After several delays, a Southland native is set to blast off aboard the space shuttle Discovery on Sunday to do some work on the International Space Station.
Lift off is scheduled for 4:34 p.m. Pacific time.
Joseph Acaba -- a geologist and former Peace Corps member, Marine Corps reservist and math and science teacher -- is to serve as a mission specialist and take two space walks during the 14-day mission.
He is on the team assigned to install the final truss elements and solar arrays needed to power the space station.
The shuttle mission, originally set for Feb. 12, was previously delayed several times to check hydrogen fuel valves, one of which broke during a flight in November.
Acaba will serve as a mission specialist and take two space walks while serving on the team assigned to install the final truss elements and solar arrays needed to complete the space station.
