Six Discovery astronauts plan to fly into Kennedy Space Center early this afternoon, four days before a planned blastoff to the International Space Station on Discovery's final voyage. Launch of the 11-day mission is targeted for 4:40 p.m. Monday.
Led by four-flight veteran Steve Lindsey, the crew is expected to arrive on the Space Coast today around 2:40 p.m.
Joining Lindsey will be mission pilot Eric Boe and mission specialists Mike Barratt, Al Drew, Tim Kopra and Nicole Stott, all of whom have flown in space once before.
At launch pad 39A, teams are preparing to start pressurizing two dozen spherical tanks tonight with gasses that push propellants through the orbiter's main propulsion system and orbital maneuvering engines. The hazardous operation clears the pad of non-essential personnel because of the risk that a tank could explode.
Technicians have completed closeouts of the orbiter's rear compartment and the shuttle's two solid rocket boosters.
IMAGE: At Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 14, the STS-133 crew posed in front of the space shuttle wall tribute in the Vehicle Assembly Building. From left are commander Steve Lindsey, pilot Eric Boe, and mission specialists Tim Kopra, Nicole Stott, Alvin Drew, and Michael Barratt. Photo: NASA/Kim Shiflett
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