Of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-131
On NASA TELEVISION
Post Date: Monday, April 05, 2010
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Monday’s Early Morning Launch looks like a GO!
* Launch Time: 6:21am EDT *
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Discovery's Hatch is Closed for Flight
4:24am EDT
The Closeout Crew working at Launch Pad 39A confirmed Space Shuttle Discovery's side hatch is closed for flight. Once the hatch is completely sealed and the crew cabin checked for leaks, the team will complete their work inside the environmentally controlled room that provides access to the shuttle's crew compartment.
The good weather at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida continues to cooperate, and the launch team is not reporting any problem that would prevent an on-time liftoff at 6:21am EDT.
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About above image: The STS-131 astronauts strap in aboard Discovery
Image credit: NASA TV
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- STS-131 Mission -
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Commander Alan Poindexter is set to lead the STS-131 mission to the International Space Station aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. Joining Poindexter will be Pilot Jim Dutton and Mission Specialists Rick Mastracchio, Clay Anderson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson and Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
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Discovery will carry a multi-purpose logistics module filled with science racks for the laboratories aboard the station. The mission has three planned spacewalks, with work to include replacing an ammonia tank assembly, retrieving a Japanese experiment from the station’s exterior, and switching out a rate gyro assembly on the S0 segment of the station’s truss structure.
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STS-131 will be the 33rd Shuttle Mission to the station.
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Countdown Resumes at T-20
5:16:am EDT
The clock is once again ticking down, and liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery on its STS-131 mission to the International Space Station is a little more than an hour away. Coming up at 5:27am EDT, the countdown will pause again at T-9 minutes for the final planned hold.
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Today's countdown continues to go smoothly. Weather at NASA's Kennedy Space Center is cooperating, with favorable conditions predicted for launch time at 6:21am. .............
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Liftoff! Discovery Roars Toward Space
6:21am EDT
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Space Shuttle Discovery and a crew of seven astronauts are headed to space, beginning a 13-day mission to the International Space Station. Discovery's two solid rocket boosters ignited right on schedule at 6:21am. EDT, sending the shuttle soaring past the launch tower at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The boosters will burn out about two minutes into the climb, as Discovery's three main engines finish the job of delivering it to orbit and the external fuel tank falls away. Main engine cutoff will come at about eight and a half minutes into the flight.
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Above info and images from the NASA.gov website
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Read Latest News and Updates +
Countdown/Mission Elapsed Time Clock
at NASA.gov
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Watch Launch and Mission LIVE
At NASA TV
Click HERE to view
ENJOY!!!
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* View STS-131 Interactive Timeline - Here *
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Above info and images from the NASA.gov website .
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May you have a Safe -- Event Free Launch...
Along with a VERY Successful Mission, STS-131!
AubreyJ.........
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