STS-133 press releases

[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