Spaceflight Now



STS-128 Mission Coverage

Welcome back, Discovery!
Space shuttle Discovery completed its ferryflight across the country Monday, reaching the Kennedy Space Center just after 12 noon EDT. The trek began at daybreak Sunday when the spacecraft departed Edwards Air Force Base in California atop the modified 747 carrier jet. The duo made refueling stops in Amarillo and Fort Worth, Texas, before heading to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana for an overnight stay.
   MISSION STATUS CENTER
   IMAGES: DISCOVERY HOME AGAIN
   IMAGES: FERRYFLIGHT DEPARTS EDWARDS AFB
   IMAGES: DISCOVERY'S PREPS FOR FERRYFLIGHT
   MOVIES: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
   MOVIES: STANDARD DEFINITION VIDEO
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VIDEO: DISCOVERY LANDS IN FLORIDA ATOP 747 PLAY | HI-DEF

FROM THE ARCHIVE: BEHIND THE SCENES OF FERRYFLIGHT TREK PLAY
FROM THE ARCHIVE: HOW TO PUT SPACE SHUTTLE ATOP 747 PLAY
FROM THE ARCHIVE: PREPARING FOR A FERRYFLIGHT PLAY
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One more look back at shuttle Discovery's launch
Onboard rocket camera footage always dazzles and the video from shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank and solid boosters didn't disappoint. The inspiring views of the spacecraft rocketing toward orbit are presented here for Spaceflight Now+Plus users 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 INBOARD PLAY
VIDEO: RIGHT-HAND BOOSTER CAMERA LOOKING DOWNWARD PLAY
VIDEO: EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA FROM LIFTOFF TO SEPARATION PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Shuttle Discovery lands safely in Mojave Desert
Dogged by persistent unfavorable weather conditions at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA diverted shuttle Discovery's landing to the backup site at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The spacecraft touched down at 8:53 p.m. EDT (5:53 p.m. local) on Friday to finish the two-week mission to the International Space Station.
   FULL STORY
   MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates!
   IMAGES: DISCOVERY LANDS IN CALIFORNIA
   MORNING STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. R (.pdf download)
   OUR SHUTTLE ARCHIVE
   MOVIES: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
   MOVIES: STANDARD DEFINITION VIDEO
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VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY LANDS IN CALIFORNIA PLAY
VIDEO: BEHIND THE SCENES IN MISSION CONTROL PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA 1 PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA 2 PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA 3 PLAY
VIDEO: LANDING REPLAY: CAMERA LOOKING OUT PILOT'S WINDOW PLAY
VIDEO: NASA AND ESA POST-LANDING BRIEFING PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Bad weather postpones shuttle landing to Friday
The Discovery astronauts were forced to pass up two landing opportunities Thursday because of dynamic, hard-to-predict weather at the Kennedy Space Center, delaying re-entry until Friday in hopes conditions will improve enough to permit a Florida landing.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: WEATHER POSTPONES LANDING A DAY PLAY
VIDEO: FIRST LANDING OPPORTUNITY WAVED OFF PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Crew gets Discovery ready for Thursday's landing
With flight controllers keeping tabs on threatening weather, the Discovery astronauts packed up Wednesday and tested the shuttle's re-entry systems in preparation for landing Thursday at the Kennedy Space Center, weather permitting, to close out a successful space station resupply mission.
   FULL STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. P (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 13 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW OF DISCOVERY'S RE-ENTRY EXPERIMENT PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LANDING BRIEFING WITH ENTRY FLIGHT DIRECTOR PLAY
VIDEO: CREW INTERVIEWS WITH CBS, ABC AND CNN PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 12 PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 11 PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 10-P2 PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Shuttle Discovery undocks from the space station
With pilot Kevin Ford at the controls, the shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station on Tuesday after delivering a fresh crew member and more than 18,500 pounds of needed equipment and supplies.
   FULL STORY
   MORNING STORY
   ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. O (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 12 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY EVENING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY FLIES AROUND INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY UNDOCKS FROM SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
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Leonardo stowed as space crews say their farewells
The Discovery astronauts detached the Leonardo cargo module from the space station Monday and berthed it in the shuttle's cargo bay for return to Earth. After a late-night farewell ceremony, hatches the shuttle and station were closed, setting the stage for undocking Tuesday.
   FULL STORY
   MORNING STORY
   ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. L (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 11 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY EVENING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: FAREWELL BETWEEN SHUTTLE AND STATION CREWS PLAY
VIDEO: LEONARDO MODULE RETURNED TO THE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ANSWER QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY PUBLIC PLAY
VIDEO: TELEMUNDO, TAMPA AND UNIVISION CREW INTERVIEWS PLAY
VIDEO: EL PASO AND AUSTIN TELEVISION CREW INTERVIEWS PLAY
VIDEO: JOSE HERNANDEZ LIVE INTERVIEWS FROM ORBIT PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY ASTRONAUT EVENT PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 10 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 10 PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 9 PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Can vaccine breakthrough help cure NASA's ills?
A vaccine to protect people against Salmonella, a deadly bacteria that often contaminates food processing operations, is headed for human testing following commercial development in zero gravity on the space shuttle and International Space Station.
   FULL STORY
Astronauts wrapping up supply transfers to station
Sailing into the home stretch of a busy space station resupply mission, the Discovery astronauts worked Sunday to wrap up equipment and supply transfers before enjoying a half day off to relax and enjoy the view.
   MORNING STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. K (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: SUNDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: POST-EVA MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 9 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Discovery astronauts finish mission's last spacewalk
Astronauts Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang took the mission's third and final spacewalk Saturday evening, a seven-hour excursion outside the International Space Station that deployed a payload mounting mechanism, replaced a failed circuit breaker and an orientation sensor, installed GPS antennas and routed long cables for a future module.
   SPACEWALK CONCLUDES
   ATTACHMENT MECHANISM DEPLOYED
   EVA NO. 3 BEGINS
   MORNING STORY
   ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. J (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: FUGLESANG'S HELMET-CAM COMES LOOSE PLAY
VIDEO: ROUTING AVONICS CABLES FOR TRANQUILITY PLAY
VIDEO: FAILED ORIENTATION SENSOR REMOVED PLAY
VIDEO: WORK TO DEPLOY PAYLOAD MECHANISM PLAY
VIDEO: EVA NO. 3 BEGINS PLAY
VIDEO: SATURDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 8 PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 7 PLAY
VIDEO: INTERNATIONAL CREW NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 8 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Space shuttle main engine nozzle leaks being studied
Engineers are looking into what might have caused more than 300 microscopic leaks in the nozzle of a space shuttle main engine used to help launch Endeavour in July. But officials Friday characterized the issue as relatively minor, saying the leaks were well below any threshold that could cause an in-flight problem.
   FULL STORY
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HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: SPACEWALKERS COME BACK INSIDE PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: MORE WORK WITH LEONARDO PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: OLIVAS AND FUGLESANG ON EVA PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY AFTERNOON'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 7 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Discovery crew getting some free time in orbit
The Discovery astronauts and their space station colleagues enjoyed a half-day off Friday, taking a break to relax and enjoy the view from 220 miles up after a grueling week in orbit resupplying the International Space Station.
   MORNING STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. I (.pdf download)
Spacewalkers install new coolant reservior on station
Astronauts Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang completed a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk Thursday evening to install a new 1,700-pound ammonia coolant tank in the International Space Station's truss backbone. A depleted tank, removed during a spacewalk Tuesday, was mounted in the shuttle Discovery's cargo bay for return to Earth and refurbishment.
   SPACEWALK A SUCCESS
   NEW TANK INSTALLED
   MORNING STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. H (.pdf download)
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HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: PREPPING FOR NEXT EVA PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: MOVING FROZEN SCIENCE PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: EMPTYING OUT LEONARDO PLAY

VIDEO: POST-EVA MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: OLD TANK MOVED TO SHUTTLE FOR RECYCLING PLAY
VIDEO: NEW TANK HOOKED UP TO STATION UMBILICALS PLAY
VIDEO: CHRISTER FUGLESANG CARRIES NEW AMMONIA TANK PLAY
VIDEO: PREPS IN SHUTTLE BAY TO UNPACK NEW AMMONIA TANK PLAY
VIDEO: DANNY OLIVAS FLOATS OUT OF AIRLOCK TO START EVA PLAY
VIDEO: THURSDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: STEP-BY-STEP SUMMARY OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 6 PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Astronauts spend the day
on equipment transfers

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.
   NASA SAYS AVOIDANCE MANEUVER UNLIKELY
   HEAT SHIELD CLEARED
   MORNING STORY
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HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: SPACEWALKERS CELEBRATE PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: OLIVAS AND STOTT ON EVA NO. 1 PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: COLBERT TREADMILL UNPACKED PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: SPACEWALKERS GET SUITED UP PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 4: LEONARDO MODULE OPENED PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 4: MOVING ITEMS FROM SHUTTLE PLAY

VIDEO: WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 5 PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 4 PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: JOIN CREW IN DOCKING PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 3 PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Spacewalkers remove old coolant tank, experiments
Astronauts Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott took a 6.5-hour spacewalk Tuesday night to remove a massive ammonia coolant tank from the International Space Station's solar power truss and retrieve space exposure experiment packages.
   ALL OBJECTIVES ACCOMPLISHED ON EVA
   AMMONIA COOLANT TANK REMOVED
   MORNING STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. G (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: POST-EVA MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
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
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Cargo module mounted to space station for unloading
The International Space Station's big robot arm plucked a cargo-delivery module out of Discovery's payload bay and brought it aboard the outpost Monday.
   MODULE ATTACHED; MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE
   MORNING STORY
   ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. F (.pdf download)
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HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 3: NICOLE STOTT ABOARD STATION PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 3: UNITING STATION AND SHUTTLE PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 3: JOIN THE CREW DURING DOCKING PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 3: LIFE ON RENDEZVOUS DAY 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: FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Discovery docks to space station on 25th birthday
Shuttle Discovery, marking the 25th anniversary of its maiden launch into orbit, successfully docked to the International Space Station on Sunday.
   DOCKING STORY
   EARLY LOOK SAYS FUEL TANK DID WELL
   DOCKING PREVIEW STORY
   ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
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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: FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 2 PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 1 PLAY
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Astronauts give Discovery full post-launch inspection
The Discovery astronauts conducted an inch-by-inch inspection of the most critical sections of the shuttle's heat shield Saturday, examining the ship's nose cap and wing leading edge panels with a laser scanner on the end of a 50-foot-boom attached to the shuttle's robot arm.
   FULL STORY
   MORNING STORY
   ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. E (.pdf download)
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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
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Discovery launches on
silver anniversary mission

A quarter-century after its maiden voyage, shuttle Discovery soared back into space at 11:59 p.m. EDT Friday for a new mission to deliver equipment and research gear to the International Space Station.
   FULL STORY
   ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER
   MANAGERS CLEAR DISCOVERY FOR LAUNCH
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. D (.pdf download)
   LAUNCH WINDOWS CHART
   ASCENT EVENTS TIMELINE
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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
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Shuttle Discovery's launch pushed back to Friday night
NASA managers Thursday ordered another delay for launch of the shuttle Discovery, from early Friday morning to late Friday night, to give engineers additional time to make sure an 8-inch hydrogen valve in the orbiter's aft compartment will operate normally during fueling.
   FULL STORY
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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
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Discovery testing finds no problem with suspect valve
An 8-inch hydrogen valve and a suspect position sensor in the shuttle Discovery's engine compartment that appeared to malfunction during fueling Tuesday, forcing NASA to scrub an early Wednesday launch, performed normally during five open-close cycles Wednesday evening, officials said.
   FULL STORY
   EARLIER STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. B (.pdf download)
Discovery could spend silver anniversary in orbit
If space shuttle Discovery launches this week, the flight will mark nearly 25 years to the day since the orbiter embarked on a career that has achieved some of the most historic U.S. space missions ever flown.
   FULL STORY
Another scrub for space shuttle Discovery's launch
Engineers plan to test a suspect hydrogen fill-and-drain valve aboard the shuttle Discovery late Wednesday to determine if the valve or a sensor system that measures its position is to blame for readings that forced NASA to call off the shuttle's countdown Tuesday, delaying launch from early Wednesday until Friday at the earliest.
   FULL STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. A (.pdf download)
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VIDEO: MANAGERS EXPLAIN REASON FOR SECOND SCRUB PLAY
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Weather scrubs Discovery's late-night launch
Florida's hard-to-predict weather threw the shuttle Discovery's crew a curve ball early Tuesday, worsening when forecasters predicted improvement, generating unexpected lightning and offshore storms. While conditions improved as the morning wore on, the launch team ran out of time and NASA managers were forced to order a 24-hour delay.
   FULL STORY
   IMAGES: STORMY WEATHER CAUSES SCRUB
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. 0 (.pdf download)
   COUNTDOWN SUMMARY
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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
MORE: STS-128 VIDEO COVERAGE
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Sunday review confirms Discovery's readiness to fly
NASA managers reviewed a few final technical issues Sunday and cleared Discovery for launch early Tuesday. The only issue going into the final hours of the countdown is the weather, with a 40 percent chance of afternoon thunderstorms Monday that could delay fueling.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
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
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Mission preview: Shuttling equipment to space station
After last-minute debate over external tank insulation, the shuttle Discovery is poised for launch early Tuesday on a three-spacewalk mission to deliver more than seven tons of supplies, experiment hardware and life-support gear to the International Space Station.
   MISSION PREVIEW STORY
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VIDEO: NARRATED MISSION OVERVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MEET SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S ASTRONAUTS PLAY | HI-DEF
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Tick tock: Counting down to shuttle Discovery's blastoff
The shuttle Discovery's countdown is proceeding smoothly through its initial hours with no technical problems of any significance, officials said Saturday. The weather remains unchanged, with forecasters calling for a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time Tuesday.
   FULL STORY
   PREVIEW STORY
   NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. 0 (.pdf download)
   LAUNCH WINDOWS
   COUNTDOWN SUMMARY
   ASCENT EVENTS TIMELINE
   STS-128 FLIGHT PLAN
   OUR SHUTTLE ARCHIVE
   MOVIES: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO
   MOVIES: STANDARD DEFINITION VIDEO
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VIDEO: LAUNCH COUNTDOWN UNDERWAY PLAY
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Shuttle Discovery launch scheduled for next Tuesday
The Flight Readiness Review formally set August 25 as the official launch date for shuttle Discovery. The astronauts flew to the Cape on Wednesday evening and the launch countdown should start Friday, leading to next Tuesday's liftoff at 1:36 a.m. EDT.
   FULL STORY
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VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT THE CAPE FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW SETS LAUNCH DATE PLAY
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Discovery's tank cleared for launch after foam debate
After a lengthy technical discussion, NASA managers decided Tuesday the shuttle Discovery's external tank can be safely flown as is, without the need for additional time-consuming inspections of its foam insulation, clearing the way for launch next week on a space station resupply mission.
   FULL STORY
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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
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Shuttle launch hinges on data from foam tests
NASA is pressing ahead with preparations to launch the shuttle Discovery Aug. 24 on a space station resupply mission, but Program Manager John Shannon said Thursday a final decision to proceed will depend on the results of last-minute testing this weekend to verify the integrity of external tank foam insulation.
   FULL STORY
Engineers continue to assess shuttle tank foam
The shuttle Discovery's crew strapped in for a dress-rehearsal countdown Friday, a milestone on the road to launch around Aug. 24 on a space station resupply mission. Engineers, meanwhile, are continuing a down-to-the-wire assessment of critical insulation on Discovery's external tank in the wake of foam losses during the shuttle Endeavour's launch last month.
   FULL STORY
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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
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Shuttle crew comes to town for practice countdown
Space shuttle Discovery's seven astronauts were welcomed at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday for upcoming emergency training exercises and a countdown dress rehearsal with the launch team.
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Discovery's rollout to launch pad turns into epic voyage
The space shuttle Discovery was hauled from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad Tuesday, slogging through the muddy pathway but eventually reaching its destination to ready the ship for blastoff by month's end.
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   PICTURES: DISCOVERY AT SUNRISE
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   PICTURES: DISCOVERY LEAVES VAB
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Solid rocket booster issue examined on Discovery
An internal valve problem with the hydraulic steering system on the left-hand solid rocket booster of space shuttle Discovery is being analyzed in the Vehicle Assembly Building. Rollout to pad 39A has been rescheduled for Monday to Tuesday.
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Shuttle Discovery moves to Vehicle Assembly Building
While shuttle Endeavour orbits the Earth at the International Space Station, sister-ship Discovery moved from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday morning in preparation for launch to the outpost in late August.
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More fuel tank tests will delay next shuttle launch
NASA managers decided Thursday to order another 125 foam "plug-pull" tests on the external tank scheduled for use by the shuttle Discovery next month to make sure there are no adhesion problems like those that resulted in unusual foam shedding during Endeavour's takeoff last week.
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No obvious problems found with next shuttle tank foam
Engineers testing the adhesion of foam insulation on the external tank needed for an August shuttle flight have not found any obvious problems that would raise concern about debris shedding like the foam losses noted during Endeavour's climb to space last week, officials said Wednesday.
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