The Discovery astronauts focused on equipment transfers Wednesday, moving science racks and other gear into the International Space Station from a cargo module delivered by the shuttle. Flight controllers, meanwhile, studied the track of a derelict European rocket body to determine if an avoidance maneuver might be necessary.

Astronaut Christer Fuglesang works to unload Leonardo. Credit: NASA TV

The debris, believed to be from an Ariane 5 rocket, is in an orbit with a high point of nearly 20,000 miles and a low point of just under 200 miles. It is the low point of the ellipse that concerns flight planners, with tracking data suggesting a flyby Friday at 11:05 a.m. EDT just seven miles from the station.

Space station and shuttle flight controllers "have been keeping an eye on this object, which by our calculations would make its closest approach to the International Space Station and Discovery on Friday morning ... with an expected radial miss distance of almost 11 kilometers," said Rob Navias, NASA's mission control commentator.

"So although we expect a fairly wide margin of miss distance between this object and the shuttle-station complex, we are continuing to keep an eye on things and will be developing a further course of action over the next 24 hours or so."

The astronauts are following their normal flight plans, moving equipment and supplies into the station from the Leonardo cargo module attached to the forward Harmony module's Earth-facing port.

Among the items scheduled for transfer today were two science racks, one devoted to fluid physics and the other to materials science, and an experiment sample freezer. The station astronauts also plan to finish outfitting a new crew sleep station delivered by Discovery and temporarily set up in the Japanese Kibo lab module.

As of this morning, 64 percent of the station supplies and equipment launched in the shuttle's crew cabin had been transferred to the lab complex and 93 percent of the items scheduled for transfer to the crew cabin for return to Earth had been moved. About 18 percent of the 7.5 tons of equipment and supplies launched in the Leonardo module had been transferred to the station.

Astronaut Mike Barratt moves the COLBERT treadmill into the space station. Credit: NASA TV

The flight plan calls for astronauts John "Danny" Olivas and Christer Fuglesang to camp out in the station's Quest airlock module overnight to prepare for a spacewalk Thursday. The goal of the excursion is to install a new ammonia coolant tank and to store a depleted tank, removed during an EVA Tuesday, in the shuttle's cargo bay for return to Earth.

Depending on how the rocket body analysis goes, NASA managers could decide to raise the station's orbit slightly to increase the miss distance. The more likely option, Navias said, would be to do nothing at all.

"At the moment, we do not believe there's any issue involved that would cause us to have to do a debris avoidance maneuver, but we continue to take tracking marks on this piece of space junk and will throughout the course of the day today and overnight while the crew is asleep," he said.

"Basically, there were several options being considered at the start of the crew day several hours ago. But further tracking of this piece of space junk has resulted in (managers) reducing the number of options that we need to be concerned about to just two. One would be to do no maneuver whatsoever, which is the more likely of the two options, or to do a reboost that would occur after the second spacewalk of the mission on Thursday."

If a maneuver is required, it would take place late Thursday, over a period of about three hours, using the shuttle's primary reaction control system thrusters.

Here is an updated timeline of today's activity (in EDT and mission elapsed time; includes revision H of the NASA television schedule):

EDT........DD...HH...MM...EVENT

09/02
12:29 PM...04...12...30...Crew wakeup
01:59 PM...04...14...00...ISS daily planning conference
03:44 PM...04...15...45...Fluid science rack transfer
03:49 PM...04...15...50...Crew quarters outfitting
04:44 PM...04...16...45...Materials science rack transfer
05:44 PM...04...17...45...MELFI-2 freezer rack transfer
06:24 PM...04...18...25...PAO event
06:44 PM...04...18...45...Spacesuit swap
07:24 PM...04...19...25...Crew meal
08:24 PM...04...20...25...EVA-2: Tools configured
08:24 PM...04...20...25...MPLM transfers resume
08:29 PM...04...20...30...ISS HTV training
08:30 PM...04...20...31...Mission status briefing on NTV
08:29 PM...04...20...30...Crew quarters activation
09:54 PM...04...21...55...PAO event
10:14 PM...04...22...15...Equipment lock preps

09/03
12:24 AM...05...00...25...EVA-2: Procedures review
01:19 AM...05...01...20...Evening planning conference
02:54 AM...05...02...55...EVA-2: Mask pre-breathe
03:39 AM...05...03...40...EVA-2: Airlock depress to 10.2 psi
03:59 AM...05...04...00...ISS crew sleep begins
04:29 AM...05...04...30...STS crew sleep begins
05:00 AM...05...09...01...Daily highlights reel
10:00 AM...05...10...01...Flight director's update
12:29 PM...05...12...30...Crew wakeup

Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS PUT THIRD EXPERIMENT IN SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: BRIEFCASE-LIKE PACKAGE RETRIEVED FROM STATION PLAY
VIDEO: EUROPEAN PAYLOAD MOVED FROM STATION TO SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS FREE COOLANT TANK FROM TRUSS PLAY
VIDEO: DANNY OLIVAS DISCONNECTS OLD AMMONIA TANK PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS EMERGE FROM AIRLOCK TO START EVA PLAY
VIDEO: OVERVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 5 ACTIVITIES PLAY
VIDEO: STEP-BY-STEP SUMMARY OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY NIGHT'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED OVERVIEW OF THE LEONARDO PAYLOAD PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS OPEN UP AND ENTER LEONARDO MODULE PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF LEONARDO MODULE'S INSTALLATION PLAY
VIDEO: LEONARDO CARGO MODULE ATTACHED TO STATION PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: HIGH DEFINITION: NICOLE STOTT ABOARD STATION PLAY
VIDEO: HIGH DEFINITION: UNITING STATION AND DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: HIGH DEFINITION: BE AN ASTRONAUT DURING DOCKING PLAY
VIDEO: HIGH DEFINITION: LIFE ON RENDEZVOUS DAY PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY NIGHT'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE CREW WELCOMED ABOARD STATION PLAY
VIDEO: DOCKING RING RETRACTED TO JOIN TWO CRAFT PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF DOCKING FROM CENTERLINE PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE FLIES OUT IN FRONT OF STATION PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY PERFORMS 360-DEGREE BACKFLIP PLAY
VIDEO: BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF DISCOVERY APPROACHING PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE VIEW FROM SHUTTLE DOCKING PORT PLAY
VIDEO: STATION CAMERA CATCHES DISCOVERY'S "TI BURN" PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING PLAY
VIDEO: THE MOON SINKS BELOW TAIL OF DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 2 PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 1 PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: SATURDAY NIGHT'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SHUTTLE INSPECTIONS PLAY

VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: INSIDE MISSION CONTROL ROOM PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAEMRA 070 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAEMRA 071 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: THE FULL LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY
VIDEO: LIFTOFF OF SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY! PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: COMMANDER RICK STURCKOW BOARDS DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: PILOT KEVIN FORD BOARDS SHUTTLE DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST PAT FORRESTER BOARDS DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST JOSE HERNANDEZ BOARDS SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST DANNY OLIVAS BOARDS DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST CHRISTER FUGLESANG BOARDS PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST NICOLE STOTT BOARDS DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: NARRATED MISSION OVERVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MEET SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S ASTRONAUTS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF SHUTTLE'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF PAYLOADS' PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE "COLBERT" TREADMILL PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: MANAGERS EXPLAIN REASON FOR SECOND SCRUB PLAY
VIDEO: WEATHER SCRUBS FIRST COUNTDOWN PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS DEPART QUARTERS FOR PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW GETS SUITED UP FOR LAUNCH ATTEMPT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD SERVICE GANTRY ROLLED BACK PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH RICK STURCKOW PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN FORD PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH PAT FORRESTER PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH JOSE HERNANDEZ PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH DANNY OLIVAS PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTER FUGLESANG PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH NICOLE STOTT PLAY

VIDEO: AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: THE LAUNCH COUNTDOWN GETS UNDERWAY PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT THE CAPE FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW SETS LAUNCH DATE PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE AND STATION PROGRAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: THE STS-128 MISSION OVERVIEW BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW BRIEFING ON MISSION'S SPACEWALKS PLAY
VIDEO: THE ASTRONAUTS' PRE-FLIGHT NEWS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE PROGRAM MANAGER EXPLAINS FOAM ISSUES PLAY

VIDEO: PAYLOAD BAY DOORS CLOSED FOR FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MISSION CARGO LOADED ABOARD DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: CREW TOURS PAD'S CLEANROOM PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE EVACUATION PRACTICE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS BOARD DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE LAUNCH DAY SIMULATION BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: PAD BUNKER TRAINING FOR THE CREW PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW BRIEFED ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NIGHTTIME APPROACHES IN TRAINING AIRCRAFT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: TEST-DRIVING EMERGENCY ARMORED TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: INFORMAL CREW NEWS CONFERENCE AT LAUNCH PAD PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY ROLLS OUT PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ORBITER HOISTED FOR MATING TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY MOVED TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF DISCOVERY ARRIVING IN VAB PLAY

VIDEO: PAYLOADS DELIVERED TO LAUNCH PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LEONARDO PUT INTO TRANSPORTER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: STATION'S NEW AMMONIA TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MPLM HATCH CLOSED FOR FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: INSIDE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE SHOP PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW EQUIPMENT INTERFACE TEST PLAY | HI-DEF
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