KSC-2009-1197

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Mission Specialist Joseph Acaba practices driving the M-113 armored personnel carrier used for emergency escape, if needed, from Launch Pad 39A. Next to him in front is astronaut rescue team leader Capt. George Hoggard. Behind are Mission Specialists Richard Arnold and Steve Swanson. The crew members are at Kennedy for prelaunch preparation known as terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT. The training provides astronauts and ground crews with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and a simulated launch countdown. The crew of space shuttle Discovery is targeted to launch on the STS-119 mission Feb. 12. During Discovery's 14-day mission, the crew will install the S6 truss segment and solar arrays to the starboard side of the International Space Station, completing the station's truss, or backbone. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett