Shuttle Discovery is “GO” for Launch

Shuttle Discovery Set for Final Launch

During the pre-launch news conference earlier today, NASA’s mission management team gave a thumbs-up for the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery. The launch is now confirmed a “go” for 4:50 p.m. EST tomorrow February 24th. This is scheduled to be the final mission for the Discovery which will be retired along with the rest of the shuttle fleet at the end of this year.

According to Mike Moses, heading up the mission management team, “We’re really looking forward to a very action-packed, successful mission and everything is on track.”

The processing teams getting Discovery ready for the flight have reported no issues during the power up and testing of flight systems and ground elements. As technicians at NASA Kennedy Space Center continue to make preparations at Launch Pad 39A, they will roll back the RSS (rotating service structure) which covers the orbiter on the launch pad during preparation. Once it is rolled back, at 7:30 tonight, viewers will have a clear view of the entire STS-133.

Shuttle launch director, Mike Leinbach, reported that they are not tracking any issues for the launch, including any weather concerns. There is only a 20 percent chance of any weather related hiccups. Fueling of the external tank should begin at about 7:25 a.m. tomorrow and NASA will begin to air launch coverage at 11:30 a.m. On it final mission, Discovery will deliver the EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 4, a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module along with some very important spare components to the International Space Station.