Launch countdown for Discovery
The countdown to launch of Space Shuttle Discovery continues at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Discovery is due to launch today at 17:38 CEST (15:38 GMT) on flight STS-120, a mission to install the Italian-built Node 2 module on the ISS.
For the latest updates see NASA's Shuttle page
There is currently a 60-percent chance that weather at the launch site will delay today's launch. Weather conditions are expected to improve slightly on Wednesday and Thursday.
The seven STS-120 crew members, including ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Friday.
As well as exchanging a member of the Station's permanent crew, and the challenging operation of repositioning a set of solar arrays, the STS-120 crew is responsible for the safe delivery of the Italian-built Node 2 connecting module - an important step in the continued construction of the International Space Station.
Nespoli's mission has been named 'Esperia' after the Ancient Greek name for the Italian peninsula. During the 14-day mission Nespoli will play a key role as the intravehicular activity (IVA) astronaut for three of the five scheduled spacewalks, including the installation of Node 2. He will also conduct a joint ESA/ASI programme of human physiology and biology experiments, as well as a number of educational activities.
Nespoli's mission stems from six flight opportunities granted to the Italian Space Agency (ASI) for their provision of three pressurised cargo containers (Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules, or MPLMs) to NASA under a bilateral agreement. The close cooperation between ESA and ASI led to the assignment of Nespoli, a member of the European Astronaut Corps, for this ASI flight opportunity.
The countdown to launch of STS-120 and the Esperia Mission can be viewed on NASA TV - coverage starts at 12:30 CEST (10:30 GMT): http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/
- Watch the launch!
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html - Harmony looks ahead to the International Space Station
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Esperia/Harmony_looks_ahead_to_the_International_Space_Station - ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli and Node 2 module head for ISS
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Esperia/ESA_astronaut_Paolo_Nespoli_and_Node_2_module_head_for_ISS - STS-120 crew in practice countdown
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Esperia/STS-120_crew_in_practice_countdown - Discovery moved to launch pad
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Esperia/Discovery_moved_to_launch_pad - Nespoli focuses on complex mission
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Esperia/Nespoli_focuses_on_complex_mission - Paolo Nespoli
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Paolo_Nespoli - Node 2: Connecting Module
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/International_Space_Station/Node_2_Connecting_Module - Italian Space Agency (ASI)
http://www.asi.it - STS-120 (NASA)
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts120/index.html - Esperia factsheets (pdf)
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Esperia/Esperia_Mission_factsheets - Esperia newspaper (pdf)
https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/esperia/newspaper/ESA_Esperia_newspaper_ENG.pdf - Esperia gallery
http://www.esa.int/esa-mmg/mmg.pl?mission=Esperia+%28Astronaut+Nespoli%29&keyword=+--%3E+Keyword&idf=+--%3E+ID&Ic=on&Vc=on&Ac=on&Gc=on&subm3=GO - Esperia Mission
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Esperia