Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


0

Discovery Blasts Off With Crew of 7

Share

(AP) – Space shuttle Discovery is rocketing toward the international space station after more than a month of delays, the AP reports. The space shuttle and its crew of seven blasted off today just as the sun was setting. The shuttle is carrying a final set of solar wings for the space station that the astronauts will install.

NASA is thrilled to see Discovery finally on its way. A hydrogen leak Wednesday scrapped the first launch attempt. Before that, valve concerns kept postponing the flight that was originally scheduled to launch in mid-February. Because of the delays, the mission has been shortened by a day and one of four spacewalks has been dropped—to make room for Russians arriving at the ISS later this month.

The Space Shuttle Discovery sits on launch pad 39-A on March 14, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The Space Shuttle Discovery sits on launch pad 39-A on March 14, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.   (Getty Images)
The rotating service structure rolls back to expose space shuttle Discovery on pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Saturday March 14, 2009, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
The rotating service structure rolls back to expose space shuttle Discovery on pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Saturday March 14, 2009, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Space shuttle Endeavour commander Lee Archambault at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Sunday March 15, 2009.
Space shuttle Endeavour commander Lee Archambault at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Sunday March 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/NASA, HO)
STS-119 Mission Specialist Koichi Wakata, of Japan, waves to journalists March 15, 2009 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
STS-119 Mission Specialist Koichi Wakata, of Japan, waves to journalists March 15, 2009 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Space shuttle Discovery mission specialists John Phillips, left, and Richard Arnold in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, March 15, 2009.
Space shuttle Discovery mission specialists John Phillips, left, and Richard Arnold in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, March 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Astronaut mission specialist Joseph Acaba a crew member on Space shuttle Discovery, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, March 15, 2009.
Astronaut mission specialist Joseph Acaba a crew member on Space shuttle Discovery, in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, March 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Space shuttle Discovery mission specialist John Phillips adjusts his gloves at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Sunday March 15, 2009.
Space shuttle Discovery mission specialist John Phillips adjusts his gloves at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Sunday March 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/NASA)
Space shuttle Discovery and a seven member crew liftoff at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla. on Sunday, March 15, 2009.
Space shuttle Discovery and a seven member crew liftoff at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla. on Sunday, March 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Space shuttle Discovery and a seven member crew liftoff at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. on Sunday, March 15, 2009.
Space shuttle Discovery and a seven member crew liftoff at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. on Sunday, March 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Watch a live feed of Discovery's mission into space.   (msnbc)

View larger videos >>
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
0 comments
VIEWING:
 
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

379 Stories

In Meteor, NASA Sees Best Evidence Yet of Life on Mars

Martian meteorite shows fossilized bacteria

5 hours, 19 minutes ago
(Newser) - A Martian meteorite that hit Antarctica 13,000 years ago offers “very strong evidence of life on Mars,” say NASA scientists after concluding that microscopic worm-like structures in the rock are almost certainly fossilized bacteria. The meteorite, which broke off the Red Planet millions of years ago, also... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • Mars • Antarctica • meteorites • life on Mars • fossilized bacteria

 Atlantis Crew Finishes Mission 

Astronauts complete final spacewalk

Nov 23, 09 2:55 PM CST
(Newser) - Astronauts from the space shuttle Atlantis finished the final spacewalk of their mission at the International Space Station today, clearing the way for their return Wednesday. Astronauts Robert Satcher and Randy Bresnik installed a science experiment that will test how materials, including a new kind of Teflon, hold up to... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • astronauts • space shuttle • Houston • International Space Station • spacewalk • Atlantis Space Shuttle • Teflon • Bobby Satcher • Randolph Bresnik

 Orbiting Astronaut a New Dad 

Bresnik takes first spacewalk as wife delivers baby No. 2 at home

Nov 22, 09 9:14 AM CST
(AP) - Randolph Bresnik is a new dad, and almost literally over the moon—a day after taking his first spacewalk, the astronaut this morning announced the birth of his daughter, Abigail. His wife, Rebecca, gave birth to their second child back home in Houston last night at 11:04pm CST. They... More »

MORE ABOUT:
astronauts • birth • International Space Station • Atlantis Space Shuttle • Randolph Bresnik

379 Stories

Copyright 2009 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.



Science & Health 
TwitterFollow @NewserScience on Twitter

 
NASA • astronauts • International Space Station • Discovery space shuttle

from our news partners