May 17, 2006<br /><br />Katherine Trinidad<br />Headquarters, Washington<br />(202) 358-3749<br /><br />Tracy Young<br />Kennedy Space Center, Fla.<br />(321) 867-2468<br /><br />RELEASE: 06-223<br /><br />NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY CARGO READY FOR FLIGHT<br /><br />The payloads that will launch aboard the next space shuttle mission, <br />STS-121, arrived Wednesday at Launch Pad 39-B at NASA's Kennedy Space <br />Center, Fla.<br /><br />Space Shuttle Discovery's cargo includes the Italian-built logistics <br />module Leonardo, which will carry 11 large racks filled with food, <br />clothing, spare parts and research equipment to the International <br />Space Station. Also included in the cargo is the Oxygen Generation <br />System, which can provide enough oxygen each day to support a <br />six-member crew. The system will be operational before the first <br />six-person crew arrives aboard the station in 2009.<br /><br />An integrated cargo carrier will deliver a spare pump module and <br />replacement mobile transporter reel assembly to the station. Another <br />carrier containing pieces of the shuttle's heat-shielding material is <br />also installed in Discovery's payload bay. The material will be used <br />to test heat shield repair methods in orbit during a potential third <br />spacewalk.<br /><br />Discovery's launch to the International Space Station is targeted for <br />July 1 in a launch window that extends to July 19. During the 12-day <br />mission, crew members will test new hardware and techniques to <br />improve shuttle safety.<br /><br />Imagery from the transfer and the latest information on the STS-121 <br />mission and crew is available at:<br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle<br /><br />Video highlights of the transfer to the launch pad will air on <br />Thursday's NASA TV's Video File segments. NASA TV's Video File news <br />feed is on the Media Channel (Program 103) at 6 - 8 and 9 - 11 a.m.; <br />12 - 2 and 4 - 7 p.m.; and 10 p.m. - midnight. All times are Eastern.<br /><br />The Media Channel is available on an MPEG-2 digital C-band signal via <br />satellite AMC-6; 72 degrees west longitude, transponder 17C, 4040 <br />MHz, vertical polarization. In Alaska and Hawaii, it's on AMC-7; 137 <br />degrees west longitude, transponder 18C, at 4060 MHz, horizontal <br />polarization. A digital video broadcast compliant integrated receiver <br />decoder is required for reception. For media unable to receive the <br />Media Channel, a modified version of Video-File airs on the Public <br />Channel at 9 a.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. (Eastern). For downlink, Media <br />and Public Channel information and links to streaming video, visit:<br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov/ntv<br /><br />For information about the International Space Station, visit:<br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov/station