KSC-2009-4553 (08/07/2009) -- CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The STS-128 crew members gather on the 225-foot level of NASA Kennedy Space Center's fixed service structure. From left are Commander Rick Sturckow, Mission Specialists Danny Olivas and Christer Fuglesang, Pilot Kevin Ford and Mission Specialists Nicole Stott, Patrick Forrester and Jose Hernandez. Mission crew members are at Kennedy to take part in the terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT, which includes emergency exit training and culminates in the simulated countdown. On the STS-128 mission, Discovery will deliver 33,000 pounds of equipment to the station, including science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. Launch is targeted for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Tags: STS-128
KSC-2009-4814 (08/24/2009) --- CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the oxygen vent hood, called the "beanie cap," is positioned above the external fuel tank of space shuttle Discovery following the rollback of the rotating service structure, or RSS, at left. The beanie cap is designed to vent gaseous oxygen vapors away from the shuttle. The rollback is preparation for Discovery's scheduled 1:36 a.m. EDT liftoff Aug. 25 on the STS-128 mission with a crew of seven. First motion was at 5:06 a.m. EDT and completed at 5:46 a.m. EDT. 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
Tags: STS-128
STS128-S-038 (28 Aug. 2009) --- Against a black night sky, Space Shuttle Discovery and its seven-member STS-128 crew head toward Earth orbit and rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS). Liftoff was on time at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Aug. 28, 2009 from launch pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Onboard are astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander; Kevin Ford, pilot; John "Danny" Olivas, European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, Patrick Forrester, Jose Hernandez and Nicole Stott, all mission specialists. Stott will join Expedition 20 in progress to serve as a flight engineer aboard the ISS. 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.
Tags: STS-128
STS128-S-011 (28 Aug. 2009) --- Viewed from the Banana River Viewing Site, Space Shuttle Discovery and its seven-member STS-128 crew head toward Earth orbit and rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS). Liftoff was on time at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on Aug. 28, 2009 from launch pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Onboard are astronauts Rick Sturckow, commander; Kevin Ford, pilot; John "Danny" Olivas, European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, Patrick Forrester, Jose Hernandez and Nicole Stott, all mission specialists. Stott will join Expedition 20 in progress to serve as a flight engineer aboard the ISS. 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.
Tags: STS-128
S128-E-006266 (29 Aug. 2009) --- Astronaut Rick Sturckow, STS-128 commander, occupies the commander's station on the forward flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities.
Tags: STS-128