NASA is going to make another attempt to launch STS-119, this time at 1943 EDT on Sunday, 15Mar09. If launch occurrs as planned docking would occur on Tuesday.
The launch was scrubbed on Wednesday due to a leak in the hydrogen line fueling Discovery. NASA believes that contrary to their past experience they can repair the leak faster than they have on previous occasions and get Discovery launched in time to allow a complete mission with four spacewalks before the Shuttle has to leave ISS to make room for the arriving Soyuz spacecraft delivering the Expedition 19 astronauts. If they can't launch by 17Mar09 they will have to stand down until 7Apr09 to allow for the Soyuz mission.
There are some ISS visible passes on Sunday and Monday so there might be a chance to see it chasing the Shuttle across the sky.
| Pre Docking Passes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STS-119 | ISS | Sep. | |||
| 15Mar09 | Begins | Time | 2017 | 2019 | 2m |
| Alt. | horizon | horizon | |||
| Az. | SW | SW | |||
| Max. Alt. | Time | 2022 | 2024 | ||
| Alt. | 78° | 80° | |||
| Az. | SE | SE | |||
| Mag. | -1.6 | -4.6 | |||
| Ends | Time | 2023 | 2024 | ||
| Alt. | 41° | 42° | |||
| Az. | ENE | ENE | |||
| 16Mar09 | Begins | Time | 1910 | 1911 | 1m |
| Alt. | horizon | horizon | |||
| Az. | SSW | SSW | |||
| Max. Alt. | Time | 1914 | 1915 | ||
| Alt. | 24° | 25° | |||
| Az. | ENE | ENE | |||
| Mag. | -0.1 | -3.1 | |||
| Ends | Time | 1918 | 1920 | ||
| Alt. | 3° | 3° | |||
| Az. | ENE | ENE | |||
| 16Mar09 | Begins | Time | 2045 | 2046 | 1m |
| Alt. | horizon | horizon | |||
| Az. | WSW | WSW | |||
| Max. Alt. | Time | 2050 | 2051 | ||
| Alt. | 32° | 31° | |||
| Az. | NNW | NNW | |||
| Mag. | 0.5 | -2.4 | |||
| Ends | Time | 2050 | 2051 | ||
| Alt. | 30° | 30° | |||
| Az. | N | N | |||
| Post Docking Passes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STS-119 | ISS | Sep. | |||
| 27Mar09 | Begins | Time | 2057 | 2100 | 3m |
| Alt. | horizon | horizon | |||
| Az. | NW | NW | |||
| Max. Alt. | Time | 2050 | -- | ||
| Alt. | 27° | -- | |||
| Az. | N | -- | |||
| Mag. | 0.4 | -2.6 | |||
| Ends | Time | 2050 | 2104 | ||
| Alt. | 41° | 42° | |||
| Az. | ENE | ENE | |||
| 28Mar09 | Begins | Time | 1949 | 1952 | 2m |
| Alt. | horizon | horizon | |||
| Az. | NW | NW | |||
| Max. Alt. | Time | 1954 | 1956 | ||
| Alt. | 16° | 17° | |||
| Az. | NNE | NNE | |||
| Mag. | 0.9 | -2.2 | |||
| Ends | Time | 1956 | 1958 | ||
| Alt. | horizon | 8° | |||
| Az. | ENE | ENE | |||
| 28Mar09 | Begins | Time | 2124 | 2127 | 3m |
| Alt. | horizon | horizon | |||
| Az. | NW | NW | |||
| Mag. | 1.6 | -1.6 | |||
| Ends | Time | 2128 | 2130 | ||
| Alt. | 25° | 23° | |||
| Az. | NW | NW | |||
