: STS 121 | Astrolab

First ESA long-duration mission onboard the ISS given 1 July start
ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, from Germany, is set to spend six to seven months in space as a member of the permanent crew of the International Space Station.
Discovery is now scheduled to lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida at 21:49 CEST (19:49 GMT). Docking with the ISS is scheduled for the third day of the mission.
more ... | ESA PR 18-2006 |

NASA TV will provide live coverage of two exciting events on Tuesday, June 27 at 8:54 a.m. EDT and at noon EDT, when the crew of Discovery is expected to arrive at Kennedy Space Center.

update : 2006/06/28
T-43 hour countdown is running

update : 2006/06/29
DLR und ESA übertragen den Start der Discovery live als Webcast ab ca. 20 H CEST, July 01.

update : 2006/06/30
Interview mit ESA-Astronaut Thomas Reiter
Das Gefühl kurz vor dem Start
Podcast | mp3 4,5 MB | ESA

update : 2006/07/01
The T-9 minute hold has been extended for resolution of weather and range constraints at Cape Canaveral. The launch time on 2 July will be 21:26 CEST (19:26 UT)

update : 2006/07/02
Launch delayed again
due to bad weather conditions. Discovery has a 19-day window in which to launch, and is now scheduled for liftoff on Tuesday, July 04 at 2:38 p.m (20:38 CEST).

update : 2006/07/06
Space Shuttle Discovery successfully docked with the ISS at 16:52 CEST.

update : 2006/07/14
Discovery is slated to undock from the station on Saturday, July 15. The landing at KSC is planned for 17 July at 15:07 CET (9:07 a.m. EDT).

update : 2006/07/17
Touchdown! Discovery has safely landed at KSC (9:18 a.m. EDT).
Watch Discovery's Landing | NASA

update : 2006/08/03
ISS spacewalk
On Thursday, 3 August 2006, Expedition 13 crew members Thomas Reiter (ESA) and Jeff Williams (NASA) will perform a six and a half hour spacewalk, or Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA), from the ISS (15:55 CEST/9:55 EDT). You can follow events in the 'EVA Blog' by DLR/ESA.
german | english

link : Latest News | NASA
mission : Astrolab | ESA
logo : Astrolab mission | ©ESA
foto1 : Space Shuttle Discovery auf dem Launchpad 39 B des NASA Kennedy Space Center | ©NASA Ken Thornsley
foto2 : A view of ISS as Discovery approaches for docking | ©ESA
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