MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. — News media and the public are invited to observe the live televised broadcast of the launch of space shuttle Discovery on its STS-133 mission, at 1:40 p.m. PDT on Monday, Nov. 1, 2010 in the Exploration Center at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. STS-133 is the fourth and final shuttle mission planned for 2010, Discovery’s 39th flight and 35th shuttle mission to the station.

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 scheduled at 1:40 p.m. PDT on Monday, Nov. 1 from NASAs Kennedy Space Center, Fla., and will be televised live on NASA TV. In addition to seeing the broadcast, attendees will hear remarks from former NASA astronaut Karol “Bo” Bobco. Vytas Sunspiral, senior robotics researcher in the Intelligent Robotics Group at Ames will discuss his research and role in developing the next-generation robotic systems like Robonaut 2; Sidney Sun, manager of the Ames’ International Space Station Research Project, will present the Mouse Immunology-2 experiment that will launch aboard Discovery.

WHEN: Monday, Nov. 1, 2010 (all times PDT)

– Noon: Exploration Center opens, Immersive Theater broadcast of the NASA TV pre-launch coverage
– 12:15 p.m. 12:55: Outdoor hands-on robotic activity
– 1 p.m.: Welcoming remarks
– 1:10 p.m.: Vytas Sunspiral
– 1:20 p.m.: Sid Sun
– 1:30 p.m.: Bo Bobko
– 1:40 p.m.: STS-133 launch
– 2:30 p.m.: Exploration Center closes

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.

A NASA blog will update the countdown beginning at 8:15 a.m. PDT on Nov. 1. 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