KSC-2009-4536

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the White Room on NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, STS-128 Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester (left) and Christer Fuglesang wait for cool air to be pumped through their launch-and-entry suits before entering space shuttle Discovery. The White Room is at the end of the orbiter access arm and provides entry into the shuttle. Mission crew members are at Kennedy to take part in the terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT, which culminates in a simulated launch countdown inside the shuttle. On the STS-128 mission, Discovery will deliver 33,000 pounds of equipment to the station, including science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. Launch is targeted for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann