WEBVTT

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Flying T-38 jets, the STS-116 astronauts arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center

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for their final training in Florida before launching aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in December.

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Led by Commander Mark Polansky, the seven-member crew took part in the

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terminal countdown demonstration test -- a milestone for every space shuttle mission.

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As always, the highlight of the three-day exercise was a full dress rehearsal

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of the countdown that had both the look and feel of the real thing.

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On the mock launch day, crew members awakened and sat down together to the typical

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prelaunch meal before they were helped into their bright-orange launch and landing suits.

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They walked to the awaiting silver Astrovan for the 20-minute ride to Launch Pad 39B,

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where the White Room's closeout crew strapped them into the orbiter.

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Once the astronauts were in place, the NASA launch director in the nearby Launch Control

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Center lead the crew and launch team through a rehearsal of the final countdown hours.

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Earlier in the week's activities, the astronauts participated in a

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slate of training exercises that centered on safety.

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The crew learned how to escape from the launch pad using slidewire

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baskets that can whisk them to a nearby bunker in the unlikely event of an emergency at the pad on launch day.

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They practiced driving M-113 armored personnel carriers -- the small tanks they

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would use to drive safely away from the launch pad if necessary.

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The crew also got time to check the payload and equipment for the mission.

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With their training and launch rehearsal completed, the STS-116 astronauts left Kennedy,

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returning to their home base in Houston to continue training for the real countdown in December.

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