NASA to launch shuttle Discovery Feb 24
By IANSSaturday, February 19, 2011
WASHINGTON - The space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to begin its final flight to the International Space Station Feb 24. It will carry a human-like robot to the permanent station, NASA said.
The Discovery’s 11-day mission will start at 2050 GMT, the US space agency said Friday.
Discovery’s launch date was announced at the conclusion of a flight readiness review at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Xinhua reported.
The six astronauts for the mission will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) to ISS. The PMM was converted from the multipurpose logistics module Leonardo and will provide additional storage for the station crew.
The PMM also carries Robonaut 2, the first human-like robot in space, which will become a permanent resident of the station.
