The countdown begins for Shuttle Discovery's next mission

Space · Published 18 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Following a successful Flight Readiness Review at Kennedy Space Center, NASA managers have officially announced the launch date for the STS-133 mission.

NASA shuttle program managers, including Launch Director Mike Leinbach, have scheduled the launch of Discovery for February 24. This announcement follows the completion of the mission's Flight Readiness Review on February 18 in Florida.

The footage also provides a look back at the STS-31 mission, which launched on April 24, 1990. This view captures the orbiter vehicle 103 performing a roll maneuver after liftoff from Pad 39B, showcasing the external tank, solid rocket boosters, and the main engines.

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