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Earlier this week, CR4 brought you images of a recent Ares 1 rocket-motor test from Joby Minor, a photographer who works for NASA in Huntsville, Alabama.
Today, CR4 brings you images of the recent launch of the space shuttle
Discovery, which traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) with seven
astronauts onboard. (All photos courtesy of Joby Minor – copyright 2009).
STS-128
Commanded by Frederick W. Sturckow, mission STS-128 was
launched on August 28 and landed on September 11, 2009. During its 13-day mission,
Discovery delivered Leonardo, a multi-purpose logistics module (MPLM) for
studying microgravity. As NASA's Glenn
Research Center
explains on its website, "the condition of microgravity comes about whenever an
object is in free fall."
In addition to MPLM Leonardo, Discovery carried a fluid
integrated rack (FIR) for studying how liquids (including colloids) behave in
microgravity, and a light microscopy module (LMM) for examining how heat pipes
work without gravity. The Discovery crew also delivered a lightweight
multi-purpose experiment support structure (LMC) with Ammonia Tank Assembly
(ATA).
The Largest
Solid-Propellant Motors Ever Flown
As Joby Minor's images show, massive rocket boosters were
required to send Discovery into space. According to NASA's STS-128 Press Kit,
the orbiter/payload liftoff mass was a whopping 267,689 lbs. (121,422 kg). Two
solid-fueled rocket boosters (SRBs) featured "the largest solid-propellant
motors ever flown", providing enough power not just for the launch but for the
first two minutes of powered flight. Measuring 149 feet long and over 12 feet
in diameter, each booster had a sea level thrust of 3.3-million pounds.
With Discovery now on the launch pad, NASA technicians
discovered a damaged check valve filter assembly in the left SRB on Wednesday,
August 28. Problems with a fill-and-drain fuel valve inside Discovery's aft
compartment also threatened the launch. Repairs were made, however, and even
the stormy skies on the Space
Coast cleared.
After
early evening preparations were completed, the space shuttle Discovery was
launched at 11:59 PM on August 28. Here's another image from Joby Minor.
Would you like to see all of the images? Then click here to view the complete album on CR4_News, our Facebook page.
Note: You don't have to belong to Facebook to view these extraordinary
photographs. But if you are a member, we invite you to become a fan of CR4_News there. Just click the "Become
a Fan" link. It's that simple!
Additional Reading:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/shuttlestation/station/microgex.html
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/379392main_STS-128_Press_Kit.pdf
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