KSC-2009-4812

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians in the rotating service structure's control booth begin to roll the structure from space shuttle Discovery. First motion was at 5:06 a.m. EDT. The rollback is preparation for Discovery's scheduled 1:36 a.m. EDT liftoff Aug. 25 with a crew of seven. The service structure provides weather protection and access to the space shuttle at the launch pad. 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. STS-128 will be Discovery's 37th mission and the 30th shuttle flight dedicated to station assembly and maintenance. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder