NASA Announces Aug. 9 as Official Launch Date for STS-105

The Space Shuttle Discovery will launch a new crew, a host of scientific
equipment and supplies to the International Space Station Aug. 9, beginning
a new phase of station assembly that will expand the complex as research
work grows.

Launch of Discovery on mission STS-105 has been set for 5:38 p.m. EDT Aug. 9
on the 12-day flight.

“This flight is representative of many shuttle missions to come as station
assembly and operations enter a new phase,” Space Shuttle Program Manager
Ron Dittemore said. “Although extremely complex and challenging assembly
flights will continue, they’ll be interspersed with missions dedicated to
changing station crews, experiments and supplies. Discovery is set to launch
only about two weeks after Atlantis’ return from the station, and the team
has done a tremendous job.”

Discovery will be commanded by Scott Horowitz (Col., USAF). Frederick “Rick”
Sturckow (Major, USMC) will be pilot. The shuttle crew also includes Patrick
G. Forrester (Lt. Col., USA) and Dr. Daniel T. Barry, members that will
perform two space walks during the mission to install logistical equipment
and prepare for future station assembly. Launching to the station aboard
Discovery will be the third crew for the complex: Commander Frank
Culbertson, Pilot Vladimir Dezhurov and Flight Engineer Mikhail Tyurin. The
station’s second crew — Commander Yury Usachev and Flight Engineers Jim
Voss and Susan Helms — will return to Earth aboard Discovery, ending more
than five months in orbit.

Discovery is planned to land at about 1:17 p.m. EDT Aug. 21 at the Kennedy
Space Center, FL.