KSC-2010-1365

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, members of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 crew depart from the Operations and Checkout Building in their launch-and-entry suits for the ride in the Astrovan to Launch Pad 39A. The crew is participating in a dress rehearsal for their upcoming launch, known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. In the left row, from front, are Commander George Zamka and Mission Specailists Kathryn Hire and Nicholas Patrick. In the right row, from front, are Pilot Terry Virts and Mission Specialists Stephen Robinson and Robert Behnken. The primary payload for the STS-130 mission is the International Space Station's Tranquility node, 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