sts128-s-005

STS128-S-005 (28 Aug. 2009) --- After suiting up, the STS-128 crew members exit the Operations and Checkout Building to board the Astrovan, which will take them to launch pad 39A for the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-128 mission. On the right (front to back) are astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander; Patrick Forrester, European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang and John ?Danny? Olivas, all mission specialists. On the left (front to back) are astronauts Kevin Ford, pilot; Jose Hernandez and Nicole Stott, both mission specialists. Stott will join Expedition 20 in progress to serve as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station. The 13-day mission will deliver more than seven tons of supplies, science racks and equipment, as well as additional environmental hardware to sustain six crew members on the space station. The equipment includes a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. The mission is the 128th in the Space Shuttle Program, the 37th flight of Discovery and the 30th station assembly flight.