KSC-2010-2494

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA managers participate in a prelaunch news conference for space shuttle Discovery's STS-131 mission. From left are Candrea Thomas, NASA Public Affairs moderator; Mike Moses, chair, Mission Management Team; Pete Nickolenko, STS-131 launch director; and Kathy Winters, shuttle weather officer. Liftoff of the STS-131 mission is set for 6:21 a.m. EDT on April 5. On STS-131, the seven-member crew will deliver the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo, filled with supplies, a new crew sleeping quarters and science racks that will be transferred to the International Space Station's laboratories. The crew also will switch out a gyroscope on the station’s truss, install a spare ammonia storage tank and retrieve a Japanese experiment from the station’s exterior. STS-131 is 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 credit: NASA_Ben Smegelsky