Discovery reveals its feminine side
Source: Agencies |
April 6, 2010, Tuesday
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DISCOVERY and seven astronauts rocketed into orbit before dawn yesterday on one of NASA's final stockpiling missions to the International Space Station.
The launch helped set a record for the most women in space at the same time. Three women are aboard Discovery, and another is already at the space station, making for an unprecedented foursome. The shuttle should arrive at the orbiting outpost on Wednesday.
In a rare treat, the space station passed over the launch site 15 minutes before Discovery blasted off and was easily visible, resembling a big, brilliant star in the clear morning sky with the moon as a dramatic backdrop.
By launch time, the outpost had traveled almost all the way across the Atlantic.
"It's time for you to rise to orbit. Good luck and godspeed," launch director Pete Nickolenko told the astronauts before liftoff.
"Let's do it!" replied commander Alan Poindexter.
Discovery could be seen with the naked eye for seven minutes as it shot upward, adding to the show. And almost as an encore, the exhaust plumes fanned out in spirals across the sky, turning pale shades of rose, peach and gold in the glinting sunlight.
The six space station residents watched the launch on a laptop computer. "We are absolutely delighted to have our friendly comrades joining us here in a couple of days," said Timothy Creamer.
"Stand by for a knock on the door," Mission Control radioed.
Japan celebrated its own space feat with Discovery's liftoff. Two of its astronauts were circling Earth at the same time, one on the shuttle and the other on the station.
Only three shuttle missions remain after this one. NASA intends to retire its fleet by the end of September, but is unsure what will follow for human spaceflight.
NASA's moon exploration program, Constellation, has already been canceled by United States President Barack Obama.
Poindexter and his crew will spend nine days at the space station, replenishing supplies. The astronauts will install a fresh ammonia tank for the cooling system - a cumbersome job requiring three spacewalks. They also will drop off science experiments as well as an extra sleeping compartment, a darkroom to improve picture-taking from the lab's high-quality window, and other equipments.
All these supplies are needed to keep the space station running long after NASA's three remaining shuttles stop flying. NASA will then rely on other countries' vessels to deliver crews and supplies.
The launch helped set a record for the most women in space at the same time. Three women are aboard Discovery, and another is already at the space station, making for an unprecedented foursome. The shuttle should arrive at the orbiting outpost on Wednesday.
In a rare treat, the space station passed over the launch site 15 minutes before Discovery blasted off and was easily visible, resembling a big, brilliant star in the clear morning sky with the moon as a dramatic backdrop.
By launch time, the outpost had traveled almost all the way across the Atlantic.
"It's time for you to rise to orbit. Good luck and godspeed," launch director Pete Nickolenko told the astronauts before liftoff.
"Let's do it!" replied commander Alan Poindexter.
Discovery could be seen with the naked eye for seven minutes as it shot upward, adding to the show. And almost as an encore, the exhaust plumes fanned out in spirals across the sky, turning pale shades of rose, peach and gold in the glinting sunlight.
The six space station residents watched the launch on a laptop computer. "We are absolutely delighted to have our friendly comrades joining us here in a couple of days," said Timothy Creamer.
"Stand by for a knock on the door," Mission Control radioed.
Japan celebrated its own space feat with Discovery's liftoff. Two of its astronauts were circling Earth at the same time, one on the shuttle and the other on the station.
Only three shuttle missions remain after this one. NASA intends to retire its fleet by the end of September, but is unsure what will follow for human spaceflight.
NASA's moon exploration program, Constellation, has already been canceled by United States President Barack Obama.
Poindexter and his crew will spend nine days at the space station, replenishing supplies. The astronauts will install a fresh ammonia tank for the cooling system - a cumbersome job requiring three spacewalks. They also will drop off science experiments as well as an extra sleeping compartment, a darkroom to improve picture-taking from the lab's high-quality window, and other equipments.
All these supplies are needed to keep the space station running long after NASA's three remaining shuttles stop flying. NASA will then rely on other countries' vessels to deliver crews and supplies.
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