Space Shuttle Discovery Ready for May 31 Launch
May 25th, 2008
Kennedy Space Center, FL - Final preparations are on schedule for liftoff May 31 at 5:02 p.m. EDT. The countdown begins May 28 at 3 p.m.
Discovery’s 14-day flight will carry the largest payload so far to the station and includes three spacewalks. It is the second of three missions that will launch components to complete the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory. The crew will install Kibo’s large Japanese Pressurized Module and Kibo’s robotic arm system. Discovery also will deliver new station crew member Greg Chamitoff and bring back Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman, who will end a three-month stay aboard the outpost.
| Cape Canaveral Launch Schedule |
From left are Mission Specialists Ron Garan, Karen Nyberg, Akihiko Hoshide and Mike Fossum, Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Ken Ham and Mission Specialist Greg Chamitoff.









