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Music

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The STS-128 astronauts flew to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on

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August 5 for their scheduled countdown rehearsal.

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The seven-member crew spent three days in exercises officially known as the

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Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test,
or T - C - D - T.

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The astronauts practiced emergency evacuation at the launch pad and checked

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the mission payload in space shuttle Discovery's cargo bay.

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They received instruction on driving the M-113 armored personnel carrier

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as part of their emergency escape training.

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The crew took a few minutes out of their schedule to answer questions from

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media representatives who gathered for a news conference at the launch pad.

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At the Shuttle Landing Facility, Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Kevin Ford

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practiced landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft.

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The final day's activities culminated in a launch dress rehearsal and practice

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countdown with the look and feel of a real launch day.

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With the exercises behind them, the astronauts flew back to their home base

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at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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Discovery and crew are targeted to lift off in late August for their 13-day mission

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to the International Space Station.

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