STS-124

Launch, orbit & landing data: Designation  32960 / 08027A Launch date - time  31 May 2008 - 21:01 UT Launch site  KSC, LC39A Launch vehicle  Space Shuttle Orbiter  Discovery #35 Primary payload  Kibo-2 (JEM-PM) Cargo Mass (kg)  17530 kg Docking date - time  02 Jun 2008 - 18:03 UT Target spacecraft/port  ISS/xx Earth orbit on :    - Perigee / Apogee   km    - Inclination  51.64°    - Period   min Undocking date - time  11 Jun 2008 - 11:42 UT Landing date - time  14 Jun 2008 - 15:15 UT Landing location  KSC, runway 15 Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  13d 18h 13m Nbr orbits  217 Landing crew  Chamitoff replaced by Reisman (STS-123)

Launch Crew

Backup Crew Nr. Name Job 7  Kopra, Timothy Lennart  Flight Engineer

Mission details:

STS-124 Payload

ISS at STS-124

• The STS-124 mission is the second of three flights that will launch components to complete the Japanese contribution to the station. Delayed from April 24 and May 25.
• Discovery took off at 2101 UTC on May 31, 2008 on Shuttle mission STS-124, Station mission 1J, using external tank ET-128. A 76 m/s OMS-2 burn at 2140 UTC put the Shuttle in its targeted orbit. STS-124 delivered the Kibo Pressurized Module, the largest component of the Japanese station element, to ISS.
• Following a two day solo flight Discovery docked at PMA-2 at 1803 UTC on Jun 2, 2008. Common work with the ISS expedition 17. Transfer Chamitoff to ISS and Reisman to STS-124-crew.
  
  

  Arrival of STS-124

  Traditional in-flight photo

  
  
• The STS-124 payload bay contained:

    Name                             Bay location   Mass (kg,guess)
  
    Orbiter Docking System           1-2            1800
     with EMU 3015, 3017 suits                       260?
    APC/SPDU                         3 port          100?
    Kibo PM                          5-12          14800?
    APC/ECSH                         13 port         100?
    RMS 301                          Sill            410
   ------------------------------------------------------
                                      Cargo total  17530 kg
  

• Astronauts Fossum and Garan made three spacewalks from Quest using EMU 3015 and 3017.
  First EVA by Fossum and Garan on 03.06.2008 (6h 48m) to transfer the Orbiter Boom Sensor System back to the shuttle from its temporary location of the station's truss, or backbone. The crew then prepared the JEM PM for its removal from the shuttle's payload bay. Later that day, the JEM PM was be installed on the port side of Harmony.
  The Kibo module was installed on Harmony by 2301 UTC on Jun 4; the Japanese Logistics Module was transferred from Harmony to Kibo on Jun 6 between 1917 and 2004 UTC.
  
  

  EVA Fossum

  EVA Garan

  
  
• Second EVA by Fossum and Garan on 05.06.2008 (7h 11m) to install covers and external television equipment on the JEM PM and remove covers on the JEM RMS, which will be installed on flight day 8. The spacewalkers also prepared for the flight day 7 relocation of the Japanese logistics module.
• Third and final EVA by Fossum and Garan on 08.06.2008 (6h 33m) to replace a failed nitrogen tank assembly on the station's truss with a spare that was temporarily stored on one of the station external stowage platforms. They also retrieved a failed camera system on the truss.
• The Shuttle undocked on Jun 11 at 1142 UTC and landed at 1515 UTC on Jun 14 on runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center.
  
  

  ISS after STS-124

  landing STS-124

  
  

ISS starboard side

ISS portside

External links:

• JAXA: Mission Information

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel KSC. Credit: J. Vd Dr.

Landing cancel KSC. Credit: J. Vd Dr.