I'm one of the fleet of space shuttles belonging to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). I'm the thirth operational shuttle built. Following the destruction of Challenger and Columbia, I'm one of the three fully operational shuttles remaining in the fleet.My siblings are Atlantis and Endeavour.
As of October, 2007, the ISS assembly sequence has STS-124 delivering the Pressurized Module of the Japanese Experiment Module to the International Space Station, which will be mated to Node 2.The Japanese Remote Manipulator System, a robotic arm, will be attached to the Japanese module during this mission.Mission Specialist Mike Fossum and another Mission Specialist will make at least two spacewalks to install and outfit the Pressurised Module and Japanese Remote Manipulator System.
=====Last Mission: STS-121=====
STS-120 will deliver launch package 10A to the International Space Station (ISS). It consists of the U.S. Harmony module (formerly known as Node 2), (with four DC-to-DC Converter Unit (DDCU) racks and three Zero-g Storage Racks (ZSR) installed), a Power and Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF) for the station's robot arm, and a Shuttle Power Distribution Unit (SPDU). Harmony will be the first pressurized habitable module delivered to the station since the Quest Airlock was installed in June of 2001.
By delivering the second connecting node module to the ISS, STS-120 will enable installation of the European Columbus and Japanese Kibo research modules. Both of these modules will use ports on Harmony and Harmony itself will be inserted between the forward port of the US Destiny laboratory module and the Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA-2). Since STS-120 will dock to PMA-2 the installation of Harmony will occur in 2 stages. Initially it will be installed to the port node of the Unity module. After STS-120 has un-docked, the Canadarm2 will detach PMA-2 from the Destiny Laboratory and move it to the forward port of Harmony. Subsequently the arm will move Harmony from it's initial position to it's final position on the forward port of Destiny.
Also on this flight, the P6 solar arrays will be moved from the Z1 truss on top of Unity to its final position at the port end of the truss.
At the time of the Columbia tragedy, STS-120 was scheduled for early 2004. It has since been delayed repeatedly and will launch no earlier than October 2007.
Melroy is only the second woman to command a space shuttle mission, the first being Eileen Collins. In addition, Peggy Whitson, who will be commanding the ISS crew that will receive STS-120, will be the first female ISS commander. Thus, STS-120 will be the first time that two female mission commanders are in orbit at the same time.
a Solar-Array of ISS is damaged by a Astronaut...but the current line is fully functional,less 3 per cent of energy
