STS-133

STS-133
NASA · Public domain · source
Name	STS-133
Mission type	ISS assembly mission
Operator	NASA
Mission duration	12 days, 19 hours, 59 minutes, 24 seconds
Launch date	24 February 2011
Launch site	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A
Landing date	9 March 2011
Orbit	Low Earth orbit
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Discovery
Programme	Space Shuttle program

STS-133 was the 39th flight of Space Shuttle Discovery and the 133rd mission of the Space Shuttle program. The flight delivered critical hardware and international payloads to the International Space Station during a 12.8‑day mission launched from Kennedy Space Center in February 2011 and landed at KSC in March 2011. The mission played a key role in completing the United States Orbital Segment while involving participation from Roscosmos, European Space Agency, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency partners.

Mission overview

The mission objective emphasized delivery and installation of the permanent Permanent Multipurpose Module and the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-4 to the International Space Station for use by Expedition 26 and Expedition 27. STS-133 supported contingency logistics for STS-134 and STS-135 and performed an array of external works including robotics operations by the Canadarm2 and Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator System. Flight operations integrated avionics upgrades originating from the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory and safety assessments by the Johnson Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center.

Crew

The six-member crew blended veteran astronauts and final-flight specialists: commander Steven W. Lindsey, pilot Eric A. Boe, and mission specialists Michael T. Barratt, Timothy L. Kopra, Naoko Yamazaki, and Stephen G. Bowen. Crew training occurred at NASA Johnson Space Center and included joint simulations with Roscosmos flight controllers and European Space Agency payload teams. The flight marked career milestones for several astronauts connected to programs at Naval Air Systems Command, Air Force Test Pilot School, and the United States Navy and included personnel with previous missions such as STS-126, STS-119, STS-128, and STS-132.

Payload and cargo

Primary payloads included the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM), converted from the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo originally built by Thales Alenia Space for Italian Space Agency, and the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-4 (ELC-4) assembled by Boeing. Secondary payloads featured the Robotic Refueling Mission hardware developed by NASA Glenn Research Center and cooperative experiments from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and European Space Agency partners. The cargo manifest encompassed spare parts for the P1 truss, life-support spares for Destiny and Harmony, and science racks destined for Columbus and Kibo laboratories.

Mission timeline

Launch occurred on 24 February 2011 from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A following scrubbed attempts that involved coordination with the Eastern Range and weather forecasts from National Weather Service. Following rendezvous and docking to the Harmony node, crew conducted a series of spacewalks and robotic operations to berth the PMM and ELC-4. Extravehicular activities supported by Extravehicular Mobility Unit suits and NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory rehearsals installed external hardware and performed maintenance on S-band and Ku-band communications systems. The Mission concluded with entry and landing at Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility on 9 March 2011.

Vehicle and ground operations

The orbiter underwent refurbishment at the Orbiter Maintenance and Checkout Facility and processing flow through the Vehicle Assembly Building prior to rollout to Launch Complex 39A. Ground operations involved teams from Kennedy Space Center, United Space Alliance, and subcontractors including Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Launch vehicle management incorporated inspections informed by findings from Columbia disaster investigations and hardware implementations recommended by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board and later safety directives from NASA Office of Safety and Mission Assurance. Post‑flight processing transitioned Discovery to retirement workflows coordinated with the Smithsonian Institution and National Air and Space Museum partners.

Science and experiments

Onboard experiments addressed materials science, biological studies, and technology demonstrations. The mission carried microgravity experiments supported by NASA Glenn Research Center, payload operations overseen by Marshall Space Flight Center, and student experiments coordinated through NASA Education. Technology demonstrations, including the Robotic Refueling Mission prototype, investigated on-orbit servicing techniques relevant to future Hubble Space Telescope servicing concepts and NASA's satellite servicing architectures. Biological payloads contributed data complementary to investigations performed aboard SpaceX Dragon and Progress resupply missions.

Legacy and significance

The flight represented one of the final assembly missions of the International Space Station and contributed to completion of the United States Orbital Segment that traces programmatic lineage to Skylab and cooperative efforts such as the Shuttle–Mir Program. Hardware delivered on this mission remains in long-term use on the ISS and informed design considerations for successor programs like Orion and commercial servicing initiatives by Sierra Nevada Corporation and SpaceX. The mission's operational lessons influenced post-shuttle human spaceflight policy deliberations at NASA Headquarters and international partnerships coordinated through United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs discussions.

Category:Space Shuttle missions Category:Space Shuttle Discovery missions