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Discovery rolls out

Discovery travels from the Vehicle Assembly Building to pad 39A in preparation for the STS-124 mission.

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STS-124: The programs

In advance of shuttle Discovery's STS-124 mission to the station, managers from both programs discuss the flight.

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STS-124: The mission

A detailed preview of Discovery's mission to deliver Japan's science laboratory Kibo to the station is provided in this briefing.

 Part 1 | Part 2

STS-124: Spacewalks

Three spacewalks are planned during Discovery's STS-124 assembly mission to the station.

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STS-124: The Crew

The Discovery astronauts, led by commander Mark Kelly, meet the press in the traditional pre-flight news conference.

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Discovery to VAB

For its STS-124 mission, shuttle Discovery was transferred from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building for attachment to a fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters.

 Transfer | Hoist

Complex 40 toppling

The Complex 40 mobile service tower at Cape Canaveral's former Titan rocket launch pad was toppled using explosives on April 27.

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STS-124 Mission Coverage

NASA approves shuttle launch pad repair plan
Shuttle program managers Thursday approved a plan to strip away fire bricks from damaged sections of the "flame trench" at launch pad 39A, to erect a steel grid over the exposed concrete back wall and to spray on a thick coating of heat-resistant Fondu Fyre to protect the structure from super-hot shuttle booster exhaust.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: FOOTAGE OF THE PAD DAMAGE PLAY
VIDEO: SHOW-AND-TELL ON FLAME TRENCH BRICKS PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Space shuttle pad repair options being debated
Engineers assessing extensive damage to launch pad 39A during the shuttle Discovery's May 31 takeoff said Monday they are confident the "flame trench" that diverts exhaust to either side can be repaired in time for NASA's next mission, the Oct. 8 launch of shuttle Atlantis on a flight to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
   FULL STORY
   IMAGES: MONDAY'S MEDIA TOUR
   IMAGES: EARLIER PHOTOS OF PAD DAMAGE
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VIDEO: NASA ENGINEER DESCRIBES FLAME TRENCH BRICKS PLAY
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Discovery back on Earth
Commander Mark Kelly guided the space shuttle Discovery to a sun-drenched Florida landing Saturday, setting down on runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center to close out a virtually flawless space station assembly mission, leaving a new Japanese lab module behind and bringing flight engineer Garrett Reisman back to Earth after 95 days in space.
   FULL STORY
   IMAGES: LANDING SEQUENCE
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates
   MORNING STORY
   MAPS: LANDING GROUND TRACKS
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. Q (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S LANDING AS SEEN LIVE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' POST-LANDING PRESS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING REPLAY: VAB ROOF CAMERA PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING REPLAY: RUNWAY CLOSE-UP PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING REPLAY: RUNWAY WEST PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING REPLAY: RUNWAY EAST PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING REPLAY: INFRARED TRACKING CAMERA PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA ON NORTH END OF RUNWAY PLAY
VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 14 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Good weather predicted for landing in Florida
The shuttle Discovery is in good shape and ready for landing Saturday at the Kennedy Space Center to close out a successful space station assembly mission. The Spaceflight Meteorology Group at the Johnson Space Center in Houston is predicting near ideal conditions for the planned 11:15 a.m. EDT touchdown.
   LANDING PREVIEW STORY
NASA says lost object from shuttle no worry for entry
Engineers at the Johnson Space Center in Houston believe a flashing bit of debris spotted floating away from the shuttle Discovery this morning was a clip used to secure thermal insulation in the ship's rudder/speed brake to protect against engine heat during ascent. Flight controllers told the astronauts the lost clip poses no threat to a safe re-entry.
   FULL STORY
   EARLIER STORY
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VIDEO: CBS NEWS AND WCBS RADIO INTERVIEW THE CREW PLAY
VIDEO: HOUSTON GIVES CREW A REPORT ON OBJECT, TAIL PLAY
VIDEO: AREA OF INTEREST ON SHUTTLE TAIL FIN PLAY
VIDEO: OBJECT SEEN FLOATING AWAY FROM THE SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 13 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
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NASA says Hubble plans not threatened by pad repairs
Serious damage to the "flame trench" at launch pad 39A during the shuttle Discovery's May 31 takeoff will require extensive repairs, officials said Thursday, but engineers believe the work can be completed in time to support the planned Oct. 8 launch of shuttle Atlantis on a long-awaited flight to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
   FULL STORY
   IMAGES: PHOTOS OF PAD DAMAGE
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VIDEO: THURSDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
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It's an off duty day for shuttle astronauts
The Discovery astronauts took the day off Thursday, enjoying the view from 210 miles up and chatting with family members in private teleconferences. The only mission-related activity on the schedule is a rocket firing to adjust the shuttle's orbit slightly to improve landing opportunities at the Kennedy Space Center.
   FULL STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. P (.pdf download)
NASA considers SARJ work on next shuttle visit
NASA managers are considering a plan for the crew of the next space station assembly mission, scheduled for launch around Nov. 10, to clean up and lubricate a damaged, debris covered solar array drive gear and to replace 12 bearing assemblies in a bid to use the mechanism as long as possible before switching to a backup gear, an official said Wednesday.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 12 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
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Shuttle Discovery undocks from the space station
After its successful visit to the space station that delivered Japan's Kibo science laboratory, the largest module for the complex, shuttle Discovery undocked at 7:42 a.m. EDT Wednesday morning to prepare for this weekend's landing.
   FULL STORY
   PREVIEW STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates
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VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF HEAT-SHIELD INSPECTIONS PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF DISCOVERY'S UNDOCKING PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
NEW!: STS-124 HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
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Shuttle crew closes hatches for undocking Wednesday
The shuttle Discovery's crew bid farewell to space station commander Sergei Volkov, Oleg Kononenko and incoming flight engineer Gregory Chamitoff Tuesday, sharing a few final thoughts, hugs and handshakes before closing hatches and preparing the shuttle for undocking early Wednesday.
   FULL STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. O (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 11 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: FAREWELL CEREMONY BETWEEN SHUTTLE AND ISS CREWS PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
NEW!: STS-124 HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
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Reisman prepares for home after station expedition
The Discovery astronauts are working through a final day of equipment transfers to and from the space station before closing hatches late Tuesday and undocking early Wednesday. Outgoing flight engineer Garrett Reisman, returning to Earth after three months in space, planned to squeeze in a final few hours of handover time, briefing his replacement, Gregory Chamitoff, on the intricacies of life aboard the station.
   FULL STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. N (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: TUESDAY'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 10 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
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Spacewalker says cleaning damaged joint a 'big job'
The powder-like debris dusting the outer edge of the space station's left-side solar array rotary mechanism does not appear to represent a serious problem, spacewalker Mike Fossum said Monday. He said the grease and debris seen on the port solar alpha rotary joint does not look anything like the much more severe contamination that has hobbled the station's right-side SARJ.
   FULL STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. M (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: JOINT CREW IN-FLIGHT NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: KIBO LAB'S ROBOT ARM EXTENDED AND CHECKED OUT PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF ROBOT ARM DEPLOYMENT PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
NEW!: STS-124 HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
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Japan's robotic arm extended and tested
The Discovery astronauts exercised the Japanese Kibo module's robot arm Monday, re-opened the Japanese logistics module mounted atop Kibo Friday and replaced spacesuit battery chargers in the Quest airlock module.
   PREVIEW STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. L (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 9 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Discovery crew completes third and final spacewalk
Perched on the end of the space station's fully extended robot arm, astronaut Ron Garan manually carried a 528-pound nitrogen tank from one side of the lab's main power truss to the other Sunday, enjoying a spectacular there-and-back windshield-wiper ride that carried him eight stories above the research station.
   SPACEWALK NO. 3 ENDS
   TANK REPLACED, SARJ SAMPLE TAKEN
   PREVIEW STORY
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VIDEO: SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 3 PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATION OF NITROGEN TANK REPLACEMENT PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 8 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
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Booster cameras give dramatic views of launch
Hitch a ride up and down aboard the twin solid rocket boosters that launched shuttle Discovery on May 31. Video from cameras mounted on the reusable boosters provides stunning views of the ascent and subsequent splashdown into the Atlantic Ocean. The movies are presented here with launch audio.
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VIDEO: LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING UPWARD PLAY
VIDEO: LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING INBOARD PLAY
VIDEO: LEFT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY
VIDEO: RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING UPWARD PLAY
VIDEO: RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY
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Japanese robotic arm flexed for first time
The Discovery astronauts unlimbered the Kibo laboratory module's Japanese robot arm Saturday and prepared spacesuits and equipment for a third and final spacewalk Sunday to collect debris samples from a solar array rotary joint and install a tank of pressurized nitrogen for the space station's ammonia coolant loops.
   FULL STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. K (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: JAPANESE VIP CALL TO STATION PLAY
VIDEO: SATURDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH SHUTTLE AND ISS CREWS PLAY
VIDEO: KIBO LAB'S ROBOTIC ARM FLEXES FOR FIRST TIME PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF ARM'S FIRST MOVEMENTS PLAY
VIDEO: SATURDAY'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: CREW'S DOWNLINKED REPLAY OF LOGISTICS MODULE MOVE PLAY
VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 7 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
NEW!: STS-124 HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
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Spacewalkers may gather grease sample from joint
The Discovery astronauts may be asked to collect a sample of the presumed grease seen inside the space station's left-side solar alpha rotary joint. NASA managers have not made a final decision, but engineers would like to get a sample to pin down where the grease might be coming from and astronaut Michael Fossum will be in the area during a third and final spacewalk Sunday.
   FULL STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. J (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE CREW ASKED TO TAKE PHOTOS OF WING PANELS PLAY
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Japanese logistics module moved atop the Kibo lab
The Discovery astronauts worked through a busy day inside the international space station Friday, continuing the outfitting of the Japanese Kibo laboratory module and moving a smaller storage module to its permanent home on Kibo's upward-facing port.
   PREVIEW STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. I (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: JAPANESE LOGISTICS MODULE MOVED TO KIBO LAB'S ROOF PLAY
VIDEO: STATION'S ROBOT ARM GRAPPLES LOGISTICS MODULE PLAY
VIDEO: MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH SHUTTLE AND ISS COMMANDERS PLAY
VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF LOGISTICS MODULE MOVE PLAY
VIDEO: BUZZ LIGHTYEAR TOY ON THE LOOSE IN SPACE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS INVITE VIEWERS TO DINNER PLAY
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Spacewalkers take second excursion outside Kibo
Astronauts Mike Fossum and Ron Garan conducted a seven-hour spacewalk Thursday to mount cameras on Japan's Kibo lab module, remove launch locks and prepare a docking port for the attachment Friday of a Japanese logistics module.
   STATION'S OTHER ROTARY JOINT INSPECTED
   SPACEWALK NO. 2 BEGINS
   PREVIEW STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. G (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: THURSDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: INSPECTION OF THE PORT-SIDE SOLAR ROTARY JOINT PLAY
VIDEO: FAULTY TV CAMERA REMOVED FROM STATION PORT TRUSS PLAY
VIDEO: THERMAL SLEEVE PLACED ON KIBO TRUNNION PIN PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH LOCKS RELEASED ON KIBO'S UPPER PORT PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS INSTALL PAIR OF TV CAMERAS ON KIBO PLAY
VIDEO: MIKE FOSSUM EMERGES FROM AIRLOCK FOR EVA NO. 2 PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY
VIDEO: THURSDAY'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
NEW!: STS-124 HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
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Astronauts enter roomy Kibo laboratory module
The 10 astronauts aboard the shuttle-space station complex opened up the newly installed Japanese Kibo module Wednesday at 5:05 p.m., floated inside and literally bounced off the walls, enjoying a chance for some impromptu zero gravity acrobatics in the roomy new addition.
   FULL STORY
   IMAGES: OUR LAUNCH GALLERY
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VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ENTER THE KIBO MODULE FOR FIRST TIME PLAY
VIDEO: CEREMONY BEFORE KIBO HATCH OPENING PLAY
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Space station cosmonaut repairs troubled toilet
Cosmonaut-turned-plumber Oleg Kononenko replaced a pump in the space station's balky Russian toilet Wednesday and initial tests indicated the potty's urine collection system was working normally again. While engineers will monitor the toilet's operation to make sure the repair was, in fact, successful, they were hopeful a potentially difficult problem had been resolved.
   FULL STORY
   MORNING PREVIEW STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. F (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
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Japan's science laboratory module added to station
Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, operating the station's robot arm, pulled the 15-ton Kibo lab module from Discovery's cargo bay and attached it to the station on Tuesday as a 7-hour spacewalk concluded.
   FULL STORY
   SPACEWALK ENDS; KIBO ATTACHED
   STATION ROTARY JOINT INSPECTED
   SPACEWALKERS PREP KIBO MODULE
   INSPECTION BOOM RETRIEVED
   EVA NO. 1 BEGINS
   PREVIEW STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. E (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: KIBO SCIENCE LAB ATTACHED TO THE SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: KIBO MODULE UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
VIDEO: CLOSEUP INSPECTION OF STATION'S SOLAR ROTARY JOINT PLAY
VIDEO: FOSSUM UNBOLTS LOCKS ON KIBO'S WINDOW COVERINGS PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS REMOVE COVERS ON KIBO'S PORT PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE POWER UMBILICALS UNHOOKED FROM KIBO PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE INSPECTION BOOM RETRIEVED FROM THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKER RON GARAN REMOVES COVER ON BOOM PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKER MIKE FOSSUM FREES ARM'S ELBOW CAMERA PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATION OF KIBO MODULE INSTALLATION PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATION OF INSPECTION BOOM RETRIEVAL PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
NEW!: STS-124 HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
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NASA begins investigation into shuttle pad damage
At the Kennedy Space Center, an investigation has been launched to find out what caused extensive damage to pad 39A as it was pounded by Discovery's exhaust plumes during liftoff Saturday.
   FULL STORY
   IMAGES: PHOTOS OF PAD DAMAGE
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. D (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: CREW'S REMARKABLE CAMCORDER FOOTAGE FROM MONDAY PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
NEW!: STS-124 HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
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Discovery arrives at station to install major module
The shuttle Discovery glided to a gentle docking with the international space station Monday, wrapping up a two-day orbital rendezvous after pausing directly below the lab complex for a slow-motion back flip that gave the lab crew a chance to photograph the orbiter's heat shield.
   FULL STORY
   PREVIEW STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. C (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: SHUTTLE CREW WELCOMED INTO STATION PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY DOCKS TO SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE PERFORMS RENDEZVOUS BACKFLIP PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED ANIMATION OF PREVIEWING THE DOCKING PLAY
VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: CREW'S CAMCORDER FOOTAGE FROM FLIGHT DAY 2 PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
NEW!: STS-124 HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
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Launch pad damaged during Discovery's liftoff
Launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center suffered unusual damage during the shuttle Discovery's blastoff Saturday, NASA officials said Sunday.
   FULL STORY
   IMAGES: MORE PHOTOS OF DAMAGE
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. B (.pdf download)
Initial tank pictures show no major foam loss
Close-up photos of the shuttle Discovery's external tank, shot as it drifted away from the orbiter Saturday, show a few relatively minor areas of foam loss but no major damage, NASA officials said Sunday. About five pieces of debris were seen falling away during launch from a camera mounted on the tank, but Mission Management Team Chairman LeRoy Cain said Sunday it's not clear where the presumed foam might have originated.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATION OF THE HEAT SHIELD INSPECTIONS PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED TOUR OF DISCOVERY'S PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Heat shield checks on Sunday's agenda for crew
The Discovery astronauts were awakened for their first full day in space at 7:02 a.m. Sunday by a recording of "Your Wildest Dreams" by the Moody Blues beamed up from mission control. The major items on today's agenda include spacesuit checkout for upcoming station assembly spacewalks; rendezvous and docking preparations; and an inspection of the shuttle's heat shield.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: THE FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: EXTERNAL TANK SEEN AFTER SEPARATION PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-1 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-2 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA CS-6 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: FRONT CAMERA PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-12 TRACKER PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: WEST TOWER PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 009 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 041 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 049 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 050 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 051 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 054 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 060 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 061 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 063 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 070 PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: CAMERA 071 PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Discovery launches!
Right on time, the shuttle Discovery blasted into orbit Saturday, kicking off a two-week, three-spacewalk mission to attach Japan's huge Kibo laboratory module to the international space station and deliver a fresh flight engineer - Gregory Chamitoff - to replace outgoing station astronaut Garrett Reisman.
   FULL STORY - updated
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. A (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: LIFTOFF OF DISCOVERY WITH KIBO LAB! PLAY
VIDEO: ONBOARD CAMERA FOOTAGE OF TANK FOAM FALLING PLAY
VIDEO: INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY

VIDEO: FINAL PRE-LAUNCH POLLS GIVE "GO" FOR LIFTOFF PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUT GARAN CLIMBS INTO HIS SEAT PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUT HOSHIDE CLIMBS INTO HIS SEAT PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUT FOSSUM CLIMBS INTO HIS SEAT PLAY
VIDEO: PILOT HAM CLIMBS INTO HIS SEAT PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUT CHAMITOFF CLIMBS INTO HIS SEAT PLAY
VIDEO: COMMANDER KELLY CLIMBS INTO HIS SEAT PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY
VIDEO: CREW DEPARTS QUARTERS FOR LAUNCH PAD PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS DON SPACESUITS FOR LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED RECAP OF KIBO LAB'S PRE-FLIGHT CAMPAIGN PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED RECAP OF DISCOVERY'S PRE-FLIGHT CAMPAIGN PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD GANTRY RETRACTED FRIDAY NIGHT PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF GANTRY ROLLBACK PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY'S COUNTDOWN STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Griffin optimistic about Soyuz, toilet resolution
NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said Saturday he's confident Russian space engineers will resolve technical problems with the Soyuz spacecraft that ferry Russian crews to and from the international space station. Griffin also said he was hopeful spare parts being launched to the station aboard the shuttle Discovery will help the crew repair the Russian toilet before it becomes a real problem.
   FULL STORY
Station toilet parts delivered for shuttle launch
A replacement pump and other equipment needed to repair the Russian toilet aboard the international space station was installed in the shuttle Discovery early Thursday as engineers readied the ship for blastoff Saturday on a long-awaited flight to deliver Japan's huge Kibo laboratory module to the orbiting outpost.
   FULL STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER
   NASA TV SCHEDULE (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: BRIEFING ON KIBO LABORATORY FACILITY PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Countdown begins for Saturday's shuttle launch
The shuttle Discovery's international crew flew to the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday for the start of their countdown to blastoff Saturday on a mission to attach Japan's huge Kibo lab module to the international space station.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT THE CAPE FOR LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S COUNTDOWN AND WEATHER BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED MISSION PREVIEW MOVIE PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Discovery passes final review for May 31 launch
NASA managers Monday cleared the shuttle Discovery for launch May 31 on a three-spacewalk mission to deliver and attach Japan's huge Kibo laboratory module to the international space station. The decision to proceed came after a lengthy discussion on the health of the station's Soyuz lifeboat after back-to-back re-entry problems that led to rough, off-course landings.
   FULL STORY
   STS-124 MISSION INDEX
   STORE: OFFICIAL MISSION PATCH
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VIDEO: NEWS BRIEFING FOLLOWING FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH COMMANDER MARK KELLY PLAY
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH PILOT KEN HAM PLAY
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS1 KAREN NYBERG PLAY
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS2 RON GARAN PLAY
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS3 MIKE FOSSUM PLAY
VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS4 AKIHIKO HOSHIDE PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Astronauts board Discovery for countdown rehearsal
The crew of the shuttle Discovery strapped in Friday for a dress-rehearsal countdown that sets the stage for launch May 31 on a long-awaited flight to deliver Japan's huge Kibo laboratory module to the space station.
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VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS PRACTICE EVACUATION OF SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: CREW BOARDS DISCOVERY FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY
VIDEO: TRAINING SESSIONS AT LAUNCH PAD AND BUNKER PLAY
VIDEO: CREW NEWS CONFERENCE AT LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY
MORE: STS-124 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Discovery crew at the Cape for practice countdown
Shuttle Discovery's astronauts flew into Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday afternoon for this week's countdown dress rehearsal and emergency training drills at launch pad 39A.
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Check out some panoramas created Saturday morning after Discovery arrived atop Kennedy Space Center's pad 39A.
   PANORAMA GALLERY
Space shuttle Discovery rolls out to the launch pad
With four weeks until its planned launch to haul the Japanese science laboratory module up to the space station, shuttle Discovery traveled overnight from the Vehicle Assembly Building to pad 39A.
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   IMAGES: DISCOVERY ON THE PAD
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VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF GANTRY ENCLOSING DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: PAD'S ORBITER ACCESS ARM SWUNG INTO POSITION PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF CRAWLER RETREATING AFTER ROLLOUT PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY ROLLED TO PAD 39A PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE AND STATION PROGRAM BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: STS-124 MISSION OVERVIEW PART 1 | PART 2
VIDEO: PREVIEW BRIEFING ON MISSION'S SPACEWALKS PLAY
VIDEO: THE ASTRONAUTS' PRE-FLIGHT NEWS BRIEFING PLAY
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Shuttle boss discusses delay to downstream flights
The shuttle Discovery is on track for launch May 31 on a high-priority flight to deliver Japan's huge Kibo lab module to the international space station. But subsequent flights are slipping four to five weeks each because of external tank production issues, and a flight that had been targeted for late this year will slip into early 2009, a senior NASA manager said Thursday.
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VIDEO: KIBO LABORATORY TRAVELS TO THE LAUNCH PAD PLAY
VIDEO: TRANSPORT CANISTER WITH KIBO ROTATED UPRIGHT PLAY
VIDEO: CRANE PLACES KIBO MODULE INTO TRANSPORT CANISTER PLAY
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Shuttle moves to assembly building for May 31 launch
Shuttle Discovery was transferred from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Saturday morning where the spacecraft will be hooked up to its external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters in preparation for rollout to the launch pad.
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VIDEO: DISCOVERY HOISTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO FUEL TANK PLAY
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New target launch date set for next shuttle mission
Launch of shuttle Discovery to deliver the Kibo science laboratory module to the space station for Japan has been pushed back to Saturday, May 31 at 5:01 p.m. EDT. NASA officially announced the six-day delay based on the processing schedule for the mission's external fuel tank and to avoid the launch team working over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Hubble servicing mission's launch date threatened
With the shuttle Endeavour's mission entering the home stretch, shuttle Discovery remains on track for blastoff May 25 to ferry a huge Japanese laboratory module to the space station. But subsequent near-term flights, including a high-profile mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope, could be delayed, sources say, because of ongoing external tank production issues.
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