Left behind by prejudice, astronaut there ' the spirit '

HOUSTON — NASA Astronaut who has lost its place on the final flight of the space shuttle Discovery because of a bicycle accident communicated via radio his companions into orbit today saying that he is with them in spirit.

Walking in mission control on crutches, astronaut Tim Kopra communicated via radio six astronauts on shuttle NASA Johnson Space Center here to congratulate them for their good launch. Discovery blasted off Thursday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

"I just wanted to tell you guys you all had a terrible launch and we are all very proud of you here at the bottom," said Kopra.

Unlucky bike ride
Kopra is a veteran spaceflyer who lived on the international space station for months on his previous flight. He has been tapped to serve as the lead spacewalker for STS-133 of discovery to the space station, but was injured in a bicycle accident last month.

NASA replaced ultimately Kopra with another accomplished, veteran astronaut spacewalker Steve Bowen.

"Great to hear your voice, Tim, I wish you were here," said Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey. "I appreciate the kind words, it was a big launch. I can't tell you how we want that you were here with us as well. "

"Well, I am sure you know I feel the same way, so I definitely feel like we are in the spirit and, above all, I'm eager to see Steve and go out the door and do great work," Kopra said.

After his injury, Kopra has helped shape Bowen, who now will perform both walks with his Alvin Drew. During the two walks, such as NASA calls extravehicular activities (EVAs), Kopra will control mission to provide advice to the two Stowage

Good friends in space
In the cosmic call today, Kopra has also had a chance to talk with other final astronaut crew members of space shuttle Discovery.

"Hello, Timmy," said Nicole Stott, mission specialist. "I just want to say I love you, and as Steve said, we wish you were here. But we are also very happy you will be supporting us from the ground and look forward to speaking with you about EVA days. "

"I love you back and that is going to be a great couple of EVAs," replied Kopra.

"Hey Tim, Mike," said astronaut Michael Barratt, so he shared an apparent inside joke. "We lost the booming laughter zero-g up to here, and I gotta tell you, listening to a little spirit, but we'll have to explain that when we return."

More information on final final mission Discovery crew of Discovery: experienced six veteran astronauts and friends are flight of space shuttle Discovery to the international space station during the final voyage of the long and illustrious career of the orbiter. NASA confirms that debris has done evil Robot butler anchor ride shuttle orbit on Shuttle payload includes more closet space by the numbers: basic information about the shuttle scored a big image launch? Please share it

"I look forward to that, Mike, it's nice to hear your voice," said Kopra.

And as a touch of closure, astronaut Steven Robinson in mission control the conversation ended with a final thought: "everything is just right, discovery, to show you have a crew of seven people, not only are there with you."

Discovery crew beats an eleventh day of the mission to the international space station to deliver a new storage room and humanoid robot to the orbiting laboratory. The shuttle arrives at the laboratory orbito Saturday at 2: 19 PM EST.

You can follow Space.com Staff Writer Denise Chow on Twitter @ denisechowas she covers the final space voyage Discovery from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Visit Space amenities complete coverage of the final mission of Discovery STS-133.

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