STS-120

Mission Profile

Overview

STS-120 delivered the Italian-built Harmony (Node 2) connecting module to the International Space Station and relocated the P6 truss to its permanent outboard position. Italian ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli flew his first mission, helping to coordinate the dense robotics and EVA schedule from inside the station. The flight is best remembered for a dramatic in-orbit repair: when a P6 solar array tore during redeployment, Scott Parazynski rode the robotic arm to its tip and stitched the array with improvised "cufflinks" while energized, saving the wing. Pamela Melroy commanded, becoming only the second woman to command a shuttle, and for the first time both the shuttle and station were simultaneously commanded by women, with Expedition 16's Peggy Whitson. Daniel Tani launched up to join the station crew as Clayton Anderson returned home.

Crew

Key Milestones

1. 2007-10-23

   Discovery launches from KSC LC-39A with the Harmony module

2. 2007-10-25

   Discovery docks with the ISS; Daniel Tani joins Expedition 16, Clayton Anderson rotates home

3. 2007-10-26

   Harmony Node 2 attached to the station during the first EVA

4. 2007-11-03

   Parazynski repairs the torn P6 solar array on the fourth EVA

5. 2007-11-07

   Discovery lands at Kennedy Space Center, Runway 33

Key Achievements

• Delivered and installed the Harmony (Node 2) module to the ISS

• Dramatic in-orbit repair of a torn P6 solar array by Scott Parazynski

• First spaceflight of ESA Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli

• Shuttle and station simultaneously commanded by women (Melroy and Whitson)

Related Missions

Sources

1. NASA – STS-120 mission page
2. ESA – STS-120 patch and mission
3. Wikipedia – STS-120