Watch NASA’s live feed of STS-131

Boy, what a birthday. I get a Space Shuttle launch, plus I get to publish TechHaze’s 100th post! This is Discovery’a second-to-last take-off. In fact, this is the last takeoff that will not be a space shuttle’s last takeoff. Only three more missions will take place after this one: STS-132 (Atlantis), STS-134 (Endeavor), STS-133 (Discovery).
The mission’s main highlight is the delivery of Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM). This pressurised module will be temporarily docked to the International Space Station by its robotic arm to deliver 1725 kg (3800 lb) of supplies. The crew will enjoy brand new MARES gym machine and sleeping quarters. MARES stands for Muscle Atrophy Research and Exercise System rack. It will let astronauts assess the evolution of their muscles while in space. On ground doctors are pursuing research on muscle atrophy.
The most exciting delivery will be the Window Observational Research Facility, or WORF that will “add cameras, multispectral and scanners, camcorders and sensors to enhance astronaut’s ability to do work outside the Destiny laboratory.” The crew will be able to study global climates, land and sea formations and crop weather damage like never before.
A new device for producing water called Sabatier in orbit will be installed. It will transform carbon dioxide (CO₂) and hydrogen (H₂) to produce water (H₂O) and methane (CH₄). While the methane will be vented into space, the water will be treated and used. The device will be fully operational in fall.
Three space 6 hour space walks (EVAs) will be performed by Clay Anderson and Rick Mastracchio. Throughout the three spacewalks, an old ammonia tank will be removed from the station and replaced by a new one, retreived from the Space Shuttle’s payload bay. Ammonia is used to transfer the station’s excessive atmospheric heat to the external radiators. On the first spacewalk (third day), they will also receive a Japenese seed experiment and replace a failed gyroscope (an instrument used to determine the station’s). On flight day 7, astronauts will remove debris shields from the Quest Airlock. They will be returned to earth to be further analyzed. During the third EVA (flight day 9), Anderson and Mastracchio will install a plate and a camera light on the Canadian Dextre robot. They will also replace a burned out light on a truss camera.

Enjoy the live SpaceVidCast! As usual, we’ll post a replay of the launch once it’s available.

Here’s a replay of the launch, for those who missed it: