Past Week's Update

Discovery Gets New Valves - Crew Practices Simulated Liftoff

Space shuttle Discovery’s gaseous hydrogen, or GH2, flow control valves have arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Following management approval, technicians will install them on the shuttle. The GH2 valves are used to synchronize the gas pressure between the external fuel tank and the engines, creating an even flow.

At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Tony and his fellow STS-119 crew members wrapped up their week reviewing flight plans and practicing liftoff maneuvers and abort techniques in a motion base simulator.

The simulator is a mock-up of a shuttle cockpit, balanced on a hydraulic platform and equipped with the same instruments as a real shuttle. The hydraulics and flight scenario software provide the flight crew with a remarkably accurate simulated-liftoff session.

The crew members who will be performing EVAs during the mission in space also completed their final practice run in the pool at the Neutral Bouyancy Lab (NBL). The entire crew began "sleep shifting" this weekend and will continue adjusting their awake/asleep cycle throughout quarantine, which begins Wednesday at midnight. On orbit, their days will be our nights, and vice versa.

On Feb. 3, NASA managers will meet at Kennedy for the executive-level Flight Readiness Review to evaluate whether Discovery’s mission is prepared before launch.

An announcement will be made and broadcast on NASA TV at the conclusion of the meeting to set the mission’s official launch date. Discovery currently is targeted to launch on Feb. 12 at 7:32 a.m. EST..