After Weeks of Delay, Discovery Finally Reaches Orbit

The mission had been first delayed for weeks due to concerns over the valves that control the flow of hydrogen in the shuttle. Then the Wednesday launch was scrapped by a fuel leak. Still, NASA called the launch one of the best ever.

launch director Mike Leinbach said:

"We were all rewarded with a beautiful, beautiful launch."

Discovery's mission, STS-119, is a 13-day mission that will not just delivery the fourth and final set of solar array wings to the International Space Station (ISS), but will feature three spacewalks to help install the S6 truss segment to the starboard, or right, side of the station and deploy its solar arrays. The flight will also replace a failed unit for a system that converts urine to drinking water.

It was interesting to watch the post-orbit news conference. Much of the questioning centered around the valves mentioned above, but also debris. Yes, the all-too-familiar concern over debris hitting any heat shield tiles. NASA said it was still too early to comment.

Discovery's seven member crew consists of Commander Lee Archambault, Pilot Tony Antonelli, and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, John Phillips, Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata.