Shuttle Discovery Returns To Launch Pad
CAPE CANAVERAL (CBS4) – It was a long, slow overnight trek, but the space shuttle Discovery has arrived at the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center ahead of this month's planned launch to the International Space Station.
The shuttle reached Launch Pad 39A at 2:55 a.m. following its 2.4 mile trek on the crawler-transporter from the Vehicle Assembly Building. The journey took about 7-hours to complete.
Discovery's first launch attempt in November was scrubbed after cracks were found on its giant external fuel tank. The cracks were found on support beams on the tank. Last week, NASA crews finished reinforcing those support beams.
"Technicians in NASA Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building have completed all mechanical work and foam replacement for modifications on space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank stringers," according to a NASA statement.
Discovery and its six astronauts are targeted to launch on the STS-133 mission on Feb. 24. Discovery will haul a load of new tools and spare supplies to the International Space Station.
The space shuttle fleet will be retired after three more flights this year to the International Space Station. These remaining missions will focus on outfitting the International Space Station with spare parts to last it well beyond the shuttle era.
After the shuttles are grounded, Russian Soyuz spacecraft and international unmanned cargo vessels will deliver crew and supplies to the orbiting outpost.
In the meantime, the lead spacewalker for the mission was hurt when he wrecked his bicycle in Houston last month. His replacement is getting a crash course in training to be ready for the Feb. 24 launch.
