Wed, Aug 09, 2006
The STS-115 astronauts
kicked off their prelaunch training Tuesday morning at Kennedy
Space Center's Launch Pad 39, where they drove M-113 armored
personnel carriers that would be used for a quick escape from the
pad area in the event of an emergency.
The rest of the day's activities included fire-suppression
training, as well as security and range safety briefings. Tuesday
evening, Commander Brent Jett and Pilot Chris Ferguson took to
the skies in the training aircraft to practice landings at the
Shuttle Landing Facility.
Late Monday, the crew flew into Kennedy to begin the terminal
countdown demonstration test. Under the late-afternoon Florida sun,
the six-member crew met with members of the news media after
arriving in T-38 trainer jets. Later in the evening, Jett and
Ferguson conducted practice landings in the Shuttle Training
Aircraft.
During the week's activities, the astronauts will also
participate in equipment and spacesuit checks, and a dress
rehearsal with a simulated countdown at the launch pad.
The STS-115 crew consists of Commander Brent W. Jett Jr., Pilot
Christopher J. Ferguson and Mission Specialists Heidemarie M.
Stefanyshyn-Piper, Joseph R. Tanner, Daniel C. Burbank and Steven
G. MacLean, who represents the Canadian Space Agency.
During their 11 days in space, the astronauts will install the
integrated P3/P4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays that
will provide one-fourth of the total power generation capability of
the completed station.
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