Monday, January 18, 2010

Endeavour crew arriving at KSC for training

The first two of four planes carrying the crew of shuttle Endeavour have touched down at Kennedy Space Center, as the astronauts arrive for several days of pre-launch training.

Mission specialists Bob Behnken and Nicholas Patrick have climbed down ladders from the cockpits of separate Northrop T-38 Talon training jets.

Following in the next pair of two-seater jets are mission commander George Zamka and mission specialist Steve Robinson, and pilot Terry Virts with mission specialist Kay Hire. They're expected by 5:30 p.m.

The crew is visiting for training called the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT.

That includes reviews of emergency launch pad escape procedures and culminates in a full launch countdown dress rehearsal Thursday morning.

The 130th shuttle mission is targeted to launch Feb. 7 to the International Space Station, delivering the last major living module, called Tranquility.

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