Spaceflight Now | STS-131 Shuttle Report

STS-131 Mission Coverage

Shuttle Discovery safely returns to Florida spaceport Space shuttle Discovery soared across the heartland of America to the Florida spaceport Tuesday for landing at 9:08 a.m. EDT. Discovery's penultimate trek to the International Space Station brought literally tons of new research equipment, life-supporting provisions and spare hardware to stock the shelves of the orbiting outpost. Spacewalkers also exchanged a massive external ammonia tank to replenish the coolant reserves for the thermal control plumbing. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates and streaming video! IMAGES: LANDING GALLERY IMAGES: SHUTTLE TOWED TO HANGAR IMAGES: LANDING DAY COMPILATION GROUND TRACK: ORBIT 237 INTO KENNEDY GROUND TRACK: ORBIT 238 INTO EDWARDS GROUND TRACK: ORBIT 238 INTO KENNEDY GROUND TRACK: ORBIT 239 INTO EDWARDS GROUND TRACK: ORBIT 240 INTO EDWARDS NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. O (.pdf download) STS-131 FLIGHT PLAN OUR MISSION ARCHIVE MOVIES: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO MOVIES: STANDARD DEFINITION VIDEO STORE: STS-131 PATCH (free U.S. shipping)

Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY SAFELY LANDS PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: POST-LANDING COMMENTS FROM THE CREW PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS WALK AROUND RUNWAY PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: NASA AND JAXA POST-LANDING BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO: LANDING REPLAYS: INSIDE MISSION CONTROL PLAY VIDEO: LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY NORTH PLAY VIDEO: LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY SOUTH PLAY VIDEO: LANDING REPLAYS: VAB ROOF PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY EAST PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY WEST PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: LANDING REPLAYS: EDGE OF RUNWAY PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: LANDING REPLAYS: RUNWAY MID-FIELD PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: LANDING REPLAYS: PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: LANDING REPLAYS: KENNEDY TRACKER PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: GO FOR THE DEORBIT BURN! PLAY VIDEO: MORNING'S FIRST LANDING OPPORTUNITY WAVED OFF PLAY MORE: STS-131 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Weather keeps Discovery in orbit for another day Weather conditions simply not suitable for landing the powerless space shuttle precluded Discovery's voyage home to the Kennedy Space Center on Monday morning. The spacecraft will remain in orbit for an additional day and try again Tuesday. FULL STORY EARLIER PREVIEW STORY GROUND TRACK: MONDAY'S FIRST LANDING OPPORTUNITY GROUND TRACK: MONDAY'S SECOND LANDING OPPORTUNITY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. N (.pdf download)

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Shuttle to streak across America during re-entry The Discovery astronauts tested the shuttle's re-entry systems Sunday and packed up for landing Monday at the Kennedy Space Center, weather permitting, to close out a space station resupply mission with a fiery dawn plunge across the heartland of America. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates and streaming video! GROUND TRACK: MONDAY'S FIRST LANDING OPPORTUNITY GROUND TRACK: MONDAY'S SECOND LANDING OPPORTUNITY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. N (.pdf download) STS-131 FLIGHT PLAN MOVIES: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO MOVIES: STANDARD DEFINITION VIDEO STORE: STS-131 PATCH (free U.S. shipping)

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One more look back at space shuttle Discovery's launch Onboard rocket camera footage always dazzles and the video from Discovery's external fuel tank and solid boosters didn't disappoint during the predawn blastoff April 5. The inspiring views of the spacecraft rocketing toward orbit are presented here for Spaceflight Now+Plus users with launch audio.

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Departing Discovery leaves station stocked with supplies The Discovery astronauts bid their station counterparts farewell early Saturday, sharing a final round of hugs and handshakes before moving back aboard the shuttle and undocking from the lab complex at 8:52 a.m. EDT. Discovery is scheduled to land in Florida on Monday morning, weather permitting. FULL STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. M (.pdf download)

Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 13 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO: SATURDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO: STATION FLYAROUND BY THE SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO: DISCOVERY UNDOCKS FROM THE STATION PLAY VIDEO: SHUTTLE AND STATION CREWS BID FAREWELL PLAY VIDEO: CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 12 PLAY MORE: STS-131 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Discovery crew puts away module, scans heat shield The Discovery astronauts parked the Leonardo cargo module in the shuttle's payload bay Friday and carried out a final heat shield inspection to set the stage for undocking Saturday from the International Space Station. FULL STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. L (.pdf download)

Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 12: CELEBRATING THE MISSION PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 12: A GROUP DINNER IN SPACE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 12: ASTRONAUT ACROBATICS PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 12: LIFE ON THE MIDDECK PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 12: FLYING BOTH ROBOT ARMS PLAY VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 12 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO: FRIDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO: LEONARDO PLACED INTO SHUTTLE BAY FOR LANDING PLAY VIDEO: THURSDAY EVENING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY MORE: STS-131 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Leonardo module leaves station after day-long wait The Leonardo cargo module was detached from the International Space Station late Thursday after a lengthy delay due to problems with a berthing mechanism controller. It was parked overnight in a "low hover" position just above the shuttle's payload bay and the astronauts plan to complete the installation early Friday. FULL STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. K (.pdf download)

Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 11 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO: ROBOTIC ARM PLUCKS LEONARDO OFF THE STATION PLAY VIDEO: SEALING LEONARDO FOR DETACHMENT FROM HARMONY PLAY VIDEO: THURSDAY AFTERNOON'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY MORE: STS-131 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
NASA rules out extra EVA for Discovery's spacewalkers Flight controllers have decided not to add a fourth spacewalk to the shuttle Discovery's mission to replace a nitrogen tank in the International Space Station's ammonia coolant system, concluding the system can safely operate for an extended period despite a stuck valve preventing normal pressurization. FULL STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. J (.pdf download)

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Station glitch could prompt spacewalk repair this week NASA planners are considering adding an unscheduled fourth spacewalk to shuttle Discovery's mission to replace a nitrogen tank assembly that has a stuck valve impeding the International Space Station's critical cooling system. FULL STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. I (.pdf download)

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Spacewalking duo wraps up station coolant tank swap Discovery astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Clay Anderson have completed their three arduous spacewalks for the mission to replace a spent ammonia coolant reservoir on the International Space Station and stow the old tank aboard the shuttle for return to Earth. They encountered some frustrating struggles with troublesome bolts along the way but got the job done. Over 20 hours of EVA time was accumulated to complete the tank exchange, plus other maintenance chores outside the outpost and "get-ahead" tasks for future missions. ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER STUCK VALVE IN COOLING SYSTEM SPACEWALK NO. 3 COMPLETED OLD TANK STOWED IN SHUTTLE BAY PREVIEW STORY

Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 9: EXERCISING IN SPACE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 9: SPACEWALKERS STOW OLD TANK PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 9: MISSION'S LAST SPACEWALKPLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 9: LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 9: PACKING UP LEONARDO PLAY VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 9 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO: CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 9 PLAY VIDEO: TUESDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO: ROBOT ARM MOVES OLD TANK SHUTTLE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS REMOVE HANDLING BAR FROM OLD TANK PLAY VIDEO: UMBILICALS HOOKED UP TO NEW AMMONIA TANK PLAY VIDEO: PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 9 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO: MONDAY EVENING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY MORE: STS-131 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Russian president calls ISS for Cosmonautics Day Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called the International Space Station early Monday to mark the 49th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic flight, suggesting an international space summit to discuss ongoing and future cooperative ventures on the high frontier. FULL STORY

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Astronauts take a breather at mission's half-way mark The Discovery astronauts looked forward to a half day off early Monday to relax, share a meal with their space station counterparts and enjoy the view from 220 miles up. Later in the day, they will resume cargo transfer work before gearing up for a third and final spacewalk early Tuesday. MORNING STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. H (.pdf download)

Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: MEAL TIME IN ZVEZDA PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: GRUELING 7.5-HOUR EVA FINSHES PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: VENTURING OUTSIDE THE STATION PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: GETTING READY FOR ANOTHER EVA PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: OLD CREW SLEEP BUNK REMOVED PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: TRANSFERS AND MORE TRANSFERS PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: LIFE OF A SHUTTLE ASTRONAUT PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: "BUCKET BRIGADE" ON THE STATION PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: WORF INSTALLED IN DESTINY LAB PLAY MORE: STS-131 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Spacewalkers replenish station's coolant supply A pair of experienced spacewalkers went outside the International Space Station on Sunday morning to remove a spent ammonia coolant tank and install a reservoir of fresh coolant for the outpost's network of thermal plumbing. Lengthy struggles to get the 1,700-pound structure bolted down, however, put the astronauts well behind schedule and caused Mission Control to postpone hooking up the fluid lines to the new tank until a future EVA. ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NEW TANK INSTALLED AFTER BOLT TROUBLES OLD TANK REMOVED FROM STATION PREVIEW STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. F (.pdf download)

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Crew discusses upcoming spacewalks, space summit Spacewalkers Rick Mastracchio and Clay Anderson, along with robot arm operator Stephanie Wilson, fielded questions from reporters early Saturday, taking a few moments to discuss the crew's upcoming spacewalks, a "space summit" next week and the 40th anniversary of Apollo 13. FULL STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. E (.pdf download)

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Extra day added to space shuttle Discovery's mission The shuttle Discovery's mission to the International Space Station has been extended one day to give the astronauts more time to conduct a final heat shield inspection while docked to the lab complex. Landing is now expected on April 19. FULL STORY TRANSFERS THE FOCUS TODAY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER

Additional coverage for subscribers: HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: SPACEWALKERS RETURN TO AIRLOCK PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: UNLOADING THE LEONARDO MODULE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: STATION'S NEW EXERCISE MACHINE PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: OPERATORS OF THE ROBOTIC ARM PLAY HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: SPACEWALKERS FREE AMMONIA TANK PLAY VIDEO: MISSION EXTENSION NEWS FROM FLIGHT DIRECTOR PLAY VIDEO: SMOKE ALARM IN THE ZVEZDA SERVICE MODULE PLAY VIDEO: PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 6 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO: STOWAGE RACKS MOVED INTO STATION PLAY VIDEO: NEW LABORATORY FREEZER FOR KIBO PLAY MORE: STS-131 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Spacewalk choreography to replace station's coolant tank Astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Clay Anderson took a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk Friday, the first of three excursions required to install a 1,700-pound ammonia coolant tank on the International Space Station's solar power truss. ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER SPACEWALK A SUCCESS TANK LIFTED FROM SHUTTLE BAY EVA NO. 1 BEGINS PREVIEW STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. D (.pdf download)

Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY VIDEO: CREW'S HOME MOVIES FOR FLIGHT DAY 5 PLAY VIDEO: FRIDAY MORNING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO: RATE GYRO ASSEMBLY REMOVED FROM STATION PLAY VIDEO: NEW AMMONIA TANK STOWED IN TEMPORARY SPOT PLAY VIDEO: ANCHORING FIXTURE ATTACHED TO AMMONIA TANK PLAY VIDEO: EXPERIMENT RETRIEVED FROM JAPAN'S SCIENCE DECK PLAY VIDEO: STATION'S ROBOTIC ARM LIFTS TANK FROM SHUTTLE PLAY VIDEO: NEW AMMONIA COOLANT TANK UNBOLTED FROM CARRIER PLAY VIDEO: SPACEWALKER PREPS AMMONIA TANK IN SHUTTLE BAY PLAY VIDEO: THE START OF MISSION'S FIRST SPACEWALK PLAY VIDEO: STEP-BY-STEP WALKTHROUGH OF EVA NO. 1 PLAY VIDEO: PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 5 ACTIVITIES PLAY VIDEO: THURSDAY EVENING'S FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY VIDEO: THURSDAY AFTERNOON'S MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY MORE: STS-131 VIDEO COVERAGE MORE: HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO COVERAGE SUBSCRIBE NOW
Delivery van pulls up to the International Space Station The Italian-made Leonardo module rose from shuttle Discovery's payload bay and merged with the International Space Station on Thursday, kicking off the hectic work to unload tons of new equipment, science gear and provisions out of the cargo-delivery vessel. FULL STORY GO TO INSTALL INSPECTION DATA DOWNLINKING ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. C (.pdf download)

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Shuttle Discovery docks to space station right on time Commander Alan Poindexter, manually flying Discovery from the shuttle's aft flight deck, guided the spaceplane to a picture-perfect docking with the International Space Station early Wednesday after performing a flawless, "radar failed" rendezvous. FULL STORY PREVIEW STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. B (.pdf download) ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER

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Crew inspects shuttle, but data downlink has to wait The Discovery astronauts carried out a detailed inspection of the shuttle's carbon composite nose cap and wing leading edge panels early Tuesday, storing video files on board because of a Ku-band antenna failure that is preventing high-speed data transmission to mission control. FULL STORY NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. A (.pdf download) ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER

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Discovery's Ku-band antenna likely lost for the mission The shuttle Discovery's Ku-band antenna system, used as a radar dish during rendezvous operations and to transmit video and data to and from the ground through NASA communications satellites, suffered a malfunction of some sort after the shuttle reached orbit Monday. FULL STORY CREW WAKEUP STORY IMAGES: PHOTOS FROM PAD CAMERAS

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Space shuttle Discovery soars into predawn sky Shuttle Discovery's mission to deliver critical resupply items and new science hardware to the International Space Station began as scheduled at 6:21 a.m. EDT (1021 GMT) Monday. FULL STORY KU-BAND ANTENNA PROBLEM ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER IMAGES: LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY IMAGES: GANTRY ROLLBACK NASA TV SCHEDULE REV. 0 (.pdf download) DISCOVERY'S SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS LAUNCH WINDOWS CHART COUNTDOWN TIMELINE ASCENT EVENTS TIMELINE

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Shuttle mission preview: Trucking cargo to space The shuttle Discovery, carrying a crew of seven and 10 tons of supplies and equipment bound for the International Space Station, is poised for blastoff Monday on a three-spacewalk mission to deliver ammonia coolant, experiment hardware, a darkroom, a crew hygiene station and an experiment sample freezer. MISSION PREVIEW STORY

Discovery's pilot is ready to achieve life-long aspiration Growing up in a generation that's known only the space shuttle, Jim Dutton's life dream of becoming an astronaut will rocket him to orbit aboard Discovery in one of the final voyages of the iconic spaceplanes. FULL STORY ARCHIVED MISSION STATUS CENTER

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Soyuz capsule arrives at International Space Station On the eve of the shuttle Discovery's launch on a space station resupply mission, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft completed a smooth docking with the international lab complex early Sunday, boosting the station's crew from three to six. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER

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Shuttle Discovery's launch countdown going smoothly NASA's Mission Management Team reviewed the shuttle Discovery's launch processing Saturday, discussed two recent booster issues and received a favorable weather forecast, giving engineers a unanimous "go" to proceed with launch Monday on a space station resupply mission. FULL STORY IMAGES: SATURDAY MORNING AT PAD 39A

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Soyuz crew transport capsule launches to orbit Aiming for a six-month mission at the International Space Station, two rookie Russian cosmonauts and a former American space shuttle astronaut launched aboard a Soyuz capsule Friday at 12:04 a.m. EDT. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER

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Countdown clocks begin ticking for Discovery launch With good weather expected, the shuttle Discovery's countdown began early Friday, setting the stage for a pre-dawn Monday launch to kick off a space station science and resupply mission. FULL STORY

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Space shuttle crew comes to town for Monday's launch With their training in Houston now complete, the seven space shuttle Discovery astronauts flew to the Florida spaceport Thursday morning in preparation for Monday's predawn blastoff to the International Space Station. FULL STORY IMAGES: ASTRONAUTS GREET MEDIA

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NASA clears space shuttle Discovery for April 5 launch With signs at the entrance of Kennedy Space Center reading "10 days to launch" for the space shuttle Discovery, senior NASA officials Friday held their Flight Readiness Review and blessed plans to proceed toward the April 5 blastoff. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates! STS-131 FLIGHT PLAN LAUNCH WINDOWS CHART COUNTDOWN TIMELINE STORE: STS-131 PATCH (free U.S. shipping)

Additional coverage for subscribers: VIDEO: FULL FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW NEWS BRIEFING PLAY VIDEO: RECAP OF THE FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: HELIUM VALVE NO CONSTRAINT TO LAUNCH PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: MANAGERS ASSESS ISSUES BEFORE FLIGHT PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: UPDATE ON PRE-LAUNCH PREPS AT PAD 39A PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: PAYLOADS DELIVERED TO LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: TRANSPORT CANISTER ROTATED VERTICALLY PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: LEONARDO PLACED INTO THE TRANSPORTER PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: STATION'S NEW AMMONIA COOLANT TANK PLAY \| HI-DEF VIDEO: LEONARDO HATCH CLOSED FOR FLIGHT PLAY \| HI-DEF SUBSCRIBE NOW
Shuttle Discovery pressing onward to April 5 launch The Leonardo cargo-delivery module and new ammonia coolant reservoir for the International Space Station were loaded into shuttle Discovery's payload bay at pad 39A Wednesday as preparations continue on schedule for the April 5 launch. MISSION STATUS CENTER

Payloads arrive at the pad for packing into Discovery The reusable hauler of supplies to the International Space Station was delivered to the launch pad Friday morning, ready for shuttle Discovery to truck the cargo-laden module to the orbiting outpost next month. FULL STORY

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More testing planned on shuttle Discovery problem NASA officials have ordered additional testing to understand the ramifications from an internal valve problem in shuttle Discovery that has the potential to delay the April 5 launch. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER STS-131 FLIGHT PLAN LAUNCH WINDOWS CHART COUNTDOWN TIMELINE STORE: STS-131 PATCH (free U.S. shipping)

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Valve problem threatens to delay April shuttle launch Engineers are troubleshooting the apparent failure of a helium isolation valve in the shuttle Discovery's right-side orbital maneuvering system rocket pod, officials said Saturday. If the problem cannot be resolved at the pad - and sources said the engineering options are limited - NASA could be forced to haul the shuttle back to its hangar for repairs, delaying a planned April 5 launch. FULL STORY

Shuttle boss says extending program still feasible Clarifying what he described as "a big misconception," the shuttle program manager said Tuesday that NASA's vendors could restart production and deliver the parts and hardware needed to extend shuttle flights beyond the current September retirement target. FULL STORY

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Next shuttle crew runs through mock countdown The Discovery astronauts donned their bright orange spacesuits and went to the launch pad Friday to board the space shuttle for a countdown dress rehearsal and emergency evacuation training. FULL STORY MISSION STATUS CENTER - live updates! STS-131 FLIGHT PLAN LAUNCH WINDOWS CHART COUNTDOWN TIMELINE STORE: STS-131 PATCH (free U.S. shipping)

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Discovery perched atop launch pad for April flight Shuttle Discovery journeyed to the launch pad overnight at barely a walking pace, but the spacecraft will soar to orbital speeds next month to haul a load of science equipment and supplies to the International Space Station. FULL STORY IMAGES: DISCOVERY DEPARTS THE VAB IMAGES: MORE PHOTOS OF SHUTTLE ROLLOUT IMAGES: DISCOVERY ON THE LAUNCH PAD

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Discovery astronauts ready for practice countdown The one-day delay in space shuttle Discovery's move to the launch pad didn't keep the seven astronauts away from the Kennedy Space Center, as commander Alan Poindexter and his crew jetted into the spaceport Monday for this week's emergency training and countdown dress rehearsal. FULL STORY

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Discovery goes airborne inside assembly building Before the shuttle Discovery can meet up with its fuel tank and solid rocket boosters, massive cranes must muscle the 100-ton spaceplane high into the Vehicle Assembly Building. Spaceflight Now was there to capture the moment in these spectacular photo galleries. IMAGES: DISCOVERY LIFTED INSIDE VAB IMAGES: SHUTTLE GOES VERTICAL MISSION STATUS CENTER - live video! STS-131 FLIGHT PLAN LAUNCH WINDOWS CHART COUNTDOWN TIMELINE STORE: STS-131 PATCH (free U.S. shipping)

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Discovery makes trip to Vehicle Assembly Building The shuttle Discovery rolled from its processing hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Monday morning. The orbiter will be mated to its fuel tank and solid rocket boosters this week, before moving to the launch pad on March 2. MISSION STATUS CENTER

Next shuttle launch slips a couple of weeks to April 5 Launch of shuttle Discovery on the next mission to the International Space Station will slip from March 18 to April 5 because of an unusual cold snap in Florida that has delayed processing and to avoid having a shuttle at the lab when the next Russian Soyuz crew transport arrives. FULL STORY STORE: STS-131 PATCH (free U.S. shipping)

Cold weather may push Discovery launch into April The shuttle Discovery will spend another week inside its processing hangar at Kennedy Space Center due to cold temperatures in Florida, likely forcing a launch delay until early April. FULL STORY

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