According to NASA’s Johnson Space Center officials, the space shuttle Discovery stands poised for launch atop pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center spaceport in Florida, targeting a July 1 liftoff for its STS-121 mission. The upcoming 13-day flight marks the second test mission since the 2003 Columbia accident and aims to deliver vital supplies to the International Space Station while testing shuttle safety techniques.
Shuttle Discovery Safety Improvements and Fuel Tank Redesign
According to NASA space shuttle program manager Wayne Hale, the upcoming flight follows nearly a year of external tank redesign work and safety improvements. The most significant structural modification involves the removal of the protuberance air load ramp, known as the PAL ramp, which consisted of two pieces of foam weighing nearly 34 pounds on the outside of the external tank. During NASA’s STS-114 mission last July, a one-pound chunk of foam tore off from the PAL ramp, though it did not strike Discovery. By contrast, a 1.67-pound piece of foam breached Columbia’s heat shield during its 2003 ascent, leading to the loss of the orbiter and its astronaut crew. While the PAL ramp previously protected pressurization and electrical cables from launch aerodynamic stresses, external tank engineers concluded it posed an unacceptable debris risk. Structural analysts completed thousands of calculations over two and a half months to confirm that the modified tank meets required safety factors.
New Cameras and Orbiter Upgrades for STS-121
According to Space Shuttle External Tank Project manager John Chapman, the launch stack carrying Discovery also features six new video cameras—three on each solid rocket booster and one on the external tank—to monitor the former PAL ramp area for foam shedding during liftoff. In addition to these cameras and new tank instrumentation, shuttle workers replaced seven crew cabin windows and swapped out roughly 5,000 of the 16,000 gap fillers situated between the orbiter’s heat-resistant belly tiles. NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson previously removed protruding gap fillers during an STS-114 spacewalk after the materials shook loose during launch. Engineers subsequently redesigned the installation process by injecting adhesive directly between the tiles.
Did you know? The upcoming STS-121 mission is commanded by shuttle astronaut Steven Lindsey and carries a launch window running through July 19.
Historic Space Program Depictions on Television
Beyond current flight operations at Cape Canaveral, the real-world environment of NASA spaceflight has long inspired television drama. According to reports comparing space-themed entertainment, the syndicated ’90s series “The Cape” faithfully replicated astronaut training at the Kennedy Space Center by filming on location in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The show followed USAF Colonel Bull Eckert, played by Corbin Bernsen, and USAF Colonel Jack Riles, played by “Firefly” actor Adam Baldwin. To maintain authenticity, the production utilized two technical advisors: Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin and Bruce Melnick, who participated in the first and only three-person spacewalk.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is shuttle Discovery scheduled to launch?
According to NASA, Discovery is slated to launch on July 1 on the STS-121 mission, with a launch window running through July 19.
What was removed from Discovery’s external tank?
According to NASA space shuttle program manager Wayne Hale, engineers removed the protuberance air load ramp, or PAL ramp, which consisted of two foam pieces weighing nearly 34 pounds.
Who served as technical advisors for the ’90s television show “The Cape”?
Former astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Bruce Melnick served as technical advisors to help accurately replicate astronaut procedures for the syndicated series.
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