Discovery lifted off on its thirty-ninth and final mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 4:53 p.m., Thursday to deliver a new module and critical supplies to the International Space Station.
Commander Steve Lindsey, who is commanding the STS-133, is joined on the mission by Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialists Alvin Drew, Steve Bowen, Michael Barratt and Nicole Stott. Bowen replaced Tim Kopra as mission specialist 2 following a bicycle injury on Jan. 15 that prohibited Kopra from supporting the launch window. Bowen’s flight on the STS-133 makes him the first astronaut ever to fly on consecutive missions.
“Good to be here,” Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey radioed soon after the three main engines shut off and the external fuel tank was jettisoned.
The shuttle crew is scheduled to dock to the International Space Station station at 2:16 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26. The mission’s two spacewalks will focus on outfitting the station and storing spare components outside the complex.
Discovery crew is expected to return after completing the 11-day flight, on Monday, March 7, at 12:44 pm.
STS-133 is the 133rd shuttle flight, the 39th flight for Discovery and the 35th shuttle mission dedicated to station assembly and maintenance.
