Green flag in orbit with Discovery
On March 15, the flag blasted into orbit with Navy Cmdr. Tony Antonelli aboard the space shuttle Discovery. The shortened STS-119 mission will put him back on the ground in time to attend the race as a guest of Michael Andretti.
The Discovery crew of seven will deliver and install the S6 truss segments and the final set of solar arrays providing additional electrical power to the International Space Station.
During the mission, Antonelli – who grew up in Greenwood, Ind., and Fayetteville, N.C. — will monitor systems and control one of the shuttle’s robotic arms that will install the truss. He’ll pilot the shuttle as it undocks from the International Space Station.
“We are a tiny part of a big team," said Antonelli, referencing the thousands of people who are related to the space shuttle and space station programs. “It’s a big team and it’s nice getting to be a part of that team. It’s really nice being a member of that team that gets to ride on the rocket."