Minnesota astronaut Karen Nyberg will make her first flight into space aboard space shuttle Discovery during its upcoming STS-124 mission to the International Space Station. Discovery is targeted to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on May 31, at 5:02 p.m. EDT.
Nyberg was born in Parkers Prairie and considers Vining, Minn. her hometown. During the STS-124 mission, NASA is honoring Minnesota, New York and South Dakota. All 50 states will be recognized during the remaining flights of the shuttle, which will be retired in 2010.
Discovery’s flight will carry the heaviest payload to the space station. Nyberg and her six shuttle crewmates will deliver the large pressurized module and the robotic arm system of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory. Nyberg will operate the robotic arms of the shuttle, station and Kibo. This will mark the first time any one astronaut has worked three different robotic arms during a single spaceflight.
For Nyberg’s biography, visit:
