Mike Curie/STS-128 Launch Commentator: Commander Rick Sturckow,
veteran of three spaceflights, being suited up and ready for action tonight.
Pilot Kevin Ford is making his first spaceflight, giving a thumbs-up.
Here's Nicole Stott, she's a mission specialist and is riding Discovery for a long-duration
ride aboard the International Space Station.
She'll be changing places with Tim Kopra.
Mission Specialist 1 Patrick Forrester, he's a veteran of two spaceflights.
Danny Olivas, he's flown once before, he's our lead spacewalker on this mission.
Christer Fuglesang, our European Space Agency astronaut,
he's a veteran of one spaceflight. He's from Stockholm, Sweden.
And Jose Hernandez, mission specialist No. 2 on the mission,
is making his first spaceflight. He also will be the flight engineer on the flight deck,
assisting the commander and pilot.
And here they come down the hallway and they'll wave to the camera,
big smiles on their faces.
Tonight may be the night. Management astronauts Jerry Ross, Steve Lindsey, Brent Jett,
accompanying the crew as they make their way aboard the elevator.
And here they come.
(Cheers)
Mike Curie/STS-128 Launch Commentator: And with the crew of Discovery safely aboard,
the Astrovan pulls away from the Operations and Checkout Building.
And the convoy will make its way to Launch Pad 39A where
space shuttle Discovery awaits.