KSC-2009-2097

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA management waits for the launch of space shuttle Discovery on the STS-119 mission. From left are (standing) Director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center Dave King, Center Director Bob Cabana, Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center Michael Coats, (seated) Space Shuttle Program Manager John Shannon, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier and NASA Acting Administrator Chris Scolese. Launch was on time at 7:43 p.m. EDT. The STS-119 mission is the 28th to the space station and Discovery's 36th flight. Discovery will deliver the final pair of power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment. Installation of S6 will signal the station's readiness to house a six-member crew for conducting increased science. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett