Navy
Cmdr. Mark E. Kelly will command the STS-124 shuttle
mission to deliver the Pressurized Module and robotic arm of the Japanese
Experiment Module, known as "Kibo" (hope), to the International Space Station.
Navy Cmdr. Kenneth T. Ham will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists will
include NASA astronauts Karen L. Nyberg; Air Force Col. Ronald J. Garan Jr.; and
Air Force Reserve Col. Michael E. Fossum. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
astronaut Akihiko Hoshide also will serve as a mission specialist.
Navy Cmdr. Stephen G. Bowen was previously named to the STS-124 crew but has
been reassigned to STS-126. The change allows room for the STS-124 mission to
rotate a space station resident.
Astronaut
Gregory E. Chamitoff is scheduled to fly to the station as a mission
specialist on STS-124. He will take Astronaut Garrett E. Reisman's place as an
Expedition 17 flight engineer and return to Earth on shuttle mission STS-126.
The STS-124 mission is the second of three flights that will launch components
to complete the Kibo laboratory. The mission will include two spacewalks to
install the new lab and its remote manipulator system. The lab's logistics
module, which will have been installed in a temporary location during STS-123,
will be attached to the new lab.
STS-124 is the 26th shuttle mission to the International Space Station.
+ Read the Jan. 11, 2008, press release
+ Read the April 16, 2007, press release
+ Read the March 22, 2007, press release
