SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY~ STS-120 GETS READY FOR OCT. 23rd LAUNCH

Astronauts Prepare to Practice Launch

Members of the STS-120 crew met with media representatives Tuesday morning in front of Launch Pad 39A where Discovery is set to liftoff on the next mission to the International Space Station.

Image at LEFT: STS-120 Commander Pam Melroy addresses members of the media at Launch Pad 39A. Image credit: NASA

"It should be a really exciting mission," said Commander Pam Melroy. "But I think one of the most exciting parts of it is the fact that we're going to be getting ready to open the gateway to international laboratories. So we're very proud of our part in building the International Space Station."

The crew will deliver the Italian-built U.S. Harmony module, which will serve as the future connecting point between the U.S. Destiny lab, the European Space Agency's Columbus module and the Japanese Kibo module.

The seven crew members flew Sunday to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for this week's launch dress rehearsal activities in which they join ground crews in a simulated countdown and various training exercises.

When the launch rehearsal concludes on Wednesday, the astronauts will return to their home base in Houston to complete their final preparations for the targeted launch of Discovery on Oct. 23.

Space shuttle Discovery rolls out to launch pad
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has moved the Discovery space shuttle to its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday. The shuttle’s 3 ½ mile journey from its protective hangar to the launch pad lasted around six hours. Discovery is scheduled to lift off on October 23rd on its International Space Station assembly mission. A crew of seven astronauts led by NASA veteran astronaut Pam Melroy will spend two weeks in space installing the Harmony habitable module and repositioning an 18 ton solar power module. Melroy will become the first woman to lead a shuttle mission.