Wed, Oct 17, 2007
Says Tile Degradation Doesn't Affect Safety
NASA senior managers Tuesday completed a detailed review of
space shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight, and gave approval
for an October 23 launch date. Commander Pam Melroy and her six
crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 1138 EDT on the STS-120
mission to the International Space Station.
Tuesday's meeting included a discussion about concerns raised by
the NASA Engineering and Safety Center regarding the reinforced
carbon carbon on three of Discovery's wing leading edge panels. As ANN reported, the issue
initially was brought before the Space Shuttle Program during a
two-day, preliminary review held last week to assess preparations
for Discovery's mission.
"After a thorough discussion and review of all current
engineering analysis, we have determined that Discovery's panels do
not need to be replaced before the mission," said Associate
Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier, who chaired
Tuesday's meeting.
During the shuttle's 120th mission, the shuttle and station
crews will work with flight controllers at NASA's Johnson Space
Center, Houston, to add a module to the station that will serve as
a port for installing future international laboratories. The
Harmony module will be the first expansion of the living and
working space on the station since 2001. The upcoming mission also
will move the first set of solar arrays installed on the station to
a permanent location on the complex and redeploy them.
The 14-day mission includes five spacewalks -- four by shuttle
crewmembers, and one by the station's Expedition 16 crew. Discovery
is expected to complete its mission and return home at 0447 EST on
November 6.
Joining Commander Melroy on STS-120 will be Pilot George Zamka
and mission specialists Scott Parazynski, Stephanie Wilson, Doug
Wheelock, Daniel Tani and Paolo Nespoli of the European Space
Agency. Tani will remain aboard the station and return with the
STS-122 crew, which is targeted to launch December 6. Current
Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson will return to Earth on Discovery
after nearly five months on the station.
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