The astronauts did come in in T-38 training aircraft, as is the custom for not only terminal countdown demonstration tests, but also for, launch week.
The astronauts arrived this past Sunday night, late in the afternoon. Again, they come in from their homes and training facilities
at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This is our commander, Mark Polansky, and riding in the backseat is Robert Curbeam,
the mission specialist number two on this flight. Robert Curbeam will be, of course, taking part in the spacewalks.
That is a critical activity of this mission, of this mission's success. So the astronauts come in T-38 training aircraft to Kennedy
Space Center, typically three days to four days before launch. This is so they can continue to
finish up their preparations. They also spend some time in the Shuttle Training Aircraft. The commander and pilot do,
to get a good feel for what it's like to land back at Kennedy Space Center.
We saw a glimpse of Joan Higginbotham. Joan is a former employee at Kennedy Space Center, talking to Mike Leinbach who is our launch director.
Again, the astronauts did come in at sundown, arriving in separate T-38s. In fact, five T-38s brought in our seven astronauts.
The ones that are pilots actually like to fly themselves, such as William Oefelein and Mark Polansky.
The others were brought in by other pilots from other crews or future crews. This is Christer Fuglesang,
who is a representative, sole representative of the European Space Agency on this flight,
and this is his, will be his first mission into space.
Suni Williams. Again, Suni is the astronaut that's going to ride up but not come down; she's going to stay on the International Space Station,
coming back on mission STS-118 that's scheduled for next June of 2007. All the astronauts gather, again speaking with Mike Leinbach,
our launch director. They will be coming over to the microphone and have a few words to say to the media that have gathered.
The coordination that's going to be required between the ground and ourselves in orbit is going to be...will be staying six months up in space.
SUNI WILLIAMS: Thanks, Mark, and thanks for the rest of the crew. Turin called the other day and said, Suni,
we're waiting for you. So I just can't wait to get to my new home and I'm just really happy for this opportunity.
ASTRONAUT: I promised my wife I'd say a few words in Spanish. (speaks in Spanish)
ASTRONAUT: I know you guys are kind of focused in on us right now, but really this is more a tribute to the guys who got our vehicle ready,
to get all of us ready as well for our 12-day trip and Suni's six-month trip. And this is Bill Oefelein from Alaska.
BILL OEFELEIN: I'll start, actually, by saying a few words in Alaskan. It's warm out here.
JOAN HIGGINBOTHAM: It's good to be here. It has been a long time in coming. I actually began my career here
at the Kennedy Space Center. You don't need to know when, but it was awhile ago. And looking forward to a
wonderful launch Thursday night. Thank you.
BUCKINGHAM: And after those kind words, Jim Kennedy also was there. He's our center director and he greeted them upon their arrival.