STS-120

STS-120
source
Mission name	STS-120
Spacecraft	Discovery
Launch pad	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A
Launch date	October 23, 2007
Landing	Kennedy Space Center
Landing date	November 7, 2007

STS-120 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS), launched on October 23, 2007, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission was crewed by Pamela Melroy, George Zamka, Scott Parazynski, Stephanie Wilson, Douglas Wheelock, and Paolo Nespoli, and featured a series of spacewalks to maintain the ISS, including a Harmony module relocation. The mission was the 120th Space Shuttle flight and the 23rd flight to the ISS, following STS-118 and preceding STS-122. The crew worked closely with European Space Agency (ESA) and Italian Space Agency (ASI) personnel, including ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel and ASI astronaut Paolo Nespoli.

Mission Overview

The mission was a critical step in the construction of the ISS, with the primary objective of delivering the Harmony module to the station. The Harmony module was a NASA-built module that would serve as a node for the ISS, providing additional living and working space for the crew. The mission also included a series of spacewalks to maintain the ISS and perform other tasks, such as the relocation of the P6 truss and the installation of a new solar array. The crew worked closely with Mission Control Center personnel, including Flight Director Ed Van Cise and CAPCOM Steve Robinson, to ensure the success of the mission. The mission was also supported by Johnson Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory personnel, including NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and NASA Deputy Administrator Shana Dale.

Crew

The crew of the mission consisted of Pamela Melroy, George Zamka, Scott Parazynski, Stephanie Wilson, Douglas Wheelock, and Paolo Nespoli. Pamela Melroy was the mission commander, with George Zamka serving as the pilot. Scott Parazynski and Douglas Wheelock were mission specialists, along with Stephanie Wilson and Paolo Nespoli. The crew was supported by a team of NASA and ESA personnel, including Astronaut Candidate Sandra Magnus and ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel. The crew also worked closely with Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) personnel, including Roscosmos Director Anatoly Perminov and Soyuz commander Sergei Krikalev.

Mission Objectives

The primary objective of the mission was to deliver the Harmony module to the ISS and relocate it to its permanent position. The crew also performed a series of spacewalks to maintain the ISS and perform other tasks, such as the relocation of the P6 truss and the installation of a new solar array. The mission also included a series of scientific experiments, including a study of the effects of microgravity on the human body, conducted by NASA and ESA scientists, including NASA scientist Story Musgrave and ESA scientist Ulf Merbold. The crew worked closely with National Institutes of Health (NIH) and European Space Agency (ESA) personnel, including NIH Director Elias Zerhouni and ESA Director Jean-Jacques Dordain.

Mission Timeline

The mission began on October 23, 2007, with the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. The crew spent the first few days in orbit conducting checks of the spacecraft and preparing for the rendezvous with the ISS. On October 25, the crew docked with the ISS and began the process of relocating the Harmony module. The crew performed a series of spacewalks over the next few days, including a spacewalk by Scott Parazynski and Douglas Wheelock to relocate the P6 truss. The mission ended on November 7, 2007, with the landing of the Space Shuttle Discovery at Kennedy Space Center. The crew was supported by Mission Control Center personnel, including Flight Director Ed Van Cise and CAPCOM Steve Robinson, as well as Johnson Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Jet Propulsion Laboratory personnel.

Spacewalks

The mission included a series of spacewalks to maintain the ISS and perform other tasks. The first spacewalk was conducted by Scott Parazynski and Douglas Wheelock on October 26, and involved the relocation of the P6 truss. The second spacewalk was conducted by Scott Parazynski and Paolo Nespoli on October 28, and involved the installation of a new solar array. The third and final spacewalk was conducted by Scott Parazynski and Douglas Wheelock on October 30, and involved the completion of the Harmony module relocation. The spacewalks were supported by NASA and ESA personnel, including Astronaut Candidate Sandra Magnus and ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel, as well as Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) personnel, including Roscosmos Director Anatoly Perminov and Soyuz commander Sergei Krikalev. Category:Space Shuttle missions