KSC-01PP-0052

At the 195-foot level of the Fixed Service Structure, the STS-98 crew watches a slidewire basket drop to the landing zone. The basket was released by Mission Specialist Robert Curbeam (center); Pilot Mark Polansky is at left. The basket is part of emergency egress equipment from the launch pad. Others (not shown) taking part in the emergency egress training are Commander Ken Cockrell and Mission Specialists Thomas Jones and Marsha Ivins. The crew is at KSC to take part in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities, which include the emergency egress training and a simulated launch countdown at the pad. STS-98 is the seventh construction flight to the International Space Station, carrying as payload the U.S. Lab Destiny, a key element in the construction of the ISS. Launch of STS-98 is scheduled for Jan. 19 at 2:11 a.m