Liftoff Planned For Thursday Afternoon From Kennedy Space Center

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.

NASA Photo

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.

As with every launch, the FAA has posted a TFR for the area around the launch complex. 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 beginning Thursday, Feb. 24, from 0945 until no later than 1726 EST. If postponed 24 hours, the TFR will be in effect from Friday, Feb. 25, at 0919 until no later than 1703 EST.

Space Center TFR

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 is available from the St. Petersburg FSS at 1-800-992-7433. Pilots may also contact Titusville at 123.6 MHz, and Melbourne at 122.6 MHz. Other relevent radio frequencies include 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

FMI: www.nasa.gov/stationflights