KSC-07pp2280

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A, STS-118 Mission Specialist Tracy Caldwell, with the help of the closeout crew, goes through final preparation of her launch and entry suit before she enters Space Shuttle Endeavour. The outer end of the orbiter access arm ends in an environmental chamber (the White Room) that mates with the orbiter and allows personnel to enter the crew compartment. With assistance, each member of the flight crew dons a parachute pack before crawling through the open hatch into the shuttle. The closeout crew also straps the astronauts into the space shuttle's crew module and takes care of any other last-minute needs that arise. Space Shuttle 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, and other payloads such as the SPACEHAB module and the external stowage platform 3. Liftoff of Endeavour is scheduled at 6:36 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/John Kechele, Scott Haun, Tom Farrar