STS-120

STS-120
NASA · Public domain · source
Name	STS-120
Operator	NASA
Mission type	International Space Station assembly
Mission duration	15 days
Launch date	October 23, 2007
Launch site	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103)

STS-120

STS-120 was a Space Shuttle mission flown by Discovery (OV-103) in October 2007 to deliver and install the Harmony (Node 2) module and related hardware to the International Space Station. The flight involved complex robotics operations with the Canadarm2 and multiple extravehicular activities by crew drawn from NASA, European Space Agency, and international partners. The mission became notable for a midflight repair involving a torn solar array originally flown from STS-121 manifest planning and extensive coordination with Mission Control Center (Houston).

Mission overview

The mission objective centered on delivering the Harmony (Node 2) module to the International Space Station to expand living and research volume and to provide permanent attachment points for the Columbus laboratory and the Kibō module. Secondary goals included the relocation of the P6 Truss and the power reconfiguration necessary for future assembly flights involving STS-126 and STS-119. Flight operations incorporated robotics work by the station's Mobile Servicing System and long-planned extravehicular activities directed by teams from Johnson Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Crew

The seven-person crew consisted of veteran and rookie astronauts drawn from several agencies. Commanded by Pamela Melroy, with Pilot George D. Zamka, the mission specialists included Scott E. Parazynski, Douglas H. Wheelock, Stephanie D. Wilson, Paolo Nespoli from European Space Agency, and Daniel T. Tani, who had previously served on Expedition 16. The crew represented a blend of test pilots, medical doctors, and engineers with prior flight experience on STS-63 and long-duration expeditions to the ISS.

Payload and cargo

Primary payload was the Harmony (Node 2) module delivered in Discovery's payload bay, outfitted with avionics, environmental control components, and pressurized file lockers to support later outfitting of Columbus and Kibō. The mission also carried the P6 Truss relocation hardware, batteries, spare parts, and experiments in middeck lockers. Robotic elements such as the Canadarm and a replacement grapple fixture were used to maneuver the module; additional cargo included scientific equipment tied to projects from European Space Agency and National Aeronautics and Space Administration research portfolios.

Launch and rendezvous

Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 on October 23, 2007, following a schedule coordinated with the International Space Station orbital phasing and the Expedition 16 crew aboard ISS. Launch operations involved countdown management by Launch Control Center engineers and ascent monitoring by flight controllers at the Johnson Space Center. After achieving orbit, the crew performed a series of rendezvous burns and proximity operations, using navigation support from United States Space Surveillance Network tracking and guidance updates from Mission Control Center (Houston) to approach the station for docking.

Docking and station assembly

Following final rendezvous, Discovery performed a docking to the Pressurized Mating Adapter attached to the Unity (Node 1) or designated port on the International Space Station. Once berthed, the crew used the station's Canadarm2 and the shuttle's Canadarm to extract Harmony (Node 2) from the payload bay and install it onto the forward port of Unity after a series of alignment checks overseen by flight controllers from Johnson Space Center and the European Space Agency Mission Control. The installation enabled structural reconfigurations that made possible the later attachment of the Columbus laboratory and the Harmony outfitting for international research.

Spacewalks

The mission included multiple extravehicular activities conducted by Scott E. Parazynski and Douglas H. Wheelock to connect power and data lines, install Contingency Liberations, and inspect hardware on the P6 Truss and solar arrays. One EVA gained wide attention when a torn section of a Solar Array Wing unfurled unexpectedly during retraction, prompting an improvised repair conceived in conjunction with engineers at Johnson Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center. An unprecedented repair EVA involved Scott E. Parazynski performing a risky in-situ fix using makeshift tools, its planning informed by collaboration with specialists from Jet Propulsion Laboratory and advisers from the Canadian Space Agency.

Return and landing

Following completion of assembly tasks, the crew reconfigured station flight hardware, stowed tools and extravehicular equipment, and prepared Discovery for undocking. After undocking, the shuttle performed late inspection surveys of its thermal protection system using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System while flight controllers at Kennedy Space Center and Johnson Space Center reviewed data. The vehicle reentered Earth's atmosphere and landed at Kennedy Space Center after a mission duration of approximately 15 days, concluding operations that advanced the International Space Station assembly sequence and international research capability.

Category:Space Shuttle missions Category:2007 in spaceflight