[img]http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/160328main_420x287.jpg[/img] Image above: Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Sandra Magnus takes a moment for a photo while working with the LOH- RadGene experiment at the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station. Credit: NASA The Expedition 18 crew aboard the International Space Station focused on spacewalk preparations Thursday. They also conducted a training exercise for the upcoming STS-119 mission. Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov completed a variety of tasks in anticipation of next Tuesday's spacewalk including resizing spacesuits, conducting routine spacesuit maintenance and configuring spacewalk tools and equipment. They also tested a pressure equalization valve in the Pirs docking compartment.

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:07:44 AM CST

NASA managers completed a review today of space shuttle Discovery's readiness for flight and selected the official launch date for the STS-119 mission. Commander Lee Archambault and his six crewmates are now scheduled to lift off to the International Space Station at 9:20 p.m. EDT on March 11.

A post-readiness review news conference is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EST today at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It will air live on NASA TV. The briefing participants are: Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, NASA Headquarters in Washington, John Shannon, Space Shuttle Program manager, NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston and Mike Leinbach, Space Shuttle launch director, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.