What's on STS 133

Gm's 400 lb robot astronaut.  Who knew they did more than build cars?

Discovery will deliver to the International Space Station the Permanent Multipurpose Module
(PMM), which was converted from the multi-purpose logistics module (MPLM) Leonardo. The
PMM will provide additional storage for the station crew, and experiments may be conducted
inside it, such as fluid physics, materials science, biology and biotechnology. Discovery also
will carry critical spare components and the Express Logistics Carrier 4 (ELC4) to the station.
Express, which stands for Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station, is an
external platform that holds large equipment that can only be transported using the unique capability
of the shuttle. The STS-133 mission will feature two spacewalks to do maintenance
work and install new components. Robonaut 2, or R2, will be the first human-like robot in
space when it flies on shuttle Discovery inside the PMM to become a permanent resident of the space station.


 Plus at this time the ISS will have 2 Soyuz's and HTV from Japan and the ATV 2 from Europe..all done from different control centers worldwide.

Copyright 2010 Fairbanks Broadband LLC

STS 133 events

Sunday: Crew arrival live @ 3:45 p.m. EST

Monday: Preview of the countdown @ 10 a.m.

Tuesday: Countdown status update @ 10 a.m.

Wednesday: Pre-launch news briefing @ 11 a.m.

Thursday: Fueling commentary begins @ 7:15 a.m.ASS

Liftoff at 4:50 pm 2050 UTC

Feb. 26: Docking to space station @ 2:16 p.m.

Feb. 28: Spacewalk No. 1 @ 11:15 a.m.

March 1: Install cargo module on station

March 2: Spacewalk No. 2 @ 10:15 a.m.

March 5: Undocking from station @ 7:44 a.m.

March 7: LANDING in Florida @ 12:44 p.m. EST

Copyright 2010 Fairbanks Broadband LLC

STS 133 on for Thursday Feb 24 2011

The launch window is roughly 10 minutes long. To maximize ascent performance, NASA targets the middle of the window. A final hold in the countdown at the T-minus nine-minute mark will be extended as required to hit the desired launch time.

HH...MM...SS...EST........EVENT

Mon  02/21/11

...............02:30 PM......Call to stations
73...45...00...03:00 PM......Countdown begins

Tue  02/22/11

63...45...00...01:00 AM......Fuel cell reactant load preps
58...15...00...06:30 AM......MEC/SRB power up
57...45...00...07:00 AM......Clear crew module

57...45...00...07:00 AM......Begin 4-hour built-in hold
57...45...00...07:00 AM......Clear blast danger area
57...00...00...07:45 AM......Orbiter pyro-initiator controller test
56...50...00...07:55 AM......SRB PIC test
55...50...00...08:55 AM......Master events controller pre-flight BITE test
53...45...00...11:00 AM......Resume countdown

52...15...00...12:30 PM......Fuel cell oxygen loading begins
49...45...00...03:00 PM......Fuel cell oxygen load complete
49...45...00...03:00 PM......Fuel cell hydrogen loading begins
47...15...00...05:30 PM......Fuel cell hydrogen loading complete
46...15...00...06:30 PM......Pad open; ingress white room

45...45...00...07:00 PM......Begin 8-hour built-in hold
45...45...00...07:00 PM......PRSD offload
44...45...00...08:00 PM......Crew module clean and vacuum
41...45...00...11:00 PM......Remove APU vent covers
41...15...00...11:30 PM......OMBUU demate

Wed  02/23/11

40...45...00...12:00 AM......SSME throat plug removal
37...45...00...03:00 AM......Countdown resumes

37...45...00...03:00 AM......Main engine preps
37...45...00...03:00 AM......MECs 1 and 2 on; avionics system checkout
34...45...00...06:00 AM......FRCS Tyvek cover remova/inspect
31...15...00...09:30 AM......Deflate RSS dock seals; tile inspection
30...45...00...10:00 AM......Tile inspection
30...45...00...10:00 AM......TSM prepped for fueling
29...55...26...10:49 AM......Crew orbiter/payload briefings

29...45...00...11:00 AM......Begin 13-hour 25-minute hold
28...15...00...12:30 PM......RSS rotation preps
28...15...00...12:30 PM......OIS communications check with JSC
27...25...00...01:20 PM......JSC flight control team on station
26...15...00...02:30 PM......Comm activation
25...45...00...03:00 PM......Crew module voice checks
24...45...00...04:00 PM......L-1 engineering briefing
24...27...00...04:18 PM......Crew weather briefing
23...45...00...05:00 PM......Flight crew equipment late stow
20...45...00...08:00 PM......RSS to park position
19...45...00...09:00 PM......Final TPS, debris inspection
19...15...00...09:30 PM......Ascent switch list

Thu  02/24/11

16...20...00...12:25 AM......Resume countdown

16...00...00...12:45 AM......Pad clear of non-essential personnel
16...00...00...12:45 AM......APU bite test
15...10...00...01:35 AM......Fuel cell activation
14...20...00...02:25 AM......Booster joint heater activation
13...50...00...02:55 AM......MEC pre-flight bite test
13...35...00...03:10 AM......Tanking weather update
12...50...00...03:55 AM......Final fueling preps; launch area clear
12...20...00...04:25 AM......Red crew assembled
11...35...00...05:10 AM......Fuel cell integrity checks complete

11...20...00...05:25 AM......Begin 2-hour built-in hold (T-minus 6 hours)
11...10...00...05:35 AM......Safe-and-arm PIC test
10...32...00...06:13 AM......Crew wakeup
10...20...00...06:25 AM......External tank ready for loading
10...02...00...06:43 AM......Mission management team tanking meeting
09...20...00...07:15 AM......NASA TV fueling coverage begins
09...20...00...07:25 AM......Resume countdown (T-minus 6 hours)

09...20...00...07:25 AM......LO2, LH2 transfer line chilldown
09...10...00...07:35 AM......Main propulsion system chill down
09...10...00...07:35 AM......LH2 slow fill
08...40...00...08:05 AM......LO2 slow fill
08...35...00...08:10 AM......Hydrogen ECO sensors go wet
08...30...00...08:15 AM......LO2 fast fill
08...20...00...08:25 AM......LH2 fast fill
06...25...00...10:20 AM......LH2 topping
06...20...00...10:25 AM......LH2 replenish
06...20...00...10:25 AM......LO2 replenish

06...20...00...10:25 AM......Begin 2-hour 30-minute built-in hold (T-minus 3 hours)
06...20...00...10:25 AM......Closeout crew to white room
06...20...00...10:25 AM......External tank in stable replenish mode
06...17...00...10:28 AM......Ascent flight control team on console
06...05...00...10:40 AM......Astronaut support personnel comm checks
05...35...00...11:10 AM......Pre-ingress switch reconfig
05...15...00...11:30 AM......NASA TV launch coverage begins
04...25...00...12:20 PM......Final crew weather briefing
04...15...00...12:30 PM......Crew suit up begins
03...50...00...12:55 PM......Resume countdown (T-minus 3 hours)

03...45...00...01:00 PM......Crew departs O&C building
03...15...00...01:30 PM......Crew ingress
02...25...00...02:20 PM......Astronaut comm checks
02...00...00...02:45 PM......Hatch closure
01...30...00...03:15 PM......White room closeout

01...10...00...03:35 PM......Begin 10-minute built-in hold (T-minus 20m)
01...00...00...03:45 PM......NASA test director countdown briefing
01...00...00...03:45 PM......Resume countdown (T-minus 20m)

00...59...00...03:46 PM......Backup flight computer to OPS 1
00...55...00...03:50 PM......KSC area clear to launch

00...49...00...03:56 PM......Begin final built-in hold (T-minus 9m)
00...24...00...04:21 PM......NTD launch status verification
00...09...00...04:41:24 PM...Resume countdown (T-minus 9m)

00...07...30...04:42:54 PM...Orbiter access arm retraction
00...05...00...04:45:24 PM...Launch window opens
00...05...00...04:45:24 PM...Hydraulic power system (APU) start
00...04...55...04:45:29 PM...Terminate LO2 replenish
00...04...00...04:46:24 PM...Purge sequence 4 hydraulic test
00...04...00...04:46:24 PM...IMUs to inertial
00...03...55...04:46:29 PM...Aerosurface profile
00...03...30...04:46:54 PM...Main engine steering test
00...02...55...04:47:29 PM...LO2 tank pressurization
00...02...35...04:47:49 PM...Fuel cells to internal reactants
00...02...30...04:47:54 PM...Clear caution-and-warning memory
00...02...00...04:48:24 PM...Crew closes visors
00...01...57...04:48:27 PM...LH2 tank pressurization
00...00...50...04:49:34 PM...SRB joint heater deactivation
00...00...31...04:49:53 PM...Shuttle GPCs take control of countdown
00...00...21...04:50:03 PM...SRB steering test
00...00...07...04:50:17 PM...Main engine start (T-6.6 seconds)
00...00...00...04:50:24 PM...SRB ignition (LAUNCH

Copyright 2010 Fairbanks Broadband LLC