June 2, 2008 — Seven astronauts will be able to add “construction worker” and “plumber" to their resumes once the STS-124 mission to the International Space Station is complete.
Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew arrived at the orbiting outpost about 2 p.m. EST today, carrying a toilet replacement pump, a Japanese science lab, and a new Expedition 17 member.
The space station's Russian-built toilet has been acting up for about a week, and since the urinal side of the toilet failed, the ISS crew have periodically had to flush the unit manually - an operation that takes two people 10 minutes to do, the BBC reported. The new pump should take care of the problem.
The mission is also the second of three flights to launch components to complete the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. Discovery carried Kibo's tour bus-sized Japanese Pressurized Module, which will be the station's largest module at 37-feet long and 14-feet in diameter.
Shortly before Saturday’s launch, Commander Mark Kelly thanked the teams that helped make the launch possible. "We're going to deliver Kibo, or hope, to the space station," Kelly said. "And while we tend to live for today, the discoveries from Kibo will certainly offer hope for tomorrow."
Kelly is joined by pilot Ken Ham, mission specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Greg Chamitoff and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko Hoshide. Garan and Fossum will conduct three spacewalks during the two-week mission.
Chamitoff will replace current station crewmember Garrett Reisman, who has lived on the outpost since mid-March. Chamitoff will return to Earth on Endeavour's STS-126 mission, targeted for Nov. 10.
Toilet troubles should be a thing of the past soon, as the STS-126 mission will deliver a new water reclamation system to the ISS. The system will be able to recycle wastewater and allow up to six crewmembers to live aboard the orbiting outpost.
Space shuttle Discovery had one other passenger onboard— a 12-inch “Buzz Lightyear” action figure — that is helping to kick off a new education initiative between NASA and Disney Parks.
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STS-124 crew members are welcomed aboard the International Space Station by the Expedition 17 crew members.
Photo credit: NASA TV.
Space shuttle Discovery leaps from billows of smoke into a clear blue sky over Central Florida on its STS-124 mission to the International Space Station. Launch was on time at 5:02 p.m. EDT Saturday. Photo credit: NASA
Discovery's crew members wave to spectators before they head to the launch pad on May 31. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
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