STS-128 Crew Prepares for Launch

Space Shuttle Discovery’s seven astronauts flew to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for final prelaunch preparations Wednesday evening.

In the crew quarters of Kennedy’s Operations and Checkout Building they will review flight data and check out their launch-and-entry suits today.

Pausing for a brief moment to talk with the media, Commander Sturckow said, “It’s great to be here for the launch. We’ve been studying and training hard, and we’re ready to go accomplish this mission.”

On Wednesday, the Flight Readiness Review for space shuttle Discovery’s STS-128 mission concluded, setting the launch date for Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 1:36 a.m. EDT.

“I can’t say enough about the quality of the review we had over the past day and a half,” said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, during a post-FRR news conference Wednesday morning. “It was a very effective review; I think we’re ready to go fly. It’s a real tribute to be here with the team that’s done a great job with engineering, the (Kennedy) team that’s gotten us this far in processing.”

“I think the largest hurdles are behind us,” said STS-128 Launch Director Pete Nickolenko. “The teams are in great shape to make this launch attempt on the 25th.”