Spaceflight Now



Video Coverage




The most complete source of video from the countdown, launch and mission of space shuttle Discovery is available here!

Video Collection



The Mission




Orbiter: Discovery
Mission: STS-121
Launch: July 4, 2006
Time: 2:38 p.m. EDT (1838 GMT)
Site: Pad 39B, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landing: July 17 @ 9:14 a.m. EDT
Site: Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC
Video collection

Mission Status Center

Landing Day Timeline

Master Flight Plan

NASA TV Schedule

Countdown Timeline

Launch Timeline

Shuttle/ISS Calendar

STS-121 Quick-Look

Launch Windows Chart

Ascent Data Packet

Timeline Walkthrough

Rendezvous Burns

Undocking Timeline

Key Personnel List

STS-121 Mission Index

STS-114 Archive



The Crew




Veteran shuttle commander Steven Lindsey leads a seven-person crew launching aboard Discovery for the STS-121 mission.

Crew Quick-Look

CDR: Steven Lindsey

PLT: Mark Kelly

MS 1: Michael Fossum

MS 2: Lisa M. Nowak

MS 3: Stephanie Wilson

MS 4: Piers Sellers

MS 5: Thomas Reiter

Manned Spaceflights

Current Demographics

Spacewalk Statistics



The Vehicle




As America's third reusable space shuttle to fly, Discovery has successfully completed 31 missions since 1984.

STS-121 Hardware

Launch/Landing Chart

Shuttle Flight History




Discovery's fuel tank receives certification
BY WILLIAM HARWOOD
STORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS "SPACE PLACE" & USED WITH PERMISSION
Posted: June 7, 2006

NASA managers today cleared the shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank for flight based on wind tunnel data and computer modeling that show the huge tank can stand up to the aerodynamic rigors of launch despite the recent removal of long foam wind deflectors. Launch currently is targeted for July 1, at 3:48 p.m., but the long-awaited flight could slip another day or so to ensure better lighting for critical photography of the tank after Discovery reaches orbit. NASA managers are expected to discuss the lighting issue during a weekly review Thursday.

Discovery's launch window is defined, in part, by a requirement to launch in daylight and to have the external tank separate from the orbiter in daylight, half a world away. The goal is to obtain good photos of the tank's redesigned foam insulation as well as the shuttle's heat-shield tiles and wing leading edge panels to spot any potential impact damage.

As it turns out, a new analysis of orbital lighting conditions shows a camera mounted in the belly of the shuttle will not have enough light for good photography if Discovery takes off July 1. Conditions improve on July 2 and subsequent days.

Even then, lighting is not expected to be acceptable for crew handheld still and video photography until around July 5. But the critical driver is the umbilical camera, which is positioned to provide good views of foam ramps around external fittings on the tank that carry pressurization lines.

Those so-called ice/frost ramps have not been modified. But long protuberance air-load - PAL - ramps that provided some aerodynamic shielding for the pressurization lines and a critical cable tray, were removed in the wake of major foam shedding during Discovery's launch last July on the first post-Columbia mission.

Shuttle program manager Wayne Hale approved removal of the PAL ramps on the assumption wind tunnel data and computer modeling would show the pressurization lines, cable tray and other fittings will stand up to increased aerodynamic buffeting during the climb out of the lower atmosphere.

During a meeting at Lockheed Martin's external tank assembly facility near New Orleans today, shuttle managers concluded the PAL ramp-free tank has enough of a margin of safety to endure even worst-case aerodynamic loads.

The results of the certification meeting, which focused on the removal of the PAL ramps and modifications to prevent foam shedding near the bipod that attaches the shuttle's nose to the tank, will be presented at a formal flight readiness review June 16-17 at the Kennedy Space Center.

Discovery's crew, meanwhile, flies to the Florida spaceport June 12 for launch site emergency drills and a dress-rehearsal countdown June 15.



Expedition 20
The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 20 crew is now available from our stores.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Current Shuttle Mission Patch
The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE



Ares Patch
The Ares Project will develop two new rockets to launch astronauts back to the Moon under NASA's Vision for Exploration. The Ares 1 will employ a single space shuttle solid rocket booster to loft the Orion crew capsule. The gigantic Ares 5 will haul the equipment and cargo needed for such lunar voyages. This is the Ares emblem.
 U.S. STORE


One Giant Leap
Hosted by Corbin Bernsen, this award winning documentary marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. space agency and features exclusive interviews with veteran astronauts.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Expedition 21
The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores.
 U.S. STORE
 WORLDWIDE STORE

Columbia Report
The official accident investigation report into the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew of seven. Includes CD-ROM.
 Choose your store:
U.S.
MISSION INDEX

INDEX | PLUS | NEWS ARCHIVE | LAUNCH SCHEDULE
ASTRONOMY NOW | STORE

ADVERTISE

© 2009 Spaceflight Now Inc.