The Flight Readiness Review for space shuttle Discovery’s STS-128 mission has concluded, setting the launch date for Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 1:36 a.m. EDT.
“I can’t say enough about the quality of the review we had over the past day and a half,” said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, during a post-FRR news conference Wednesday morning.
“It was a very effective review; I think we’re ready to go fly. It’s a real tribute to be here with the team that’s done a great job with engineering, the (Kennedy) team that’s gotten us this far in processing.”
“I think the largest hurdles are behind us,” said STS-128 Launch Director Pete Nickolenko. “The teams are in great shape to make this launch attempt on the 25th.”
Because of inclement weather between Kennedy Space Center and Johnson Space Center, Discovery’s seven astronauts plan to arrive at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility in a NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft instead of T-38 aircrafts at 6:30 p.m.
Discovery Readies for Station Resupply Flight
Space shuttle Discovery will carry the Leonardo supply module to the International Space Station during STS-128, along with a new crew member for the station, Nicole Stott.
Commanded by veteran astronaut Rick “C.J.” Sturckow, the STS-128 mission crew will deliver refrigerator-sized racks full of equipment, including the COLBERT treadmill, an exercise device named after comedian Stephen Colbert.
Stott will take the place of Tim Kopra, who moved into the station during STS-127. Pilot Kevin Ford and Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester, Jose Hernandez, John “Danny” Olivas and Sweden’s Christer Fuglesang round out the crew.
