HDNET to Broadcast Launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery
HDNET TO BROADCAST LAUNCH OF SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY
Historic mission set for launch Tuesday, October 23 at 11:38 a.m. ET
DALLAS (October 22) The space shuttle Discovery mission STS-120 is scheduled for lift-off this Tuesday, October 23 at 11:38 a.m. ET and HDNet will be there to witness history as the launch marks the first time two female mission commanders will be in orbit at the same time.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson is currently in command of Expedition 16 of the International Space Station and Discovery commander Pam Melroy will lead Discovery mission STS-120.
HDNet’s coverage of the launch begins at 11:00 a.m. ET and will be hosted by HDNet World Report correspondent Greg Dobbs and former astronaut, Lieutenant Colonel Charles “Sam” Gemar.
The mission of the Shuttle crew is to deliver the Harmony module that will provide attachment points for other European and Japanese laboratory modules. The Harmony module will be the first expansion of living and working space on the International Space Station since 2001.
The module was christened “Harmony” after more than 2,200 kindergarten through high school students from 32 states participated in a naming contest. The “Node 2 Challenge” required students to learn about the space station, build a scale model and then write an essay explaining their proposed name for the module.
“This launch of Discovery will be watched by the countless students who participated in giving a name to the ship’s precious cargo,” said Mark Cuban, president and cofounder of HDNet. “We’re proud to bring this launch to these young people so that they can be inspired by the results of a project that they were a very important part of.”
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