The crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-92, the 100th mission in the history of Shuttle flight, will be at Kennedy Space Center this week for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT).
The TCDT is held at KSC prior to each Space Shuttle flight, providing the crew an opportunity to participate in simulated countdown activities. The TCDT ends with a mock launch countdown culminating in a simulated main engine cut-off. The crew also spends time undergoing emergency egress training exercises at the pad and has an opportunity to view and inspect the payloads in the orbiter’s payload bay.
The following events are available for media to attend during the STS-92 TCDT.
Tuesday, Sept. 12 — The seven-member crew of mission STS-92 is scheduled to arrive at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at 7 p.m. Media who wish to take part in this photo opportunity should be at the KSC Press Site by 6 p.m. for transport to the SLF.
Wednesday, Sept. 13 — Media are invited to attend a photo event featuring the crew of STS-92 as they practice driving an armored personnel carrier (M113). This transport is designed to assist the crew if an emergency egress is required away from the pad. Media should be at the KSC Press Site at 9:45 a.m. for transport to the M113 location.
Thursday, Sept. 14 — Media representatives will have an opportunity to speak informally with and photograph the crew at Launch Pad 39A. Media interested in participating in this question and answer session should be at the KSC Press Site by 12:30 p.m. for transport to the pad. This question and answer session will be a local media event only. However, the session will be covered live on NASA TV beginning at about 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 15 — The entire crew will take part in simulated launch day events. Media interested in covering the crew walkout from the Operations and Checkout Building should be at the KSC Press Site by 6:45 a.m.
Once the crew is at the pad, they will enter the orbiter Discovery fully suited for the final hours of the practice countdown, including the simulated Shuttle main engine ignition and cut-off.
Following TCDT, the will depart KSC for final mission preparations in Houston, TX.
Discovery, on mission STS-92, is targeted for launch from Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 5 at about 9:30 p.m. The flight is scheduled to last 11 days and will feature Discovery docking with the International Space Station (ISS). Discovery will deliver to ISS the Zenith-1 (Z-1) Truss and the third Pressurized Mating Adapter.
Crew members for mission STS-92 are: Commander Brian Duffy; Pilot Pam Melroy; and Mission Specialists Koichi Wakata (of the National Space Development Agency of Japan), Leroy Chiao, Jeff Wisoff, Michael Lopez-Alegria, and Bill McArthur.
