
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - STS-118 Pilot Charlie Hobaugh disembarks from the shuttle training aircraft, or STA, at the Shuttle Landing Facility, Kennedy Space Center's airstrip. He and STS-118 Commander Scott Kelly were at the facility to practice landings for their upcoming mission. The STA is a Grumman American Aviation-built Gulf Stream II jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter's cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. In flight, the STA duplicates the orbiter's atmospheric descent trajectory from approximately 35,000 feet altitude to landing on a runway. Endeavour's STS-118 mission is the 22nd shuttle flight to the International Space Station. It will continue space station construction by delivering a third starboard truss segment, S5. Other payloads include the SPACEHAB module, making its last voyage, and the external stowage platform 3 with a control moment gyroscope on it. The flight will include at least three spacewalks. The crew will also debut a new system that enables docked shuttles to draw electrical power from the station to extend visits to the outpost. Launch is set for Aug. 8 at 6:36 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
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NASA ID
KSC-07pd2185
Date Created
August 4, 2007
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Kennedy Space Center, FL
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