Three spacewalks were carried out during the mission, which removed and replaced a materials processing experiment outside ESA's Columbus module, and returned an empty ammonia tank assembly.

[5][6][7] The second launch attempt, scheduled for August 26, 2009, at 01:10:22 EDT, was called off the previous evening due to an anomaly in one of the orbiter's fuel valves.

Nicole Stott was originally scheduled to return aboard Soyuz TMA-15, but a change in the flight plan was made due to the possible flight delays in future shuttle missions, which could have extended Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk's mission beyond the six-month duration preferred for station crew members.

[11] STS-128 was the final Space Shuttle flight used for ISS crew rotation, with Nicole Stott replacing Tim Kopra.

The primary payload of STS-128 was the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo to assist with establishing a six-man crew capacity by bringing extra supplies and equipment to the station.

The shuttle carried a Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure Carrier (LMC) with Ammonia Tank Assembly (ATA).

The shuttle flew the first test flight of the TriDAR, a 3D dual-sensing laser camera, intended for potential use as an autonomous rendezvous and docking sensor.

[15] The STS-128 mission (as did STS-125 and STS-127) took part in crew seat vibration tests designed to help engineers on the ground understand how astronauts experience launch.

In this experiment, one of the thermal protection systems was raised to create a boundary layer transition in which the air flow becomes turbulent beyond a certain speed.

[16] The mission marked: Discovery rolled out from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building after the external tank was cleared for use and was mated with it.

[23] Discovery's seven astronauts flew to Kennedy on August 5, 2009, for the training activity which concludes later in the week with a complete practice countdown, minus liftoff, involving the crew and the launch team.

[5][6][7] During the second attempt on Wednesday morning, a problem with a LH2 fill-and-drain fuel valve inside Discovery's aft compartment led to another scrubbing.

Despite the valves working normally, another delay was called for to have more confidence in the system, and to give the console operators who performed the test some rest.

[34] NASA feared another delay when storms formed near the Kennedy Space Center on August 28, 2009, but the weather cleared in time for a successful launch of Discovery at 23:59 EDT.

Once the doors were opened the crew deployed the Ku-band antenna and activated the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS).

During flight day 4, the MPLM Leonardo was berthed to the Nadir (the Earth-facing port on Harmony) using the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS).

Some more items were transferred from the shuttle mid-deck, including the MDS experiment and the space suits Danny Olivas and Nicole Stott would use during EVA 1.

The treadmill and ARS were temporarily stowed, while the crew Quarters was installed in the Kibo Module where setup and activation was begun.

The get ahead tasks included installing protective lens covers on the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) End B cameras .

The pair completed all tasks that were to be done, including installing two GPS antennas and deploying the Starboard 3 (S3) Payload Attach System (PAS), a new Rate Gyro Assembly (RGA) 2, and routing of Node 3 Avionics cables.

The ISS crew also replaced a bolt on the Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) so that the MPLM won't get stuck, and also to ensure correct capture of the HTV.

Flight day 10 saw the joint crews transfer samples from the space station to the shuttle freezer known as Glacier.

Once the hatches were closed, the MPLM was deactivated, demated and berthed back in the payload bay of the space shuttle.

When they completed that task, the OBSS was berthed on the starboard sill of the payload bay and the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS) was powered down.

The crew also deactivated the Wing Leading Edge System (WLES), stowed the Ku-band antenna, and reviewed landing procedures.

:Robotic Arm Operators: Ford and Stott NASA began a tradition of playing music to astronauts during the Gemini program, which was first used to wake up a flight crew during Apollo 15.

[42][43] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.