
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The astronauts assigned to the space shuttle Atlantis STS-122 crew arrive at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a Gulfstream shuttle training aircraft to participate in three days of terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT, activities. From left are Mission Specialist Leopold Eyharts, a European Space Agency astronaut who will remain on the International Space Station as a flight engineer for Expedition 16; Mission Specialists Stanley Love, Hans Schlegel of the European Space Agency, Rex Walheim and Leland Melvin; Pilot Alan Poindexter; and Commander Steve Frick. The TCDT provides astronauts and ground crews with equipment familiarization, emergency egress training and a simulated launch countdown. On mission STS-122, Atlantis will deliver the Columbus module to the International Space Station. The European Space Agency's largest single contribution to the station, Columbus is a multifunctional, pressurized laboratory that will be permanently attached to U.S. Node 2, called Harmony. The laboratory will expand the research facilities aboard the station, providing crew members and scientists from around the world the ability to conduct a variety of experiments in the physical, materials and life sciences. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton
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NASA ID
KSC-07pd3333
Date Created
November 17, 2007
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Kennedy Space Center, FL
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