Yesterday, Discovery began its rollout at 5:17 a.m. EST to pad 39A. The mobile launch platform was lowered onto the pad pedestals at 12:16 p.m. EST, marking the official time for Discovery's arrival at the pad.
Launch is scheduled for Feb. 12 at 7:32 a.m. EST.
Discovery will launch the $300 million Starboard 6 solar array truss, the fourth and final power module for the international space station. The 15.5-ton girder will be connected to the station's backbone by spacewalking astronauts during the mission.
Led by commander Lee Archambault, the Discovery crew includes pilot Tony Antonelli, mission specialists Joe Acaba, Steve Swanson, Ricky Arnold, John Phillips and station-bound astronaut Koichi Wakata who will remain in orbit to replace Expedition flight engineer Sandy Magnus. She will return to Earth on Discovery after more than three-and-a-half months living on the station.
3 comments:
It's story time!
Imagine what it would be like if some unknown country decided to take over the ISS. All the hostile country would have to do is make a duplicate Soyuz send it up with some fancy guns etc. and the ISS would be theirs. What country could be able to do such a feat and survives illudes me. Think of the stand-off. What would the current residents of the ISS do. Would they fight and die for the current international community.
If hostilities do not erupt the current residents of the station could be forced to fly their docked Soyuz to Earth.
The new residents would face all kinds of difficulties keeping the ISS running. But, what if the had the science to keep the ISS running.
What would such a think achieve for the hostile country. Well it could possibly isolate all modern countries more under certain unbelievable circumstances.
After an incident such as this, the next builders of a station would put big guns on ISS2 with thick walls like an old castle.
Ironically, the tv space age would come to space exploration, advancing the world into a real Star Trek generation.
Anyway, I hope nothing like that ever happens.
http://www.theaterhopper.com/h_mag/Image/facepalm.jpg
Ray Bradbury appeared on the NASA channel recently.
Thanks from all,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_Ray_Bradbury
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bradbury
http://www.raybradbury.com/
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