Space shuttle Discovery underwent the Flight Control System checkout and Reaction Control System hotfire using all the primary jets. A piece of debris jarred loose from the shuttle during the checkout, though it was determined not to be a piece of the thermal protection system. Late inspection results cleared the Discovery's wing leading edge and nose cap and the shuttle is ready for landing.

Thursday's landing opportunities begin with a planned deorbit burn at 5:59 p.m. EDT and a daylight landing at 7:05 p.m. The next opportunity is one hour after sunset with the deorbit burn at 7:36 p.m. EDT and a landing at 8:42 p.m. EDT.

STS-128 crew answers questions during an interview while aboard space shuttle Discovery.

Discovery Ready for Landing

Discovery’s heat shield was cleared for landing Wednesday, and the crew checked out the systems that will be used to control the space shuttle’s return to Earth.

The first landing opportunity is planned for 7:05 p.m. EDT Thursday, but Mission Control is keeping a close watch on weather conditions at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A second opportunity is available on the following orbit at 8:42 p.m.

Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Kevin Ford spent Wednesday preparing the shuttle for re-entry, completing a checkout of the flight control systems and test-firing the shuttle’s reaction control system thrusters.

STS-128 Additional Resources
› Mission Summary (593 Kb PDF)
› Press Kit (3.7 Mb PDF)
› More about STS-128 Crew

Orbiter Status
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