BY JUSTIN RAY
Follow the flight of space shuttle Discovery's construction mission to the International Space Station.
2325 GMT (6:25 p.m. EST)
The next task is relocating the grapple fixture from the top of P5. The fixture was used for robotic arm maneuvering of the truss. But it needs to be moved now to clear it out of the way of future station activities.
2315 GMT (6:15 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are giving the attachment bolts a final torque as they wrap up the Port 5 installation job. The space station has grown 4,110 pounds in mass with the addition of this new truss segment.
2259 GMT (5:59 p.m. EST)
Fuglesang has mated a connector to P5 as part of the station's exterior instrumentation system. Curbeam is hooking up grounding straps to the new truss.
2246 GMT (5:46 p.m. EST)
The station's robotic arm has released its grip on the P5 truss.
2243 GMT (5:43 p.m. EST)
The final two bolts have been installed by the spacewalkers. The P5 truss is now securely part of the space station. The box-like structure will serve as the spacer between the Port 4 and Port 6 solar array truss modules.
2233 GMT (5:33 p.m. EST)
Mission Control just radioed commander Mark Polansky with news from the Mission Management Team that additional focused inspections of the shuttle's heat shield won't be required. Imagery data gathered thus far in the mission concluded the shuttle's wing edges and underside tiles are in good shape.
If additional inspections had been required, the crew would have performed those checks tomorrow morning.
2231 GMT (5:31 p.m. EST)
Each spacewalker has tightened one of the four bolts that mate P5 to the station.
2217 GMT (5:17 p.m. EST)
After adjusting the arm's settings, all four corners of the Port 5 truss have been pushed into alignment. The spacewalkers now torque bolts to firmly connect the truss to the space station.
2211 GMT (5:11 p.m. EST)
Only one of the Port 5 truss' four corners has achieved docking. The crew will be going to alternate robot arm procedures to get the other corners attached.
2208 GMT (5:08 p.m. EST)
The arm is starting to push the P5 into its home on the station.
2201 GMT (5:01 p.m. EST)
Now 90 minutes into the EVA. Flight controllers report the spacewalkers are pretty much right on the timeline. Releasing the launch locks has been completed. The astronauts remain in place to assist the P5 attachment.
2143 GMT (4:43 p.m. EST)
The spacewalkers are working on opposite sides of the P5 to release launch locks in the truss' four corners.
2138 GMT (4:38 p.m. EST)
The P5 truss has been positioned in reach for the spacewalkers to release launch locks before the structure is attached to the station.
2122 GMT (4:22 p.m. EST)
The station's arm is slowly maneuvering the P5 truss toward its installation point. The spacewalkers will offer visual help to ensure the truss is aligned properly.
2110 GMT (4:10 p.m. EST)
Curbeam's call sign is EV1; his spacesuit has red stripes on the legs; Fuglesang is EV2; his spacesuit has no stripes. Based on the actual start time for today's excursion, here is an updated timeline (in EST and event elapsed time; NOTE: for guidance only; actual times likely to change).
EST........HH...MM...EVENT
03:31 PM...00...00...Spacesuits to battery power (actual)
03:36 PM...00...05...Airlock egress; tool setup
04:01 PM...00...30...P5 launch lock removal (1 hour)
EV1: Corners 1 & 3 setup; EV2: Corner 2 setup
Verbal guidance for station arm (SSRMS) P5 move in to 8 inches
EV1: Launch lock removal (corner 3); EV2: launch lock removal (corner 2)
EV1: Launch lock removal (1); EV2: launch lock removal (4)
05:01 PM...01...30...P5 to P4 attachment (1.5 hours)
Verbal guidance for SSRMS P5 move in to soft capture
EV1: Bolt 1 (forward top) torque; EV2: bolt 2 (forward bottom)
EV1: Bolt 3 (aft top); EV2: bolt 4 (aft bottom)
EV1: Ground strap 3 installation; EV2: ground strap 4
EV1: P4 soft capture pin 3 removal; EV2: P5 wireless connector
EV1: Bolt 1 final torque; EV2: Bolt 2 final torque
EV1: P4 soft capture pin 1 removal; EV2: ground strap 2
06:31 PM...03...00...Radiator grapple fixture move to P5 keel (1 hour)
07:31 PM...04...00...S1 truss CP3 camera R & R (1.5 hours)
EV1: CP3 worksite setup; EV2: Camera retrieval from airlock
EV1: Failed camera removal; EV2: same
EV1: Spare camera installation; EV2: same
09:01 PM...05...30...Payload bay cleanup
09:21 PM...05...50...Airlock ingress
09:41 PM...06...10...Repressurization begins; spacewalk ends
2100 GMT (4:00 p.m. EST)
After egressing the airlock, the astronauts gathered tools and tethers for the commute along the station truss backbone. At the far end of the port side is where the P5 truss will be installed today.
2032 GMT (3:32 p.m. EST)
EVA BEGINS. Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang switched their spacesuits to internal battery power at 3:31 p.m. EST, marking the start time for today's six-hour spacewalk to install the Port 5 truss spacer on the station.
2030 GMT (3:30 p.m. EST)
The airlock has reached vacuum and the outer hatch to space is open. The official start time for the spacewalk will be clocked when the astronauts switch their spacesuits on internal battery power.
2002 GMT (3:02 p.m. EST)
Depressurization of the airlock is now underway.
1957 GMT (2:57 p.m. EST)
The hatch between the airlock and the rest of the space station is being closed. This will allow the airlock to be depressurized for today's spacewalk.
1950 GMT (2:50 p.m. EST)
Dressed in their spacewalking suits, astronauts Bob Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang have completed the pure-oxygen breathing protocol designed to prevent the decompression condition known as The Bends during the EVA. Now, they are making their way from the suitup area of the airlock module into the section that features the doorway to exit the station.
1850 GMT (1:50 p.m. EST)
Spacewalk preparations continue in the Quest airlock module. Mission Control says activities are running about 20 minutes ahead of the timeline.
1757 GMT (12:57 p.m. EST)
The Port 5 truss is now on its way from the overnight parking spot beside the shuttle to its installation point on the space station. The Canadian-built robot arm has started maneuvering the truss for the mounting to the existing Port 4 truss later today.
1700 GMT (12:00 p.m. EST)
The Discovery astronauts are gearing up for their first spacewalk today, a planned six-hour excursion to bolt a new 4,110-pound spacer segment to the left side of the international space station's main solar array truss.
Read our preview story.
1548 GMT (10:48 a.m. EST)
Flight day 4 is now underway. Mission Control just beamed up the musical wakeup call to the Discovery crew to begin a day that will see a spacewalk and the mission's primary payload, the Port 5 truss, attached to the station. The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at about 3:45 p.m. EST.
0415 GMT (11:15 p.m. EST Mon.)
Check out our podcast covering today's docking of Discovery to the station and the commercial Proton rocket launch.
0400 GMT (11:00 p.m. EST Mon.)
The Discovery astronauts used the space station's robot arm for a quick, unplanned inspection of the shuttle's left wing outboard leading edge panels based on sensor data indicating a possible micrometeoroid hit earlier today. John Shannon, chairman of NASA's Mission Management Team, said if the data reflected a real impact - and that remains to be seen - it was about 100 times below the threshold expected to cause any real damage.
Read our full story.
0340 GMT (10:40 p.m. EST Mon.)
The handover of the Port 5 truss between the shuttle and station robot arms was completed. The station arm has a firm grasp of the truss to hold it overnight.
0230 GMT (9:30 p.m. EST Mon.)
The Port 5 truss has begun the slow rise out of the payload bay by Discovery's 50-foot robotic arm.
0220 GMT (9:20 p.m. EST Mon.)
Photographs taken of Discovery's underside during today's rendezvous backflip have revealed a some items of interest around the left external tank umbilical door. Pieces of plastic wrap-like material is seen protruding from the door hinge line. That material will burn away during entry, but engineers are making sure the protrusions won't interfere with door's seal.
Also noted outboard of the door were some slightly chipped tiles. Mission Management Team chairman John Shannon indicated further inspections could be performed. But the situation doesn't appear serious.
Meanwhile, video has been downlinked from the station arm's view of the port wing. There was no obvious indication of damage. A sensor in the wing had registered a minor vibration this morning that could have indicated a space debris hit.
0151 GMT (8:51 p.m. EST Mon.)
The station arm is swinging into position to point its cameras at the port wing of Discovery.
0135 GMT (8:35 p.m. EST Mon.)
The Discovery astronauts and their station counterparts interrupted their timeline tonight to make a quick inspection of the shuttle's left wing leading edge panels. Astronaut Steve Robinson in space station mission control told the crew an accelerometer in the shuttle's wing leading edge sensor system, part of a post-Columbia safety upgrade, had recorded a possible hit overnight.
Read our full story.
0118 GMT (8:18 p.m. EST Mon.)
Space shuttle Discovery's robot arm has grappled the Port 5 truss riding in the payload bay. The two-ton truss will be hoisted out of the bay and handed off to the station's arm later tonight, after the station arm completes the shuttle wing inspections.
The truss will remain parked on the station arm overnight. It gets mounted to the station on Tuesday.
0112 GMT (8:12 p.m. EST Mon.)
The impact force detected by the wing sensor was low, a NASA spokesman says. The event happened at about 5:30 a.m. EST this morning while the crew was asleep. But since there is time available tonight for a quick look at Discovery's port wing, officials decided to use the station arm to make sure there is no damage to the wing leading edge panels 19 through 22.
Both wings were extensively inspected with the lasers and cameras of the Orbiter Boom Sensor System on Sunday to spot any launch-related hits. However, this possible impact happened after those inspections.
0100 GMT (8:00 p.m. EST Mon.)
Read our docking story.
0045 GMT (7:45 p.m. EST Mon.)
The decision has been made to use a camera on the station's arm for a brief look at Discovery's outer port wing tip. The arm will be moved into position shortly. An impact sensor in the wing indicated a possible space debris hit that occurred after the laser inspections performed yesterday.
0020 GMT (7:20 p.m. EST Mon.)
Flight controllers are studying the possibility of inserting some additional shuttle inspections into the crew's timeline tonight. While the shuttle arm is getting the Port 5 truss grappled for lifting out of the payload bay, the station arm may be used to examine some areas on the RCC wing-leading edge panels. The specifics of the focused inspections are not yet known.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2006
2355 GMT (6:55 p.m. EST)
HATCHES OPEN. The hatchway between the space shuttle Discovery and space station were opened at 6:54 p.m. EST. The shuttle crew is being welcomed aboard the outpost with the ringing of the station's bell.
Over the next couple of hours, astronaut Suni Williams will begin moving her things aboard the station and become an official member of Expedition 14. Station resident Thomas Reiter will in turn become a shuttle astronaut for the trip back to Earth.
Also upcoming is the unberthing of the Port 5 truss from Discovery's payload bay by the shuttle robot arm. The truss will be handed to the station's arm for the night. Installation of Port 5 occurs during tomorrow's spacewalk.
2248 GMT (5:48 p.m. EST)
The targeted time for hatch opening is about 30 minutes away. But that time depends on the completion of leak checks.
2225 GMT (5:25 p.m. EST)
The docking ring between the two craft has been retracted into Discovery's Orbiter Docking System, pulling the station to a tight mating. The hooks and latches then drove shut to firmly connect the two spacecraft.
Pressure and leak checks will be performed by the crews before the hatchway is opened.
2213 GMT (5:13 p.m. EST)
Docking occurred at 5:12 p.m. EST while the two spacecraft flew above southeast Asia.
2212 GMT (5:12 p.m. EST)
CONTACT AND CAPTURE! Discovery has arrived at the International Space Station to install the Port 5 truss spacer, re-wire the outpost's power system and exchange the third member of the Expedition 14 resident crew.
The relative motions of the shuttle and station will be allowed to damp out over the next few minutes by the spring-loaded docking system. Later, the hooks and latches will be closed to firmly join the two craft and Discovery's Orbiter Docking System docking ring will be retracted to form a tight seal.
The opening of hatches between the station and shuttle is expected in about two hours. That will be followed by a welcoming ceremony and safety briefing. Then the joint crews will get down to business and use the shuttle robot arm to hoist the truss out of Discovery's payload bay for handoff to the station's arm.
2211 GMT (5:11 p.m. EST)
Five feet.
2209 GMT (5:09 p.m. EST)
Now 15 feet separating the shuttle from the station. Discovery's thrusters are programmed to fire in a post-contact maneuver to force the two docking ports together. That procedure is now armed and ready.
2205 GMT (5:05 p.m. EST)
The alignment between docking ports on Discovery and the space station is acceptable and no "fly out" maneuver by the shuttle is necessary.
2204 GMT (5:04 p.m. EST)
Discovery is 30 feet from the station docking port.
2159 GMT (4:59 p.m. EST)
Now 60 feet.
2156 GMT (4:56 p.m. EST)
Mission Control projects docking is about 15 minutes away.
2154 GMT (4:54 p.m. EST)
About 100 feet left to go. Discovery is closing at a tenth of a foot per second.
2146 GMT (4:46 p.m. EST)
Discovery is now 175 feet out.
2142 GMT (4:42 p.m. EST)
Less than 250 feet from docking. Discovery is closing at two-tenths of a foot per second.
2138 GMT (4:38 p.m. EST)
The orbiter's docking mechanism in the payload bay is confirmed ready for the linkup.
2137 GMT (4:37 p.m. EST)
Discovery's crew has been given a "go" to proceed inside 170 feet and the "go" for docking. The shuttle is about 300 feet away now.
2128 GMT (4:28 p.m. EST)
Discovery has reached the point directly in front of the station along the imaginary line called the velocity vector, or +V bar. The shuttle is 360 feet from the station.
2122 GMT (4:22 p.m. EST)
The spacecraft are approaching the western coast of South America now as Discovery continues making its way out in front of the station.
2116 GMT (4:16 p.m. EST)
Discovery is beginning the arc from the point beneath the station to a point roughly 400 feet in front of the complex to align with the docking port on the Destiny module. Docking is 50 minutes away.
2114 GMT (4:14 p.m. EST)
The pitch maneuver has been completed. Discovery is back in the orientation where it started, with the payload bay looking up at the station.
2111 GMT (4:11 p.m. EST)
The main engine nozzles of Discovery are facing the station now as the shuttle points its tail upward.
2110 GMT (4:10 p.m. EST)
The photo period has concluded. It is expected that the station crew got about 300 digital images for downlink to engineers.
2109 GMT (4:09 p.m. EST)
The backflip gives the station crew about 100 seconds of quality photography time to image the shuttle's underside.
2108 GMT (4:08 p.m. EST)
"Alpha, start photos," is the word from the shuttle crew and relayed via Mission Control.
This 360-degree, nose-first pirouette by Discovery has rotated the belly of the shuttle into view of the space station for the Expedition 14 crew on the station to snap detailed pictures of the orbiter's black tiles in the search for any launch impact damage.
2107 GMT (4:07 p.m. EST)
Discovery is nose-up facing the station as the two craft fly 220 miles over a cloudy backdrop.
2105 GMT (4:05 p.m. EST)
The Discovery crew says the rendezvous pitch maneuver -- the 360-degree flip -- is beginning. The shuttle is the under the control of commander Mark Polansky, who is flying the ship from the aft flight deck.
2102 GMT (4:02 p.m. EST)
Distance now 650 feet.
2058 GMT (3:58 p.m. EST)
Discovery is arriving on the R-bar, the imaginary line from the station down to Earth. The shuttle is 800 feet from station.
2056 GMT (3:56 p.m. EST)
Less than 1,000 feet separating Discovery and station.
2052 GMT (3:52 p.m. EST)
At a distance of about 600 feet directly below the station, commander Mark Polansky will carry out a slow 360-degree rendezvous pitch maneuver, or RPM, that will point the belly of the shuttle at the station.
As the shuttle's underside rotates into view, the station's crew will photograph Discovery's belly with handheld digital cameras equipped with 400- and 800-millimeter lenses.
The 800mm images should provide one-inch resolution for examination of landing gear door seals and protruding tile gap fillers. The 400mm will yield three-inch resolution.
After completing the RPM maneuver, Polansky will fly Discovery directly ahead of the space station with the shuttle's nose facing deep space and its cargo bay pointed at the lab complex. He then will guide the spacecraft to a docking with a pressurized mating adapter attached to the Destiny lab module.
2049 GMT (3:49 p.m. EST)
The final course correction burn has been conducted. It was a seven-second burn to change the shuttle's speed by 1.1 mph. The spacecraft are 1,800 feet apart, flying into an orbital sunrise.
2045 GMT (3:45 p.m. EST)
The shuttle is now a half-mile below the station. The closure rate is gradually slowing and will be stopped once Discovery gets to a point inside 1,000 feet directly beneath the station for the pitch maneuver to present the belly to the station crew for photography.
2039 GMT (3:39 p.m. EST)
Another course adjusting maneuver has been performed by the RCS jets. This provided a mile-per-hour change in speed. Discovery is just inside 5,000 feet from the station.
2027 GMT (3:27 p.m. EST)
Now 12,000 feet between Discovery and the station.
2022 GMT (3:22 p.m. EST)
The opportunity for a second trajectory correction maneuver just passed. The shuttle is right on track and didn't need to take advanced of that thruster firing.
2011 GMT (3:11 p.m. EST)
Discovery is now 27,000 feet from space station.
1949 GMT (2:49 p.m. EST)
Discovery has performed the first of several mid-course correction burns available during the approach. This was a three-second burn of Reaction Control System jets for a change in velocity of 0.7 feet per second. The shuttle and station are about 45,000 feet apart as they fly over South America.
1929 GMT (2:29 p.m. EST)
TI burn. The shuttle has performed the Terminal Initiation maneuvering burn to begin the final phase of this afternoon's rendezvous. The 11-second firing by one of Discovery's OMS engines changed the shuttle's speed by 5.8 mph.
The TI burn puts the shuttle on a trajectory to directly intercept the orbiting station over the next orbit and a half. This burn is the latest in a series of maneuvers performed by Discovery during its two days of chasing the station since launch Saturday.
Docking is set for 5:06 p.m. EST.
1912 GMT (2:12 p.m. EST)
Astronaut Suni Williams called Mission Control with news that the shuttle crew has spotted the space station and its golden solar wings from a distance of 50,000 feet. Williams will be moving aboard the station tonight, joining the Expedition 14 crew and replacing departing astronaut Thomas Reiter.
Reiter will become a member of Discovery's crew for the trip back to Earth after a half-year in space.
1853 GMT (1:53 p.m. EST)
Distance between the two spacecraft is now 101,000 feet. Discovery's Ku-band antenna has switched to radar mode to assist the crew during the rendezvous.
1831 GMT (1:31 p.m. EST)
Another rendezvous burn was just completed. This latest one used Discovery's Reaction Control System thrusters for a small maneuver.
1800 GMT (1:00 p.m. EST)
Docking of Discovery to the station is about four hours away. The two spacecraft are about 45 statute miles apart right now.
1757 GMT (12:57 p.m. EST)
A 16-second firing of the twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines on the tail of Discovery was just performed, boosting the shuttle's altitude to more-closely match that of the space station. The next burn in the rendezvous sequence is expected in a half-hour.
1600 GMT (11:00 a.m. EST)
Check out our most recent podcast detailing yesterday's events aboard Discovery.
1520 GMT (10:20 a.m. EST)
The wakeup call just came from Houston for Discovery's crew to begin flight day 3, setting the stage for the shuttle's docking to the space station less than seven hours from now.
Discovery is closing in on the station for a linkup around 5:05 p.m. EST. The terminal phase of the rendezvous procedure will begin with a rocket firing at 2:28 p.m. Trailing the station by about eight nautical miles, commander Mark Polansky will guide Discovery through a carefully choreographed approach that will put the shuttle about 600 feet directly below the lab complex a few minutes past 4 p.m.
The space station crew will train telephoto lenses on the shuttle as Polansky guides the craft through a 360-degree pitch maneuver, exposing Discovery's belly to view for a detailed heat shield inspection. The shuttle's nose cap and wing leading edge panels were inspected by the Discovery astronauts Sunday and today's inspection is intended to characterize the health of the tiles that play such a crucial role during re-entry.
Read our docking preview.
0745 GMT (2:45 a.m. EST)
Discovery is now 700 nautical miles from the space station.
0700 GMT (2:00 a.m. EST)
Discovery's crew will be going to sleep within the hour at the end of their first full day in orbit. They will be awakened at approximately 1517 GMT (10:17 a.m. EDT). Docking with the International Space Station is planned for 2206 GMT (5:06 p.m. EDT).
For a full report on today's events in space, take out a free subscription to our Mission Report Minute video podcast on iTunes.
In other news, word has reached us that Monday's Minotaur launch has been scrubbed. We will post more information to the site as soon as we have it.
0255 GMT (9:55 p.m. EST Sun.)
Preliminary analysis of ascent video and radar indicate the shuttle Discovery's external tank performed well and that no major debris events occurred that might have damaged the orbiter's fragile heat shield.
Read our full story.
0122 GMT (8:22 p.m. EST Sun.)
The Orbiter Boom Sensor System is being stowed back in the payload bay, its job complete for today. Discovery is now 1,200 nautical miles from the space station, closing at 100 miles per orbit. Docking is anticipated to occur at about 5 p.m. EST on Monday.
0045 GMT (7:45 p.m. EST Sun.)
The centerline camera has been mounted in the shuttle's docking port to help commander Mark Polansky during approach to the station tomorrow. The port wing inspections have gone well.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2006
2311 GMT (6:11 p.m. EST)
The nose cap inspections are complete. The port wing survey is next.
2225 GMT (5:25 p.m. EST)
The starboard wing leading edge survey was completed at about 4:15 p.m. EST. There were no obvious signs of any problems. The crew took a break and is now performing inspections of the shuttle's reinforced carbon-carbon nose cap.
Meanwhile, the astronauts have completed the checkout of spacesuits to be worn during the upcoming spacewalks.
1935 GMT (2:35 p.m. EST)
The Orbiter Boom Sensor System has been grappled by the shuttle's robot arm and lifted out of Discovery's payload bay in preparation for the multi-hour job of scanning the wings and nose cap to look for any signs of launch damage. This precautionary safety inspection has become a standard activity for all post-Columbia shuttle crews.
Later today, the boom will be stowed and cameras on the robot arm will observe other areas of the shuttle as part of the inspection process.
1847 GMT (1:47 p.m. EST)
Space shuttle Discovery just performed another orbit raising burn to refine its trajectory toward the space station. The NC-2 burn used both Orbital Maneuvering System engines for a 36-second firing designed to boost the shuttle's altitude from the morning's 181 x 135 nautical mile orbit into a 188 x 158 mile orbit.
1715 GMT (12:15 p.m. EST)
The preliminary radar tracking report indicates no significant events during launch of space shuttle Discovery. The powerful radars were critical for the nighttime launch to detect any pieces of external tank foam insulation or debris falling away from the shuttle on ascent. Mission managers will be briefed on the radar data later today.
1645 GMT (11:45 a.m. EST)
Post-launch inspections on tap for astronauts today
The Discovery astronauts were awakened for their first full day in space today by a recording of the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" beamed up from mission control around 10:50 a.m. The crew faces a busy day of heat shield inspections and equipment preparation as the shuttle continues its approach to the international space station for a docking Monday afternoon.
The primary goal of today's activity is a lengthy inspection of Discovery's nose cap and wing leading edge panels using the 50-foot orbiter boom sensor system, an extension for the shuttle's robot arm equipped with a laser scanner and high-resolution camera. The reinforced carbon carbon wing leading edge panels and the ship's RCC nose cap experience the most extreme heating during re-entry and the flight day 2 inspection is needed to spot any damage that might have occurred during launch.
Read our full story.
1550 GMT (10:50 a.m. EST)
Mission Control just sent the wakeup call to Discovery's astronauts to begin flight day 2. Today's musical wakeup was "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles, meant to reference Discovery's nighttime launch that was as bright as the sun.
Heatshield inspections, spacewalk spacesuit checks and rendezvous preparations will keep the crew busy today. See the day's timeline here. The master flight plan for the entire mission is available here.
Discovery is about 2,500 statute miles from the space station and closing at a rate of about 330 miles per orbit. Docking is planned for about 5 p.m. EST tomorrow.
0800 GMT (3:00 a.m. EST)
The astronauts have completed activating Spacehab, testing the shuttle's robot arm, setting up computers in the crew module and transforming Discovery into their orbital home for the next 12 days. They are now going to bed to end flight day 1. Wakeup to begin the first full workday in space is scheduled for 10:47 a.m.
0700 GMT (2:00 a.m. EST)
During checkout of space shuttle Discovery's robotic arm, the astronauts encountered a problem with the snare mechanism at the end of the 50-foot crane. The automatic release failed to function. The crew was able to work around the problem by using a manual procedure to open the arm's grip.
And check out our free podcast covering tonight's launch. It can be seen here or by signing up on iTunes.
0510 GMT (12:10 a.m. EST)
The crew says activation the Spacehab module is beginning. A tunnel connects the pressurized module to Discovery's crew compartment.
0438 GMT (11:38 p.m. EST Sat.)
Discovery has just completed another firing of its Orbital Maneuvering System engines. This minute-long firing is one of many maneuvers planned over of the next two days to guide the shuttle to the space station.
The crew is activating the Spacehab module in the payload bay of the shuttle. Then at about 1 a.m. EST, the robotic arm will be checked out to ensure it can perform tomorrow's inspections of the ship's heatshield. The crew is scheduled to begin an 8-hour sleep period at 2:47 a.m.
0343 GMT (10:43 p.m. EST Sat.)
The shuttle's high-speed Ku-band communications antenna has been deployed successfully.
0338 GMT (10:38 p.m. EST Sat.)
The payload bay doors have been opened. And Mission Control gave the astronauts a "go" for on-orbit operations at 10:20 p.m.
0245 GMT (9:45 p.m. EST Sat.)
The post-launch news conference is coming up at 10 p.m. EST.
0230 GMT (9:30 p.m. EST Sat.)
Running two days late, the shuttle Discovery thundered into orbit tonight, lighting up the night sky for hundreds of miles around as NASA kicked off a critical flight to conduct electronic bypass surgery on the international space station.
In the space agency's first night launch since 2002, Discovery's huge solid-fuel booster flashed to life at 8:47:35 p.m., instantly pushing the fuel-laden 4.5-million-pound spacecraft skyward atop 500-foot tongues of sky-lighting fire.
Accelerating through 140 mph in just 10 seconds - straight up - Discovery wheeled about its long axis and arced away over the Atlantic Ocean, blazing through the dark sky on a trajectory up the East Coast of the United States.
The 5,000-degree flame from its twin-solid fuel boosters was visible for hundreds of miles around, putting on a spectacular show. Despite earlier concern about high winds and possible low clouds, conditions improved as launch time approached and it was clear sailing for Discovery.
Read our launch story.
0227 GMT (9:27 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 39 minutes, 30 seconds. The twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines on the tail of Discovery have been fired successfully to propel the shuttle the rest of the way to orbit. The burn occurred over the Indian Ocean.
0225 GMT (9:25 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 38 minutes. The maneuvering engines have ignited for the raising burn.
0223 GMT (9:23 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 36 minutes. Mission Control reports Discovery is in a good configuration for the upcoming OMS burn.
0207 GMT (9:07 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 20 minutes. No problems were reported during Discovery's climb to orbit tonight.
0206 GMT (9:06 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 19 minutes. The two flapper doors on the belly of Discovery are being swung closed to shield the umbilicals that had connected to the external fuel tank.
0202 GMT (9:02 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 15 minutes. Discovery has reached a preliminary sub-orbital trajectory with a high point of 118 nautical miles and low point of 31 miles. Coming up, the Orbital Maneuvering System engines will be fired to raise the orbit to 123 by 105 nautical miles.
0201 GMT (9:01 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 14 minutes. The "go" has been given to the crew for Auxiliary Power Unit shutdown as planned.
0156 GMT (8:56 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 8 minutes, 45 seconds. The emptied external tank has been jettisoned from the belly of space shuttle Discovery. The tank will fall back into the atmosphere where it will burn up harmlessly.
0156 GMT (8:56 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 8 minutes, 31 seconds. MECO! Confirmation that Discovery's main engines have cutoff as planned, completing the powered phase of the launch.
0155 GMT (8:55 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. Speed now 14,000 mph.
0154 GMT (8:54 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 6 minutes, 30 seconds. Main engines, fuel cells and APUs continue to perform well as Discovery nears the completion of powered ascent. The shuttle is still visible to naked eye at the Cape.
0153 GMT (8:53 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 6 minutes. The shuttle has started rolling to a heads-up position to improve communications with the TDRS satellite network.
0153 GMT (8:53 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 5 minutes, 25 seconds. Discovery is 290 miles northeast of the launch pad at an altitude of 67 miles, traveling at 7,700 mph.
0152 GMT (8:52 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 4 minutes, 45 seconds. Discovery is at an altitude of 63 miles, traveling at 6,500 mph.
0151 GMT (8:51 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 4 minutes. Negative return. The shuttle is traveling too fast and is too far downrange so it can no longer return to the launch site in the event of a main engine problem.
0150 GMT (8:50 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. Discovery is 110 miles northeast of the pad and traveling over 5,000 mph.
0150 GMT (8:50 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 3 minutes. The twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines on the ship's tail are burning for an extra boost in thrust. Discovery's main engines continue to fire, guzzling a half-ton of propellant per second.
0149 GMT (8:49 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 2 minutes, 20 seconds. Guidance is converging as programmed. Discovery's engine nozzles are swiveling to steer the ship toward a precise point for main engine cutoff about six minutes from now.
0149 GMT (8:49 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 2 minutes, 7 seconds. A good separation of the twin solid rocket boosters has occurred. The shuttle continues its nighttime streak toward space on the power generated by the three liquid-fueled main engines.
0149 GMT (8:49 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 90 seconds. A smooth ride for Discovery and the seven astronauts. Commander Mark Polansky, pilot Bill Oefelein, flight engineer Bob Curbeam and Nick Patrick are seated on the flight deck, with mission specialists Christer Fuglesang, Joan Higginbotham and Sunita Williams down on the middeck.
0148 GMT (8:48 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 80 seconds. Discovery's engines have revved back to full throttle. Mission Control has given the "go" at throttle up call.
0148:35 GMT (8:48:35 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 60 seconds. One minute into the flight. The main engines and twin solid rocket boosters are providing a dazzling light show as they combine to produce 7 million pounds of thrust. Discovery is making the first night shuttle launch in four years.
0148 GMT (8:48 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 35 seconds. Discovery's three main engines are throttling down to reduce the aerodynamic stresses on the vehicle as it powers through the dense lower atmosphere.
0148 GMT (8:48 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 25 seconds. The shuttle has maneuvered to the proper heading for a 51.6 degree inclination orbit. Discovery is destined for a Monday afternoon linkup with the International Space Station.
0147:50 GMT (8:47:50 p.m. EST Sat.)
T+plus 15 seconds. Discovery now rolling on course for its flight up the eastern seaboard of the United States.
0147:35 GMT (8:47:35 p.m. EST Sat.)
LIFTOFF! Liftoff of Discovery on a mission to prepare the space station to power the pursuits of international science. And the shuttle has cleared the tower!
0147:04 GMT (8:47:04 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 31 seconds. AUTO SEQUENCE START! The handoff has occurred from the Ground Launch Sequencer to the space shuttle. Discovery's computers now controlling.
In the next few seconds, the solid rocket booster hydraulic steering system will be started, the orbiter's body flap and speed brake moved to their launch positions, the firing chain armed. Main engine ignition begins at T-minus 6.6 seconds.
0146:35 GMT (8:46:35 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 1 minute. Computers are verifying that the main engines are ready for ignition. Sound suppression water system is armed. The system will activate at T-minus 16 seconds to suppress the sound produced at launch. And the residual hydrogen burn ignitors are armed. They will be fired at T-minus 10 seconds to burn off hydrogen gas from beneath the main engine nozzles.
Shortly, the external tank strut heaters will be turned off; Discovery will transition to internal power; the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen outboard fill and drain valves will be closed; the payload bay vent doors will be positioned for the launch; and the gaseous oxygen vent arm will be verified fully retracted.
0145:35 GMT (8:45:35 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 2 minutes. The astronauts are being instructed to close and lock the visors on their launch and entry helmets.
At T-minus 1 minute, 57 seconds the replenishment to the flight load of liquid hydrogen in the external tank will be terminated and tank pressurization will begin.
0145:05 GMT (8:45:05 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The external tank liquid oxygen vent valve has been closed and pressurization of the LOX tank has started.
Discovery's power-producing fuel cells are transfering to internal reactants. The units will begin providing all electricity for the mission beginning at T-50 seconds.
And pilot Bill Oefelein has been asked to clear the caution and warning memory system aboard Discovery. He will verify no unexpected errors in the system.
In the next few seconds, the gaseous oxygen vent hood will be removed from atop the external tank. Verification that the swing arm is fully retracted will be made by the ground launch sequencer at the T-minus 37 second mark.
0144:35 GMT (8:44:35 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 3 minutes. Orbiter steering check is now complete; the main engine nozzles are in their start positions.
0144:05 GMT (8:44:05 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 3 minutes, 30 seconds. The main engine nozzles now being moved through a computer controlled test pattern to demonstrate their readiness to support guidance control during launch today.
0143:35 GMT (8:43:35 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 4 minutes. Activation of the APUs is complete. The three units are up and running normally.
And the final helium purge sequence is underway in the main propulsion system. This procedure readies fuel system valves for engine start. In the next few seconds, the aerosurfaces of Discovery will be run through a pre-planned mobility test to ensure readiness for launch. This is also a dress rehearsal for flight of the orbiter's hydraulic systems.
0142:35 GMT (8:42:35 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 5 minutes. The "go" has been given for for Auxiliary Power Unit start. Pilot Bill Oefelein is now flipping three switches in Discovery's cockpit to start each of the three APU's. The units, located in the aft compartment of Discovery, provide the pressure needed to power the hydraulic systems of the shuttle. The units will be used during the launch and landing phases of the mission for such events as moving the orbiter's aerosurfaces, gimbaling the main engine nozzles and deploying the landing gear.
Over the course of the next minute, the orbiter's heaters will be configured for launch by commander Mark Polansky, the fuel valve heaters on the main engines will be turned off in preparation for engine ignition at T-6.6 seconds and the external tank and solid rocket booster safe and arm devices will be armed.
0142:05 GMT (8:42:05 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 5 minutes, 30 seconds. APU pre-start is complete and the units are ready for activation. The orbiters flight data recorders have gone into the record mode to collect measurements of shuttle systems performance during flight.
0141:20 GMT (8:41:20 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 6 minutes, 15 seconds. Pilot Bill Oefelein has been asked by the orbiter test conductor to pre-start the orbiter Auxiliary Power Units. This procedure readies the three APU's for their activation after the countdown passes T-minus 5 minutes.
0140:05 GMT (8:40:05 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. The Ground Launch Sequencer has started pulling the orbiter access arm away from the crew hatch on the port side of the vehicle. The arm was the passage way for the astronauts to board Discovery a few hours ago. The arm can be re-extended very quickly should the need arise later in the countdown.
0139:35 GMT (8:39:35 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 8 minutes and counting. Pilot Bill Oefelein has flipped the switches in the cockpit of Discovery to directly connect the three onboard fuel cells with the essential power buses. Also, the stored program commands have been issued to the orbiter for the final antenna alignment and management for today's launch.
0138:35 GMT (8:38:35 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 9 minutes and counting! The Ground Launch Sequencer is now actively running this final phase of tonight's countdown to launch space shuttle Discovery.
0136:35 GMT (8:36:35 p.m. EST Sat.)
Countdown clock will resume in two minutes.
Once the countdown picks up, the Ground Launch Sequencer will be initiated. The computer program is located in a console in the Firing Room of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center. The GLS is the master of events through liftoff. During the last 9 minutes of the countdown, the computer will monitor as many as a thousand different systems and measurements to ensure that they do not fall out of any pre-determine red-line limits. At T-minus 31 seconds, the GLS will hand off to the onboard computers of Discovery to complete their own automatic sequence of events through the final half minute of the countdown.
0134 GMT (8:34 p.m. EST Sat.)
NASA launch director Mike Leinbach has conducted his poll and given approval to resume the countdown for liftoff at 8:47 p.m.!
0133 GMT (8:33 p.m. EST Sat.)
The final readiness poll by the NASA test director Jeff Spaulding confirms there are no technical issues being addressed. The Range also report "go" on the weather.
0128 GMT (8:28 p.m. EST Sat.)
Ten minutes remaining in this built-in hold.
0126 GMT (8:26 p.m. EST Sat.)
Final readiness polls will be conducted over the next few minutes. Officials are still watching the winds, but all remains OK for now.
0117 GMT (8:17 p.m. EST Sat.)
Now 30 minutes from launch of Discovery. All remains quiet in Firing Room 4 of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center. No issues are being worked and weather is still acceptable for liftoff.
0112 GMT (8:12 p.m. EST Sat.)
Weather is still "go."
0108 GMT (8:08 p.m. EST Sat.)
Check out our free podcast covering tonight's countdown. It can be seen here or by signing up on iTunes.
0105 GMT (8:05 p.m. EST Sat.)
The International Space Station is orbiting 220 miles above Earth. At launch, it will be over southern England. Liftoff is timed to place Discovery on course to dock with the station at 5 p.m. EST Monday.
0057 GMT (7:57 p.m. EST Sat.)
Chief NASA astronaut Seve Lindsey is flying the weather reconnaissance aircraft out over the Atlantic northeast of the pad to look at an area of clouds moving toward the launch site. Weather officials want Lindsey's observations on the cloud conditions that could be over KSC at launch time.
0053 GMT (7:53 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 9 minutes and holding. Countdown clocks have gone into the planned 45-minute, 35-second built-in hold. Today's launch remains set for 8:47:35 p.m. EST. Weather is still "go" at this time.
0050 GMT (7:50 p.m. EST Sat.)
Mission Control in Houston has loaded Discovery's onboard computers with the proper guidance parameters based on the projected launch time.
0048 GMT (7:48 p.m. EST Sat.)
The Main Propulsion System helium system has been reconfigured by pilot Bill Oefelein. Soon the gaseous nitrogen purge to the aft skirts of the solid rocket boosters will be started.
0047 GMT (7:47 p.m. EST Sat.)
Now one hour away from launch of Discovery.
Pilot Bill Oefelein is configuring the displays inside Discovery's cockpit for launch while commander Mark Polansky enables the abort steering instrumentation.
0042 GMT (7:42 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 20 minutes and counting. The countdown has resumed after a 10-minute hold. Clocks will tick down for the next 11 minutes to T-minus 9 minutes where the final planned hold is scheduled to occur. The hold length will be adjusted to synch up with today's preferred launch time of 8:47:35 p.m.
Discovery's onboard computers are now transitioning to the Major Mode-101 program, the primary ascent software. Also, engineers are dumping the Primary Avionics Software System (PASS) onboard computers. The data that is dumped from each of PASS computers is compared to verify that the proper software is loaded aboard for launch.
0038 GMT (7:38 p.m. EST Sat.)
The launch team has been briefed on today's launch window and countdown procedures. The window opens at 8:42:35 and closes at 8:52:35 p.m. The target liftoff time is 8:47:35 p.m.
0032 GMT (7:32 p.m. EST Sat.)
T-minus 20 minutes and holding. The countdown has paused for a 10-minute built-in hold. Launch is scheduled for 8:47 p.m. EST. Everything is going smoothly with the countdown and weather is still looking good. The clouds and crosswinds are not violating any rules currently.
The launch time forecast calls for scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken deck at 20,000 and winds out of 050 degrees at 8 knot gusting to 14. That equates to a crosswind of just under 14 knots. The safety limit is 15 knots.
During this built-in hold, all computer programs in Firing Room 4 of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center will be verified to ensure that the proper programs are available for the countdown; the landing convoy status will be verified and the landing sites will be checked to support an abort landing during launch today; the Inertial Measurement Unit preflight alignment will be verified completed; and preparations are made to transition the orbiter onboard computers to Major Mode 101 upon coming out of the hold. This configures the computer memory to a terminal countdown configuration.
0021 GMT (7:21 p.m. EST Sat.)
Commander Mark Polansky is pressurizing the gaseous nitrogen system for Discovery's Orbital Maneuvering System engines, and pilot Bill Oefelein is activating the gaseous nitrogen supply for the orbiter's Auxiliary Power Units' water spray boilers.
0012 GMT (7:12 p.m. EST Sat.)
The ground pyro initiator controllers (PICs) are scheduled to be powered up around this time in the countdown. They are used to fire the solid rocket hold-down posts, liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tail service mast and external tank vent arm system pyros at liftoff and the space shuttle main engine hydrogen gas burn system prior to engine ignition.
The shuttle's two Master Events Controllers are being tested. They relay the commands from the shuttle's computers to ignite, and then separate the boosters and external tank during launch.
0007 GMT (7:07 p.m. EST Sat.)
The Closeout Crew has completed stowing the platforms and equipment in the White Room following crew module closure. The team is preparing to depart the pad now.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2006
2352 GMT (6:52 p.m. EST)
Now passing the T-minus 1 hour mark in the countdown. Two scheduled holds are planned at T-minus 20 minutes and T-minus 9 minutes, leading to the target liftoff time of 8:47 p.m.
The final pre-flight alignment of Discovery's guidance system inertial measurement units is underway.
2343 GMT (6:43 p.m. EST)
The weather outlook has just taken a major swing in the positive direction. The latest forecast from weather officer Kathy Winters predicts only a 30 percent chance of violating the launch rules tonight. The change is mostly due to the optimism that winds won't be gusting high enough to break the crosswind limit.
2333 GMT (6:33 p.m. EST)
The shuttle's crew compartment hatch is confirmed to be closed and latched for flight.
2323 GMT (6:23 p.m. EST)
The "go" was just given to close Discovery's crew module hatch for launch.
2322 GMT (6:22 p.m. EST)
T-minus 90 minutes and counting. Countdown clocks continue to tick down to T-minus 20 minutes where the next hold is planned. Countdown activities remain on track for liftoff at 8:47 p.m. There are no technical issues being worked and the weather is acceptable right now.
At this point in the count, the Ground Launch Sequencer software that will control the final nine minutes of the countdown has been initialized. Also, the solid rocket boosters' gas generator heaters in the hydraulic power units are turned on, the aft skirt gaseous nitrogen purge is starting and the rate gyro assemblies (RGAs) are being activated. The RGAs are used by the orbiter's navigation system to determine rates of motion of the boosters during the first stage of flight.
2315 GMT (6:15 p.m. EST)
A series of routine communications checks between the Discovery crew on various audio channels is underway.
2300 GMT (6:00 p.m. EST)
The final crewmember just boarded Discovery. Bob Curbeam serves as mission specialist No. 2 and flight engineer on Discovery's STS-116 flight. The veteran of two previous shuttle flights is the lead spacewalker on the upcoming mission. The Baltimore native will ride in the flight deck's aft-center seat.
Read his biography here.
And a video interview with Curbeam is available here.
2257 GMT (5:57 p.m. EST)
Weather conditions remain "go" for launch at this time.
2255 GMT (5:55 p.m. EST)
Rookie astronaut Joan Higginbotham, a former shuttle worker at Kennedy Space Center, serves as mission specialist No. 4 on Discovery's STS-116 flight. The Chicago native will take the middeck's center seat.
Read her biography here.
And a video interview with Higginbotham is available here.
2246 GMT (5:46 p.m. EST)
Nick Patrick was born in the United Kingdom and later became an American citizen. The rookie astronaut serves as mission specialist No. 1 on Discovery's STS-116 flight. He is climbing to the flight deck's aft-right seat.
Read his biography here.
And a video interview with Patrick is available here.
2238 GMT (5:38 p.m. EST)
European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang of Sweden serves as mission specialist No. 3 on Discovery's STS-116 flight. He just entered the orbiter to take the middeck's left seat.
Read his biography here.
And a video interview with Fuglesang is available here.
2233 GMT (5:33 p.m. EST)
Pilot Bill Oefelein of Anchorage, Alaska, is making his way to the flight deck's front-right seat.
Read his biography here.
And a video interview with Oefelein is available here.
2225 GMT (5:25 p.m. EST)
Sunita Williams has entered the shuttle to take the right-side seat on the middeck. The spaceflight rookie is riding the shuttle to the International Space Station where she will join the Expedition 14 long-duration resident crew and replace departing crewmember Thomas Reiter. A European Space Agency astronaut, Reiter will return to Earth at the conclusion of Discovery's flight to complete a half-year in orbit. Williams will remain on the station until STS-118 next summer.
Read Williams' biography here.
2222 GMT (5:22 p.m. EST)
Commander Mark Polansky is the first astronaut to board the shuttle. He is taking the forward-left seat on the flight deck.
The New Jersey native has flown on one previous shuttle mission -- as pilot of STS-98 that delivered the Destiny laboratory module to the station. Read his biography here.
And a video interview with Polansky is available here.
2215 GMT (5:15 p.m. EST)
Discovery's crew arrived at launch pad 39B at 5:15 p.m. The AstroVan came to a stop on the pad surface near the Fixed Service Structure tower elevator that will take the seven-person crew to the 195-foot level to begin boarding the shuttle.
2206 GMT (5:06 p.m. EST)
The AstroVan is passing the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building where Discovery was attached to its external tank and solid rocket boosters and the adjacent Launch Control Center.
The Press Site is located across the street, and reporters went outdoors to watch at the passing convoy. This is a launch day tradition to say farewell and good luck to the astronaut crews.
2158 GMT (4:58 p.m. EST)
Right on schedule, the astronauts have emerged from the Kennedy Space Center crew quarters to board the AstroVan for the 20-minute ride from the Industrial Area to launch pad 39B on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
Commander Mark Polansky leads the STS-116 crew, and rookie astronaut Bill Oefelein serves as pilot. The five mission specialists are Nick Patrick, Bob Curbeam, Christer Fuglesang, Joan Higginbotham and Sunita Williams.
2153 GMT (4:53 p.m. EST)
The Final Inspection Team is not reported any significant concerns today.
2152 GMT (4:52 p.m. EST)
T-minus 3 hours and counting. The countdown clocks are ticking again after the planned three-hour built-in hold. Clocks will proceed to T-minus 20 minutes when the next hold is scheduled. A final hold occurs at the T-minus 9 minute mark to synch up with the 8:47:34 p.m. EST launch time.
2147 GMT (4:47 p.m. EST)
Now four hours from launch. Launch weather conditions are "go" at the present time.
2140 GMT (4:40 p.m. EST)
A revised forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron team at Cape Canaveral has improved slightly the odds of acceptable conditions for liftoff time. There is now a 60 percent chance of violating the weather rules due to low clouds and gusty winds. It had been 70 percent in earlier forecasts.
The outlook calls for scattered-to-broken clouds at 4,000 feet and scattered-to-broken clouds at 20,000 feet, 7 miles of visibility, a chance of isolated showers, easterly winds from 060 degrees at 15 peaking to 20 knots and a temperature of 63 degrees F.
2134 GMT (4:34 p.m. EST)
The crew has donned the day-glow orange launch and entry partial pressure spacesuits. After final adjustments and pressure checks, the astronauts will depart the suit-up room and take the elevator down to the ground level of the Operations and Checkout Building to board the AstroVan for the trip to launch pad 39B.
2130 GMT (4:30 p.m. EST)
The latest weather briefing given to the astronauts indicates the forecast for Kennedy Space Center still includes concerns for low clouds and strong winds at launch time.
2115 GMT (4:15 p.m. EST)
The Final Inspection Team is performing its observations of Discovery this afternoon.
The team is responsible for checking the shuttle and launch pad one last time prior to liftoff. The team is comprised of engineers and safety officials from NASA, United Space Alliance and tank-builder Lockheed Martin. At the conclusion of their two-hour tour-of-duty, the team will have walked up and down the entire fixed service structure and mobile launcher platform.
The team is on the lookout for any abnormal ice or frost build-up on the vehicle and integrity of the external tank foam insulation.
The team uses a portable infrared scanner that gathers temperature measurements on the surface area of the shuttle and can spot leaks. The scanner will be used to obtain temperature data on the external tank, solid rocket boosters, space shuttle orbiter, main engines and launch pad structures. The scanner can also spot leaks of the cryogenic propellants, and due to its ability to detect distinct temperature differences, can spot any dangerous hydrogen fuel that is burning. The team member also is responsible for photo documentation.
The team wears the highly visible day-glow orange coveralls that are anti-static and flame resistant. Each member also has a self-contained emergency breathing unit that holds about 10 minutes of air.
2050 GMT (3:50 p.m. EST)
Filling of Discovery's external fuel tank was called complete at about 3:35 p.m. EST. The tank has been pumped full with a half-million gallons of supercold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The three-hour fueling process started at 12:46 p.m. with the chilldown conditioning.
But given the cryogenic nature of the oxidizer and propellant, the supplies naturally boil away. So the tanks are continuously topped off until the final minutes of the countdown in a procedure called "stable replenishment."
With the hazardous tanking operation completed, the Orbiter Closeout Crew and Final Inspection Team have been given the OK to go out to the pad to perform their jobs. The closeout crew will ready Discovery's crew module for the astronauts' ingress in a couple of hours; and the inspection team will give the entire vehicle a check for any ice formation following fueling.
2033 GMT (3:33 p.m. EST)
The liquid oxygen tank is now in the topping mode.
2019 GMT (3:19 p.m. EST)
The external tank liquid hydrogen loading has entered the topping phase.
2015 GMT (3:15 p.m. EST)
The latest forecast update from the Spaceflight Meteorology Group in Houston's Mission Control is still predicting crosswinds and the chance of low clouds prohibiting launch tonight.
The outlook predicts scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, the chance of the low deck going broken and creating a ceiling at 3,000 feet, more clouds broken at 6,000 and broken at 25,000 feet, visibility of 7 miles and easterly winds from 060 degrees at 12 gusting to 18 knots. The limit is 15 knots.
2007 GMT (3:07 p.m. EST)
The astronauts just posed for the launch day photo opportunity in the crew quarters' dining room. They were seated around a table that featured a large STS-116 crew emblem on display.
Next up for the astronauts will be a weather briefing and then suitup activities. They are scheduled to board the AstroVan for the ride to the launch pad at 4:57 p.m. However, the delay in fueling Discovery has resulted in postponing the Orbiter Closeout Crew's dispatch to the pad to ready the crew module for the astronauts. So officials are discussing the option of delaying the astronauts' departure from crew quarters by about 15 minutes.
1932 GMT (2:32 p.m. EST)
NASA says no technical problems are being worked in the countdown right now. Fueling continues to go well, despite the late start today.
1852 GMT (1:52 p.m. EST)
T-minus 3 hours and holding. The countdown has gone into the next planned hold in the timeline. This hold is scheduled to last three hours. NASA is not reporting any problems during today's fueling process.
1755 GMT (12:55 p.m. EST)
FUELING BEGINS. After a couple-hour delay, loading of space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank with a half-million gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen is finally underway now. Work fell behind schedule overnight at pad 39B, which in turn forced the launch team to postpone the start of fueling. But the three-hour process to the load the external tank began with the chilldown thermal conditioning at about 12:46 p.m.
NASA believes there is sufficient margin left in the remaining countdown timeline to give Discovery a shot at launching tonight at 8:47 p.m. EST as scheduled.
Weather remains the wildcard, however. There is a 70 percent chance that low clouds and stiff crosswinds will violate the shuttle's weather rules.
1725 GMT (12:25 p.m. EST)
Fueling remains on hold, pending completion of buttoning up the launch pad and clearing all workers. NASA is racing against the clock to get caught up on activities and begin fueling within the next half-hour.
1600 GMT (11:00 a.m. EST)
Discovery's seven astronauts are getting their launch day wakeup call over in crew quarters at the Operations and Checkout Building. Their sleep/wake cycle is timed to match the mission hours of STS-116.
Coming up in about 90 minutes, the crew will undergo final pre-flight medical exams.
You'll see the astronauts for the first time today at about 3 p.m. during the traditional photo opportunity in the crew quarters' dining room.
A weather briefing and then suitup follows for the crewmates. Departure for the launch pad is expected just before 5 p.m.
1545 GMT (10:45 a.m. EST)
Obviously, fueling of Discovery will be delayed this morning. Spokesman Hugh Harris says the tanking operation needs to get underway by about 12:30 p.m. to preserve the opportunity to launch tonight. If fuel isn't flowing soon after that time, NASA will run out of slack in the timeline and not be able to meet tonight's launch window.
The situation stems from delays encountered overnight. Rollback of the gantry-like rotating service structure was postponed several hours, finally beginning at about 9:30 a.m. Pad crews are trying to get the complex secured and then cleared of workers so that the hazardous operation of filling the external tank can start.
1535 GMT (10:35 a.m. EST)
Officials have given a provisional "go" for fueling of space shuttle Discovery in advance of tonight's launch. However, activities at the pad are running three-and-a-half hours behind schedule. Managers will meet again after 12 p.m. to reassess the progress of work and decide if the countdown can get back on track for liftoff this evening.
Shuttle flights to the space station have only 10-minute launch windows -- in tonight's case, 8:42 to 8:52 p.m. So NASA is left with little wiggle room compared to the old days of lengthy shuttle windows.
In any event, workers are scrambling to get caught up so that Discovery can take a shot at launching. But the weather forecast does remain 70 percent "no go" for launch time.
1510 GMT (10:10 a.m. EST)
The Mission Management Team pre-fueling meeting is proceeding at the Kennedy Space Center. A decision on pressing ahead with filling the external fuel tank with a half-million gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen is expected within the hour.
1437 GMT (9:37 a.m. EST)
Rollback of the rotating service structure is finally underway at pad 39B.
1400 GMT (9:00 a.m. EST)
Shuttle engineers are gearing up to refuel the shuttle Discovery for launch tonight at 8:47:34 p.m. to kick off a critical space station mission. Retraction of a huge service gantry ran behind schedule this morning, but a NASA spokesman said the work was expected to be completed in time to support fueling operations, scheduled to begin at 10:52 a.m.
Read our full story.
1300 GMT (8:00 a.m. EST)
It is launch try No. 2 for space shuttle Discovery today. But ground crews have yet to retract the rotating service structure from the orbiter at launch pad 39B. Engineers have been dealing with a few minor issues overnight that have delayed the RSS rollback. For now, officials believe the gantry can be pulled back later this hour and keep the countdown on track for launch this evening.
Weather conditions at the 8:47 p.m. EST launch time continue to be the main worry. Forecasters are predicting the chance of low clouds, rain showers and a crosswind at the Cape's emergency shuttle runway.
Countdown clocks resumed from the T-minus 11 hour mark at 3:52 a.m. this morning. Following the scrub on Thursday night, the launch team recycled the clocks to T-11 hours for the extended scrub turnaround and fuel cell servicing operation.
The count is proceeding to the T-minus 6 hour point where a planned hold is scheduled to begin at 8:52 a.m. During this time, the management team will convene its pre-fueling meeting to review the status of work and to receive a detailed weather briefing before giving a "go" or "no go" to start filling Discovery's external tank for tonight's launch attempt. Fueling is supposed to start just before 11 a.m., but that could be pushed back given the delays retracting the RSS. NASA typically has about two hours of margin in the fueling timeline if delays occur.
The astronauts will be awakened at 11 a.m. to begin their flight day 1 activities.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2006
1845 GMT (1:45 p.m. EST)
It is a cold, blustery and overcast day at the Kennedy Space Center where technicians are servicing space shuttle Discovery's fuel cells in preparation for another launch attempt on Saturday. But the weather outlook for the next few days remains less than optimistic. See the latest forecast here.
0430 GMT (11:30 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Watch our latest Mission Report Minute video podcast about the launch delay.
0415 GMT (11:15 p.m. EST Thurs.)
After a nail-biting, down-to-the-wire countdown, launch director Mike Leinbach called off an attempt to launch the shuttle Discovery tonight on a critical space station mission because of low, thickening clouds over the Kennedy Space Center.
"We gave it our best shot and did not get clear and convincing evidence in the end that the cloud-ceiling rule would clear enough or us," Leinbach radioed the astronauts at 9:36 p.m. "So we're going to have declare a scrub at this time. Appreciate your support and we'll come up with a scrub-turnaround plan for you."
Read our full story.
0351 GMT (10:51 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Commander Mark Polansky has egressed Discovery. The astronauts will be returning to crew quarters to wait out the launch delay.
0347 GMT (10:47 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Six of the crewmembers are out of the vehicle. Waiting for the comander now.
0338 GMT (10:38 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Mission specialist Joan Higginbotham is the first astronaut to climb out of the orbiter following tonight's scrub.
0330 GMT (10:30 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Technicians will replenish Discovery's fuel cell liquid hydrogen supplies tomorrow. That will permit back-to-back launch tries on Saturday and Sunday. The hydrogen is located in storage tanks beneath the payload bay.
The fuel cells combined liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants to generate electricity during the mission and a byproduct of drinking water. But the cryogenics naturally boil away and must be topped off during launch delay situations.
If Discovery isn't launched by Sunday, teams would have to top off liquid oxygen before further attempts next week.
0320 GMT (10:20 p.m. EST Thurs.)
The Orbiter Closeout Crew is opening Discovery's side hatch for the astronauts to exit the shuttle.
0315 GMT (10:15 p.m. EST Thurs.)
The Mission Management Team has decided to forego a launch attempt on Friday night given bleak weather outlook. The next shot at launching space shuttle Discovery will be Saturday, with a target liftoff time of 8:47:34 p.m. EST. But even then the weather forecast is not ideal.
0307 GMT (10:07 p.m. EST Thurs.)
The weather forecast for Friday night's launch time calls for a chance of isolated rain showers, scattered-to-broken clouds at 3,000 feet, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet, 7 miles of visibility, northeasterly winds of 22 peaking to 30 knots and a temperature of 55 degrees. The showers, winds and broken clouds constituting a ceiling at 3,000 feet would be constraints. There is a 90 percent chance of violating the launch rules.
Saturday's outlook predicts isolated showers, scattered-to-broken clouds at 3,000 feet, northeasterly winds of 15 peaking to 20 knots and a temperature of 63 degrees. Showers, winds and a low ceiling would again be constraints, with a 70 percent chance of violating the launch rules.
Sunday and Monday are 60 percent "no go" due to showers, winds and low ceilings. Tuesday is the first day with better odds, 40 percent "no go."
0241 GMT (9:41 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Friday's launch time would be 9:13:17 p.m.; Saturday's would be 8:47:34 p.m. EST.
0238 GMT (9:38 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Friday night's weather outlook is not good. Forecasters predict a 90 percent chance of "no go" weather due to high winds and cloud cover. NASA could opt to skip tomorrow and reschedule the mission for Saturday. But Saturday's weather is forecast 70 percent "no go."
0236 GMT (9:36 p.m. EST Thurs.)
SCRUB. Tonight's liftoff has been scrubbed due to low clouds over the launch site, preventing the required visual tracking of the shuttle's initial ascent.
0235:48 GMT (9:35:48 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Launch window has expired. Discovery will not fly today.
0234:48 GMT (9:34:48 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Countdown must resume in one minute for Discovery to lift off by the end of tonight's window.
0233 GMT (9:33 p.m. EST Thurs.)
The weather reconnaissance aircraft continues to make some flights around KSC evaluating the cloud conditions.
0233 GMT (9:33 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Tonight's window closes at 9:40:48 p.m. Discovery must launch by then or else wait until tomorrow.
0231 GMT (9:31 p.m. EST Thurs.)
This is a standard hold point in the count if problems arise. Once the countdown passes this point, the Auxiliary Power Units are started. NASA doesn't want to activate the units unless launch is going to occur.
0230:48 GMT (9:30:48 p.m. EST Thurs.)
T-minus 5 minutes and holding. The countdown has been stopped due to low clouds over Kennedy Space Center. Tonight's available launch window extends an additional five minutes, giving the team a few moments to wait for the weather to improve.
0230:18 GMT (9:30:18 p.m. EST Thurs.)
T-minus 5 minutes, 30 seconds. APU pre-start is complete and the units are ready for activation. The orbiters flight data recorders have gone into the record mode to collect measurements of shuttle systems performance during flight.
0229:33 GMT (9:29:33 p.m. EST Thurs.)
T-minus 6 minutes, 15 seconds. Pilot Bill Oefelein has been asked by the orbiter test conductor to pre-start the orbiter Auxiliary Power Units. This procedure readies the three APU's for their activation after the countdown passes T-minus 5 minutes.
0228:18 GMT (9:28:18 p.m. EST Thurs.)
T-minus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. The Ground Launch Sequencer has started pulling the orbiter access arm away from the crew hatch on the port side of the vehicle. The arm was the passage way for the astronauts to board Discovery a few hours ago. The arm can be re-extended very quickly should the need arise later in the countdown.
0227:48 GMT (9:27:48 p.m. EST Thurs.)
T-minus 8 minutes and counting. Pilot Bill Oefelein has flipped the switches in the cockpit of Discovery to directly connect the three onboard fuel cells with the essential power buses. Also, the stored program commands have been issued to the orbiter for the final antenna alignment and management for today's launch.
0226:48 GMT (9:26:48 p.m. EST Thurs.)
T-minus 9 minutes and counting! The Ground Launch Sequencer is now actively running this final phase of tonight's countdown to launch space shuttle Discovery. Weather is still "no go" at this time. The countdown will hold at T-minus 5 minutes if the weather does not clear. The low cloud ceiling is currently 5,300 feet. The limit is 6,000 feet.
0224 GMT (9:24 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Countdown clock will resume in two minutes.
Once the countdown picks up, the Ground Launch Sequencer will be initiated. The computer program is located in a console in the Firing Room of the Complex 39 Launch Control Center. The GLS is the master of events through liftoff. During the last 9 minutes of the countdown, the computer will monitor as many as a thousand different systems and measurements to ensure that they do not fall out of any pre-determine red-line limits. At T-minus 31 seconds, the GLS will hand off to the onboard computers of Discovery to complete their own automatic sequence of events through the final half minute of the countdown.
0223 GMT (9:23 p.m. EST Thurs.)
"We're ready to count down and get this mission underway," Discovery commander Mark Polansky says.
0223 GMT (9:23 p.m. EST Thurs.)
The decision has been made to resume the countdown and proceed to T-minus 5 minutes. The clock will hold there if the weather does not improve.
0222 GMT (9:22 p.m. EST Thurs.)
The final readiness poll by the NASA test director Jeff Spaulding confirms there are no technical issues being addressed. The Range is "no go" due to low clouds, however.
NASA launch director Mike Leinbach is conducting his poll.
0215 GMT (9:15 p.m. EST Thurs.)
Launch weather is "no go" right now due to low clouds at Kennedy Space Center. Final readiness polls of management and the launch team will be coming up shortly.
0202 GMT (9:02 p.m. EST Thurs.)
The cloud ceiling at Kennedy Space Center has dropped below the acceptable limit again. So weather is "no go" for launch at the moment. Meanwhile, weather at the Zaragoza, Spa | 
