14 DAY TRIAL // The Discovery space shuttle currently in preparation for the STS-124 mission to the International Space Station was carried on Saturday to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center were it will be attached to the external liquid fuel tank and the two solid rocket boosters. After that, the space shuttle will spend another week inside the Vehicles Assembly Building in order to undergo the final checkout before being carried to the Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center where it will be ready for liftoff on May 31.
STS-124 is destined to carry the second section of the massive Japanese space laboratory Kibo to the ISS, where it will be assembled with the first section flow during STS-123 with the help of the space shuttle Atlantis. Afterwards, flight engineer Garrett Reisman, a member of Expedition 16 and 17, will be replaced and will return to Earth.
The crew of seven joining STS-124 will consist of commander Mark Kelly, pilot Ken Ham, mission specialists Karen Nyberg, Ron Garan, Mike Fossum, Greg Chamitoff and Akihiko Hoshide from JAXA. Flight specialist Greg Chamitoff is the one to replace Reisman and will remain on board the ISS as part of Expedition 17.
After being rolled to the Vehicle Assembly Building, the shuttle was lowered into a high bay where it was joined to the external fuel tank and the solid rocket boosters that were on the mobile launcher platform. After final checkup is completed, the Discovery space shuttle will be carried to the launch pad on May 3. Three days later the mission STS-124 crew is expected to arrive at Kennedy Space Center were it will participate in a three day Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, ending with a countdown dress rehearsal.