STS-120 mission to launch: 11:38:20 EDT (15:38:20 GMT)

William Atkins
Tuesday, 23 October 2007 18:38

Science - Space

The NASA mission STS-120 with its seven-person Discovery crew is proceeding smoothly on October 23, 2007, for its liftoff at launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and its assembly mission at the Space Station. Only weather is a concern.       

NASA and contractor workers began filling the external fuel tank (ET) of the space shuttle Discovery at 2:13 a.m. EDT (6:13 GMT) on Tuesday. About one-half million gallons (1.89 million liters) of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen were input in the approximately three hour procedure.

After the tank was filled inspectors began inspecting the ET for ice buildup on the tank and cracks in the foam insulation applied to its surface. Safety precautions are high with regards to these items in order to avoid problems of foam and ice falling off during the launch phase.

At about 8:11 a.m. EDT, the astronauts began to enter the Discovery for their trip to the International Space Station.

As of 8:17 a.m., no technical issues are being worked for the mission. NASA TV states that they “are in good shape.” The only hindrance to liftoff is the weather, with a 40% chance of a scrub (postponement) of the mission on Tuesday.

The launch window is about five minutes in duration. If the mission does launch on October 23, the fourteen-day mission is scheduled to end on November 6, 2007, with a landing at KSC at 4:47 a.m. EST (9:47 GMT).

NASA TV is showing the launch at webpage: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/.