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 Spaceflight Now + Premium video content for our Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers. Discovery goes to pad As night fell over Kennedy Space Center on May 19, space shuttle Discovery reached launch pad 39B to complete the slow journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building. Discovery will be traveling much faster in a few weeks when it blasts off to the International Space Station.  Full coverage Discovery moves to VAB Perched atop a trailer-like transporter, space shuttle Discovery was moved May 12 from its hangar to the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building for mating to its external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters in preparation for the STS-121 mission.  Full coverage Tank meets SRBs Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the external fuel tank for the STS-121 space shuttle mission is hoisted into position for attachment with the twin solid rocket boosters atop a mobile launch platform. The tank, ET-119, will carry the liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to feed Discovery's three main engines during launch.  Play video Discovery payload bay In preparation for space shuttle Discovery's departure from its Orbiter Processing Facility hangar for rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building and mating with the tank and boosters, the ship's 60-foot long payload bay doors are swung shut.  Play video STS-4: Last test flight The developmental test flights of the space shuttle concluded with Columbia's STS-4 mission. Commander Ken Mattingly and pilot Henry Hartsfield spent a week in space examining orbiter systems and running science experiments. The 1982 flight ended on the Fourth of July with President Reagan at the landing site to witness Columbia's return and the new orbiter Challenger leaving for Kennedy Space Center. Watch this STS-4 post-flight crew presentation film.  Small | Medium | Large STS-3: Unique landing Columbia's STS-3 mission is best remembered in the history books for its conclusion -- the first and so far only landing at the picturesque Northrup Strip at White Sands, New Mexico. In this post-flight presentation film, the crew describes the highlights of the March 1982 mission and shows some of the fun they had in orbit. The commander also tells how he accidentally "popped a wheelie" before bringing the nose gear down to the runway surface.  Small | Medium | Large STS-2: First reusable spaceship Seven months after the successful maiden voyage of space shuttle Columbia, astronauts Joe Engle and Richard Truly took the orbiter back into space on mission STS-2. The November 12, 1981 launch demonstrated that the space shuttle was the world's first reusable manned spacecraft. Although their mission would be cut short, Engle and Truly performed the first tests of the shuttle's Canadian-made robotic arm. The crew tells the story of the mission in this post-flight presentation.  Small | Medium | Large STS-1: America's first space shuttle mission The space shuttle era was born on April 12, 1981 when astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen rode Columbia into Earth orbit from Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39A. The two-day flight proved the shuttle could get into space as a rocket and return safely with a runway landing. Following the voyage of STS-1, the two astronauts narrated this film of the mission highlights and told some of their personal thoughts on the flight.  Small | Medium | Large STS-95: John Glenn's return to space The flight of shuttle Discovery in October 1998 captured the public's attention with the triumphant return to space by John Glenn. The legendary astronaut became the first American to orbit the Earth some 36 years earlier. His 9-day shuttle mission focused on science experiments about aging. This post-flight presentation of highlights from the STS-95 mission is narrated by the astronauts.  Small | Medium | Large STS-71: First Mir docking Space shuttle Atlantis and a multinational crew flew to the Russian space station Mir in June 1995 for the first in a series of joint docking missions, launching a new era of cooperation in space between the United States and Russia that would pave the way for the International Space Station. This post-flight presentation of highlights from the historic STS-71 mission is narrated by the astronauts.  Small | Medium | Large Become a subscriber More video NewsAlert Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop. Enter your e-mail address: Privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose.

STS-121 Mission Archive Discovery is home Under an overcast sky, the shuttle Discovery glided to a smooth touchdown on runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday, closing out a successful space station repair and resupply mission that appears to clear the way for resumption of station assembly.    FULL STORY - updated    MISSION STATUS CENTER    PREVIEW STORY    MASTER FLIGHT PLAN    UPDATED TV SCHEDULE    LANDING DAY TIMELINE    LANDING MAPS: ORBIT 202 | ORBIT 203 Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DISCOVERY LANDS AT THE CAPE PLAY VIDEO: VIEW FROM RUNWAY MID-POINT PLAY VIDEO: INFRARED TRACKING CAMERA PLAY VIDEO: SHUTTLE LANDING FACILTY TOWER 2 PLAY VIDEO: SHUTTLE LANDING FACILTY TOWER 1 PLAY VIDEO: CAMERA ON NORTH END OF RUNWAY PLAY VIDEO: CAMERA ON SOUTH END OF RUNWAY PLAY VIDEO: VIEW FROM VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING ROOF PLAY VIDEO: COMMANDER SIGNS OFF BEFORE LEAVING SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO: PRE-LANDING NEWS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: SUNDAY TV INTERVIEWS CNN | CBS | FOX | ABC | NBC VIDEO: BEAUTIFUL DEPARTING VIEWS OF THE STATION PLAY VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY UNDOCKS FROM THE STATION PLAY VIDEO: SHUTTLE AND ISS CREW FAREWELL CEREMONY PLAY VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S UNDOCKING FROM STATION EXPLAINED PLAY VIDEO: BRIEFING ON APU LEAK DIAL-UP | BROADBAND PART 1 & PART 2 VIDEO: DAY 11 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: LATE INSPECTIONS OF DISCOVERY'S PORT-SIDE WING PLAY VIDEO: LEONARDO MODULE RETURNED TO DISCOVERY PLAY VIDEO: CARGO MODULE PREPPED FOR REMOVAL FROM ISS PLAY VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR EXPLAINS LATE INSPECTIONS PLAY VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR EXPLAINS LEONARDO BERTHING PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Discovery's heat shield officially cleared for entry NASA managers reviewing laser scans of Discovery's nose cap and wing leading edge panels have found no signs of any micrometeoroid impacts and have officially cleared the shuttle for re-entry Monday, weather permitting, to close out a space station repair and resupply mission.    FULL STORY APU 1 runs normally during control system checkout A hydraulic power unit with a leak in its fuel system was fired up early Sunday as part of an otherwise routine flight control system checkout aboard the shuttle Discovery. A quick look at telemetry from APU 1 indicated normal operation and no obvious problems, but it will take several hours to make sure the leak rate stayed constant as engineers predicted.    FULL STORY Late inspections of Discovery completed A quick-look assessment of post-undocking laser scans of the shuttle Discovery's nose cap and wing leading edges shows no obvious impact damage from space debris or micrometeoroids. Final clearance to proceed with landing Monday at the Kennedy Space Center will not be given until Sunday, however, after a detailed assessment is completed.    FULL STORY Discovery departs station with sights set on landing The shuttle Discovery undocked from the international space station early Saturday, leaving European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter behind to boost the crew size to three for the first time since downsizing in the wake of the Columbia accident.    FULL STORY    UNDOCKING TIMELINE NASA, Russians mull launch dates for Atlantis, Soyuz NASA and the Russian space agency are discussing launch options that almost certainly will shorten the launch window for the agency's next shuttle flight. It now is expected to open Aug. 27 or 28 and may close a week or so earlier than planned because of a requirement to provide time for the station crew to sleep shift between the departure of a U.S. space shuttle and the arrival of a Russian Soyuz capsule.    FULL STORY Shuttle boss optimistic about hydraulics issue Astronauts Lisa Nowak and Stephanie Wilson, dubbed the "robo chicks" by mission control, used the space station's robot arm to detach a 10-ton cargo module from the lab complex and remount it in Discovery's cargo bay for return to Earth. Engineers, meanwhile, continue assessing the health of the shuttle's hydraulic system but shuttle program manager Wayne Hale said he is optimistic the issue will not have a major impact on Discovery's re-entry and landing Monday.    FULL STORY Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DAY 11 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Crew says NASA has turned the corner after Columbia The Discovery astronauts closed up the Leonardo logistics module today and geared up to detach it from the space station and re-install in the shuttle's cargo bay for return to Earth. With undocking from the station on tap Saturday, shuttle pilot Mark Kelly said the crew has accomplished virtually all of the mission's objectives, clearing the way for station assembly to resume this fall.    FULL STORY Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR EXPLAINS LATE INSPECTIONS PLAY VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR EXPLAINS LEONARDO BERTHING PLAY VIDEO: TV MORNING SHOW INTERVIEWS CNN | ABC | NBC | CBS MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Mission managers update crew on shuttle APU issues The Discovery astronauts took the day off Thursday, relaxing and enjoying the view from space after a hectic week in orbit highlighted by three spacewalks and work to transfer supplies and equipment to the international space station. Engineers, meanwhile, continue analysis of two seemingly minor issues with Discovery's hydraulic system.    FULL STORY    MASTER FLIGHT PLAN    UPDATED TV SCHEDULE Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: TEXAS GOVERNOR CALLS MIKE FOSSUM PLAY VIDEO: MSNBC INTERVIEW WITH FOSSUM AND NOWAK PLAY VIDEO: FOX NEWS INTERVIEW WITH FOSSUM AND NOWAK PLAY VIDEO: ISS CREW EVENT WITH COLUMBUS CONTROL CENTRE PLAY VIDEO: RUSSIAN NEWS CONFERENCE WITH ISS CREW PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Spacewalkers test shuttle heat shield repair materials The Discovery astronauts chalked up a third successful spacewalk Wednesday, demonstrating repair techniques that could help a future shuttle crew fix damage to a ship's wing leading edge panels. Just before bidding the astronauts good night, mission control informed commander Steve Lindsey that engineers were monitoring two potential issues with the shuttle's hydraulic system.    FULL STORY    MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!    PREVIEW STORY Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DAY 9 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: BEHIND THE SCENES IN MISSION CONTROL FOR EVA 3 PLAY VIDEO: HELMET-CAM FOOTAGE DURING THE HEAT SHIELD REPAIR PLAY VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS TRAVEL TO REPAIR TEST SITE PLAY VIDEO: PIERS SELLERS TESTS INFRARED INSPECTION CAMERA PLAY VIDEO: SELLERS HITCHES RIDE ON SPACE STATION ARM PLAY VIDEO: PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 3 PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW 'We're back, baby' The Discovery astronauts, working through a relatively relaxed day of space station equipment and supply transfers Tuesday, said the shuttle's trouble-free launch and lack of significant impact damage show NASA is finally ready to put the Columbia tragedy behind it.    FULL STORY Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DAY 8 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND SUBSCRIBE NOW NASA managers thrilled with results of spacewalk Space station flight director Rick LaBrode sweated bullets going into Monday's spacewalk to fix a stalled robot arm transporter on the international lab complex. But months of planning, tests and simulations paid off with a successful repair job, clearing the way for resumption of station assembly.    FULL STORY    PREVIEW STORY Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DAY 7 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: BEHIND THE SCENES IN MISSION CONTROL FOR EVA 2 PLAY VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS BOLT THE NEW REEL TO THE STATION PLAY VIDEO: INSTALLATION OF NEW REEL NOT EASY PLAY VIDEO: FOSSUM CARRIES REPLACEMENT REEL TOWARD ISS PLAY VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS BRING FAILED REEL TO THE SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO: FAILED RAILCAR CABLE REEL REMOVED FROM ISS PLAY VIDEO: SELLERS REPLACES FAILED CABLE CUTTER DEVICE PLAY VIDEO: STATION ARM HOISTS PUMP MODULE FROM SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS PREP PUMP MODULE FOR TRANSFER PLAY VIDEO: CREW GOES THROUGH ACTIVITIES TO BEGIN EVA PLAY VIDEO: PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY VIDEO: SRB CAMERA LIFTOFF TO SPLASHDOWN PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Discovery officially cleared of any launch damage After around-the-clock analysis, NASA managers Sunday officially gave the shuttle Discovery's heat shield a clean bill of health, concluding there are no problems with tiles, the ship's nose cap or wing leading edge panels that require any repair work by the astronauts.    FULL STORY    MASTER FLIGHT PLAN    UPDATED TV SCHEDULE Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: SRB CAMERA LIFTOFF TO SPLASHDOWN PLAY VIDEO: JOINT CREW NEWS CONFERENCE DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: DAY 6 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Astronauts enjoy slightly more relaxed day The Discovery astronauts are enjoying a slightly more relaxed day in space today, settling in for relatively routine supply transfers from the shuttle to the international space station and gearing up for a critical spacewalk Monday.    FULL STORY NASA resolves worries about wing panels, nose cap With the Discovery astronauts chalking up a surprisingly successful spacewalk, NASA's Mission Management Team Saturday cleared the shuttle's critical nose cap and wing leading edge panels for re-entry and expressed optimism two final question marks about the ship's heat shield will be resolved Sunday.    FULL STORY Spacewalkers test boom as shuttle repair platform Astronaut Mike Fossum, anchored to the end of a 100-foot space crane positioned at one end of the space station's solar array truss, pretended to make heat shield repairs Saturday, measuring the forces imparted to the untried space crane to judge its stability as a repair platform.    FULL STORY    EVA MID-POINT STORY    EVA BEGINS    PREVIEW STORY    MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates! Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DAY 5 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: SPACEWALK NO. 1 CONCLUDES PLAY VIDEO: FOSSUM PRACTICES REPAIR ACTIONS PLAY VIDEO: BOTH SPACEWALKERS GET ON THE BOOM PLAY VIDEO: SELLERS CONDUCTS STABILITY TESTS PLAY VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS GATHER TOOLS FOR TESTS PLAY VIDEO: SELLERS AND FOSSUM BEGIN EVA 1 PLAY VIDEO: PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Shuttle not yet cleared as analysis continues Engineers are still assessing the health of two leading edge panels on Discovery's right wing, along with a protruding gap filler just in front of a propellant feedline access door on the orbiter's belly. Mission Management Team Chairman John Shannon said Friday it might take another day or two before engineers can either give Discovery a clean bill of health or show the "regions of interest" represent potentially serious problems.    FULL STORY Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DAY 4 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: ROBOT ARM MOUNTS CARGO MODULE TO THE STATION PLAY VIDEO: LEONARDO CARGO MODULE LIFTED OUT OF PAYLOAD BAY PLAY VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR EXPLAINS MODULE INSTALLATION PLAY VIDEO: OVERVIEW OF CARGO CARRIED IN LEONARDO PLAY VIDEO: LIVE RADIO INTERVIEWS WITH CREW CBS | FOX | ABC | NPR MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Discovery mission extended With a one-day mission extension considered a done deal, the Discovery astronauts are using a high-resolution camera to inspect a half-dozen areas of the shuttle's heat shield for signs of damage during launch Tuesday. Engineers at the Johnson Space Center, meanwhile, are starting to think about whether the astronauts might need to remove one or two protruding gap fillers during a third spacewalk expected to be added to the mission now that engineers know Discovery will have enough power to support the extra day in orbit.    FULL STORY Gap filler 101: Crew to make focused inspections Pilot Mark Kelly, Lisa Nowak and Stephanie Wilson are gearing up carry out so-called focused inspections of Discovery's heat shield to double check several areas of interest that were noticed during earlier inspections.    FULL STORY Cargo transfer module mounted to the station Astronauts aboard the international space station, operating the lab's Canadian-built robot arm, gently plucked a 10-ton cargo module from the shuttle Discovery's payload bay today for attachment to the international space station.    FULL STORY No damage found during heat shield inspections Preliminary assessment of the shuttle Discovery's heat shield after a dramatic end-over-end flip Thursday while approaching the international space station shows no signs of appreciable damage to the ship's fragile heat shield tiles from debris impacts during launch, officials said.    FULL STORY Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DAY 3 MANAGEMENT TEAM BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Discovery arrives at space station after two day chase With commander Steve Lindsey at the controls, the shuttle Discovery glided to a smooth, picture-perfect docking with the international space station Thursday. During final approach, Lindsey flew the shuttle through a spectacular 360-degree pitch-around maneuver as the spaceplane sailed above the Rock of Gibraltar and then central Europe at five miles per second.    FULL STORY    MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!    MASTER FLIGHT PLAN    RENDEZVOUS DAY TIMELINE    UPDATED TV SCHEDULE Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: POST-DOCKING MISSION STATUS DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: BEHIND THE SCENES IN MISSION CONTROL FOR DOCKING PLAY VIDEO: SHUTTLE CREW FLOATS INTO THE STATION PLAY VIDEO: DOCKING AS SEEN THROUGH CENTERLINE CAMERA PLAY VIDEO: DISCOVERY DOCKS TO THE SPACE STATION PLAY VIDEO: WATCH THE ENTIRE PIROUETTE BACKFLIP MANEUVER PLAY VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR EXPLAINS RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Crew told about debris, gap filler as they near station The shuttle Discovery was closing in on the international space station Thursday for a long-awaited linkup that will boost the lab's crew size to three, provide more than 5,000 pounds of equipment and supplies and give mission managers their first detailed view of the fragile heat shield tiles on the shuttle's belly.    FULL STORY Space shuttle external tank fixes appear sound After a full day of image analysis and inspections, NASA engineers are increasingly optimistic that major changes to the foam insulation on the shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank worked as required to minimize the release of potentially catastrophic debris during the ship's Fourth of July climb to space.    FULL STORY Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: INITIAL TANK ASSESSMENT DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: THE FULL LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY VIDEO: RIDE ALONG DURING LAUNCH VIA CREW MODULE CAMERA PLAY VIDEO: AMAZING FOOTAGE FROM WB-57 HIGH-ALTITUDE AIRCRAFT PLAY VIDEO: SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY TOWER PLAY VIDEO: PLAYALINDA BEACH TRACKER PLAY VIDEO: BEACH MOUND TRACKER PLAY VIDEO: PATRICK AFB TRACKER PLAY VIDEO: UCS 23 TRACKER PLAY VIDEO: UCS 11 TRACKER PLAY VIDEO: CS 6 TRACKER PLAY VIDEO: CS 2 TRACKER PLAY VIDEO: CS 1 TRACKER PLAY VIDEO: VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING ROOF PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY VIDEO: COMPLEX 39 PRESS SITE PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD SIDE VIEW PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Astronauts inspect Discovery wings, nose cap The Discovery astronauts carried out painstaking, inch-by-inch inspections of the shuttle's carbon composite nose cap and wing leading edge panels Wednesday, using a laser sensor on the end of a long boom to look for signs of ascent impact damage. White markings thought to be bird droppings were spotted at one point, and a few other whitish streaks were visible, but no obvious signs of significant damage were seen in downlinked TV.    FULL STORY Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DAY 2 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR EXPLAINS INSPECTIONS WITH BOOM PLAY VIDEO: FLIGHT DIRECTOR EXPLAINS ROBOT ARM INSPECTIONS PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW External fuel tank foam losses not in danger zone The shuttle Discovery's external tank lost only small pieces of foam insulation during launch Tuesday, and those were well after the period when aerodynamic effects can lead to dangerous impacts with the orbiter, officials said late Tuesday.    FULL STORY Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: IMAGERY QUICK-LOOK BRIEFING DIAL-UP | BROADBAND SUBSCRIBE NOW Star-Spangled start to shuttle Discovery's mission The space shuttle Discovery and its flag-waving crew thundered into space Tuesday, putting on a spectacular Fourth of July skyshow as it rocketed away on a long-awaited mission to repair and resupply the international space station.    FULL STORY    ASTRONAUT SPOTS DEBRIS IN SPACE    MISSION QUICK-LOOK: Page 1 | Page 2    VIDEO PODCAST: Subscribe on iTunes Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: LAUNCH OF DISCOVERY! PLAY VIDEO: ONBOARD VIEW OF DEBRIS SHEDDING EVENT PLAY VIDEO: TANK CAMERA VIEW OF ORBITER SEPARATION PLAY VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD CAMERA 171 PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD CAMERA 170 PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD CAMERA 163 PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD CAMERA 161 PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD CAMERA 160 PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD CAMERA 154 PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD CAMERA 151 PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD CAMERA 150 PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD CAMERA 149 PLAY VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD CAMERA 109 PLAY VIDEO: PILOT MARK KELLY GETS STRAPPED INTO HIS SEAT PLAY VIDEO: GERMAN ASTRONAUT THOMAS REITER BOARDS PLAY VIDEO: COMMANDER STEVE LINDSEY BOARDS DISCOVERY PLAY VIDEO: ASTROVAN ARRIVES AT LAUNCH PAD 39B PLAY VIDEO: FLAG-WAVING CREW DEPARTS QUARTERS FOR THE PAD PLAY VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS GET SUITED UP THIS MORNING PLAY VIDEO: SNACK TIME NO. 3 FOR DISCOVERY CREW PLAY VIDEO: ICE TEAM INSPECTS TANK BRACKET AFTER FUELING PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Discovery tank cleared NASA managers Monday night decided to press ahead with a Fourth of July launch of the shuttle Discovery, weather permitting, after engineers concluded the loss of foam insulation from an external oxygen feedline posed no threat to the orbiter or its crew.    FULL STORY [Posted: July 3] Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: JOHN SHANNON EXPLAINS THE FOAM SITUATION QT 7 VIDEO: MONDAY'S FOAM NEWS CONFERENCE Part 1 | Part 2 MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Discovery launch delayed to Independence Day For a second straight day, the shuttle Discovery was grounded because of cloud cover over the Kennedy Space Center Sunday, delaying a long-awaited mission to service and resupply the international space station. Launch was rescheduled for around 2:38 p.m. EDT (1838 GMT) on the July Fourth holiday.    FULL STORY [Posted: July 2] Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: ASTROVAN LEAVES PAD 39B AFTER THE SCRUB PLAY VIDEO: WEATHER SCRUBS LAUNCH FOR SECOND STRAIGHT DAY PLAY VIDEO: CREW DEPART THEIR QUARTERS FOR THE PAD PLAY VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS DON SPACESUITS AGAIN PLAY VIDEO: SUNDAY MORNING'S ASTRONAUT SNACK TIME PLAY VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S PRE-LAUNCH CAMPAIGN PLAY VIDEO: THE PAYLOADS OF STS-121 PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Bad weather delays shuttle Discovery launch Launch of the shuttle Discovery on a long-awaited space station servicing and resupply mission was called off Saturday because of cloud cover and the threat of lightning over the Kennedy Space Center.    FULL STORY [Posted: July 1] Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: POST-SCRUB INTERVIEW WITH LAUNCH DIRECTOR PLAY VIDEO: WEATHER SCRUBS SATURDAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT PLAY VIDEO: CREW DEPARTS QUARTERS FOR THE PAD PLAY VIDEO: CREWMEMBERS DON ORANGE SPACESUITS PLAY VIDEO: ASTRONAUT PHOTO OPP TODAY IN DINING ROOM PLAY VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH COMMANDER STEVE LINDSEY PLAY VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH PILOT MARK KELLY PLAY VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MISSION SPECIALIST 1 MIKE FOSSUM PLAY VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS 2 LISA NOWAK PLAY VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS 3 STEPHANIE WILSON PLAY VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS 4 PIERS SELLERS PLAY VIDEO: INTERVIEW WITH MS 5 THOMAS REITER PLAY MORE: STS-121 VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW Griffin again defends decision on eve of liftoff NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, answering questions on the eve of shuttle Discovery's launch Saturday, said today he firmly believes his decision to approve launch over objections from NASA's top safety manager and chief engineer was correct and based strictly on the technical merits of the argument.    FULL STORY [Posted: June 30] Discovery on track for launch as options outlined The shuttle Discovery's countdown is on track today for a launch attempt Saturday at 3:49 p.m., weather permitting. Forecasters continue to predict a 60 percent chance of unacceptable weather Saturday, Sunday and Monday due to electrically charged anvil clouds within 23 miles of the launch area and a possibility of showers.    FULL STORY [Posted: June 30]    MISSION STATUS CENTER - updates Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: FRIDAY MORNING COUNTDOWN UPDATE DIAL-UP | BROADBAND SUBSCRIBE NOW Space shuttle preview: Indepth look at test flight After a frustrating year of redesign, testing and controversy, NASA is finally ready to launch the shuttle Discovery July 1 on a space station servicing and repair mission. It will be the first flight in shuttle history with a system - foam bracket insulators on the external fuel tank - officially deemed an unacceptable risk by the agency's top safety manager and chief engineer. This is our 14,000-word preview of Discovery's mission.    FULL REPORT [Posted: June 29] Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: SHUTTLE MISSION PREVIEW DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: STATION ACTIVITIES ON STS-121 DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: PREVIEW OF DISCOVERY'S SPACEWALKS DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: THE ASTRONAUTS MEET THE PRESS DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: SHUTTLE AND ISS PROGRAM PERSPECTIVE       DIAL-UP: part 1 and part 2       BROADBAND: part 1 and part 2 SUBSCRIBE NOW Mission management team 'go' for Saturday launch "I'm very happy to report that we just had our launch-minus two-day mission management team review and other than some questionable weather, we have no constraints to launch," said John Shannon, chairman of the mission management team. "It's been a long year, with a lot of hard work by all of the team members to get to this point and I just want to say I'm extremely proud of the team and we are ready to go for Saturday and do what NASA does best."    FULL STORY [Posted: June 29] Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: THURSDAY COUNTDOWN STATUS DIAL-UP | BROADBAND VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE       DIAL-UP: part 1 and part 2       BROADBAND: part 1 and part 2 SUBSCRIBE NOW Weather outlook iffy for weekend shuttle launch The shuttle Discovery is in good shape and on track for launch Saturday, but forecasters are predicting a 60 percent chance of electrically charged anvil clouds and afternoon showers Saturday, Sunday and Monday that would prevent takeoff.    FULL STORY [Posted: June 28] Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: THE LAUNCH COUNTDOWN BEGINS PLAY VIDEO: COUNTDOWN AND WEATHER PREVIEW DIAL-UP | BROADBAND SUBSCRIBE NOW Discovery astronauts arrive at the Cape for launch The seven space shuttle Discovery astronauts flew to Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday from their training base in Houston in preparation for Saturday's planned liftoff. The launch countdown remains set to begin ticking at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.    FULL STORY [Posted: June 27] Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: DISCOVERY CREW ARRIVES FOR LAUNCH PLAY SUBSCRIBE NOW Officials tell reporters about 'no-go' shuttle launch votes NASA's top safety official and the agency's chief engineer said Wednesday they opposed the shuttle Discovery's launch July 1 because of concern about so-called ice-frost ramps on the ship's external tank that could shed foam and cause catastrophic impact damage. In fact, Discovery's flight will be the first in shuttle history with a system formally classified in the "unacceptable risk" category.    FULL STORY [Posted: June 21] </