Discovery crew members: Commander Pam Melroy, Pilot George Zamka and mission specialists Dr. Scott Parazynski, Stephanie Wilson, Col. Douglas Wheelock, Italian Paolo Nespoli of the European Space Agency and Dan Tani.
Tani will remain aboard the International Space Station for several months and return with the STS-122 crew in December. Current ISS flight engineer Clayton Anderson will return to Earth aboard Discovery.
While a new repair method will be tested during the mission, Discovery commander Pam Melroy said she felt that NASA engineers have responded the Endeavour foam shedding incident correctly.
During an August launch, a small piece of foam popped off a fuel line bracket, bounced off a strut and damaged Endeavour's thermal tile, leaving a three-inch gouge that was left unrepaired for re-entry.
"We haven't had to actually go and do any of the repairs," Melroy said at a Friday press conference at Johnson Space Center in Houston. "I feel pretty confident NASA has addressed the (foam) issue. I have a lot of confidence in our tank and in the recent activity that was done on it."
Technicians have replaced the foam covering the fuel line brackets on the tank that will carry Discovery. A lighter foam was used.
Melroy added that despite the negative publicity caused by Lisa Nowak's legal problems and other unsubstantiated charges of alcohol use, astronauts remain hardworking and dedicated.
"I don't think you could possibly set a higher standard for us than we set for ourselves," she said.
Melroy said the most tense point of the December mission will be the third spacewalk, during which the massive P-6 truss will be relocated to its permanent home. The crew will also deliver the Harmony module, which will allow the station to resume expanding.
Melroy also said the fact the International Space Station commander during Discovery's mission will also be a woman is a coincidence.
"That's one of the best parts about it. This is not something that was planned or orchestrated in any way," said Melroy. "I'm delighted to be flying in space with Peggy (Whitson) again.
"It is just indicative there are enough women in the program that this coincidentally can happen," she added.
Melroy said, however, that the lack of female shuttle commanders in line behind her is also a coincidence.
"It's statistics," she said. Shuttle pilots and commanders come from the ranks of military test pilots with advanced college degrees. "You're talking about under two dozen women in the world who are qualified. But there are some great gal pilots out there who are coming up the pipeline and they're waiting their turn."
Mission specialist Dr. Scott Parazynski, who will make his fifth flight to space, said, "It keeps on getting better and better.
"I hope to really be able to savor the experience. It's going to be magical, wonderful."
Parazynski will test a new tile repair technique and believes the epoxy material will cooperate and not bubble too much to be effective.
"We think we can make very nice smooth accurate repairs."
13 comments:
To the union that used to support launches this mission should prove a few things. I do know this, USA is boiling lots of hot water. They will toss in the ham bones for your bonus and you will accept it. If your members voted NOW they'd accept the last offer made. Guess what you'll see? Maybe mixed around a little.
You better hope your negotiating morons let you see it. They are itching to go for a record strike. They, after all, are still being paid right? You knew that then?
And any increase that MAY be made to the union will come at the lower seniority's expense. You knew that right? Always does.
Union strong.
The union has lost. What do you mean union strong? Does it help you cope with the loss?
We'll see. Union strong.
Nope, union NOT !
Are you just afraid that we might get something that you can't get? Seems like a jealousy thing going on here.
3:34 PM said:
"Are you just afraid that we might get something that you can't get?"
The company would never allow that to happen. The non union people are given just enough so that joining a union does not appeal to them. The union scares the hell out of the company because they cannot dictate policy changes that adversly affect the workers best interest.
The union people are the ones that are screwed up not he company.
Not understanding the business world the union greed takes over not common sense.
Any one worth his salt can get what he or she thinks they deserve.
The problem i sthe ones who do not
earn their way what more.
I for on do not need this group to front for me I earn my own way not on somes coatails as the IAM does.
Fred, You are boring and tiring
nothing between the ears.
Hey, thats wonderful! Love is in the air.
The labor movement scares no one just drives up the cost of living.
The days that companies are afraid of labor have long passed along with the dark ages.
These are employees with cave man abilities still trying to earn a living with their base skills, hunting.
Jim Hoffa is long go all for the better along with his type of support.
Start looking for jobs non-union pukes!! Put your time to good use!!!
be nice
Post a Comment