At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour’s crew is participating in a countdown dress rehearsal for the STS-130 mission to the International Space Station.
Called the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT, the training prepares the ground, launch and astronaut teams for the events on launch day.
A few of today’s activities include instruction and driving the M113 armored personnel carriers, checking out flight crew equipment, hands-on practice with digital cameras for external fuel tank photography and related training.
At Launch Pad 39A, shuttle Endeavour’s payload bay doors will be opened so the mission’s payload, the Italian-built Tranquility node with the attached cupola, can be loaded for flight.
Also, the Space Shuttle Program Flight Readiness Review begins today for a two-day meeting to determine the status of Endeavour’s readiness for a targeted launch at 4:39 a.m. EST Feb. 7.
The official launch date will be set at the executive-level Flight Readiness Review held at Kennedy on Jan. 27.