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You're watching NASA Direct.

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Now on the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report.

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Practice makes perfect! Discovery's crew participates in a simulated launch countdown at Kennedy Space Center.

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Plus, a short delay. NASA announces a new launch window for STS-114.

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And, they're all in! Space Shuttle Discovery's payloads are packed and ready to go!

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The NASA Space Shuttle Status Report starts right now!

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Intro Music.

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I'm Jeremy Graeber, NASA test director at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and this is

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the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report.

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Topping NASA orbiter news this week: a successful launch "dress rehearsal."

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Led by Commander Eileen Collins, all seven astronauts took part in the Terminal Countdown

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Demonstration Test May 2 through 4 at Kennedy Space Center.

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After arriving, the crew spent three days preparing for launch, as if it were really happening!

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The first two days were all about safety training. They practiced how to escape from the launch pad

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by climbing in and out of slide-wire baskets.

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These baskets could whisk the crew to a nearby bunker in the unlikely event of an emergency.

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They also learned to drive M-113 armored personnel carriers, small tanks used to drive safely away from the launch pad if necessary.

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TCDT came to an exciting finish when Commander Collins and the crew suited up, were escorted to

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Launch Pad 39B and then strapped into their seats inside

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Discovery, while the launch team simulated a countdown from the Launch Control Center.

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Commander Collins called the test a "success." The crew is now back in Houston.

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In other mission news, a new launch window for Discovery.

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On April 29, NASA announced that July 13th to the 31st is the new launch planning window for STS-114, Space Shuttle Discovery's

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mission to the International Space Station. The new window gives the Agency time to do additional

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work to ensure a safe Return to Flight for

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Discovery and its crew.

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Discovery currently remains at the launch pad. Finally, the third and final piece of hardware for STS-114 is packed and ready to go!

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The last component lowered into the payload transportation canister was Raffaello, the Italian-built logistics module.

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It's stocked with gear and food for the ISS crew.

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Inside the canister, Raffaello joins two other modules holding spare parts, a gyroscope and an

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orbiter repair test kit for the mission.

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That's all the time we have for this week's Space Shuttle Status Report.

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Remember, July 13 to July 31, 2005, is NASA’s new window for Space Shuttle Discovery’s Return to Flight mission,

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designated STS-114 to the International Space Station!

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Until next time, log on to nasa.gov for the latest in Return to Flight and NASA mission news.

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I'm Jeremy Graeber for the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report.

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End Music.

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