Return to Flight Launch Countdown 07/24/05

Return to Flight Launch Countdown Begins Again Saturday

live streaming of launch and mission coverage. FULL STREAMING VIDEO NASA TV 1

live streaming of launch and mission coverage. FULL STREAMING VIDEO NASA TV 2

For NASA TV schedules, viewing and information on the Web, visit: nasa.gov/ntv

NASA will begin the countdown for the second Return to Flight launch attempt of Space Shuttle Discovery at noon EDT, July 23, 70 hours before the targeted liftoff. On mission STS-114, Discovery's seven-member crew will test new equipment and procedures to increase the safety of the Space Shuttle and deliver supplies to the International Space Station.

NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) launch team will conduct the countdown from Firing Room 3 of the Launch Control Center. The countdown includes nearly 28 hours of built-in hold time, leading to a preferred launch time at about 10:39 a.m. EDT July 26. The launch opportunity lasts for about five minutes.

This mission is the 114th Shuttle flight and 17th U.S. flight to the Station. The 12-day mission has a planned KSC landing at approximately 5:46 a.m. EDT, Aug. 7. For detailed information about NASA's Return to Flight visit: http://www.nasa.gov/returntoflight

COUNTDOWN MILESTONES (ALL TIMES EDT and SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Launch-3 Days (Saturday, July 23): Countdown begins at the T-43 hours (12:20 p.m.)

Launch-2 Days (Sunday, July 24)
Complete preparation to load power-reactant storage and distribution system (3 a.m.); activate and test navigational systems; flight deck preliminary inspections complete (4 a.m.).
Enter first built-in hold at T-27 hours for four hours (4 a.m.).
Resume countdown (8 a.m.); begin operations to load cryogenic reactants into Discovery's fuel cell storage tanks (9:30 p.m.).
Enter 4-hour built-in hold at T-19 hours (4 p.m.).
Resume countdown (8 p.m.).

Launch-1 Day (Monday, July 25)
Pad sound suppression system water tank filling complete (12 a.m.).
Enter planned hold at T-11 hours for 13 hours, 44 minutes (4 a.m.); begin star tracker functional checks (4:50 a.m.); move Rotating Service Structure

more at Space Shuttle and Discovery or nasa and Space Shuttle Discovery