Just days away from its first space shuttle launch in two and a half years, NASA counted down in mock preparation without mishap.
Surrounded by cameras keeping a close watch for any type of debris that may cause an episode similar to 2003’s Columbia disaster, all preparations have been made. The crew is set to launch Wednesday.
The weather seems to be the only remaining concern. Hurricane Dennis is expected to have a trail of thunderstorms behind it and another tropical depression has developed in the Atlantic. With weather the chief concern, officials expect a 70% chance of on time launch.
With a redesigned fuel tank, dozens of motion and temperature sensors, and a new laser-tipped 50-foot boom designed to help the crew closely monitor the wings and nose cap, Discovery will spend a week over a week in space.
NASA’s mission is a simple one of maintenance. Docking at the international space station, the crew will replenish much needed supplies and make repairs.
The launch will be closely monitored by 100 cameras scattered out on the ground and in two aircraft as Discovery climbs to orbit. Once in space, satellites will monitor the craft.
“To be at this moment now is just tremendous,” said Stephanie Stilson, a NASA manager who oversaw Discovery’s safety modifications. “It leaves me with goose bumps every time I think about it.”
Stilson says waiting for launch has been an exercise in patience.
“Along the way so many times, we had our hopes up just to find out that we would have to delay for numerous reasons,” she said. “We had, of course, hardware problems. We had new modifications that had to be installed that we weren’t aware of at the beginning of the flow. We had hurricanes. So a lot of things had been discouraging along the way.”
