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Japanese hopes ride on Discovery Shuttle leaves for space station
(about 23 hours later)
The Discovery orbiter is set for launch from the Kennedy Space Center on a 14-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Nasa's Discovery shuttle has blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a 14-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The shuttle and its crew of seven will deliver the main section of Japan's science lab known as Kibo, or "Hope". The shuttle and its crew of seven are delivering a giant cylinder for Japan's Kibo science lab but also a new pump to repair the station's toilet.
The toilet in the Zvezda service module failed last week.
Discovery's flight is the third orbiter mission of 2008 and the first to fly the "in-line" external fuel tank.Discovery's flight is the third orbiter mission of 2008 and the first to fly the "in-line" external fuel tank.
The mission will take up a new pump to repair the station's toilet that has failed in the Zvezda service module. The new fuel tank has been built from the ground up with the upgrades demanded after the Columbia disaster in 2003.
The toilet failed last week, and the ISS crew have had to flush the unit manually - an operation which takes two people 10 minutes to do. The improvements are designed to minimise the shedding of insulation foam on launch - the problem that doomed Columbia and her crew.
A replacement pump was rushed from Russia to be loaded onto Discovery for delivery to the ISS.
Lift-off is timed for 1702 local time in Florida (2102 GMT).
Orbital juggling
The new fuel tank has been built from the ground up with the upgrades demanded after the Columbia disaster.
The improvements are designed to minimise the shedding of insulation foam on launch - the problem that doomed Columbia and her crew in 2003.
All missions prior to Discovery's have had the upgrades retrofitted on to tanks that were already constructed.All missions prior to Discovery's have had the upgrades retrofitted on to tanks that were already constructed.
The US space agency Nasa is describing the latest shuttle venture as one of the most complex yet undertaken. Japanese excitement
The primary task will be to install the Japanese Pressurised Module (JPM). The shuttle took off into a brilliant blue sky at 1702 local time (2102 GMT) for a flight set to last about two days.
ISS astronauts will be relieved to get their toilet working properly again The JPM - seen here in Japan - fills Discovery's entire payload bay
This 11.2m-long (36.7ft), 14.8-tonne (32,600lbs) cylinder is the third science laboratory intended for the orbiting platform, after the US Destiny and European Columbus segments. Nearly 400 Japanese journalists, space programme officials and other guests crowded into the launch site, their excitement growing as the hours, then minutes counted down, the Associated Press reports.
The JPM is so big all its experimental equipment was sent up on the previous shuttle flight in a unit called the Japanese Logistics Module (JLM). Discovery's primary task is to install the Japanese Pressurised Module (JPM) which is the size of a school bus and will place the Japanese at the forefront of space exploration, the BBC's Andy Gallacher reports from Florida.
Once the main Kibo section is attached to the ISS's Harmony connecting node, the JLM can be moved from its temporary berth and slotted directly on to the larger Japanese unit. The cylinder is the third science laboratory intended for the orbiting platform, after the US Destiny and European Columbus segments.
Once the main Kibo (English: Hope) section is attached to the ISS's Harmony connecting node, the JLM can be moved from its temporary berth and slotted directly on to a larger Japanese unit.
All of the pressurised module's internal systems and payload racks can then be transferred across to it.All of the pressurised module's internal systems and payload racks can then be transferred across to it.
A 10m-long (33ft) robotic arm is also travelling up with the Discovery for use on Kibo. This arm will play a key role when the third and final section of the scientific complex is taken up in 2009. A 10m-long (33ft) robotic arm is also travelling up with the Discovery for use on Kibo.
This is a "terrace" exposed to outer space. The arm will be used to position and retrieve experiments placed on this platform. It will be used to position and retrieve experiments from a platform due to be delivered next year - the final part of the lab.
'To infinity...' Toilet troubles
Since the urinal side of the toilet failed, the ISS crew have periodically had to flush the unit manually - an operation which takes two people 10 minutes to do.
ISS astronauts will be relieved to get their toilet working properly again
The solid-waste part of the Russian-built toilet is working properly.
A replacement pump was rushed from Russia to be loaded on to Discovery for delivery to the ISS.
Three spacewalks, of some 6.5 hours each, are currently planned for Discovery's mission, mainly for setting up the Kibo equipment.Three spacewalks, of some 6.5 hours each, are currently planned for Discovery's mission, mainly for setting up the Kibo equipment.
Astronauts will also deliver a nitrogen gas tank and inspect damage to a key joint that helps the station's power-generating solar arrays to follow the Sun.Astronauts will also deliver a nitrogen gas tank and inspect damage to a key joint that helps the station's power-generating solar arrays to follow the Sun.
Buzz Lightyear in front of Kennedy's giant Vehicle Assembly Building Discovery is carrying a special guest on the flight - the famous space ranger Buzz Lightyear.
Discovery is carrying a special guest on the flight - the famous space ranger Buzz Lightyear. The 30cm-tall (12in) action figure, made famous in the Disney/Pixar Toy Story movies, is going into orbit as part of an educational programme aimed at encouraging children to pursue science studies. The 30cm-tall (12in) action figure, made famous in the Disney/Pixar Toy Story movies, is going into orbit as part of an educational programme.
Nasa hopes to get two more shuttle flights in before the end of the year.
Following Discovery's mission, the next outing will be for Atlantis which is scheduled to go to the Hubble space telescope to repair and upgrade its systems.
Nine further shuttle flights are required to complete the ISS before the orbiter fleet is retired in 2010.Nine further shuttle flights are required to complete the ISS before the orbiter fleet is retired in 2010.