NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, crew member of upcoming mission, sustains injury

January 19, 2011

NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, a crew member on the upcoming Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS), sustained an injury in a bicycle accident over the weekend, possibly breaking his hip. His injury could create difficulties for him, the lead on the STS-133 mission, and the rest of the crew in their training for the mission. The mission is currently scheduled to launch on February 24.

Although Kopra is expected to make a full recovery from his injury, NASA says there is a possibility that his duties on the upcoming mission to the ISS could be modified. "Mission Specialist Tim Kopra was injured Saturday in a bicycle accident, but he will be OK. There could be an impact to his duties for shuttle Discovery's STS-133 mission to the International Space Station. That possibility still is being evaluated," said NASA in a statement to the press on Monday.

Kopra's injury comes amidst technical troubles with 's. While technicians work to solve the problems with the fuel tank, the rest of the STS-133 crew continue to train for their mission at the in Houston, Texas.