
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The STS-109 crew walks toward the Astrovan for a ride to the launch pad. Leading the way are Commander Scott Altman and Pilot Duane Carey; behind them are Mission Specialist Nancy Currie followed by Payload Commander John Grunsfeld (left) and Mission Specialist Rick Linnehan (right); in the rear are Mission Specialists James Newman and Michael Massimino. The crew is taking part in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities that include emergency egress training and a simulated countdown at the pad. Columbia is scheduled to be launched Feb. 28 on mission STS-109, a Hubble Servicing Mission. The goal of the mission is to replace Solar Array 2 with Solar Array 3, replace the Power Control Unit, remove the Faint Object Camera and install the ACS, install the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) Cooling System, and install New Outer Blanket Layer insulation. The launch will be the first for Columbia after returning from California where it underwent extensive maintenance, inspections and enhancements. More than 100 upgrades make Columbia safer and more reliable than ever before
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NASA ID
KSC-02pp0072
Date Created
January 31, 2002
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Kennedy Space Center, FL
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