Space Travel News  
Discovery's Next Move: Rollout to Pad 39A

On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the payload changeout room on the rotating service structure at center is open and ready to receive the STS-124 mission payload inside the approaching payload canister at far left. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
by Staff Writers
Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) May 02, 2008
Space shuttle Discovery is set to complete the final leg of its preflight journey May 3, making the 3.4-mile trek from Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A. Perched atop the mobile launcher platform, the shuttle assembly will roll out to the oceanside launch complex atop the massive crawler-transporter at less than one mile an hour.

The canister carrying the STS-124 payloads arrived at the launch pad April 29. Primary payloads are the tour-bus-sized Japanese Experiment Module-Pressurized Module and the lab's robotic arm system. The components will be installed in the orbiter's payload bay after the shuttle arrives at the pad.

The STS-124 crew members, commanded by astronaut Mark Kelly, are set to arrive at Kennedy on May 6 for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. The three-day event concludes May 9 with a full dress rehearsal of the launch countdown.

Launch remains targeted for May 31.

Related Links
Meet the Crew
Shuttle at NASA
Watch NASA TV via Space.TV
Space Shuttle News at Space-Travel.Com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Discovery Ready For Final Assembly And Checkout
Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) Apr 29, 2008
Space shuttle Discovery rolled into the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, where the shuttle's external tank and two solid rocket boosters awaited. Discovery was then lifted to vertical inside the building's 50-story-tall transfer aisle, lowered into a high bay and joined with the tank and boosters atop the mobile launcher platform.







  • Queensland Uni And NASA Sign Hypersonic Propulsion Deal
  • Rocket Mystery Explained With New Imaging Technique
  • NASA Awards Contract For Engine Technology Development
  • SpaceX Conducts First Three-Engine Firing Of Falcon 9 Rocket

  • Khrunichev And ILS Announce Quality Initiative
  • Kalam Hails ISRO For Satellite Launch
  • Zenit Rocket Puts Israeli Satellite Into Orbit
  • Israeli communications satellite launched

  • Discovery's Next Move: Rollout to Pad 39A
  • Discovery Ready For Final Assembly And Checkout
  • NASA faces long odds in shuttle schedule
  • Hope Takes Flight On Shuttle Discovery

  • US Congressional Subcommittee Examines The Status Of The ISS
  • Expedition 16's Whitson Hands Over Command Of Station
  • NASA Awards Space Station Water Contract To Hamilton Sundstrand
  • Russia Needs Billions More To Complete It's ISS Segment

  • SKorea's first astronaut suffers back injury: doctor
  • Design Begins On Twin Probes That Will Study Radiation Belts
  • SKorea's first astronaut in hospital with back pain
  • NASA Officials Turn To Air Force For Guppy Evaluation

  • China Launches New Space Tracking Ship To Serve Shenzhou VII
  • Three Rocketeers For Shenzhou
  • China's space development can pose military threat: Japan
  • Cassini Tastes Organic Material At Saturn's Geyser Moon

  • Canada rejects sale of space firm to US defense firm
  • The Future Of Robotic Warfare Part Two
  • Robot anaesthetist developed in France: doctor
  • Surgeons use robots during heart surgery

  • Glaciers Reveal Martian Climate Has Been Recently Active
  • New Online Map Reveals Evidence Of The Forces That Once Shaped Mars
  • Artificial Intelligence Boosts Science From Mars
  • Andrews Space Wins NASA Exploration Contract

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement