NASA announces launch date for Space Shuttle Discovery's final mission

NASA announces launch date for Space Shuttle Discovery's final mission

2010-10-26 07:56:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) -- NASA on Monday announced that it set November 1st as launch date for the final mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station (ISS).

The launch, with an exact time to be announced, will be made from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on November 1st. The 11-day mission, STS-133, will be Discovery's final scheduled flight.

The announcement was made after senior NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined that the shuttle and station's equipment, support systems and personnel are ready to proceed.

The shuttle's crew, consisting of six astronauts, will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) to the ISS. The PMM was converted from the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo and will provide additional storage for the station crew.

In the module, astronauts will be able to conduct experiments in fields such as fluid physics, materials science, biology and biotechnology. In addition, the PMM carries Robonaut 2, the first human-like robot in space, which will become a permanent resident of the space station.

The mission will also deliver critical spare parts and the Express Logistics Carrier 4, an external platform that holds large equipment. STS-133 is the fourth and final shuttle mission planned for 2010; it is also the 39th flight and 35th shuttle mission to the station of the Discovery shuttle.

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