MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. — The launch of space shuttle Discovery now is targeted for 1:17 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010.
News media and the public are invited to observe the live televised broadcast of Discovery’s launch in the Exploration Center at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Managers are meeting to discuss the plan to repair helium and nitrogen leaks in the pressurization portion of Discoverys right-hand Orbital Maneuvering System pod. The leaks must be fixed before launch and the decision was made to delay picking up the launch countdown by at least a day.
Six astronauts for the mission will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) to the station. The PMM was converted from the multi-purpose logistics module, Leonardo, and will provide additional storage for the station crew. Experiments in such fields as fluid physics, materials science, biology and biotechnology may be conducted inside the module. The PMM also carries Robonaut 2, the first human-like robot in space, which will become a permanent resident of the station. In addition, the flight will deliver critical spare parts and the Express Logistics Carrier 4, an external platform that holds large equipment. There will be two spacewalks during the flight.
WHAT: An opportunity to watch the live televised broadcast of the launch of STS-133 space shuttle Discovery. The launch is from NASAs Kennedy Space Center, Fla., and will be televised live on NASA TV.
WHO: In addition to seeing the broadcast, attendees will hear remarks from Jack Boyd, senior advisor to the center director and Ames’ History Office, Thomas Edwards, director of Aeronautics at Ames; and Sidney Sun, manager of Ames’ International Space Station Research Project, who will present the Mouse Immunology-2 experiment that will launch aboard Discovery.
WHEN: The Exploration Center will open at 10 a.m. PDT, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, and remain open until 4 p.m. PDT. The Exploration Center presentations will begin at 12:30 p.m. PDT. Launch is scheduled for 1:17 p.m. PDT.
WHERE: NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Exploration Center, located at the main gate, Moffett Field. To reach NASA Ames, take U.S. Highway 101 to the Moffett Field, NASA Parkway exit and drive east on Moffett Boulevard towards the main gate and bear right into the parking lot. The Exploration Center is located in the large white dome.
On launch day, a NASA blog will update the countdown. Originating from Kennedy’s Launch Control Center, the blog is the definitive Internet source for information leading up to launch. During the mission, visitors to NASA’s shuttle website may read about the crew’s progress and watch the mission’s two spacewalks live.
As Discovery’s flight concludes, the NASA blog will detail the spacecraft’s return to Earth.
For NASA’s launch blog and continuous mission updates, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
To watch Discovery’s launch online, tune in to NASA Television, at: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
