KSC-2010-1883

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparations are under way to attach space shuttle Discovery to a lifting device for its move into a high bay. In the high bay, Discovery will be attached to its external tank and solid rocket boosters completing the STS-131 shuttle stack. Rollout to Launch Pad 39A is planned for March 2. The seven-member STS-131 crew will deliver the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo, filled with resupply stowage platforms and racks, to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Discovery. Work to attach a spare ammonia tank assembly to the station's exterior and return a European experiment from outside the station's Columbus module will be conducted during three spacewalks. STS-131, targeted for launch on April 5, will be the 33rd shuttle mission to the station and the 131st shuttle mission overall. For information on the STS-131 mission and crew, visit http:__www.nasa.gov_mission_pages_shuttle_shuttlemissions_sts131_index.html. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews and Stan Jirman