Jacques van Oene
July 27th 05, 04:08 AM
Jessica Rye
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)
RELEASE: 05-203
NASA LAUNCHES SPACE SHUTTLE RETURN TO FLIGHT MISSION
NASA's Space Shuttle Return to Flight mission (STS-114) is under way.
Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off Tuesday from NASA's Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., at 10:39 a.m. EDT.
"We know the folks on planet Earth are just feeling great right now,"
said Discovery's commander Eileen Collins from orbit.
During their 12-day mission to the International Space Station,
Collins and her six fellow astronauts will test new techniques and
equipment designed to make Shuttles safer. They'll also deliver
supplies and make repairs to the Space Station after Discovery docks
on Thursday.
"I want you to think about what it takes to get millions of different
parts from thousands of vendors across the country to work together
to produce what you saw here today and to realize how chancy it is,
how difficult it is, at what a primitive state of technology it still
is," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. "This team managed to
do it, and I think a large debt of appreciation is due to them. They
have worked as hard as any team in NASA history."
Discovery's first launch attempt July 13 was postponed because of
problems related to a liquid hydrogen low-level fuel sensor inside
the external fuel tank. Hundreds of engineers across the country
worked to analyze and understand the issue. The sensor system was
repeatedly tested during today's launch countdown, and it performed
without a problem.
The STS-114 Return to Flight mission is the first step in realizing
America's Vision for Space Exploration, which calls for a
stepping-stone strategy of human and robotic missions to achieve new
exploration goals. The Shuttle will be used to complete assembly of
the International Space Station. The Station remains a vital research
platform for human endurance in space, a test bed for technologies
and techniques that will enable the longer journeys to the moon, Mars
and beyond.
For the latest information about the STS-114 mission on the Web,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight
For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/
-end-
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone: 321/867-2468)
RELEASE: 05-203
NASA LAUNCHES SPACE SHUTTLE RETURN TO FLIGHT MISSION
NASA's Space Shuttle Return to Flight mission (STS-114) is under way.
Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off Tuesday from NASA's Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., at 10:39 a.m. EDT.
"We know the folks on planet Earth are just feeling great right now,"
said Discovery's commander Eileen Collins from orbit.
During their 12-day mission to the International Space Station,
Collins and her six fellow astronauts will test new techniques and
equipment designed to make Shuttles safer. They'll also deliver
supplies and make repairs to the Space Station after Discovery docks
on Thursday.
"I want you to think about what it takes to get millions of different
parts from thousands of vendors across the country to work together
to produce what you saw here today and to realize how chancy it is,
how difficult it is, at what a primitive state of technology it still
is," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. "This team managed to
do it, and I think a large debt of appreciation is due to them. They
have worked as hard as any team in NASA history."
Discovery's first launch attempt July 13 was postponed because of
problems related to a liquid hydrogen low-level fuel sensor inside
the external fuel tank. Hundreds of engineers across the country
worked to analyze and understand the issue. The sensor system was
repeatedly tested during today's launch countdown, and it performed
without a problem.
The STS-114 Return to Flight mission is the first step in realizing
America's Vision for Space Exploration, which calls for a
stepping-stone strategy of human and robotic missions to achieve new
exploration goals. The Shuttle will be used to complete assembly of
the International Space Station. The Station remains a vital research
platform for human endurance in space, a test bed for technologies
and techniques that will enable the longer journeys to the moon, Mars
and beyond.
For the latest information about the STS-114 mission on the Web,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight
For information about NASA and agency programs on the Web, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/
-end-
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info