Techs to Close Discovery's Payload Bay Doors

The Ku-band antenna that transmits audio, video and data between Earth and the space shuttle will be stowed today inside shuttle Discovery's payload bay before the clamshell doors are closed. The antenna, which resembles a mini-satellite dish, is on a stanchion that folds out from the forward bulkhead inside the cargo bay after the spacecraft reaches orbit. The antenna stowage and door closure are part of the ongoing work at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prep Discovery for its roll over to the Vehicle Assembly Building next month. There is will be joined to an external fuel tank and a set of solid rocket boosters for launch on the STS-133 mission. Liftoff is targeted for Nov. 1.

The astronauts of STS-133 are working through a simulated entry and landing today at their training base at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Such simulations, performed inside a moving replica of a shuttle flight deck, are made as realistic as possible and often force crew members to deal with emergency situations in a safe environment.