Ten… Nine… Eight… Seven… Six... Five… Four… Three… Two… One…
That countdown is a very familiar part of any Space Shuttle launch. But for NASA, the countdown for its next mission started long before they got to “ten.” NASA has been working hard to get ready for this launch for well over two years! A lot of things had to be done before the STS-114 Return to Flight mission.
The crew has been training for a long time to make the International Space Station better. There are also extra jobs that are special to this flight. To learn these jobs, the crew trains on the ground. They have been practicing the work they will do in space for many months. The crew will make sure that the Space Shuttle is the safest it has ever been.
NASA also had to get the Space Shuttle Discovery ready for its mission. NASA has made several changes to the Shuttle for this flight to make the astronauts safer.
Now, the work is almost finished and the time to launch is almost here. Astronauts are packing their bags, often packing special items that will remind them of home. But no teddy bears are allowed. Watch the video to find out why.
Visit the links below for more resources from NASA:
Hot Shower and A Hug
Find out how the Behavioral Health and Performance Group (BHPG) at
NASA Johnson Space Center works with astronauts and their families
to help them prepare for the adjustments of long-duration flights.
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Preparing for a Return to Flight
Over two years have passed since the last time the Space Shuttle flew.
But, that does not mean that nothing has been happening during that
time. Engineers, ground crews, mission controllers and astronauts
have all been extremely busy and will stay that way until the crew
of STS-114 is safely back on the ground. The Space Shuttle has an
important job ahead. Learn more about how NASA is working to make
sure it finishes its tasks successfully and safely.
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Just Like Home
Sometimes, little things help you feel closer to home, even when you're
far, far away. Astronauts feel happier when they have reminders of
home with them on the International Space Station (ISS) or the Space
Shuttle.
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What Would You Bring
Think of the items you would bring on a long spaceflight and write
about your decision to bring them.
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Learning More About STS-114
Research the upcoming Return To Flight Shuttle mission, and
create a presentation for the class on a specific STS-114
topic. Students use the Internet to research an STS-114 specific
topic and present the findings to the class. A grading rubric
is provided for the teacher.
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View Student Section
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