Stalking Venus

The space shuttle Discovery blasted off yesterday, 31 May 2008 at 21h02 UTC for its 35th manned mission into space. The craft carries the second of three modules that comprise the Japanese Kibo space laboratory being built on the station.

Image: Discovery’s engines ignite for launch on its 35th mission.
Image credit: NASA TV

The current mission carries the bus-sized Japanese Pressurized Module, or JPM, which is the station’s largest module. Together with the three-member station crew, and guidance from ground teams across the globe, the shuttle’s astronauts will install the module and Kibo’s robotic arm system.

Image: Space shuttle Discovery blasts off into orbit yesterday at 31 June 2008, 21h02 UTC.
Image credit: NASA/Fletch Hildreth

Shortly before launch, Commander Mark Kelly thanked the teams that helped make the launch possible.

We’re going to deliver Kibo, or hope, to the space station. And while we tend to live for today, the discoveries from Kibo will certainly offer hope for tomorrow.

NASA is providing continuous television and Internet coverage of Discovery’s mission, which is the 123rd shuttle flight, the 35th for Discovery and the 26th shuttle mission to the station.

NASA Television features live mission events, daily mission status news conferences and 24-hour commentary. NASA TV is webcast at: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

NASA’s Web coverage of STS-124 includes current mission information, interactive features, and news conference images, graphics and videos. Mission coverage, including the latest NASA TV schedule, also is available on the main space shuttle Web site at: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

Source: NASA