14 DAY TRIAL // At 11:59 pm EDT (0359 August 29th GMT), the space shuttle Discovery took off from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), in Cape Canaveral, California, on its 13-day journey to the International Space Station (ISS). The midnight launch went without a hitch, despite earlier concerns over a hydrogen fuel valve failure, which prompted delays earlier this week. Seven astronauts are onboard the shuttle, which is scheduled to perform its first heat shield inspection today.
“This time Mother Nature is cooperating so it looks like third time really is the charm,” Pete Nickolenkt, the NASA launch director, told the Discovery crew moments before take-off. “Thanks to everyone who helped prepare for this mission. Let's go step up the science on the International Space Station,” Rick Sturckow, the commander of the STS-128 mission, replied. The flight was already canceled two times this week, on Monday and on Wednesday, and the original Friday launch time was delayed to later on in the day.
Discovery's departure took place during one of the last opened launch windows. If the shuttle hadn't launched by August 30th, then it would have had to wait until mid-October for another window. During September, two flights are scheduled to the ISS, one by a new Japanese unmanned cargo spacecraft, and the other by a Russian-manned Soyuz space capsule, which will replace some of the crew on the orbital outpost. The new flight carries astronaut Nicole Smith to the ISS, who will replace NASA expert Timothy Kopra as a flight engineer, Space reports.
The flight also takes to the ISS the new Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (COLBERT), a fitness device named after comedian Stephen Colbert. Originally, he wanted his name on the new NASA module, Node 3, but the structure was eventually called Tranquility. “I couldn't be prouder that my treadmill will soon be installed on the International Space Station to help finally slim all those chubby astronauts. You guys and gals are our ambassadors to the universe, don't make us look bad. Put down the astronaut ice cream tubby!” Colbert said in a video message.
The shuttle also ferries some supplies and new scientific experiments to the space lab, as well as new outer components. Three spacewalks are scheduled to take place during Discovery's stay, when mostly maintenance work will be conducted. In addition to Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Kevin Ford, the shuttle crew also includes Mission Specialists Jose Hernandez, John “Danny” Olivas, Nicole Stott, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Christer Fuglesang and Patrick Forrester.