array wing toward 

the end of the station 

where Discovery is 

docked. When nearly 

half of the array’s 

length is unfolded, 

the crew will take a 

short break to let the 

array warm up before 

finishing the deployment. Next, they’ll 

move to the second 

array, deploying it 

toward the Russian 

segment of the 

complex and allowing 

for another halfway 

point warm-up before 

full extension. This 

phased approach will 

give the crew and 

the ground engineers 

time to monitor the 

deployment and 

ensure that the arrays 

are unfolding properly. If inspection of the heat shield is 

not required on flight day six, the solar array deployment 

will be moved up 48 hours. 

On flight day nine, Acaba and Arnold will venture out for 

the third spacewalk, the second for each of them. On this 

spacewalk, the two crew members are scheduled to complete a list of additional maintenance tasks that is focused 

on the truss structure. They’ll also conduct maintenance 

on the station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2, and the Special 

Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, also called Dextre.

Some off-duty time is scheduled for the crew on flight day 

10 before they’re back to work transferring supplies and 

equipment between the shuttle and the station. They’ll 

also conduct a joint crew news conference and review 

procedures for the next day’s spacewalk.

Swanson and Arnold will conduct the final spacewalk on 

flight day 11. Swanson is scheduled to install an antenna 

on the Japanese logistics module and work on the Z1 

truss patch panel connection while Arnold is taking 

photos of the S1 and P1 radiators. They’ll wrap up this 

spacewalk by working together to install a new wireless video system and deploy two payload attachment 

systems. 

On flight day 12, the shuttle crew will complete transfers 

before saying farewell to the station crew and preparing 

for hatch closure between the two spacecraft. 

Undocking and Landing

Discovery is scheduled to undock from the station on 

flight day 13. Antonelli will conduct a flyaround of the 

complex so the crew can capture detailed imagery of 

the station’s new configuration with the last of its powerproducing solar arrays unfurled. After a little more than a 

lap around the station, Antonelli will fire the shuttle’s jets 

to send it home. At that time, Antonelli, Acaba and Phillips 

will take turns with the shuttle’s robotic arm and the OBSS 

to conduct a “late” inspection of the shuttle’s heat shield, 

which is a final opportunity to confirm Discovery’s readiness to return to Earth.

On flight day 14, as Archambault, Antonelli and Swanson 

focus on landing Discovery, the rest of the crew will 

stow equipment and supplies that were used during the 

mission, store the sensor boom in the payload bay and 

shut down the shuttle’s robotic arm systems. A special 

“recumbent” seat will be set up in the middeck of the 

orbiter to assist Magnus as she readapts to Earth’s gravity 

following three months of weightlessness. Also, the entire 

crew will conduct a review of landing procedures. 

Discovery is scheduled to return to Earth with a landing at 

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in the pre-dawn 

hours, bringing to an end its 36th mission, the 28th shuttle 

flight to the International Space Station and the 125th 

flight in shuttle program history.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center 

Houston, Texas 77058

www.nasa.gov

FS-2009-01-004-JSC

Astronaut Richard Arnold uses virtualreality hardware at NASA’s Johnson 

Space Center to rehearse some of his 

duties on the upcoming mission to the 

International Space Station.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astronaut Joseph M. Acaba is about 

to be submerged in the waters of the 

Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory to practice the extravehicular activities that 

he will conduct on the International 

Space Station. 

Astronauts Lee Archambault (right) and Tony Antonelli, STS-119 

commander and pilot, use virtual-reality training hardware and 

software to practice for some of their duties aboard the space 

shuttle and space station. 

The mission specialists for the flight are Joseph Acaba, 

Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold, John Phillips, and Japan 

Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata. 

Selected as an astronaut candidate in 2004, this will be 

Joseph Acaba’s first spaceflight mission. After completing 

his initial training, Acaba was assigned to the Hardware 

Integration Team in the Space Station Branch working 

technical issues with the European Space Agency. During 

the mission, Acaba will perform two spacewalks, helping 

with the installation and outfitting of the space station. 

This will be the second trip to space for Steve Swanson, 

who flew as a mission specialist on STS-117. Swanson 

conducted two spacewalks on that mission, acquiring 

more than 13 hours of extravehicular activity time. He 

will use that experience during this mission as the lead 

spacewalker. He will perform the first, second and fourth 

spacewalks as new components are installed on the 

station. 

A classmate of Acaba’s, Richard Arnold was also selected 

in 2004 and is making his first spaceflight. He also worked 

in the Hardware Integration Team, but working technical 

issues with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. He, 

too participated in a NASA Extreme Environment Mission 

(NEEMO) where he lived and worked in an undersea laboratory for 10 days. He will conduct three spacewalks on 

this mission and co-lead the transfer activities with Phillips 

throughout the mission. 

John Phillips will be returning to space with more prior 

spaceflight experience than the rest of his crewmates 

combined. Phillips 

flew on shuttle 

mission STS-100, 

acquiring more than 

12 days of spaceflight experience. 

He went on to serve 

as a flight engineer 

on Expedition 11, a 

long-duration mission 

where he performed 

a spacewalk and 

acquired nearly 180 

days in space. On the 

STS-119 mission, he 

will perform robotic 

arm operations and 

co-lead the transfer 

activities with Arnold. 

Koichi Wakata will 

be making his third 

trip to space. He was 

the first Japanese 

mission specialist 

when he flew as part of the STS-72. His second flight was 

STS-92, a mission to the space station that will now be 

his new home in space. Once he arrives on the station 

this time, he’ll be joining the onboard crew and become a 

flight engineer on Expedition 18. He will remain onboard 

and return with STS-127, scheduled for May 2009. 

Astronaut Sandra Magnus will be concluding her longduration mission aboard the space station and returning 

to Earth as a mission specialist on STS-119. She arrived 

on the station with the STS-126 crew in November and 

has since served as a flight engineer on Expedition 18. 

This long-duration mission was her second flight to space. 

She had previously flown as a mission specialist aboard 

STS-112. 

Starboard 6 (S6) Truss Segment with Solar Array Wings 

With its two solar array wings (SAWs) for converting solar 

energy into electrical power and a radiator for rejecting 

heat away from electrical components, the S6 is the final 

truss element and completes the station’s 11-segment 

integrated truss structure (ITS). Also called a photovoltaic 

module (PVM) because of its ability to generate, store and 

distribute electrical power to the station, the S6 segment 

will ensure that the outpost is powered to its intended 

maximum potential. 

Launch and Docking 

After launching from the Kennedy Space Center, the 

Discovery crew will begin a two-day journey to the 

International Space Station. 

On flight day two, inspection of Discovery’s heat shield 

will be performed. Phillips, Antonelli and Acaba will use 

the shuttle’s robotic arm with a 50-foot extension boom 

to obtain detailed imagery of the orbiter’s wings and 

other critical surfaces. The Orbiter Boom Sensor System, 
The mission specialists for the flight are Joseph Acaba, 

Steve Swanson, Richard Arnold, John Phillips, and Japan 

Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata. 

Selected as an astronaut candidate in 2004, this will be 

Joseph Acaba’s first spaceflight mission. After completing 

his initial training, Acaba was assigned to the Hardware 

Integration Team in the Space Station Branch working 

technical issues with the European Space Agency. During 

the mission, Acaba will perform two spacewalks, helping 

with the installation and outfitting of the space station. 

This will be the second trip to space for Steve Swanson, 

who flew as a mission specialist on STS-117. Swanson 

conducted two spacewalks on that mission, acquiring 

more than 13 hours of extravehicular activity time. He 

will use that experience during this mission as the lead 

spacewalker. He will perform the first, second and fourth 

spacewalks as new components are installed on the 

station.

A classmate of Acaba’s, Richard Arnold was also selected 

in 2004 and is making his first spaceflight. He also worked 

in the Hardware Integration Team, but working technical 

issues with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. He, 

too participated in a NASA Extreme Environment Mission 

(NEEMO) where he lived and worked in an undersea laboratory for 10 days. He will conduct three spacewalks on 

this mission and co-lead the transfer activities with Phillips 

throughout the mission. 

John Phillips will be returning to space with more prior 

spaceflight experience than the rest of his crewmates 

combined. Phillips 

flew on shuttle 

mission STS-100, 

acquiring more than 

12 days of spaceflight experience. 

He went on to serve 

as a flight engineer 

on Expedition 11, a 

long-duration mission 

where he performed 

a spacewalk and 

acquired nearly 180 

days in space. On the 

STS-119 mission, he 

will perform robotic 

arm operations and 

co-lead the transfer 

activities with Arnold. 

Koichi Wakata will 

be making his third 

trip to space. He was 

the first Japanese 

mission specialist 

when he flew as part of the STS-72. His second flight was 

STS-92, a mission to the space station that will now be 

his new home in space. Once he arrives on the station 

this time, he’ll be joining the onboard crew and become a 

flight engineer on Expedition 18. He will remain onboard 

and return with STS-127, scheduled for May 2009. 

Astronaut Sandra Magnus will be concluding her longduration mission aboard the space station and returning 

to Earth as a mission specialist on STS-119. She arrived 

on the station with the STS-126 crew in November and 

has since served as a flight engineer on Expedition 18. 

This long-duration mission was her second flight to space. 

She had previously flown as a mission specialist aboard 

STS-112. 

Starboard 6 (S6) Truss Segment with Solar Array Wings

With its two solar array wings (SAWs) for converting solar 

energy into electrical power and a radiator for rejecting 

heat away from electrical components, the S6 is the final 

truss element and completes the station’s 11-segment 

integrated truss structure (ITS). Also called a photovoltaic 

module (PVM) because of its ability to generate, store and 

distribute electrical power to the station, the S6 segment 

will ensure that the outpost is powered to its intended 

maximum potential. 

Launch and Docking

After launching from the Kennedy Space Center, the 

Discovery crew will begin a two-day journey to the 

International Space Station. 

On flight day two, inspection of Discovery’s heat shield 

will be performed. Phillips, Antonelli and Acaba will use 

the shuttle’s robotic arm with a 50-foot extension boom 

to obtain detailed imagery of the orbiter’s wings and 

other critical surfaces. The Orbiter Boom Sensor System, 

Astronauts Lee Archambault (right) and Tony Antonelli, STS-119 

commander and pilot, use virtual-reality training hardware and 

software to practice for some of their duties aboard the space 

shuttle and space station. 

Astronaut Joseph M. Acaba is about 

to be submerged in the waters of the 

Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory to practice the extravehicular activities that 

he will conduct on the International 

Space Station. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Astronaut Richard Arnold uses virtualreality hardware at NASA’s Johnson 

Space Center to rehearse some of his 

duties on the upcoming mission to the 

International Space Station. 

array wing toward 

the end of the station 

where Discovery is 

docked. When nearly 

half of the array’s 

length is unfolded, 

the crew will take a 

short break to let the 

array warm up before 

finishing the deployment. Next, they’ll 

move to the second 

array, deploying it 

toward the Russian 

segment of the 

complex and allowing 

for another halfway 

point warm-up before 

full extension. This 

phased approach will 

give the crew and 

the ground engineers 

time to monitor the 

deployment and 

ensure that the arrays 

are unfolding properly. If inspection of the heat shield is 

not required on flight day six, the solar array deployment 

will be moved up 48 hours. 

On flight day nine, Acaba and Arnold will venture out for 

the third spacewalk, the second for each of them. On this 

spacewalk, the two crew members are scheduled to complete a list of additional maintenance tasks that is focused 

on the truss structure. They’ll also conduct maintenance 

on the station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2, and the Special 

Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, also called Dextre. 

Some off-duty time is scheduled for the crew on flight day 

10 before they’re back to work transferring supplies and 

equipment between the shuttle and the station. They’ll 

also conduct a joint crew news conference and review 

procedures for the next day’s spacewalk. 

Swanson and Arnold will conduct the final spacewalk on 

flight day 11. Swanson is scheduled to install an antenna 

on the Japanese logistics module and work on the Z1 

truss patch panel connection while Arnold is taking 

photos of the S1 and P1 radiators. They’ll wrap up this 

spacewalk by working together to install a new wireless video system and deploy two payload attachment 

systems. 

On flight day 12, the shuttle crew will complete transfers 

before saying farewell to the station crew and preparing 

for hatch closure between the two spacecraft. 

Undocking and Landing 

Discovery is scheduled to undock from the station on 

flight day 13. Antonelli will conduct a flyaround of the 

complex so the crew can capture detailed imagery of 

the station’s new configuration with the last of its powerproducing solar arrays unfurled. After a little more than a 

lap around the station, Antonelli will fire the shuttle’s jets 

to send it home. At that time, Antonelli, Acaba and Phillips 

will take turns with the shuttle’s robotic arm and the OBSS 

to conduct a “late” inspection of the shuttle’s heat shield, 

which is a final opportunity to confirm Discovery’s readiness to return to Earth. 

On flight day 14, as Archambault, Antonelli and Swanson 

focus on landing Discovery, the rest of the crew will 

stow equipment and supplies that were used during the 

mission, store the sensor boom in the payload bay and 

shut down the shuttle’s robotic arm systems. A special 

“recumbent” seat will be set up in the middeck of the 

orbiter to assist Magnus as she readapts to Earth’s gravity 

following three months of weightlessness. Also, the entire 

crew will conduct a review of landing procedures. 

Discovery is scheduled to return to Earth with a landing at 

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in the pre-dawn 

hours, bringing to an end its 36th mission, the 28th shuttle 

flight to the International Space Station and the 125th 

flight in shuttle program history. 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center 

Houston, Texas 77058 

www.nasa.gov 

FS-2009-01-004-JSC