Seven astronauts donned partial-pressure flight suits and boarded shuttle Discovery at Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39B today, taking part in a practice countdown for the planned July 1 launch of NASA's second post-Columbia test flight.The traditional training exercise served as a launch-day dress rehearsal for the astronauts as well as engineers four miles away in the NASA Launch Control Center.
Known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT, the event was a key milestone in preparation for the upcoming launch. It concluded around 11 a.m. with a simulated main engine shutdown and a launch tower evacuation drill.
Led by veteran mission commander Steve Lindsey, the five-man, two-woman crew will finish up training at KSC today and then fly back to Houston on Friday.
Image note: Click to enlarge this NASA image of the Discovery astronauts departing crew quarters for a 12-mile ride out to the launch pad. Leading the way are pilot Mark Kelly (left) and mission commander Steve Lindsey. Behind Kelly are mission specialists Lisa Nowak, Stephanie Wilson and Thomas Reiter of the European Space Agency. Behind Lindsey are mission specialists Michael Fossum and Piers Sellers. Veteran KSC photographer Kim Shiflett took the photo.
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