The launch of the space shuttle Discovery has been delayed again, this time by 48 hours due to inclement weather at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA's next attempt to launch the shuttle will be on Tuesday, July 4 at 2:38 PM EST - 21:38 PM Israel Time.
Steven Linsey commands the shuttle which includes five American astronauts: pilot Mark Kelly and astronauts Michael Possum, Lisa Novak, Stephanie Wilson and Pierre Sellers, as well as one German astronaut - Thomas Reiter. This will be the 18th flight to the International Space Station and the 32nd in the number of the Discovery.
On board the shuttle is the logistics component built for the rapid transfer of supplies to the space station by the Italian Space Agency. The compound is now full of supplies of various kinds including food and tools.
When the shuttle docks, crew members will try out new devices as well as practice repair techniques in space to increase the safety of the shuttle as well as make essential repairs to the station. Reiter will stay at the station and join the 13th team.
