NASA Managers: It's A "Go" For Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL (CBS4) – It's a "go" for Thursday's planned launch of the space shuttle Discovery on its final flight to the International Space Station.
Shuttle managers met Wednesday and agreed to proceed with the flight after a four-month delay caused by fuel tank cracks. Liftoff is scheduled for 4:50 p.m. Thursday. There's an 80 percent chance of good weather.
"Everything is on track and going beautifully with the countdown," said Mike Moses, mission management team chair. "We're really looking forward to a very action-packed, successful mission and everything is on track."
The rotating service structure will be rolled away from Discovery at around 8 p.m. revealing it for the last time on the launch pad. Loading of the external fuel tank will begin at around 7:25 a.m. Thursday morning.
Six astronauts will ride Discovery up to the International Space Station. They will deliver and install a closet full of space station supplies, and drop off a humanoid robot. Robonaut will become the first humanoid in space.
This will be the 39th flight for NASA's oldest surviving shuttle. Discovery first rocketed into orbit in 1984 and has logged nearly 143 million miles, more than any other reusable spacecraft.
It will be a historic moment when Discovery reaches the space station. For the first time ever, spacecraft from all of the major space station partners will be parked at the orbiting complex: two Russian capsules and cargo ships from Russia, Japan and Europe. Canada has the space station's robot arm.
A European cargo ship launched last week from French Guiana is scheduled to dock Thursday morning. Any problems with that hookup could end up delaying the shuttle launch.
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