KSC-2010-2608

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations addresses the media from the Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida after the successful launch of space shuttle Discovery. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency President Keiji Tachikawa is seated on the right. Shuttle Discovery lifted off at 6:21 a.m. EDT on April 5, 2010. The seven-member STS-131 crew will deliver the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo, filled with supplies, a new crew sleeping quarters and science racks that will be transferred to the International Space Station's laboratories. The crew also will switch out a gyroscope on the station’s truss, install a spare ammonia storage tank and retrieve a Japanese experiment from the station’s exterior. STS-131 is the 33rd shuttle mission to the station and the 131st shuttle mission overall. For information on the STS-131 mission and crew, visit http:__www.nasa.gov_mission_pages_shuttle_shuttlemissions_sts131_index.html. Photo credit: NASA_Kim Shiflett