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You're watching NASA Direct.

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Next on the Space Shuttle Status Report. Things are moving into place inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in

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Florida for orbiter Discovery's second return-to-flight test mission, STS-121.

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The NASA Space Shuttle Status Report starts right now.

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Music.

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I'm Michael Ciannilli, NASA test director, and this is NASA's Space Shuttle Status Report.

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This week in shuttle news:

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Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida,

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things are coming together for Discovery's second space shuttle return-to-flight test mission, STS-121.

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Stacking of the twin white solid rocket boosters that will help Discovery soar into space is now under way.

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The right solid rocket booster segment, called the aft booster, was the first portion to move into the Vehicle Assembly Building on January 23.

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The aft booster is made up of an aft skirt and aft motor segment.

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Once inside, the segment was carefully lifted from the transport carrier, then lowered onto the Mobile Launch Platform in bay 3.

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After all four propellant-filled segments are stacked, they're topped with a cone-shaped fairing that houses a parachute.

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The parachute will soften the SRBs' trip back to Earth so they can be used again on another NASA mission.

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The SRBs are vitally important, as they provide the main thrust to lift the space shuttle off the launch pad.

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Another big development this week:  All three of orbiter Discovery's main engines are now installed.

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Together, the space shuttle main engines and the solid rocket boosters provide the ride for Discovery's trip to the International Space Station.

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Mission STS-121, scheduled for no earlier than May of this year, is NASA's second return-to-flight test mission.

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Discovery's crew, led by veteran astronaut Steve Lindsey,

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will continue to test new equipment and procedures that increase space shuttle safety.

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Discovery and its crew will also deliver supplies and cargo for the space station.

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That's all the time we have for this week’s Space Shuttle Status Report.

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Our next report will feature updates on orbiters Atlantis and Endeavour, plus the latest on Discovery

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Until then, stay with NASA TV and nasa.gov for the latest in mission news.

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For the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report, I'm Michael Ciannilli.

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