KSC-2009-4774

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The astronauts for space shuttle Discovery’s STS-128 mission address the media on hand to witness their arrival at Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility. The crew arrived aboard the NASA Shuttle Training Aircraft, a modified Gulfstream II jet, at 6:34 p.m. EDT. From left are Mission Specialists Nicole Stott who will remain on the International Space Station as flight engineer for Expedition 20, Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang of the European Space Agency, John "Danny" Olivas, Jose Hernandez, and Patrick Forrester; Pilot Kevin Ford; and Commander Rick Sturckow, at microphone. The crew has returned to Kennedy to prepare for launch on Aug. 25 at 1:36 a.m. EDT. The 13-day mission will deliver a new crew member and 33,000 pounds of equipment to the International Space Station. The equipment includes science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett