gene and protein changes in pathogens, which could potentially help to prevent and control infectious diseases on Earth."

A second experiment, designed by the University of Florida, will use BioServe hardware to study cell cultivation in a tropical plant known as Jatropha that produces energy-rich nuts, a popular new renewable crop for biofuels. The researchers will be looking for genes that help or hinder growth in tropical plant species to see if it could be commercially grown in "warm-temperate" areas like the southern United States.

The Jatropha experiment is sponsored in part by Vecenergy, the energy division of the Vecellio Group Inc. headquartered in West Palm Beach, Fla.

"We would be unable to carry out all of our research without the help of CU-Boulder students," said Stodieck. "Both undergraduate and graduate students play an important role in designing, building and testing spaceflight payloads, activities that can give them a significant advantage when they move on to careers in the aerospace industry. "

Michael Murry, a junior from Centennial, Colo. who is part of the BioServe team, said he never expected a chance as an undergraduate to conduct hands-on research at CU-Boulder with science payloads being launched into space.

"When I heard about this opportunity, I jumped on it," said the junior aerospace engineering science major who attended Grandview High School in Aurora. "By combining what I'm learning in the classroom with my experience at BioServe, I am developing a solid set of skills for a career in the aerospace industry."

While the Endeavour launch in February 2011 may be NASA's last space shuttle launch, there is a chance NASA may add an additional shuttle flight by Atlantis sometime in 2011 before the fleet is retired. BioServe hardware and experiments are manifested on the Endeavour space shuttle as well as on future resupply vehicles traveling to the International Space Station from other countries, said Stodieck.

BioServe also has plans to fly hardware and experiments in microgravity on existing commercial rockets and on space vehicles now under development, Stodieck said.

BioServe also has flown several K-12 educational experiments on ISS, including seed-germination studies, crystal garden growth experiments and the life cycles of butterflies -- all of which have provided learning opportunities for middle school and high school students around the world, said Stefanie Countryman. Countryman is BioServe's business manager and coordinator of education outreach.

BioServe is a nonprofit, NASA-funded center founded in 1987 at CU-Boulder to develop new or improved products through space life science research in partnership with industry, academia and government. Since 1991 BioServe has flown payloads on 36 space shuttle microgravity missions.

For more information on BioServe visit www.colorado.edu/engineering/BioServe/index.html. For more information on CU-Boulder visit www.colorado.edu.


www.colorado.edu/news/r/78585bb2bab58ef2dd61f28c145c5278.html

[Space Pete]

Shuttle mice to boost disease research.

Experiment on last flight of Discovery will probe spaceflight-induced immune-system impairment

When the space shuttle Discovery lifts off on its final flight Nov. 2, its six astronauts will be joined by 16 rodent passengers on a historic mission of their own.

Riding in special self-contained modules that automatically supply them with food and water, the mice will be part of a long-term NASA effort aimed at understanding why spaceflight makes humans more vulnerable to infection by viruses and bacteria.

The agency has studied the phenomenon aboard its space shuttles for more than 25 years, collecting data from laboratory animals and astronauts themselves. The mouse experiment — a collaboration between teams at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif.— will be the final immunology investigation planned for the shuttle program.

"Since the Apollo missions, we have had evidence that astronauts have increased susceptibility to infections during flight and immediately post-flight — they seem more vulnerable to cold and flu viruses and urinary tract infections, and viruses like Epstein-Barr, which infect most people and then remain dormant, can reactivate under the stress of spaceflight," said Dr. Roberto Garofalo, a professor at UTMB Health and principal investigator for the project. "We want to discover what triggers this increased susceptibility to infection, with the goal both of protecting the astronauts themselves and people with more vulnerable immune systems here on Earth, such as the elderly and young children."

The mice aboard Discovery will be in orbit for 11 days, during which time shuttle astronauts will perform daily checks on their health and well-being. Within two hours of the shuttle's return to Earth, eight of the animals will be infected with respiratory syncytial virus — a pathogen that infects almost all human children by age two and ordinarily causes a relatively harmless cold-like upper respiratory disease. In some children, however, the infection spreads to the lungs, where the inflammation it generates causes coughing, wheezing and extreme difficulty in breathing.

Another group of mice kept in nearly identical conditions on the ground will also be exposed to the virus. Garofalo's team will conduct genetic and protein studies of the lung and nasal tissues of both sets of mice, evaluating lung inflammation, viral replication and other key factors related to RSV infection in mice.

"We have substantial experience using mice to study immune response to RSV infection, and that will enable us to look at all the aspects of the immune responses of these mice as well as the pathological manifestations of the disease, looking at ways in which the space environment affects this respiratory infection," Garofalo said.

Understanding how spaceflight impairs the immune system and finding ways to make sure that infection doesn't threaten the health of space travelers are expected to become increasingly important, as NASA plans human expeditions beyond the relative safety of Earth orbit — to Mars, for example, or the asteroids. The developing commercial spaceflight industry, which hopes to launch large numbers of private citizens into orbit in the near future, also has a stake in ensuring that its passengers stay safe and healthy.

Despite the shuttle program's end, Garofalo said, immune system experiments in space may well continue on the International Space Station.

"The space environment incorporates many factors that we know affect the immune system — microgravity, radiation, even different nutritional standards — all acting in a relatively short period of time," Garofalo said. "The space station provides a unique environment for generating answers to fundamental questions about the human immune system. Those answers will benefit people here on Earth, and there's been a lot of interest in pursuing them."


www.utmb.edu/newsroom/article6394.aspx

[Space Pete]

Final Flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery: Canada's Contribution.

The final flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery is scheduled for November 3, 2010, at 3:52 p.m. EDT. This is the second-to-last shuttle mission before the Space Shuttle program retires next year.

This flight will mark Canadarm2’s 28th mission since its installation on the International Space Station in 2001.  Canadian astronauts have flown 14 times on the Space Shuttle and once on the Soyuz. Roberta Bondar, Bjarni Tryggvason and Julie Payette are the only Canadians to have flown aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Julie Payette’s tribute to Discovery can be viewed at:
ftp://ftp.asc-csa.gc.ca/pub/communication/1_MOIS/20101028_sts133

Here is a list of the Canadian content on Mission STS-133:

• HYPERSOLE

Hypersole is a life sciences experiment being conducted by the University of Guelph in cooperation with the Canadian Space Agency. This experiment aims to measure cutaneous sensitivity of the soles of the feet of astronauts, pre- and post-space flight. Understanding the relationship between the sense of touch and balance control could help persons with balance problems and astronauts who may potentially set foot on other celestial bodies following a lengthy stay in microgravity.

A backgrounder is available at: http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/iss/hypersole.asp

Video is available at this address:
ftp://ftp.asc-csa.gc.ca/pub/communication/1_MOIS/20101028_sts133/

• APEX-CSA2

24 Canadian white spruce seedlings were launched to the ISS aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in April 2010. Samples will be returned to Earth after more than six months on the Station. The seedlings grew for 30 days in microgravity before being harvested and frozen in a special solution. Scientists will analyze their DNA to help understand how trees make wood that are of benefit to the forestry industry. APEX-CSA2 is led by Dr. Jean Beaulieu of Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Wood Fibre Centre in Quebec City, with the close collaboration of the Canadian Space Agency and NASA.

• VASCULAR

Blood samples collected as part of the VASCULAR experiment will be returned to Earth aboard Discovery for analysis. The Health Consequences of Long-Duration Flight experiment (VASCULAR) is an integrated investigation of mechanisms responsible for changes in blood vessel structure with long-duration space flight and is linked with functional and health consequences that parallel changes associated with the aging process. Dr. Richard Hughson of the University of Waterloo leads the VASCULAR science team, which is funded by the Canadian Space Agency and supported by NASA.


Canada has flown nearly 50 science experiments on the Space Shuttle since STS-09 (41A) in 1983. These experiments have given rise to over 220 scientific papers on subjects such as: bone loss; back pain; eye-hand coordination; blood pressure; ageing; plant cell development; optics; the ozone layer; machine vision systems; crystal growth; metal diffusion; composite materials resistance and thin film formation.

You will find a tribute from former CSA Astronaut Dave Williams on Canadian science here: ftp://ftp.asc-csa.gc.ca/pub/communication/1_MOIS/20101028_sts133


www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/media/advisories/2010/1102.asp

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-290

NASA POSTPONES SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LAUNCH

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA has postponed the launch of space shuttle
Discovery to no earlier than 4:05 a.m. EST on Nov. 30. The delay will
allow engineers and technicians time to diagnose and repair a
hydrogen gas leak detected while filling the external tank Friday
morning. They also will assess a foam crack on the external fuel
tank's liquid oxygen intertank flange. The crack was discovered
during de-tanking operations.

The leak was at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, an attachment
point between the external tank and a 7-inch pipe that carries
gaseous hydrogen safely away from Discovery to the flare stack, where
it is burned off.

"We always place safety first," said NASA Associate Administrator for
Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier. "It is essential we repair this
hardware before we fly the mission, and we will take the time to
properly understand and fix the failure before we launch."

The six astronauts for Discovery's 11-day STS-133 mission will deliver
the Permanent Multipurpose Module to the International Space Station.
The PMM was converted from the multi-purpose logistics module
Leonardo. It can hold microgravity experiments in areas such as fluid
physics, materials science, biology and biotechnology. Inside the PMM
is Robonaut 2, which will become a permanent resident of the station.
R2 will be used to test how dexterous robots behave in space. STS-133
also is carrying critical spare components to the space station and
the Express Logistics Carrier 4. ELC 4 is an external platform that
holds large equipment. The mission will feature two spacewalks to do
maintenance work and install new components.

Commander Steve Lindsey leads the veteran crew, which consists of
pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Tim Kopra, Michael
Barratt and Nicole Stott.

STS-133 is the final shuttle mission planned for 2010, Discovery's
39th and final scheduled flight, and the 35th shuttle mission to the
station.

For more information about the STS-133 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Stott will send mission updates to her Twitter account:

http://www.twitter.com/astro_nicole

For more information about the space station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For information about NASA and other agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

[Space Pete]

NASA Schedules News Conference About Next Space Shuttle Launch.

NASA managers will hold a news conference no earlier than 5 p.m. CST on Monday, Nov. 22, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the next space shuttle mission, STS-133, which was delayed on Nov. 5.

NASA officials will announce the status of repairs to a leaking hydrogen system that caused the initial delay. They also will discuss the cracks on the tops of two, 21-foot-long support beams, called stringers, on the exterior of the shuttle's external fuel tank in an area known as the intertank. The next launch window for space shuttle Discovery and six NASA astronauts begins Nov. 30.

The briefing participants are:

-- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations

-- John Shannon, Space Shuttle Program manager

The news conference will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA centers or by calling into a phone bridge.

To use the phone bridge, reporters must have valid media credentials issued by a NASA center or issued specifically for the STS-133 mission. Journalists planning to use the phone bridge must contact the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no earlier than 4:45 p.m. Newsroom personnel will verify credentials and transfer reporters to the phone bridge. Capacity is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Live status updates will be provided during the meeting via the NASA News Twitter feed. To access the feed, go to the nasa.gov homepage or visit:
www.twitter.com/nasa

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:
www.nasa.gov/ntv

For STS-133 crew and mission information, visit:
www.nasa.gov/shuttle


www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/HQ_M10-162_Discovery_Update.html

[Space Pete]

NASA Reschedules Shuttle Launch Status Meeting, Discovery's Launch No Earlier Than Dec. 3.

NASA managers have postponed a launch status meeting and news conference planned for Monday, Nov. 22. The events were rescheduled after a Space Shuttle Program meeting Thursday determined more analysis is needed before proceeding toward the launch of space shuttle Discovery on its STS-133 mission.

The Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) identified the analysis and repairs required to safely launch Discovery. This analysis will be done during the next five days and reviewed at a special PRCB on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Pending a successful review of the flight rationale at that meeting, a launch status briefing will be held with senior NASA managers on Monday, Nov. 29.

Work has been under way to fix a leaking hydrogen system that caused the initial delay, and to repair cracks atop two 21-foot-long support beams, called stringers, on the exterior of the shuttle's external fuel tank.

The Kennedy Space Center will begin the launch countdown no earlier than Nov. 30. That would support a launch attempt for Discovery no earlier than Dec. 3 at approximately 2:52 a.m. EST.

For STS-133 crew and mission information, visit:
www.nasa.gov/shuttle


www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/HQ_M10-165_STS-133_Launch.html

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-166

NASA SCHEDULES NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH

HOUSTON -- NASA managers will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. CST
today from the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston to provide
the status of the next space shuttle mission, STS-133, and the
progress of repairs since Discovery's launch was delayed Nov. 5.

The news conference will follow today's Space Shuttle Program
Requirements Control Board. Program officials reviewed repairs and
engineering evaluations associated with cracks on two 21-foot-long,
U-shaped aluminum brackets called stringers on the shuttle's external
tank.

The briefing participants are:

-- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
-- John Shannon, Space Shuttle Program manager

The news conference will air live on NASA Television and the agency's
website. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA centers
or by calling into a phone bridge.

To use the phone bridge, reporters must have valid media credentials
issued by a NASA center or issued specifically for the STS-133
mission. Journalists planning to use the phone bridge must contact
the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 15 minutes before
the news conference. Newsroom personnel will verify credentials and
transfer reporters to the phone bridge. Capacity is limited and
available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information,
visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv   

For STS-133 crew and mission information, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle   


-end-

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-313

NASA SETS SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S LAUNCH FOR NO EARLIER THAN DEC. 17

WASHINGTON -- NASA managers have targeted space shuttle Discovery's
launch for no earlier than Dec. 17. Shuttle managers determined more
tests and analysis are needed before proceeding with the STS-133
mission.

As a result, the launch status meeting planned for Monday, Nov. 29,
has been postponed and will be rescheduled.

The Program Requirements Control Board (PRCB) reviewed on Wednesday
repairs and engineering evaluations associated with cracks on two
21-foot-long, U-shaped aluminum brackets, called stringers, on the
shuttle's external tank. Managers decided the analysis and tests
required to launch Discovery safely are not complete. The work will
continue through next week.

The next status review by the PRCB will be Thursday, Dec. 2. If
managers clear Discovery for launch on Dec. 17, the preferred time is
approximately 8:51 p.m. EST.

For STS-133 crew and mission information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

       
-end-

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-169

NASA SCHEDULES NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH

HOUSTON -- NASA managers will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. CST
today at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss the
next space shuttle mission, STS-133, and the progress of repairs
since Discovery's original launch delay Nov. 5.

The news conference follows Thursday's Space Shuttle Program
Requirements Control Board meeting. Program officials reviewed
repairs and engineering evaluations associated with cracks on two
21-foot-long, U-shaped aluminum brackets called stringers on the
shuttle's external tank.

The briefing participants are:

-- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
-- John Shannon, Space Shuttle Program manager
-- Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager

The news conference will air live on NASA Television and the agency's
website. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA centers
or by calling into a phone bridge.

To use the phone bridge, reporters must have valid media credentials
issued by a NASA center or issued specifically for the STS-133
mission. Journalists planning to use the phone bridge must contact
the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 10:45 a.m.
Newsroom personnel will verify credentials and transfer reporters to
the phone bridge. Capacity is limited and available on a first-come,
first-serve basis.

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information,
visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For STS-133 crew and mission information, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle   

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 10-321

NASA TARGETS SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S LAUNCH FOR NO EARLIER THAN FEB. 3

WASHINGTON -- NASA managers have targeted space shuttle Discovery's
launch for no earlier than Feb. 3 at 1:34 a.m. EST. Shuttle managers
determined more tests and analysis are needed before proceeding with
the launch of the STS-133 mission to the International Space Station.


The Program Requirements Control Board met Thursday and reviewed
engineering evaluations associated with cracks on two 21-foot-long,
U-shaped aluminum brackets, called stringers, on the shuttle's
external tank. NASA repaired the cracks and reapplied foam to the
exterior of the stringers.

Managers decided the analysis and tests required to launch Discovery
safely are not complete. They are planning to conduct an instrumented
test on the external fuel tank and structural evaluations on stringer
test articles to determine if the analysis is correct. Details and
timelines for the tanking test are in work, but plans call for
temperature and strain gauge measurements in the intertank region
near the top of the tank during the test.

The test also will verify the integrity of repairs made earlier when
two cracked stringer sections and foam were replaced. A team of
engineers and technicians will inspect the tank for evidence of any
foam cracking as it would on an actual launch day. The test also will
verify the integrity of repairs to the Ground Umbilical Carrier
Plate, which leaked an unsafe amount of gaseous hydrogen during
Discovery's Nov. 5 launch attempt. The date of the test is under
evaluation, but likely will occur this month.

Engineers will continue to search for the root cause of the stringer
cracks through data analysis and tests, including placement of
manufacturing defects in separate stringers to demonstrate structural
integrity in an effort to duplicate the same type of failure that
occurred in November.

NASA will review and analyze the data from the tests before setting a
launch date. Because of Discovery's delayed launch, the earliest
opportunity for the liftoff of the final scheduled shuttle mission,
STS-134 on Endeavour, is April 1.

For continued STS-133 updates as well as crew and mission information,
visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle   


-end-

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-175

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY ROLLS OFF LAUNCH PAD TUESDAY

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to roll
back from Launch Pad 39A to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for additional work related to
its final scheduled mission. The first motion of the shuttle is
targeted for 12:30 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Dec. 21.

In the VAB, technicians will scan below the foam insulation
surrounding the intertank section of Discovery's external tank to
look for any issues, such as cracks. They also will reapply foam
after removing 89 sensors from the tank's aluminum skin following an
instrumented tanking test on Dec. 17.

The sensors were used to measure changes in the tank as super-cold
propellants were pumped in and drained out during the test. Data and
analysis from the test will be used to determine what caused the tops
of two, 21-foot-long support beams, called stringers, on the outside
of the intertank to crack during fueling on Nov. 5.

Discovery's next launch attempt is no earlier than 1:37 a.m. on Feb.
3.

The fully assembled space shuttle, consisting of orbiter Discovery,
the external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters, is mounted on
a mobile launcher platform and will be returned to the VAB atop a
crawler transporter. The crawler will travel slower than 1 mph during
the 3.4-mile journey, which is expected to take about six hours.

Video highlights of the rollback will air on the NASA Television Video
File segment Tuesday.

Media are invited to a photo opportunity of the shuttle's move back
into the VAB. Reporters must arrive at Kennedy's News Center by 6
a.m. for transportation to the viewing area.

As dates and times of this event are subject to change, updates are
available at 321-867-2525.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information about Discovery's STS-133 mission and its crew,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M55-10

SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S ROLL OFF LAUNCH PAD MOVES TO LATE TUESDAY

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery's roll from Launch Pad
39A to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA's Kennedy Space
Center in Florida on Tuesday, Dec. 21, now is targeted to start at 10
p.m. EST. Discovery is expected to be securely back in the VAB by 5
a.m. Wednesday.

As dates and times of this event are subject to change, updates are
available by calling 321-867-2525.

The move, known as rollback, was delayed early Tuesday morning to
allow technicians to resolve an issue with the leveling system on the
crawler transporter.

The media photo opportunity of the shuttle's move back into the VAB
has been cancelled due to the timing of the operation.

Images of the events will be posted Wednesday on Kennedy's Media
Gallery at:

http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov

Video highlights of the rollback will air on the NASA TV Video File
segment Wednesday morning.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about Discovery's STS-133 mission and its crew,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-004

NASA SCHEDULES NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS

HOUSTON -- NASA managers will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. CST
Tuesday, Jan. 11, at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
They will discuss Discovery's STS-133 flight to the International
Space Station and talk about the progress of repairs since the
shuttle's original launch date last November.

The briefing participants are:

-- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
-- John Shannon, Space Shuttle Program manager
-- Mike Suffredini, International Space Station Program manager

Space Shuttle Program managers briefed senior NASA officials Monday
about the status of repairs and engineering evaluations associated
with cracks found on 21-foot-long, U-shaped aluminum brackets called
stringers on the shuttle's external fuel tank. Managers approved
installing small strips of metal, called radius blocks, on the tank's
remaining stringers. Testing and analysis show the modification will
provide additional strength to the stringers.

The news conference will air live on NASA Television and the agency's
website. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA centers
or by calling into a phone bridge. To use the phone bridge, reporters
must have valid media credentials issued by a NASA center or
specifically for the STS-133 mission. Journalists planning to use the
phone bridge must contact the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no
later than 12:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Newsroom personnel will verify credentials and transfer reporters to
the phone bridge. Capacity is limited and available on a first-come,
first-served basis.

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information,
visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For STS-133 crew and mission information, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle   

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 11-016

NASA UPDATES SHUTTLE TARGET LAUNCH DATES FOR TWO FLIGHTS

WASHINGTON -- NASA is targeting 4:50 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 24,
for the launch of space shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission to the
International Space Station. The liftoff of shuttle Endeavour's
STS-134 flight is planned for 7:48 p.m. EDT on April 19, from NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The target dates were selected Thursday during the Space Shuttle
Program's weekly Program Requirements Control Board meeting.

NASA sets official launch dates for each shuttle mission following
agency Flight Readiness Reviews, which typically occur about two
weeks prior to launches. All target launch dates are subject to
change.

For more information about the shuttle missions and their crews,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

The shuttle and International Space Station launch manifest is
available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/stationflights


-end-

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 11-023

ASTRONAUT STEVE BOWEN NAMED TO STS-133 SPACE SHUTTLE CREW; MEDIA TELECONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR 3:30 P.M. CST

HOUSTON -- NASA selected astronaut Steve Bowen as a mission specialist
on STS-133, the next space shuttle mission planned for launch on Feb.
24. Bowen replaces astronaut Tim Kopra, who was injured in a bicycle
accident over the weekend. The agency will hold a media
teleconference at 3:30 p.m. CST on Wednesday, Jan. 19, to discuss the
change in crew personnel.

The teleconference panelists are:
-- Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Space
Operations
-- Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office

To participate in the teleconference, reporters must contact the NASA
Space Operations Public Affairs office at 202-358-1100 or the Johnson
Space Center's newsroom at 281-483-5111 for dial-in instructions.
Requests must include reporters' media affiliation and telephone
number.

"Tim is doing fine and expects a full recovery, however, he will not
be able to support the launch window next month," said Peggy Whitson,
chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston. "If for some unanticipated reason STS-133 slips
significantly, it is possible that Tim could rejoin the crew."

The crew change should not affect the mission's target launch date.

"Steve is an ideal candidate, and we have complete confidence he'll
contribute to a fully successful STS-133 mission," Whitson said. "He
has performed five prior spacewalks. That extensive experience,
coupled with some adjustments to the spread of duties among the crew,
will allow for all mission objectives to be accomplished as
originally planned in the current launch window."

Bowen will begin training this week with the STS-133 crew, which
includes Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe, and Mission
Specialists Alvin Drew, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott. Bowen also
will train to perform the two planned spacewalks of the mission. He
will join Alvin Drew to move a failed ammonia pump and perform other
external configurations to the station.

The STS-133 mission to the International Space Station will deliver
the Permanent Multipurpose Module, an external platform that holds
large equipment and critical spare components for the station. The
mission also will deliver Robonaut 2, or R2, the first human-like
robot in space.

Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live at:



http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio


For Bowen's complete astronaut biographical information, visit:



http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/bowen-sg.html

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-016

NASA MEDIA ACCREDITATION FOR NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT ENDS FEB. 11

WASHINGTON -- The deadline for media accreditation for the February
space shuttle launch to the International Space station ends on Feb.
11. Shuttle Discovery and six astronauts are targeted to launch on
the STS-133 mission on Feb. 24 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida.

Reporters must apply for credentials to attend the launch or cover the
mission from other NASA centers. To be accredited, reporters must
work for verifiable newsgathering organizations. No substitutions of
credentials are allowed at any NASA facility.

The 11-day mission will be the 35th flight to the station and the 39th
and final scheduled flight for Discovery. The mission will deliver
and install the Permanent Multipurpose Module; the Express Logistics
Carrier 4, an external platform that holds large equipment; and
critical spare components for the station. Discovery also will
deliver Robonaut 2, or R2, to become a permanent resident of the
station as the first human-like robot in space.

NASA's Office of Protective Services has changed its policy for
processing foreign nationals. All journalists who are lawful
permanent U.S. residents, have dual U.S. citizenship or are U.S.
citizens representing international media outlets will have their
credential applications processed in the same way as U.S. citizens
who represent domestic media.

Additional time may be required to process accreditation requests by
journalists from certain designated countries. Designated countries
include those with which the U.S. has no diplomatic relations,
countries on the State Department's list of state sponsors of
terrorism, those under U.S. sanction or embargo and countries
associated with proliferation concerns.

Contact the accrediting NASA center for details. Journalists should
confirm accreditation before traveling.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

Accreditation for the STS-133 mission badges remains open. Mission
badges previously issued for Discovery's first launch attempt in
November 2010 are valid.

Reporters applying for credentials at Kennedy should submit requests
via the Web at:


https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Reporters must use work e-mail addresses, not personal accounts, when
applying. Applicants will receive confirmation via e-mail when
accreditation approved.

Accredited media representatives with mission badges will have access
to Kennedy from launch through the end of the mission. The
application deadline for mission badges is Feb. 11 for all reporters
requesting credentials. Reporters with special logistic requests for
Kennedy, such as space for satellite trucks, trailers, electrical
connections or workspace, must contact Laurel Lichtenberger by Feb.
11 at:

[email protected].

Wireless Internet access is available at Kennedy's news center.
Workspace in the news center and the news center annex is provided on
a first-come basis, limited to one space per organization. To set up
temporary telephone, fax, ISDN or network lines, media
representatives must arrange with BellSouth at 800-213-4988.
Reporters must have an assigned seat in the Kennedy newsroom prior to
setting up lines.

To obtain an assigned seat, contact Patricia Christian at:
[email protected].

Journalists must have a public affairs escort to all other areas of
Kennedy except the Launch Complex 39 cafeteria.

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER

Reporters may obtain credentials for NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston by calling the center's newsroom at 281-483-5111 or by
presenting STS-133 mission credentials from Kennedy.

Media representatives planning to cover the mission only from Johnson
need to apply for credentials only at the center. The application
deadline for mission badges is Feb. 11 for all reporters requesting
credentials.

Journalists covering the mission from Johnson using Kennedy
credentials must contact the center's newsroom by Feb. 11 to arrange
workspace, phone lines and other logistics.

Johnson is responsible for credentialing media if the shuttle lands at
NASA's White Sands Space Harbor, N.M. If a landing is imminent at
White Sands, Johnson will arrange credentials.

DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH CENTER

Notice for a shuttle landing at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center
in Edwards Air Force Base in California could be short. Domestic
media outlets should consider accrediting Los Angeles-based personnel
who could travel quickly to Dryden.

Deadlines for submitting Dryden accreditation requests are Jan. 28 for
non-U.S. media, regardless of citizenship, and March 1 for U.S. media
who are U.S. citizens or who have permanent residency status.

For Dryden media credentials, U.S. citizens representing domestic
media outlets must provide their full name, date of birth, place of
birth, media organization, driver's license number with the name of
the issuing state, and the last six digits of their social security
number.

In addition to the above requirements, foreign media representatives,
regardless of citizenship, must provide data including their
citizenship, visa or passport number and its expiration date. Foreign
nationals representing either domestic or foreign media who have
permanent residency status must provide their alien registration
number and expiration date.

Journalists should e-mail requests to: [email protected].

Requests must include a phone number and business e-mail address for
follow-up contact. Journalists who previously requested credentials
for this mission will not need to do so again.

NASA PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS:

Kennedy Space Center: Allard Beutel, 321-867-2468,
[email protected]   
Johnson Space Center: Kylie Clem, 281-483-5111, [email protected] 
 
Dryden Flight Research Center: Leslie Williams, 661-276-3893,
[email protected]

For information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station


For information about the STS-133 mission, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle   

[Space Pete]

NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery Set for Final Trip to Launch Pad.

Journalists are invited to cover space shuttle Discovery's move from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39A on Monday, Jan. 31 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Six astronauts are set to launch aboard the shuttle on Feb. 24. The STS-133 mission to the International Space Station is the final scheduled flight for Discovery before it is retired.

Discovery's first motion out of the VAB to the pad is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST. NASA Television will provide live coverage of the shuttle's rollout. NASA TV's Video File will broadcast highlights of the move.

The shuttle's 3.4-mile journey atop a giant crawler-transporter is expected to take approximately six hours. Activities include an 8 p.m. photo opportunity of the move followed by interview availability at 8:30 p.m. with Discovery Flow Director Stephanie Stilson. Media representatives must arrive at Kennedy's news center by 7:30 p.m. for the rollout photo opportunity.

NASA also will provide a sunrise photo opportunity at the launch pad on Feb. 1, following Discovery's arrival. Reporters need to be at the news center for transportation to the viewing area by 6 a.m. Updates for events are available at 321-867-2525.

To attend rollout and the sunrise pad photo opportunity, U.S. media representatives must apply by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28. Accreditation for international media representatives is closed. Reporters requesting accreditation must apply online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Badges for rollout may be picked up starting at 6 a.m. Jan. 31 at the Kennedy Space Center Badging Office on State Road 405.

The 11-day mission will be the 35th flight to the station and the 39th flight for Discovery. The mission will deliver and install the Permanent Multipurpose Module; critical spare components for the space station; and the Express Logistics Carrier 4 -- an external platform that holds large equipment. Discovery also will deliver Robonaut 2, or R2, to become a permanent resident of the station as the first human-like robot in space.

Discovery's first launch attempt on Nov. 5, 2010, was scrubbed because of a gaseous hydrogen leak at the external fuel tank's ground umbilical carrier plate. The spacecraft was rolled off of the launch pad and back into the VAB on Dec. 21, 2010, to allow technicians to perform X-ray type scans and repairs to Discovery's external tank.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:
www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information about the STS-133 mission and crew, visit:
www.nasa.gov/shuttle


www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/jan/HQ_M11-017_Discovery_Rolls_Again.html

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-032

NASA SCHEDULES NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA managers will hold a news conference on
Friday, Feb. 18, at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to
discuss the status of the next space shuttle launch. The briefing
will begin after the Flight Readiness Review, or FRR, a meeting to
assess preparations for shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission to the
International Space Station.

Live status updates, including the start time for the news conference,
will be provided during the meeting via the NASA News Twitter feed.
To access the feed, go to the nasa.gov homepage or visit:



http://www.twitter.com/nasa


NASA expects to announce an official launch date at the conclusion of
the review. Discovery and six NASA astronauts are targeted to lift
off at 4:50 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 24.

The briefing participants are:
-- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
-- Mike Moses, Space Shuttle Program launch integration manager
-- Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director

NASA Television and the agency's website will broadcast the briefing
live. Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations,
and should contact their preferred NASA center to confirm
participation. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling
information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For STS-133 crew and mission information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 11-047

NASA SETS LAUNCH DATE FOR SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY MISSION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to begin
an 11-day mission to the International Space Station with a launch at
4:50 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 24, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center
in Florida. The STS-133 mission is Discovery's final scheduled
flight.

Discovery's launch date was announced Friday at the conclusion of a
flight readiness review at Kennedy. During the meeting, senior NASA
and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the
mission and determined the shuttle and station's equipment, support
systems and personnel are ready.

The six astronauts for the mission will deliver the Permanent
Multipurpose Module (PMM) to the station. The PMM was converted from
the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo and will provide
additional storage for the station crew. Experiments in such fields
as fluid physics, materials science, biology and biotechnology may be
conducted inside the module.

The PMM also carries Robonaut 2, the first human-like robot in space,
which will become a permanent resident of the station. In addition,
the flight will deliver critical spare parts and the Express
Logistics Carrier 4, an external platform that holds large equipment.

STS-133 Commander Steve Lindsey and his crew are scheduled to arrive
at Kennedy on Sunday, Feb. 20, for final launch preparations. Joining
Lindsey are Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve
Bowen, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott. Bowen and Drew will conduct
two spacewalks to install new components and perform maintenance.

Discovery's launch will occur six hours after the planned docking of
the European Space Agency's Automated Transfer Vehicle-2 "Johannes
Kepler" to the space station.

STS-133 is the first mission planned for 2011. It is Discovery's 39th
flight and 35th shuttle mission to the station. There are two other
flights planned before the shuttle retires this year. For the
schedule of upcoming missions to the International Space Station,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/stationflights

For more information about the space station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station 

Stott will send mission updates to her Twitter account:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Nicole

For more information about the STS-133 mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle 

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-033

NASA ANNOUNCES STS-133 PRELAUNCH EVENTS AND COUNTDOWN DETAILS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- News conferences, events and operating hours
for the news center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., are set for
the final scheduled launch of space shuttle Discovery. Lift off is
targeted for 4:50 p.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 24, to begin the STS-133
mission to the International Space Station.

A NASA blog will provide countdown updates beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Feb. 24. Originating from Kennedy's Launch Control Center, the blog
is the definitive Internet source for information leading up to lift
off.

During the mission, visitors to NASA's shuttle website can read about
the crew's progress and watch the mission's two spacewalks live. As
Discovery's flight concludes, the NASA blog will detail the
spacecraft's return to Earth. For NASA's launch blog and continuous
mission updates, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle 

Detailed lists of countdown milestones, news briefing times and
participants, and hours of operation for Kennedy's news center and
media credentialing office are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news 

The NASA News Twitter feed will be updated throughout the shuttle
launch countdown, mission and landing. To follow, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/nasa

Mission Specialist Nicole Stott will be tweeting about her prelaunch
preparations and is expected to provide updates to her Twitter
account during the shuttle mission. Stott can be followed at:

http://www.twitter.com/Astro_Nicole

Free wireless Internet access is provided at the Kennedy Press Site
news center and annex. Instructions for wireless access will be
available at the news center.

For NASA TV streaming video, scheduling and downlink information,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv 

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 11-052

PLAYSTATION(R)HOME USERS CAN WATCH NASA'S SHUTTLE LAUNCH TOGETHER

WASHINGTON -- NASA's final liftoff of space shuttle Discovery will be
available in a unique "social viewing" environment available through
Sony Computer Entertainment America's PlayStation(R)Home for
PlayStation(R)3 computer entertainment system.

Discovery's launch on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 4:50 p.m. EST is the first
live streaming event to be offered by Sunset Yacht, a premium
personal space from LOOT, Sony DADC's interactive entertainment
development team. Users will be able to chat via Bluetooth headsets
with others watching the launch - all from inside the PlayStation
Home social gaming environment.

"We're excited about this new way for people to experience the
exhilaration of human spaceflight as part of a larger community,"
said David Weaver, NASA associate administrator for the Office of
Communications. "In addition to the other two shuttle launches
planned for April and June, NASA looks forward to sharing more of our
endeavors with PlayStation users."

In addition to live streamed events, the Sunset Yacht's NASA TV
channel will offer hundreds of videos offering spectacular views of
the universe from past and current NASA missions. A gallery of
podcasts showcasing several missions including the Mars Science
Laboratory and Voyager spacecraft also will be available from the
agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.

"The launch of the space shuttle Discovery provides a wonderful
opportunity to introduce people to the fun of social viewing," said
LOOT Managing Director David Sterling. "Users can share this
experience with their friends, regardless of where those friends
happen to be in the world."

For information about the shuttle Discovery's mission to the
International Space Station and the crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


NASA Television also will cover shuttle Discovery's launch For NASA TV
streaming video, scheduling and downlink information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information about Sunset Yacht, visit:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/

"PlayStation", is a registered trademark of Sony Computer
Entertainment Inc.

       
-end-

[jacqmans]

STS-133  Report #01
6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON –With a new International Space Station module in its cargo bay, Discovery launched on its last mission under a blue Florida sky Thursday.

The shuttle and its crew of six launched from the Kennedy Space Center at 3:53 p.m. CST with the Permanent Multipurpose Module prominent in its cargo bay. The PMM is on its eighth trip to the station. Seven were as the Multipurpose Logistics Module Leonardo.

Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott are scheduled to rendezvous and dock with the station on Saturday.  During Discovery’s seven days at the station, Bowen and Drew will do two spacewalks to do maintenance work and install new components.

The reinforced and rewired Leonardo will provide 2,472 cubic feet of additional pressurized space for the station. It is scheduled to be unberthed from Discovery and connected to the station’s Unity node on Tuesday. Among its contents are Robonaut 2, the robot much like a human upper torso.

During the first 6.5 hour spacewalk on Monday, Bowen and Drew will stow a failed pump module, install an extension cable and perform other tasks. On the second spacewalk, another scheduled 6.5-hour outing on Wednesday, they’ll vent ammonia from the failed pump, install a camera on Dextre, the Canadian robotic device more formally known as the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, and remove insulation from it, install Crew Equipment Translation Aid lights, and troubleshoot a radiator stowage beam bracket.

Another major cargo item, the Express Logistics Carrier 4, is to be taken from Discovery’s cargo bay shortly after docking and attached to the station's starboard truss.

Aboard the station waiting to welcome Discovery and its crew are station Expedition 26 Commander Scott Kelly, and Flight Engineers Oleg Skripochka,  Alexander Kaleri, Dmitry Kondratyev,  Paolo Nespoli and  Catherine Coleman.

The launch was momentarily delayed by an issue in the range safety command computer system.

[jacqmans]

News Release Issued: February 24, 2011 5:52 PM EST

ATK's Solid Rocket Boosters Help Launch Space Shuttle Discovery
ATK's Titanium Auxiliary Power Unit Fuel Tanks Supply Orbiter's Hydraulic System
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Feb. 24, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- ATK's (NYSE: ATK) Reusable Solid Rocket Motors (RSRM) ignited at 4:53 p.m. EST, launching the Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew on their 11-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).  Since the inaugural flight of the space shuttle, 266 space shuttle solid rocket motors have been launched to date, with 53 full-scale ground tests allowing ATK and NASA to constantly improve safety, techniques and processes.

"As we near the conclusion of the Space Shuttle Program, we reflect on the dedicated workforce that has provided the most reliable, human-rated propulsion system in the world for more than two decades," said Blake Larson, ATK Aerospace Systems Group President. "With the future of human space flight unfolding, it is critical to leverage proven technology to ensure a safe and robust transportation system as we explore outside of Low Earth Orbit."

The 149-foot-tall solid rocket boosters each produced more than 15 million horsepower, safely launching the shuttle to approximately 28 miles in altitude in just over two minutes. After the flight, the RSRMs were jettisoned from the orbiter and external tank by ATK's 16 Booster Separation Motors (BSMs). Each booster has eight BSMs: four on the forward skirt and four on the aft skirt. The separation motors propelled the RSRMs to a safe distance from the shuttle orbiter, enabling the spent boosters to parachute down through the Earth's atmosphere where they splashed down into the ocean for recovery.

In addition, ATK supplied the titanium hydrazine propellant tanks for the space shuttle Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). Three APU tanks house the hydrazine fuel that generates power for the shuttle's hydraulic system. These tanks have performed perfectly for each of the shuttle's three decades of operations.

While continuing to safely fly the space shuttle, ATK is making significant strides in the development of the new five-segment solid rocket motor with the successful test firing of development motor-2, or DM-2, in August.

"The tremendous success we are seeing as we develop this new motor and move toward a Critical Design Review (CDR) in fall of this year is due to the continuous improvements over the life of the Space Shuttle Program," said Charlie Precourt, ATK's vice president and general manager, Space Launch Systems. "The next motor, DM-3 has been cast and we are planning for its test fire prior to CDR."

Modifications to the motor include an added fifth segment, changes to the propellant grain, a larger nozzle opening, and an upgraded liner and insulation — all designed to meet performance requirements and increase reliability while lowering manufacturing costs.

"We were able to incorporate many design changes during the development of the five-segment motor that we identified during the shuttle program but were not able to make given the shuttle vehicle's operations tempo," said Precourt. "We also incorporated materials and streamlined processes that have been flight-proven in our commercial programs."

ATK is an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company with operations in 24 states, Puerto Rico, and internationally, and revenues of approximately $4.8 billion.  News and information can be found on the Internet at www.atk.com.

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 11-055

NASA ANNOUNCES STS-133 WAKEUP SONG WINNERS; FACE IN SPACE TOTALS

HOUSTON -- Following months of public voting, NASA announced the two
winners of the "Top 40 Song Contest," which will awaken space shuttle
crew members during their ongoing mission. The agency also released
the final tally of submissions to the Space Shuttle Program's "Face
in Space" campaign. Participants cast almost 2.5 million votes for
the song contest and submitted more than 292,000 photographs for the
Face in Space campaign.

"Blue Sky" by Big Head Todd and the Monsters, the most requested song
to wake up shuttle Discovery's crew during the STS-133 mission,
collected 722,659 votes. The song received 29.3 percent of the total
votes. Finishing second was the "Theme from Star Trek" (original
series), which also will serve as a wake up song. It received 671,133
votes, or 27.2 percent of the votes. To see the results for all 40
songs, visit:



https://songcontest.nasa.gov


There were 2,463,521 votes cast during the contest that ran from Aug.
20, 2010, through Nov. 1. Participants voted from a list of 40 songs
that have previously awakened shuttle crews.

NASA's Face in Space campaign received 194,181 photos that will be
uplinked to shuttle Discovery via Mission Control at NASA's Johnson
Space Center in Houston. The images will return to Earth through a
data transmission, and contributors will be able to print
certificates verifying their photos flew aboard Discovery.

More than 98,000 other photos already have been submitted to fly
aboard the next shuttle mission. Shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 flight
is targeted to launch April 19. Submissions will be accepted though
the liftoff date.

To take part in the Face in Space campaign, visit:



http://faceinspace.nasa.gov 


For more information about the Space Shuttle Program and the STS-133
mission to the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle 

For more information about the space station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station 

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #04
Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 - 6:30 a.m. CST
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Space shuttle Discovery has been steadily catching up to the International Space Station overnight and will be making its final docking with the orbiting laboratory at 1:16 p.m.

Discovery’s crew was awakened to begin preparations for the rendezvous at 5:53 a.m. The day’s wake up song was “Woody’s Roundup,” performed by Riders in the Sky, which was played for Mission Specialist Alvin Drew, who is making his second trip to the space station.

The terminal initiation burn, an engine firing that will give Discovery one last big push toward the space station, is scheduled to take place at 10:33 a.m. That should bring Discovery to a point 600 feet below the space station at 12:15 p.m., at which point Commander Steve Lindsey will fly the shuttle in a back flip below the station for the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver.

 As he does so, station Flight Engineers Paolo Nespoli and Cady Coleman will be stationed at the windows of the Zvezda service module, armed with 800 mm- and 400 mm-lens cameras, with which to photograph Discovery’s heat shield. The photos will be sent down to specialists on the ground for analysis.

Following the back flip, Lindsey will fly Discovery to a point 310 feet directly in front of the station, and then allow the station to catch up with it for docking. After a series of leak checks, the crews of the two vehicles should be able to open the hatches between them at 3:18 p.m.

Following a welcome ceremony and safety briefing for the stations six visitors, Discovery’s crew will get to work transferring the cargo they’re delivering. Drew, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott will use the shuttle and station robotic arms to remove the Express Logistics Carrier 4 from Discovery’s cargo bay and install it on the starboard side of the station’s truss system. There it will be used to store spare parts, including the spare radiator launched with it.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #05
5 p.m. CST Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Space shuttle Discovery docked to the International Space Station at 1:14 p.m. CST Saturday with its cargo of a new station module, equipment and supplies for the orbiting laboratory.

After a delay to let the relative motion between the two spacecraft, with a combined mass of 1.2 million pounds, dampen out, hatches separating crews were opened at 3:16 p.m. Shuttle astronauts, Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott moved into the station.

Following handshakes, hugs and a welcoming ceremony by the station crew, Expedition 26 Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineers Oleg Skripochka, Alexander Kaleri, Dmitry Kondratyev, Paolo Nespoli and Catherine Coleman, Discovery astronauts received the standard station safety briefing.

The crews promptly went to work, with Barratt and Stott preparing to use the station’s robotic arm to pluck Express Logistic Carrier 4 from the shuttle cargo bay and hand it off to the shuttle’s arm, operated by Drew and Boe. After moving the base of Canadarm2, the shuttle arm was to hand ELC4 back for installation on the Earth-facing side of the station’s starboard truss. There it will be used for stowage of spare parts, including a spare radiator launched aboard Discovery.

As the shuttle slowly approached the station, with both spacecraft moving at 17,500 mph, it paused about 600 feet below it to do the standard backflip. Nespoli and Coleman used cameras with 400 mm and 800 mm lenses for a minute-and-a-half photo session, shooting numerous pictures of the shuttle’s thermal protection system. The photos will be sent down for analysis by experts to check for any damage.

After both crews focus on transfer of equipment and supplies Sunday, Drew and Bowen will do 6.5-hour spacewalks on Monday and Wednesday.  On Tuesday the station arm, again controlled by Barratt and Stott, will take the Permanent Multipurpose Module from Discovery’s cargo bay and install it on the Earth-facing port of the station’s Unity node.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #06
Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011 - 7:00 a.m. CST
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – With more than 2,000 pounds of supplies and hardware to deliver to the International Space Station, space shuttle Discovery’s crew has a busy day of transfer work ahead of them.

The crew’s wakeup call to begin their fourth day in space came at 6:23 a.m., giving them 30 minutes of extra sleep to make up for a later than expected bedtime on Saturday. The wakeup song for the day, “Java Jive” as performed by The Manhattan Transfer quartet, was played for Commander Steve Lindsey. STS-133 is Lindsey’s fifth shuttle mission and third visit to the space station.

In all, Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott have a combined total of 9 hours of transfer work on their schedule for the day, moving cargo brought up on the shuttle’s middeck over to the space station. Over the course of the mission, the 2,000 pounds of cargo brought up on the shuttle will be replaced by 2,600 pounds of cargo from the space station that Discovery will be returning to Earth.

When they’re not ferrying cargo across the hatches, Lindsey, Boe, Barratt and Stott will work together to move the shuttle’s orbiter boom sensor system from its perch on the edge of the shuttle’s cargo bay and into the grasp of the shuttle’s robotic arm, where it will be ready if needed for a focused inspection of Discovery’s heat shield. Due to the position of the shuttle, while docked at the station, the shuttle robotic arm isn’t able to pick the boom up on its own, and requires it to be handed off by the station’s robotic arm. The station’s robotic arm was moved into place for this activity overnight by robotics officers on the ground.

At 1:43 p.m., Discovery's crew, along with station Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Cady Coleman, will take time out of their activities to talk with reporters with The Weather Channel, WBZ Radio of Boston, WBS-TV of Atlanta, and WTVT-TV of Tampa, Fla.

Near the end of their day, the crews will get together to go over the plan for Monday’s spacewalk, the first of the mission. Afterward, spacewalkers Bowen and Drew will move into the station’s Quest airlock, where they’ll be spending the night at a lower air pressure than the rest of the station.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #07
4 p.m. CST Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Moving equipment and supplies between Discovery and the International Space Station, robotics activities and preparation for Monday’s 6.5-hour spacewalk kept shuttle astronauts busy much of Sunday.

Transfer activities began during the crews’ morning. About 2,000 pounds of cargo was brought to the station on Discovery’s mid-deck, and about 2,600 pounds is to be returned to Earth by the shuttle.

One early activity for the shuttle crew, Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott, involved robotics. The station’s Canadarm2 arm, operated by Barratt and Stott, grasped the orbiter boom sensor system from the left sill of Discovery’s cargo bay.

It handed the boom off to the shuttle’s arm, which could not reach it with the spacecraft docked at the station. The shuttle’s arm held it to await a decision on whether a focused inspection of its thermal protection system would be necessary.

It wasn’t. Experts completed their analysis of 302 photos (155 using an 800 mm lens, 147 with a 400 mm lens) of the heat shield taken by station Flight Engineers Paolo Nespoli and Cady Coleman during Discovery’s backflip before docking to check for damage. The Mission Management Team met Sunday afternoon and decided that no focused inspection of the heat shield would be necessary.

Spacewalkers Drew and Bowen configured tools for their Monday spacewalk. All shuttle crew members along with station Commander Scott Kelly and Nespoli were scheduled for an hour-long procedures review. A little before 8 p.m. CST the spacewalkers will begin the standard campout in the low pressure of the station’s Quest airlock.

The shuttle crew with Kelly and Coleman also talked with media representatives during the afternoon. Asking the questions were reporters from The Weather Channel, Boston’s WBZ Radio, WSB-TV of Atlanta and WTVT-TV of Tampa, Fla.

The next shuttle status report will be issued after crew wakeup or earlier if warranted. The crew is scheduled to be awakened 5:23 a.m.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #08

6 a.m. CST Monday, Feb. 28, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – The first planned spacewalk of mission STS-133 is at the heart of today’s busy activities in space. The 12 crew members now aboard the space station began their day with a wake-up call at 5:23 a.m. CST.

“Oh What a Beautiful Morning” by Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam was played for Mission Specialist Nicole Stott who will choreograph the day’s spacewalk from inside the complex.

After an overnight campout in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station, space shuttle Mission Specialists Steve Bowen and Alvin Drew will venture outside to begin the 6.5-hour spacewalk at 10:18 a.m. Bowen, the lead spacewalker,  will wear a suit with red stripes and Drew will wear an all-white spacesuit.

The first spacewalk’s objectives will be to install an extension cable, a pump module vent tool, a camera wedge and extensions to the mobile transporter rail. The pair outside the complex also will relocate a tool stanchion, store a failed pump module and participate in an experiment to be exposed to space.

The first task will involve the installation of an extension cable in preparation for the installation of the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module, one of Discovery’s two key deliveries this mission. This task will be performed at the station’s Unity module.

Next the spacewalkers will finish up work started by Expedition 24 Flight Engineers Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Doug Wheelock moving a failed pump module to a more permanent storage location on the space station.

The spacewalkers will wrap up their excursion with several other tasks, including the Japanese “Message in a Bottle” experiment. They will expose a metal canister to capture the vacuum of space.  The spacewalk is to end at 4:48 p.m.

During the spacewalk, Pilot Eric Boe will spend a couple hours transferring more cargo that was delivered by space shuttle Discovery. Cargo transfers began almost immediately after the shuttle crew arrived at the space station and will continue throughout the docked part of the mission until complete.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #09

7 p.m. CST Monday, Feb. 28, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Discovery spacewalkers wrapped up a six-hour, 34-minute spacewalk Monday, moving a failed 800-pound ammonia pump module, installing an extension cable and extending the rail track along the station’s main truss.

Mission Specialists Steve Bowen and Al Drew also moved a pump module vent tool, installed a camera wedge, relocated a tool stanchion and worked with a Japanese project to bring a bit of space back to Earth.

After the spacewalk, spacecraft communicator Stanley Love radioed the joint crew that mission managers have approved an extra day for the shuttle mission to set up the new Permanent Multipurpose Module that will be installed on the Unity module’s Earth-facing port tomorrow. The International Space Station mission management team is expected to make a decision Tuesday about a proposed Soyuz fly-about later in the mission.

Mission Specialist Nicole Stott helped coach the spacewalkers from inside the station, while Mission Specialist Michael Barratt and station Commander Scott Kelly operated the station’s Canadarm2 for the spacewalk. Astronaut Tim Kopra, who had been scheduled to be one of the spacewalkers himself before being hurt in a bicycle accident weeks before launch, joined Love on console in the station flight control room.

The excursion began at 9:46 a.m. CST when the spacewalkers switched their suits to battery power. The first task was to install the extension cable between the Unity and Tranquility nodes. That included work in an area that will be inaccessible after the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module is in place.

Drew then retrieved a tool to be used on Wednesday’s spacewalk to remove ammonia from the failed pump. Bowen installed a foot restraint on the station arm to get ready for the module’s move from the arm’s mobile base to a more permanent position on an external stowage platform near the airlock. The work was delayed slightly by a problem with the robotic arm controls in the cupola, but Barratt and Kelly moved to a duplicate control center in the Destiny Laboratory to complete their work with Canadarm2.

The astronauts then removed tether and cart stoppers along the railway of the mobile transporter, and lengthened the track with an extension on each rail.

Near the end of the spacewalk both astronauts worked with the Japanese “Message in a Bottle.” They opened a metal canister, autographed by astronauts, to capture a bit of the vacuum of space, then sealed it. The canister will return on Discovery for display.

The spacewalk was the sixth for Bowen and the first for Drew. On leaving the airlock, Drew became the 200th human to walk in space.

Inside the shuttle and station, transfer of equipment continued between the docked spacecraft. The extra day will allow more time to transfer supplies and leave the station in the best possible posture.

With the one-day extension in place, the winners of the "Top 40 Song Contest" now are set to be played early next week. On Monday, March 7, the "Theme from Star Trek," which finished second in the contest, will serve as a wake-up song for the shuttle crew. On Tuesday, March 8, "Blue Sky" by Big Head Todd and the Monsters will be played as the most requested song to wake up shuttle Discovery's crew.

For the planned wakeup times, reference the mission television schedule:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttletv


For daily STS-133 mission recap videos, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/video

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #10

5:30 a.m. CST Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – By the end of the day, the International Space Station will have an extra 2,472 cubic feet of storage space, following the installation of the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module.

Discovery’s crew members got their wake-up call to begin flight day 6 at 4:57 a.m. CST, to the tune of “Happy Together” by The Turtles. The song was played for Mission Specialist Steve Bowen, who completed his sixth spacewalk on Monday.

Preparations for the second spacewalk of the mission will occupy several hours of Bowen’s and fellow spacewalker Alvin Drew’s time, culminating with a crew-wide procedure review and another overnight campout inside the Quest airlock.

But first, Mission Specialists Mike Barratt and Nicole Stott will use the station’s 58-foot robotic arm to remove the Leonardo module from Discovery’s cargo bay and fly it to an installation on the Earth-facing port of the Unity node. That work is scheduled to begin just after 7 a.m. and wrap up by 9:38 a.m.

With the decision that a focused inspection of Discovery’s heat shield won’t be necessary, extra space opened up in the crew’s day. As a result, they’re now scheduled to enter Leonardo for the first time today. Pilot Eric Boe is scheduled to be the first to float in, just before 6 p.m.

Barratt and Stott, along with Commander Steve Lindsey and station Commander Scott Kelly, will also take time out of their duties to talk with reporters back on Earth 3:23 p.m. They’ll be interviewed by KTRK-TV of Houston, and KING-TV and KOMO-TV, of Washington, Barratt’s home state.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #11

Tuesday, March 1, 2011 - 5:30 p.m. CST
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – The International Space Station has a new room, filled with equipment, supplies and a new device that could be a precursor of spacewalking robots. The room was christened at 5:17 pm when the hatch was opened and Expedition 26 Commander Scott Kelly was first to enter.

The Permanent Multipurpose Module Leonardo was installed on the Earth-facing port of the station’s Unity node Tuesday at 9:05 a.m. If it had windows, it would be a room with a heck of a view.

The PMM adds 2,472 cubic feet of pressurized storage space to the station. It also brings to the station, in addition to a humanoid robot called Robonaut 2, a payload of about 28,000 pounds. It includes an express rack capable of housing a variety of scientific experiments, five resupply stowage racks, six resupply stowage platforms and two integrated stowage platforms.

The new module was unberthed from Discovery’s cargo bay at 7:26 a.m. by the station’s arm. Mission Specialists Michael Barrett and Nicole Stott used arm controls in the station’s cupola. The module had made seven previous visits as a cargo carrier.

One of three such carriers built in Italy under contract to the Italian Space Agency, its conversion to a permanent module included adding shielding and rewiring.

Preparations for Wednesday’s spacewalk by Mission Specialists Steve Bowen and Al Drew included tool configuration and a spacewalk procedures review by eight of the shuttle and station crew members. The spacewalkers were to begin the standard campout in the Quest airlock at 6:48 p.m.

Barratt, Stott, shuttle Commander Steve Lindsey and station Commander Scott Kelly talked with media representatives from KTRK-TV of Houston and KING-TV and KOMO-TV, both of Seattle, at 3:23 p.m.

Commanders of both spacecraft were told about 10:15 a.m. that a proposed Soyuz flight at the station would not take place. Discovery will still get an extra day at the station, to be used for PMM outfitting. Landing is now scheduled for 10:36 a.m. Tuesday, March 8. Transfer work continued Tuesday, and is now about 60 percent complete.

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-044

NASA SETS NEWS CONFERENCE WITH SHUTTLE AND SPACE STATION CREWS

HOUSTON -- The 12 crew members aboard space shuttle Discovery and the
International Space Station will hold a news conference starting at
10:48 a.m. EST on Friday, March 4. Reporters may ask questions in
person from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Kennedy Space
Center in Florida and agency headquarters in Washington.

To participate, U.S. journalists must call the public affairs office
at one of the three venues by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 3. Reporters
at Johnson, not already credentialed for the STS-133 mission, must
request access badges by March 3. Reporters must be in place at least
20 minutes before the news conference.

NASA Television will provide live coverage of the 40-minute news
conference. Part of the conference will be for European Space Agency
media outlets in native languages. An interpreted replay will air on
NASA TV at noon. For NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming video
information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Discovery's mission includes two spacewalks, delivery of equipment,
supplies and the final U.S. module for the station. For more
information about the mission and crews, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

and

http://www.nasa.gov/station

[jacqmans]

STS-133Report #12

5:30 a.m. Wednesdsay, March 2, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas
 
HOUSTON – After a campout in the International Space Station’s Quest airlock, Mission Specialists Steve Bowen and Alvin Drew will suit up for the second spacewalk of the STS-133 mission. The spacewalk is scheduled to start at 9:18 a.m. CST.

With a call from Mission Control Houston, space shuttle Discovery’s crew was awakened at 4:23 a.m. by the song, “The Speed of Sound” by Coldplay. It was played for Pilot Eric Boe. 

Mission Specialist Nicole Stott will choreograph the spacewalk as the intravechicular officer while Mission Specialist Mike Barratt and station Commander Scott Kelly operate the Canadarm2 from the robotic workstation in the station’s cupola.

The spacewalkers will perform several tasks during their excursion, including venting ammonia from the failed pump module they moved to a storage location on Monday’s spacewalk. They’ll also remove a lightweight adapter plate previously used to attach experiments to the exterior of the Columbus laboratory and remove insulation from the Tranquility node and the newly installed Express Logistics Carrier 4.

The spacewalkers also will install a light on one of the crew equipment and translation aid – or CETA – carts, install a light, pan and tilt assembly on Dextre, the space station’s Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, and troubleshoot a loose radiator grapple fixture stowage beam, which would be used if a radiator ever needed to be replaced.

The spacewalk is expected to last 6 hours and 30 minutes.

Meanwhile crew members inside the complex will continue transferring more cargo from Discovery and loading trash into the Japanese Kounotouri2 H-II Transfer Vehicle for eventual disposal.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #13
7 p.m. CST Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Discovery astronauts wrapped up a six-hour, 14-minute spacewalk Wednesday, draining ammonia from an 800-pound pump module, working with the Canadian robotic device Dextre and completing a variety of other tasks.

The spacewalkers, Mission Specialists Steve Bowen and Alvin Drew, spent most of their time outside working separately. The start of the spacewalk, which began when the crew members switched their spacesuits to battery power at 9:42 a.m. CST, had been delayed 24 minutes to replace an O-ring on the lithium hydroxide canister of Bowen’s suit to fix a minor leak.

Bowen began by setting up the station’s Canadarm2, operated by Mission Specialist Michael Barratt and station Commander Scott Kelly. He moved on to retrieve a lightweight adapter plate assembly, an experiment holder, from the outer end of the Columbus module and installed it in Discovery’s cargo bay for return to Earth.

Drew started with the relocated pump module for the station’s external ammonia cooling system, using a device he had installed on Monday’s spacewalk to vent the remaining coolant from the pump. He subsequently removed the device for return to the airlock.

Coaching the spacewalkers was Mission Specialist Nicole Stott inside the station. Astronaut Tim Kopra, who had been scheduled to be one of the spacewalkers but was hurt in a bicycle accident weeks before launch, also helped advise the crew from the station flight control room.

Bowen spent about an hour working on Dextre, the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, installing a camera light pan and tilt assembly and removing some insulation. Meanwhile, Drew removed and jettisoned insulation and repositioned a slipped sunshade on a nearby camera. He then installed a light on one of the small handcars, a crew and equipment translation aid. The astronauts use the carts, mounted on the station’s truss rails, to move objects.

After doing some cleanup, Bowen installed a camera lens cover on the arm’s elbow and relocated a foot restraint and a Russian cargo arm adapter. Drew moved on to the port truss to repair insulation on a radiator beam valve module. He also secured a grapple fixture stowage beam.

Near the end of the spacewalk, Drew’s helmet light set came loose from his suit. Attempts by Bowen to reinstall it were unsuccessful so they attached a tether to take it back to the airlock.

This was the final STS-133 spacewalk, the 244th by U.S. astronauts. It was the seventh for Bowen totaling 47 hours, 18 minutes, and places him sixth on the all-time list of most time spent by U.S. spacewalking astronauts. It was the second spacewalk for Drew, who now has a total of 12 hours, 48 minutes. It was the 155th spacewalk in support of International Space Station assembly and maintenance, totaling 973 hours, 53 minutes, which is the equivalent of 40 full days of spacewalking.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #14
6:30 a.m. CST Thursday, March 3, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Discovery and the International Space Station crews will get a special call Thursday from the White House. President Obama will be calling up to space to talk with all 12 crew members at 4:03 p.m. CST. The call will be aired live on NASA Television.

To kick off Discovery’s eighth day in space, the shuttle and station crews were awakened at 4:05 a.m. by “City of Blinding Lights” by U2. It was for all the crew members.

After a full day of a successful final planned spacewalk of Discovery’s final mission, the crew will enjoy a well-deserved half-day off. The first part of the day, however, will involve more cargo transfers from both Discovery and the International Space Station. To date, 76 percent of all cargo transfers have been completed.

The crews also will participate in two media interview sessions. The first is to take place at 7:08 a.m. Reporters from CNN; WTTG-TV, Washington, D.C.;  WSTP-TV, Tampa, Fla.; and KNBC-TV, Los Angeles, will talk with members of the shuttle crew.

The second is scheduled to take place at 9:33 a.m. Discovery’s Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Mike Barratt and Nicole Stott will talk with reporters from MSNBC; WXIA-TV, Atlanta; and Fox News Radio.

Meanwhile, Station Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Cady Coleman will do maintenance work on the carbon dioxide removal assembly on the U.S. side of the station. The CDRA removes carbon dioxide from the station’s air. The Russian Vozdukh, which also removes carbon dioxide, has been down for repair but is scheduled to be operational again today.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #15
5:30 p.m. CST Thursday, March 3, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – President Barack Obama made a long-distance call to the dozen members of the Discovery and International Space Station crews a little after 4 p.m. CST.

“We are always inspired by the images of you guys at work as you work to put some of the final pieces in place to make the ISS fully operational,” Obama told the space fliers, traveling five miles a second 221 miles above the Earth. “You are setting such a great example with your dedication, your courage, your commitment to exploration. Col. Lindsey, it must be a great honor to be the last commander of Discovery.”

“On behalf of the crew, it’s a real privilege for us to get to fly Discovery on her final mission. We think that when we land, Discovery will have flown in space for 365 days,” said Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey.

The crew members also discussed with the president the delivery of the humanoid Robonaut 2 and international cooperation, exhibited by the presence of vehicles and components from all of the program’s partners.

To watch and listen to the Presidential call, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=68599191

Space shuttle and International Space Station managers decided today to extend the STS-133 mission by an additional day, providing more time for the shuttle crew to help unpack and outfit the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module and fill the Japanese Konotouri2 H-II Transfer Vehicle with trash before its planned late-March undocking. Discovery’s landing is now scheduled for 10:58 a.m. CST Wednesday.

The crews’ day included continued transfer of equipment and supplies between the station and shuttle, stowage of spacewalk equipment, exercise and maintenance. Lindsey and Pilot Eric Boe were on the flight deck for a morning reboost of the docked spacecraft. The 26-minute firing of Discovery’s small attitude control jets raised the orbit by about a mile.

Crew members had two interview sessions with news media. The first was about 7 a.m. when the six shuttle crew members spoke with reporters from CNN, WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C., WTSPP-TV of Tampa, Fla., and KNBC-TV in Los Angeles.

In the second round about 9:30 a.m., three members of the shuttle crew, Boe and Mission Specialists Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott, fielded questions. They talked with reporters from MSNBC, WXIA-TV in Atlanta and Fox News Radio. Later, the astronauts enjoyed much of their afternoon off.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #16
6 a.m. CST Friday, March 4, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Space shuttle Discovery’s crew will be getting in some extra work inside the new Leonardo module Friday in the first of two days that have been added to the STS-133 mission.

The day started at 3:23 a.m., when the day’s wake-up song, “The Ritual/Ancient Battle/2nd Kroykah,” from volume two of “Star Trek: The Original Television Soundtrack” – better known as the Star Trek fight song – was played for the crew. The song was chosen by the crew’s training team.

The additional days are to allow Discovery’s crew more time to help the International Space Station crew members get the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module unpacked and set up for permanent life in orbit and to help with equipment repair.

That work begins today just after 6:30 a.m. Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe, Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Nicole Stott and Michael Barratt, and station Flight Engineers Cady Coleman and Paolo Nespoli will spend much of their day working on various Leonardo-related tasks. They’ll be installing fixtures inside the module, unpacking items sent up inside and removing the Express Rack 8 for installation in the Destiny laboratory.

They will, however, find some time amidst all that work to talk with students and reporters on the ground.

At 6:08 a.m., the NASA Educational Technology services team and student interns at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will be posing to the crew questions selected by students through the NASA education Taking Up Space blog. The entire shuttle crew, along with Coleman and station Commander Scott Kelly, will be participating in that event.

That blog can be found at:
http://www.nasa.gov/education/takingupspace

Then, at 9:48 a.m., all 12 members of the two crews will come together to answer questions from reporters during the Joint Crew News Conference.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #17
6 p.m. CST Friday, March 4, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Today was moving day for Discovery’s crew members. On the first of two days added to the shuttle’s stay at the International Space Station they unloaded more from the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module they brought into space.

The crew members began their day’s activities with the NASA Educational Technology services team and student interns at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Joined by station Commander Scott Kelly and Flight Engineer Cady Coleman for the event just after 6 a.m. CST, they answered students’ questions submitted through the NASA education Taking Up Space blog.

Most of the shuttle crew went right to work on Leonardo activities, moving supplies and equipment from the new module into the station and outfitting the interior of the module.

Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe, Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Nicole Stott and Michael Barratt and their station colleagues, Expedition 26 Commander Kelly, and Flight Engineers Oleg Skripochka, Alexander Kaleri, Dmitry Kondratyev, Paolo Nespoli and Coleman all gathered for the joint news conference. They took questions from reporters at Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center and in Italy.

During their afternoon, Bowen and Drew stowed tools they used outside on spacewalks, while colleagues continued with the Leonardo-related work. Kelly said the extra days with shuttle astronauts gave the station crew an important leg up on that work.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #18
Saturday, March 5, 2011 - 2:30 a.m. CST
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – The crews of space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station will divide and conquer today, as the astronauts work on several different projects on orbit.

The crews started their day at 2:24 a.m., with a wakeup call in the form of Bowling for Soup’s “Ohio (Come Back to Texas),” which was played for the whole crew.

Flight Day 10 is the second of two days added to the mission to allow the extra helping hands brought up by space shuttle Discovery more time to assist the International Space Station crew with maintenance work and getting the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module unpacked and ready for life on orbit.

Boe, shuttle Commander Steve Lindsey, Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen and Nicole Stott will be working inside the Leonardo module again with station Flight Engineer Cady Coleman. Today they’ll be unpacking the module, removing launch hardware and moving some of the packing materials into the Japanese Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle for disposal when the cargo vehicle undocks later this month.

Elsewhere in the station, Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli and Mission Specialist Michael Barratt will be working on the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly in the Destiny laboratory, bypassing a failed heater circuit. And station Commander Scott Kelly will be installing a new filter on the station’s Oxygen Generation Assembly.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #19
6 p.m. CST Saturdsay, March 5, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – First they brought the Permanent Multipurpose Module into orbit, and today they continued work to unpack and reconfigure it.

Discovery astronauts are in the second of two docked days added to their stay at the International Space Station. They’re giving their station crew colleagues a leg up on outfitting and unloading cargo from the new PMM, Leonardo.

Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe, and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen and Nicole Stott and station Flight Engineer Cady Coleman spent most of their day in the new module. The movement of material from Leonardo to the station was virtually complete.

In addition to unpacking and working on Leonardo’s interior, they moved packing material into the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle for destruction on its re-entry after undocking later this month.

Station Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli and Mission Specialist Michael Barratt worked on the Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly in the Destiny laboratory, bypassing a failed heater circuit.  It was up and running.

Station Commander Scott Kelly worked to install a new filter on an Oxygen Generation Assembly. That job was almost complete.

“All in all, it was a great day in orbit,” said Royce Renfrew, lead station flight director.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #20
Sunday, March 6, 2011 - 2:30 a.m. CST
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – With all the work that they’ve accomplished over their past several days in space, the space shuttle Discovery crew members have just a few more tasks left to complete before they say goodbye to their International Space Station colleagues.

The crews’ last day together started at 2:23 a.m., with the wakeup song, “Spaceship Superstar” by Prism. It was chosen for all Discovery crew members by the team of flight controllers who have been supporting them overnight throughout the mission.

The space shuttle and space station crews are scheduled to say their goodbyes and close hatches on their respective vehicles at 2:33 p.m. To prepare for that, Mission Specialists Alvin Drew and Steve Bowen will move the suits and tools they used during the mission’s two spacewalks back over to Discovery.

Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Nicole Stott and Michael Barratt will finish up the last of the transfer work for the mission, bringing the few remaining items on the transfer list over to Discovery for return to Earth. Bowen and Barratt will also perform a checkout of some of the systems and tools that will be used during Discovery’s undocking from the station on Monday.

Meanwhile, station Commander Scott Kelly will wrap up the repair work he started yesterday on the station’s Oxygen Generation System, and Flight Engineer Cady Coleman will work on an experiment that measures how astronauts’ heights change during visits to space.

Most of that will take place in the crew’s morning, leaving them several hours of off-duty time in their afternoon to enjoy before they say their farewells.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #21
3:30 p.m. CST Sunday, March 6, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Discovery astronauts wound up a successful and productive seven days, 23 hours and 55 minutes of joint activities with the International Space Station crew at 3:11 p.m. CST when hatches between the two vehicles were closed.

In a brief farewell ceremony, Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey talked about the mission’s accomplishments and thanked the station crew members for their hospitality.

“We had a great time on board with you,” replied station Commander Scott Kelly. “We’ll miss you, but most of all we’ll miss Discovery. We wish her fair winds and following seas,” he said of the orbiter flying its 39th and final mission.

Both thanked teams on the ground for their support.

During their stay Discovery crew members delivered and helped install the Permanent Multipurpose Module Leonardo with its 6,500 pounds of cargo for the station, the Express Logistics Rack 4 now installed on the station’s exterior, and delivered an additional 2,000 pounds of cargo on the middeck. During two spacewalks they completed a number of maintenance and installation tasks.

“The mission is going extremely well,” shuttle lead Flight Director Bryan Lunney said at an afternoon briefing. “We couldn’t be more pleased.  Discovery and her systems continue to perform flawlessly.”

Discovery crew members, Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe, Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott, with some help from their station counterparts, spent much of their morning wrapping up the transfers of equipment and supplies between their two spacecraft.

After an hour for a midday meal they had some free time during their afternoon.  Later Bowen and Barratt checked out rendezvous tools Discovery will use as it moves away from the station.

After last-minute transfer of some medical experiments to Discovery for return to Earth, a farewell ceremony was held beginning a little after 2:30 p.m.

After the crews separated and hatches were closed, Drew and Stott installed a centerline camera to help Boe as he pilots the shuttle away from the station after the scheduled 6 a.m. Monday undocking.

Discovery’s first landing opportunity is at Kennedy Space Center Wednesday at 10:58 a.m. Weather is predicted to be good, although conditions on subsequent days are more questionable.

The shuttle crew is to begin its sleep period at 6:23 p.m.

The “Theme from Star Trek” performed by Alexander Courage will serve as the wake up music to Discovery’s crew at 2:23 a.m. Monday. It received the second most public votes from a Top 40 list in a Space Shuttle Program-sponsored song contest. The top two songs with the most votes from that list earned the right to be played as wake up music for Discovery’s crew during its final mission.

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-047

SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY MAKES FINAL RETURN TO EARTH WEDNESDAY

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to return
to Earth for the final time on Wednesday, March 9, completing a
13-day mission to outfit the International Space Station. If
Discovery lands Wednesday, it will have spent a total of 365 days in
space and traveled more than 148 million miles during 39 flights. It
launched on its first mission on Aug. 30, 1984.

Wednesday landing opportunities at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in
Florida are at 11:57 a.m. and 1:34 p.m. EST. NASA managers will
evaluate weather conditions at Kennedy before permitting Discovery to
land. If Discovery is unable to land Wednesday, additional
opportunities are available on Thursday at Kennedy and at backup
landing site Edwards Air Force Base in California. For recorded
updates about landing, call 321-867-2525.

Approximately two hours after Discovery lands, NASA officials will
hold a briefing to discuss the mission. The participants will be:
- Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations
- Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager
- Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director

After touchdown, the astronauts will undergo routine physical
examinations and meet with their families. The crew may participate
in a post-landing news conference about 6.5 hours after landing. The
news events will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the
agency's website.

The Kennedy news center will open for landing activities at 8 a.m.
Wednesday and remain open until 11 p.m. because of shuttle
Endeavour's 8 p.m. rollout to Launch Pad 39A. Endeavour is targeted
to launch April 19 on the STS-134 mission to the space station.

The STS-133 media badges are in effect through landing. The media
accreditation building on State Road 3 will be open from 7 to 10 a.m.
Wednesday. The last bus will depart from the news center for the
Shuttle Landing Facility one hour before landing.

If the shuttle landing is diverted to Edwards after Wednesday, news
media should call the public affairs office at NASA's Dryden Flight
Research Center at 661-276-3449. Dryden has limited facilities
available for previously accredited journalists.

The NASA News Twitter feed is updated throughout the shuttle mission
and landing. To follow, visit:

http://www.twitter.com/nasa

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information about the STS-133 mission and
accomplishments, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For more information about the space station and its crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #22
Monday, March 7, 2011 - 2:30 a.m. CST
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Space shuttle Discovery’s crew started its last day at the International Space Station with a special wake up call.

The “Theme from Star Trek,” performed by Alexander Courage, served as the wake up music for Discovery’s crew at 2:23 a.m. It received the second most public votes from a Top 40 list in a Space Shuttle Program-sponsored song contest. The top two songs with the most votes from that list earned the right to be played as wake up music for Discovery’s crew during its final mission. As a bonus, actor William Shatner recorded a special introduction to the song:

“Space, the final frontier. These have been the voyages of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Her 30 year mission: To seek out new science. To build new outposts. To bring nations together on the final frontier. To boldly go, and do, what no spacecraft has done before.”

It was a fitting beginning to the day that will see Discovery undock from the space station for the last time. Discovery was the first space shuttle to dock to the International Space Station, during the STS-96 mission in 1999, marking just one time it did what no spacecraft had done before.

Today’s undocking is scheduled for 6 a.m. Afterward, Pilot Eric Boe will fly the shuttle around the space station, allowing the shuttle crew to take photos of the station with its newest addition, the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module. The fly around will begin at 6:29 a.m. When it’s complete, the shuttle will perform two engine firings, at 7:15 a.m. and 7:43 a.m., respectively, to begin increasing the distance between the two vehicles.

The crew’s afternoon will be devoted to a final inspection of Discovery’s heat shield using the orbiter boom sensor system and its suite of cameras. The imagery collected during today’s survey, which begins at 10:13 a.m., will be sent down to analysts on the ground. They’ll study it to ensure that no damage has been done to Discovery’s thermal protection system while it’s been in space.

The next status report will be issued at the end of the crew’s day or earlier if warranted. The crew is scheduled to begin their sleep period at 6:23 p.m.

The winning song in the contest will be played during Tuesday’s wake up call, at 2:23 a.m. To see the results for all 40 songs, visit:

https://songcontest.nasa.gov

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #23
4 p.m. CST Monday, March 7, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Discovery undocked from the International Space Station at 6 a.m. CST, ending a stay of eight days, 16 hours and 46 minutes.

As the shuttle moved away, station Commander Scott Kelly praised the cooperation among crew members of both spacecraft. Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey said the team effort had allowed them “to accomplish well over 100 percent of our objectives.”

Pilot Eric Boe flew the orbiter in a vertical circle around the station while crew members took pictures of the station to document its condition. One big change from the previous fly around by Atlantis during STS-132 last May was the addition of the Permanent Multipurpose Module brought up by Discovery. The circle complete, Discovery did two separation burns to take it away from the station.

Lindsey later had words for Bryan Lunney, the lead STS-133 shuttle flight director working his last shift before leaving NASA. “Bryan has been a great friend, a terrific flight director and a leader. We’re going to really miss him,” the Discovery commander radioed down during a farewell gathering in Mission Control.

Lindsey, Boe and Mission Specialist Alvin Drew devoted much of their day to the standard late inspection of the heat resistant reinforced carbon-carbon surfaces.  Using the robotic arm and its 50-foot orbiter boom sensor system extension, they began the inspection just after 10 a.m. with a look at the right wing.

The subsequent nose cap inspection was followed by a look at the left wing. Images and data from the survey are sent to the ground for evaluation by experts. They will make sure no damage to the thermal protection system occurred during its stay in orbit.

The crew is to begin its sleep period at 6:23 p.m.

Tuesday morning the Top 40 song contest winner will be played at 2:23 a.m. to wake Discovery’s crew. “Blue Sky” by Big Head Todd and the Monsters, which received 722,662 votes (29 percent of the 2,463,774 votes cast) was originally written as a tribute to the space program and workforce and is routinely played in concert by the four-member band.

Work aboard Discovery Tuesday will focus on cabin stowage and checkout of the reaction control system and its flight control surfaces. The first landing opportunity at Kennedy Space Center is at 10:57 a.m. Wednesday.

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #24
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 - 2:30 a.m. CST
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas
 
HOUSTON - The STS-133 crew received another special wake up call on Tuesday, as they began what is scheduled to be space shuttle Discovery's last full day in space.

The wakeup call at 2:23 a.m. was "Blue Sky" by Big Head Todd and the Monsters. The song was performed live by Todd Park Mohr, vocalist and lead guitarist of the band, accompanied by fellow band mates Brian Nevin, Rob Squires and Jeremy Lawton.

The song received the most votes in NASA's Top 40 song contest receiving 722,662 votes (29 percent of the 2,463,774 total). It was originally written as a tribute to the space program and workforce, and is routinely played in concert by the four-member band.

The live performance was the first time a shuttle crew has been awakened "live" from Mission Control, Houston.

The song that received the second most votes in the contest was played Monday morning. The "Theme from Star Trek" with a special introduction by William Shatner received 671,134 votes (27 percent of the total).

The rest of the crew's day will be spent primarily on preparations for Wednesday's landing, which is scheduled for 10:57 a.m. at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialist Nicole Stott will be performing a checkout of Discovery's flight control systems and firing its reaction control system jets. All members of the crew will work together to stow hardware and equipment.

The crew will also come together at 10:23 a.m. to talk with ABC News, CBS News and The Associated Press. And at 11:08 a.m., they're scheduled to send down a message paying tribute to Discovery and the 30th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Program.

[jacqmans]

Report #H11-066

NASA HOSTS STS-133 SONG CONTEST WINNER LIVE IN MISSION CONTROL

HOUSTON -- For the first time, NASA astronauts aboard an orbiting spacecraft were awakened by a live performance from Mission Control, as Todd Park Mohr and three other members of Big Head Todd and the Monsters performed "Blue Sky" live at 2:23 a.m. CST.

The live performance was broadcast to space shuttle Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey and the other five crew members, as they orbited 220 miles above the southern tip of South America. The song started the crew's last full day in space after spending eight days in joint operations, with the shuttle docked to the International Space Station. Discovery's landing is scheduled for 10:57 a.m. CST Wednesday, March 9, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"Blue Sky" was written by the band as a tribute for Discovery's return to flight mission (STS-114) in 2005. The song received the most votes in NASA's "Top 40 song contest." The top two songs were played as wakeup music for the shuttle crew.

Receiving 722,662 votes (29 percent), "Blue Sky" outdistanced the "Theme from Star Trek." The theme received 671,133 votes (27 percent) and was played to wake the crew Monday morning with a special introduction by William Shatner, the actor who played Captain James T. Kirk.

After the performance, Mohr briefly talked with Lindsey.

"Well, that was terrific, we really appreciate it and congratulations on winning the contest," Lindsey said.

"On behalf of Big Head Todd and the Monsters and songwriters and artists everywhere, we just want to thank you so much for your courage, your bravery and your effort in just giving all of us a better shot at knowing more," Mohr told Lindsey and the crew. "It's very inspirational to the arts as well."

"We all wish you could see what we can see when we look out at the Earth; and hopefully, everybody will be able to do that one of these days. Hopefully sooner rather than later," Lindsey replied.

To watch the group play "Blue Sky" for Discovery's crew, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?collection_id=14554&media_id=70058841


For information about the Discovery song contest and the Original Song Contest for STS-134, visit:



https://songcontest.nasa.gov


For information about the Space Shuttle Program, the STS-133 mission
and to view pictures and video from the wakeup performance, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


For more information about the International Space Station, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/station

[jacqmans]

STS-133 Report #25
4:45 p.m. CST Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas
 
HOUSTON - Discovery crew members spent much of their day getting ready to come home. Their first landing opportunity is Wednesday at 10:57 a.m. CST at Kennedy Space Center.

Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialist Nicole Stott powered up Discovery's flight control system and tested the flaps and rudder that will control the shuttle's flight once it enters the Earth's atmosphere. Next they test-fired the jets that will control the shuttle before it reaches the atmosphere.

Next Lindsey and Boe worked with the Ram Burn Observations (RAMBO) experiment. They did burns of an orbital maneuvering system engine for the experiment, aimed at bettering understanding spacecraft engine plumes.

The crew spent considerable time stowing items in Discovery's cabin in preparing for re-entry and landing. All participated in a deorbit briefing before lunch. After the meal the crew took time off from packing to talk with representatives of ABC News, CBS News and The Associated Press.

The crew's day had gotten off to a rocking start, with a live rendition of "Blue Sky" sung by guitar-wielding Todd Park Mohr of Big Head Todd and the Monsters. It was the first live performance of wakeup music in Mission Control. The song, written for Discovery's return to flight mission after Columbia's loss, won NASA's Top 40 wakeup song contest.

"That was terrific," Lindsey radioed down to Mohr. "We really appreciate it and congratulations on winning the contest."

Mohr, with his three band members in the control center, thanked Lindsey for his courage, bravery "and your effort in just giving all of us a better shot at knowing more. It's very inspirational to the arts as well."

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-051

NASA ADMINISTRATOR TO GREET DISCOVERY CREW, TALK WITH STUDENTS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.-- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will greet
space shuttle Discovery's astronauts on Wednesday after the crew's
planned landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Bolden will make brief remarks live on NASA Television from Kennedy's
Shuttle Landing Facility about the final mission for the agency's
longest-serving shuttle and its place in space exploration history.
Discovery has two Kennedy landing opportunities Wednesday at 11:57
a.m. and 1:34 p.m. EST. The remarks will take place about an hour
after landing, following the crew's traditional walk-around under
Discovery on the shuttle runway.

Prior to his remarks at the shuttle runway, Bolden will meet with
about 50 eighth-grade students from McNair Magnet Middle School in
Rockledge, Fla., who will attend Discovery's landing. They will
discuss the accomplishments of Discovery's final flight and the
importance of careers in the fields of science, technology,
engineering and math.

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming
video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv 

For more information about Discovery's final mission, STS-133, and
crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle 

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 11-068

SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY RETURNS HOME AFTER FINAL MISSION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery and its six-astronaut
crew ended a 13-day journey of more than five million miles and
concluded the spacecraft's illustrious 27-year career with an 11:57
a.m. EST landing Wednesday at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.


STS-133 was the last mission for the longest-serving veteran of NASA's
space shuttle fleet. Since 1984, Discovery flew 39 missions, spent
365 days in space, orbited Earth 5,830 times and traveled 148,221,675
miles.

"Discovery is an amazing spacecraft and she has served her country
well," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "The success of this
mission and those that came before it is a testament to the diligence
and determination of everyone who has worked on Discovery and the
Space Shuttle Program, over these many years. As we celebrate the
many accomplishments of this magnificent ship, we look forward to an
exciting new era of human spaceflight that lies ahead."

Steve Lindsey commanded the flight and was joined by Pilot Eric Boe
and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Michael Barratt and
Nicole Stott. Discovery delivered the Pressurized Multipurpose
Module, or PMM, which was converted from the Multipurpose Logistics
Module, Leonardo. The PMM can host experiments in fluid physics,
materials science, biology, biotechnology and other areas.

STS-133 also brought critical spare components and the Express
Logistics Carrier 4 to the International Space Station. Robonaut 2,
or R2, became the first human-like robot in space and a permanent
resident of the station. The mission's two spacewalks assisted in
outfitting the truss of the station and completed a variety of other
tasks designed to upgrade station systems.

A welcome ceremony for the astronauts will be held Thursday, March 10,
in Houston. The public is invited to attend the 4 p.m. CST event at
Ellington Field's NASA Hangar 276. Gates to Ellington Field will open
at 3:30 p.m.

Highlights from the ceremony will be broadcast on NASA Television's
Video File. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to
streaming video, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


STS-133 was the 133rd shuttle flight and the 35th shuttle mission
dedicated to station assembly and maintenance. With Discovery and its
crew safely home, the stage is set for the launch of shuttle
Endeavour on its STS-134 mission, targeted to lift off on April 19.

Endeavour's flight will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS)
to the space station. AMS will use the unique environment of space to
advance knowledge of the universe, leading to a better understanding
of the universe's origin by searching for antimatter, dark matter and
strange matter, and by measuring cosmic rays.

The AMS will be attached to the outside of the station on the
starboard truss. The device is expected to remain active for 10 or
more years. Endeavour also will fly the Express Logistics Carrier 3,
a platform that carries a number of spare parts that will sustain
space station operations after the shuttles are retired from service.


For more information about the STS-133 mission and the upcoming
STS-134 flight, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-089

SIX NASA ASTRONAUTS - INCLUDING D.C. NATIVE - AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS

WASHINGTON -- The astronauts who flew aboard space shuttle Discovery's
last flight will visit NASA Headquarters in Washington on Tuesday,
May 10. They will give a presentation about their 13-day mission at
11 a.m. EDT and will be available for media interviews from 2 p.m. to
4 p.m.

The STS-133 crew consists of Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe,
mission specialists Alvin Drew, Nicole Stott, Steve Bowen and Michael
Barratt. Drew was born in the District of Columbia and graduated from
the city's Gonzaga College High School.

The crew will share mission highlights with agency employees, their
families and reporters in the NASA Headquarters' James E. Webb
Auditorium, located at 300 E Street SW. The presentation will air
live on NASA Television. Reporters must call 202-358-1100 to attend
the presentation or to schedule an interview.

STS-133 was the last mission for the longest-serving veteran of NASA's
space shuttle fleet. Since 1984, Discovery flew 39 missions, spent
365 days in space, orbited Earth 5,830 times and traveled 148,221,675
miles.

Discovery and its crew delivered to the International Space Station
the Permanent Multipurpose Module, or PMM, which was converted from
the multipurpose logistics module Leonardo. The PMM can host
experiments in fluid physics, materials science, biology,
biotechnology and other areas.

STS-133 also brought critical spare components and the Express
Logistics Carrier 4 to the International Space Station. Robonaut 2,
or R2, became the first human-like robot in space and a permanent
resident of the station. The mission's two spacewalks assisted in
outfitting the station and completed a variety of other tasks
designed to upgrade station systems.

For more information about the STS-133 crew members and their mission,
visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/main


For more information about the space station, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/station

[Space Pete]

YES!

Was hoping they'd do this!

[Mapperuo]

Have they asked if Atlantis wants to come out and play too? 

But yes, Very exciting, Hope whoever goes gets some very decent photos!

[TheFallen]

Is there a way they can make Discovery and Endeavour look more presentable next week? Probably not