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Music

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Preparations for STS-119, the first space shuttle mission of 2009,

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reached a major milestone January 14 as Discovery headed to the launch pad

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at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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Riding atop the crawler-transporter, Discovery began its 3.4-mile trip

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from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A

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in the chilly predawn darkness.

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The beginning of its trip to the pad was delayed slightly

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so technicians could work minor technical issues.

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One issue involved the mobile launcher platform heaters

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needed when temperatures are below 45 degrees.

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The slow trek to the seaside launch pad was completed by midday.

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Waiting at the pad was the payload, which will be transferred

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into the shuttle's cargo bay from the service structure's payload changeout room.

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Discovery's crew of seven, led by Commander Lee Archambault, will deliver

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and install the International Space Station's final truss segment

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and its set of solar arrays during the 14-day mission.

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Space shuttle Discovery is targeted for a February liftoff.

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