Nasa astronaut Timothy L Kopra
NASA astronaut Timothy Kopra will not now be flying on space shuttle Discovery's last flight (STS-133), should it at last manage to take off on 24th February 2011. Having taken a tumble while riding his bicycle at the weekend, he is currently recuperating from his injuries, and thus will be replaced by Stephen Bowen, a veteran of two previous launches. Bowen, having flown on the last mission STS-132, will become the first astronaut to fly consecutive missions.
Doubts also linger regarding the command position onboard the final flight of space shuttle Endeavour, due to take place 19th April 2011. Current official man in charge of STS-134 Mark Kelly, remains at the hospital bedside of his wife US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously wounded in the shooting incident in Tucson, Arizona on 8th Jan 2011, in which six people were killed. Back-up commander Rick Sturckow has been put on standby.
Shuttle crew replacement has occasionally occurred over the years, though not usually at such a late stage. To try and prevent preflight injuries NASA has a list of high risk activities that astronauts assigned to flights are not allowed to take part in, such as skiing, parachuting, and motorcycle riding. Riding a bike, however, is not currently on the banned list!
Doubts also linger regarding the command position onboard the final flight of space shuttle Endeavour, due to take place 19th April 2011. Current official man in charge of STS-134 Mark Kelly, remains at the hospital bedside of his wife US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously wounded in the shooting incident in Tucson, Arizona on 8th Jan 2011, in which six people were killed. Back-up commander Rick Sturckow has been put on standby.
Shuttle crew replacement has occasionally occurred over the years, though not usually at such a late stage. To try and prevent preflight injuries NASA has a list of high risk activities that astronauts assigned to flights are not allowed to take part in, such as skiing, parachuting, and motorcycle riding. Riding a bike, however, is not currently on the banned list!
RSS Feed
