This picture shows the mission patch for STS-102.
Click on image for full size
Courtesy of NASA
Discovery's Off!
News story originally written on March 8, 2001
The Discovery shuttle as part of STS-102 launched today at 5:42 a.m. CST. The shuttle is headed for the International Space Station (ISS).
The Discovery shuttle is bringing the 2nd crew for the ISS. These team members are Yury Usachev, James Voss and Susan Helms. The Discovery shuttle will then give the 1st ISS crew a ride home! The 1st crew of the ISS, Yuri P. Gidzenko, Sergei K. Krikalev and William M. Shepherd, have been aboard the station since November 2, 2000. I'm sure they are anxious to come home to Earth where they can grab a hot shower and a pizza whenever they want!
Discovery is also carrying the Leonardo Multipurpose Logistics Module to the ISS. This Italian-built module is acting as a moving van for laboratory materials that will be put into the newly delivered Destiny laboratory.
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