Watch Launch/Mission Live of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133

Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133

Still On Track Today for a Late Afternoon Launch

Thursday, February 24, 2011
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...-- Post last updated at 04:52pm CST --

(02/23/2011) - JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, Houston - STS133-S-002 - Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch-and-entry suits, these six astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-133 crew portrait. Pictured are NASA astronauts Steve Lindsey (center right) and Eric Boe (center left), commander and pilot, respectively; along with astronauts (from left) Alvin Drew, Nicole Stott, Michael Barratt and Steve Bowen, all mission specialists. Bowen replaces astronaut Tim Kopra, who was injured in a bicycle accident in January 2011.

Photo Credit: NASA
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Are You Ready To Rumble!!!?

Discovery still on track to RUMBLE off Launch Pad at...

* 4:50pm EST *

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Countdown Moving to T-5 Minutes

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Thu, 24 Feb. 2011 03:43pm CST

Discovery's countdown is moving again, but will pause at T-5 minutes as the Eastern Range addresses an issue with its central command computer.

Fingers CROSSED!!!
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-- 03:53pm CST --
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LIFT OFF!

Last flight of Discovery is now on its way...

And what a beautiful sight it was to see. Brings a tear to an old man’s eyes and a heart full of anger at the same time toward a President with no TRUE vision of our future Manned Space Program.

Image credit: NASA TV

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-- 04:52pm CST --

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- Discovery in Orbit -

Space Shuttle Discovery has reached orbit and is on its way to the International Space Station. "Good to be here," Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey radioed soon after the three main engines shut off and the external fuel tank was jettisoned.

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-- 06:03pm CST --

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Discovery Thunders into Space to Begin Final Flight

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  Space Shuttle Discovery rode a brilliant trail of fire and smoke Thursday afternoon as it soared into orbit for an important mission to the International Space Station. The launch came after a last-minute technical glitch with the Air Force's Eastern Range that left only four seconds in the launch window and a practical limit of two seconds because of draining requirements with the external fuel tank.

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  "It was one more second than Mike Leinbach (shuttle launch director) needed to get the job done, so there was plenty of margin," said Mike Moses, chairman of the Mission Management Team. Still, he joked, "I could use a little less heart palpitations in the final seconds of the countdown."

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  Leinbach said launch simulations have conditioned the team of controllers to handle the pressures of last-second "go" decisions without jeopardizing a mission.

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  "This was one for the record books," Leinbach said. "It may have seemed a little rushed to people on the outside. It's a testament to the team that we have practiced for this."

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  The launch of the shuttle was not the only thing to happen in space exploration on launch day. Just as Discovery's tank finished being fueled, a cargo-carrying Automated Transfer Vehicle from the European Space Agency docked to the station. The spacecraft, which carried no people, launched from South America last week on an Ariane V.

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  "This is a pretty tremendous day in spaceflight for us," said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for Space Operations. "For us to be sitting here today with both of these events occurring as they did is pretty amazing."

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Special note: On Mission Day 5, (Monday) Brown and Drew will make the first of two scheduled Spacewalks. Second Spacewalk will be on Day 7, (Wednesday), if all goes to plan... Be sure to check back... Will be showing the whole thing live with NASA TV!

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Keep up with the latest on Mission with links below...
ENJOY!

GOD SPEED to the crew of STS-133
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Watch Launch/Mission LIVE
At NASA TV

Click HERE to view
ENJOY!!!

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* View STS-133 Interactive Timeline - Here *

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* Read NASA’s STS-133 Mission Summary HERE

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Read latest up-to-date News on

Space Shuttle Discovery STS-133

HERE

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Praying for a Safe -- Event Free Launch...

Along with a VERY Successful Mission!

And again... God Speed STS-133

AubreyJ.........

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