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You're watching NASA Direct.
Now on the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report.
Practice makes perfect! Discovery's crew participates in a simulated launch countdown at Kennedy Space Center.
Plus, a short delay. NASA announces a new launch window for STS-114.
And, they're all in! Space Shuttle Discovery's payloads are packed and ready to go!
The NASA Space Shuttle Status Report starts right now!
Intro Music.
I'm Jeremy Graeber, NASA test director at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and this is
the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report.
Topping NASA orbiter news this week: a successful launch "dress rehearsal."
Led by Commander Eileen Collins, all seven astronauts took part in the Terminal Countdown
Demonstration Test May 2 through 4 at Kennedy Space Center.
After arriving, the crew spent three days preparing for launch, as if it were really happening!
The first two days were all about safety training. They practiced how to escape from the launch pad
by climbing in and out of slide-wire baskets.
These baskets could whisk the crew to a nearby bunker in the unlikely event of an emergency.
They also learned to drive M-113 armored personnel carriers, small tanks used to drive safely away from the launch pad if necessary.
TCDT came to an exciting finish when Commander Collins and the crew suited up, were escorted to
Launch Pad 39B and then strapped into their seats inside
Discovery, while the launch team simulated a countdown from the Launch Control Center.
Commander Collins called the test a "success." The crew is now back in Houston.
In other mission news, a new launch window for Discovery.
On April 29, NASA announced that July 13th to the 31st is the new launch planning window for STS-114, Space Shuttle Discovery's
mission to the International Space Station. The new window gives the Agency time to do additional
work to ensure a safe Return to Flight for
Discovery and its crew.
Discovery currently remains at the launch pad. Finally, the third and final piece of hardware for STS-114 is packed and ready to go!
The last component lowered into the payload transportation canister was Raffaello, the Italian-built logistics module.
It's stocked with gear and food for the ISS crew.
Inside the canister, Raffaello joins two other modules holding spare parts, a gyroscope and an
orbiter repair test kit for the mission.
That's all the time we have for this week's Space Shuttle Status Report.
Remember, July 13 to July 31, 2005, is NASA’s new window for Space Shuttle Discovery’s Return to Flight mission,
designated STS-114 to the International Space Station!
Until next time, log on to nasa.gov for the latest in Return to Flight and NASA mission news.
I'm Jeremy Graeber for the NASA Space Shuttle Status Report.
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