CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of space shuttle Discovery's STS-131 crew, dressed in their launch-and-entry suits, signal that they are ready to board the Astrovan for the ride to Launch Pad 39A.
The crew is participating in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT. From left are Mission Specialists Clayton Anderson, Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Stephanie Wilson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger and Rick Mastracchio; Pilot James P. Dutton Jr.; and Commander Alan Poindexter.
TCDT includes training on the emergency exit systems at the launch pad, driving practice of the M-113 armored personnel carrier and a full launch countdown dress rehearsal. The crew will deliver the multi-purpose logistics module Leonard, filled with resupply stowage platforms and science racks, to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Discovery. STS-131, targeted for launch on April 5, will be the 33rd shuttle mission to the station and the 131st shuttle mission overall.
No comments:
Post a Comment