Support Structures Being Added To 94 Stringers

Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center have begun modifications and repairs to space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank's support beams, known as "stringers." Additional support structures, called radius blocks, are being added to 94 stringers, meaning the entire circumference of the external tank will be strengthened by the time all the repairs and modifications are finished.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center, STS-133 Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Tim Kopra and Nicole Stott will conduct a review of spacewalking procedures today. Commander Steve Lindsey and Pilot Eric Boe will fly to Kennedy in their T-38 training jets for approach and landing runs in Shuttle Training Aircraft at the Shuttle Landing Facility.

Discovery will not launch on the STS-133 mission before Feb. 24, but shuttle managers have not yet chosen a target date for the mission. The schedule depends in part on traffic at the International Space Station during that time frame. A European cargo spacecraft, ATV-2, is scheduled to launch to the station Feb. 15 carrying supplies and equipment.

FMI: www.nasa.gov