May 16, 2006

Discovery to move to its launch pad

Workers accompany the orbiter Discovery as it moves away from NASA's Orbiter Processing Facility toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) atop an orbiter transporter. Image credit: NASA/KSC

The space shuttle Discovery will be moved to Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, beginning at 2 a.m.

Discovery was attached to its propulsion elements -- an external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters -- in the Vehicle Assembly Building on May 13.

Following those operations, final integration, preparations and closeouts began in preparation for flight.

The rollout is an important step before Discovery's next mission, STS-121, to the International Space Station. Discovery's launch is targeted for July 1 during a launch window that extends to July 19.

During its 12-day mission, Discovery's crew will test new hardware and techniques to improve shuttle safety, as well as deliver supplies and make repairs to the station.

NASA TV will provide online live coverage beginning at 6 a.m. EDT Friday as Discovery approaches the launch pad.

Discovery to move to its launch pad

Japan's moon lander wasn't built to survive a weekslong lunar night. It's still going after 3

NASA's Voyager 1 resumes sending engineering updates to Earth

Simulated microgravity affects sleep and physiological rhythms, study finds

'Tube map' around planets and moons made possible by knot theory

NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter team says goodbye—for now

NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station

NASA is seeking a faster, cheaper way to bring Mars samples to Earth

New observatory in Chile—the highest in the world—aims to reveal origins of planets, galaxies and more

Study uncovers the secret of long-lived stem cells

Scientists show that ancient village adapted to drought, rising seas

How polyps of the moon jellyfish repel viral attacks on their microbiome

Organic electrochemical transistors: Scientists solve chemical mystery at the interface of biology and technology

Activity in a room stirs up nanoparticles left over from consumer sprays, study shows

Study dispels myth that purebred dogs are more prone to health problems

Study shows climate change and mercury pollution stressed plants for millions of years

Exploiting disorder to harvest heat energy: The potentialities of 2D magnets for thermoelectric applications

Citizen scientists help discover record-breaking exoplanet in binary star system

Novel calculations peg age of 'baby' asteroid