SpaceX's Falcon9 on the pad at the Cape

STS-124 Launch Preparations Continue

In the VAB at KSC, The STS-124 ET for Discovery is lowered into high bay 4, between the SRB's waiting on the mobile launcher platform. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

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At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is being readied for its STS-124 mission, currently targeted for launch May 31.

Inside the orbiter processing facility, shuttle workers are preparing for the orbiter's April 26 move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, where it will be joined with its external tank and solid rocket boosters. Rollout of the entire space shuttle assembly to Launch Pad 39A is set for May 3.

STS-124 is the second of three flights to deliver the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station. At 37 feet long and 14 feet wide, the Japanese Pressurized Module will be the station's largest science laboratory. The shuttle also will deliver the lab's robotic arm system that supports operations outside of Kibo. The lab's logistics module, which was installed in a temporary location during STS-123 in March, will be attached to the new lab.

Mark Kelly will command the seven-member crew, which includes Pilot Ken Ham, Mission Specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Greg Chamitoff and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide. Chamitoff will replace Expedition 16/17 Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman and remain aboard the station as a member of the Expedition 17 crew. Reisman will return to Earth with the STS-124 crew.

STS-124 Mission Information
› STS-124 Mission Summary (524 Kb PDF)
› Meet the Crew

Endeavour set for launch March 11

Another post-Columbia night launch demonstrates confidence in STS as the program fast-tracks to an end - Sighting opportunity from Jacksonville to Boston, along eastern U.S. seaboard.

US space agency NASA confirmed it would launch the shuttle Endeavour on March 11 to deliver part of a Japanese space laboratory to an orbiting station, according to a statement Friday.

"We're right on the timeline," said Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director. "Endeavour is doing really well and we're ready to launch on the 11th."

The mission team will have to venture out on five space walks to set up the first of three Japanese installations at the station, which is aimed to be a key stage in deeper space exploration.

"After two days of evaluating launch preparations for the mission, the group has confirmed the readiness of the shuttle, flight crew and payload for the next flight to the International Space Station," it said.

"There are very few issues being worked and the shuttle is ready to go."

Endeavour is due to take off at 2:28 am (0728 GMT) on March 11 with a crew of seven, including the Japanese astronaut Takao Doi.

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