Discovery has completed its journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center to Launch Pad 39B. NASA technicians will now prepare the space shuttle for its liftoff, still scheduled for sometime between July 1 and 19.
Mounted on the Mobile Launcher Platform and carried by the mammoth crawler-transporter, Discovery moved the 4.2 mile distance from the VAB to the pad at a speed of less than one mile an hour, and it arrived at the launch pad early Friday evening.
The mission will continue the evaluation of flight safety procedures, including shuttle inspection and repair techniques, NASA said in a statement. It also will deliver supplies and cargo for future station expansion.
Steve Lindsey will command the mission, flying with pilot Mark Kelly, spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Piers Sellers and mission specialists Stephanie Wilson and Lisa Nowak.
ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter is also part of the crew and will remain on the station for several months. Reiter's arrival will give the station its first three-person crew since May 4, 2003.
