KSC-2010-1283

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-130 Mission Specialist Kathryn Hire arrives at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a T-38 jet. The crew of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 mission is at Kennedy to participate in training and a dress rehearsal for their upcoming launch, known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. STS-130 will be Hire's second spaceflight. The primary payload for the STS-130 mission is the International Space Station's Node 3, Tranquility, a pressurized module that will provide room for many of the station's life support systems. Attached to one end of Tranquility is a cupola, a unique work area with six windows on its sides and one on top. The cupola resembles a circular bay window and will provide a vastly improved view of the station's exterior. The multi-directional view will allow the crew to monitor spacewalks and docking operations, as well as provide a spectacular view of Earth and other celestial objects. The module was built in Turin, Italy, by Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency. Launch of STS-130 is targeted for Feb. 7. For information on the STS-130 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts130/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett