Space shuttle Discovery lifts off, bringing 'hope' to ISS

    (Xinhua/Agencies)
    Updated: 2008-06-01 08:33

    CAPE CANAVERAL, THE UNITED STATES -- US space shuttle Discovery, with seven astronauts aboard, soared into space at 5:02 pm EDT (2102 GMT) on Saturday as scheduled from its seaside launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

    Spectators watch from Titusville, Florida as the space shuttle Discovery launches from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida May 31, 2008. [Agencies]
    "Best of luck to the International Space Station's newest laboratory!" NASA launch commentator Allard Beutel broadcasted.

    The afternoon weather in this Atlantic coastal area cooperated fairly with clear skies and a comfortable breeze.

    Several minutes after the liftoff, controllers confirmed a good solid rocket booster separation and external fuel tank separation." It's a flawless ascent," said the ground control center. Discovery is "in its preliminary orbit," and it will chase the space station during the next two days.

    At the post-launch, NASA administrator described the launch day as a "huge day," with everything going extremely smoothly.

    Led by Commander Mark Kelly, the six-man, one-woman Discovery crew includes Akihiko Hoshide, who represents the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

    The main goal of Discovery's STS-124 mission is to deliver the main part -- Pressurized Module -- of JAXA's Kibo (which means "hope" in Japanese) laboratory to the station.

    This is the second of three flights that will launch components to complete Kibo, which is Japan's primary contribution to the ISS program.

    The Pressurized Module of Kibo is 37 feet long and 14.4 feet in diameter, about the size of a large tour bus. It will be the biggest room once installed at the orbital outpost.

    After linkup with the ISS, the shuttle and station crew will install Kibo science module to the left side of the Harmony connecting node, opposite to the European Columbus science lab that was installed in February.

    They will also assemble Kibo's remote manipulator system, which consists of two robotic arms that supports operations outside of Kibo.

       1 2 3 4 5 6   


    Related Stories  
    Top China News  
    Today's Top News  
    Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
    精品久久亚洲中文无码| 亚洲精品无码专区久久久| 狠狠精品久久久无码中文字幕 | 亚洲日本中文字幕| 国产V亚洲V天堂无码| 区三区激情福利综合中文字幕在线一区| 国产AV无码专区亚洲AV男同| 久久无码高潮喷水| 最近2019中文字幕免费直播 | 中文字幕精品无码一区二区 | 亚洲国产精品无码AAA片| 日本乱中文字幕系列观看| 久久久久亚洲?V成人无码| 无码午夜人妻一区二区三区不卡视频| 日本精品久久久久中文字幕8| 精品人体无码一区二区三区| 无码av免费一区二区三区| 亚洲日韩v无码中文字幕 | 亚洲V无码一区二区三区四区观看| 亚洲欧美中文日韩在线v日本| 亚洲国产精品无码中文字 | 日韩中文字幕在线| 涩涩色中文综合亚洲| 亚洲AV永久无码精品一区二区国产| 国产精品无码av在线播放| 人妻少妇偷人精品无码| 日韩精品无码一区二区中文字幕| 亚洲永久无码3D动漫一区| 免费无码又爽又刺激高潮软件| 中文字幕精品无码久久久久久3D日动漫| 日本免费在线中文字幕| 亚洲一区精品中文字幕| 中文字幕在线免费| 亚洲日韩中文在线精品第一| 国产成人无码区免费内射一片色欲 | 日韩三级中文字幕| 在线天堂资源www在线中文| 亚洲欧美日韩中文字幕二区| 中文字幕精品一区二区三区视频| 国产成人无码一区二区在线观看| 亚洲国产精品无码专区影院 |