KSC-98pc1752

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, Center Director Roy Bridges, Program Manager of the International Space Station (ISS) Randy Brinkley, and STS-98 crew members Pilot Mark Polansky, Commander Ken Cockrell and Mission Specialist Marsha Ivins wait for the unveiling of the name "Destiny" for the U.S. Lab module, which is behind them on a workstand. The lab, scheduled to be launched on Space Shuttle Endeavour in early 2000, will become the centerpiece of scientific research on the ISS. Polansky, Cockrell and Ivins are part of the five-member crew expected to be aboard. The Shuttle will spend six days docked to the station while the laboratory is attached and three space walks are conducted to complete its assembly. The laboratory will be launched with five equipment racks aboard, which will provide essential functions for station systems, including high data-rate communications, and maintain the station's orientation using control gyroscopes launched earlier. Additional equipment and research racks will be installed in the laboratory on subsequent Shuttle flights