LAST FLIGHT OF DISCOVERY

STS-133 Payload / ULF-5

Space Shuttle Discovery was successfully launched on Feb 24, 2011 from Cape Canaveral. This mission was originally scheduled for launch on Nov 1, 2010 from Kennedy Space Center on its last flight to the ISS. But due to technical problems with the Main Engines sensors, with unfavorable weather and with hydrogen leaks, the launch was scrubbed and rescheduled for Nov 30th.

Then due to repairs to the External tank, the launch of Shuttle Discovery was rescheduled for February 2011. To add more delays, crew member Tim Kopra had a bicycle accident which prevented him to fly on this mission and ultimately was replaced by Stephen Bowen, an experienced spacewalker whose last mission was STS-132.

This is considered to be the Last and Final Flight for Discovery, paving the way for its retirement once returns from space. This will be Discovery's 39th flight on an 11 day mission. The mission is designated as ULF-5 in the assembly sequence of the space station.

Discovery will take two key components, the Permanent Multipurpose Module "Leonardo" (PMM) and the Express Logistics Carrier-4 (ELC-4). It will also bring Robonaut-2, the first humanoid robot to the station. There will be 2 EVA's dedicated mainly to finish the work that was started by Expedition 24.

The PMM will be permanently attached to the nadir port (bottom) of Node 1 "Unity" , and the ELC-4 will be attached to the nadir passive attachment system on S3 truss.

For this model, the payload detail was made possible thanks to NASA's photo Gallery, and NASA's Flightdata files. A new repaired External Tank is available now on Download page 5 for this mission kit.

The model is available on both scales via Paypal.

Enjoy!

STS-133 launch view from KSC, FL (Aaron Obrien property-All Rights Reserved)

STS-133 launch view from Port St Lucie, FL (AXM property-All Rights Reserved)

	On Dec 24, 2010 the DEXTRE robot performed its first official task that involved the relocation of the CTC-3 payload on the ELC-2 pallet, moving it from plate worksite 1 (arrow) to plate worksite 2 which is immediately on top. This test was a requirement to get DEXTRE ready for duty when the HTV-2 arrives to the ISS in Jan 2011. B y moving the CTC-3, it provides free space for the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2, due to arrive in April 2011 on mission STS-134.
	ELC-4 Installation   The arrow shows the payload attachment system assigned to the ELC-4 on the S3 truss segment. The pallet to the left is the ESP-3 pallet (External Stowage Platform-3)
Note on the left the new location of the CTC-3 on the ELC-2 pallet. The lower portion of the photo shows the ELC-4 permanently attached to the S3 truss segment. Also note the presence of the ATV-2 "Johannes Kepler" cargo ship docked to aft section of the ISS (right)

PMM Installation

Photo on the left shows Unity's nadir port ready for the PMM. Left photo shows PMM installed.
"Leonardo" PMM attached to "UNITY" Node 1 (bottom or nadir port)

Payload bay landing configuration

"Space....the final frontier. These have been the voyages of Space Shuttle Discovery. Her 30 year mission: to seek out new science, to build new outposts, to bring nations together on the final frontier, to boldly go and do what no spacecraft has done before."

Robonaut patch source: www.spacefacts.de

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