News media are invited to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to cover activities during the terminal countdown demonstration test set for Nov. 13 to 16 in preparation for the upcoming 12-day mission, designated STS-116, to the International Space Station. Launch is targeted for Dec. 7.

The countdown test is standard prelaunch training and provides a crew opportunities which include emergency egress training, a simulated launch countdown and payload familiarization. The crew includes Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot William Oefelein, Mission Specialists Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Nicholas Patrick and Christer Fuglesang, and Flight Engineer Sunita Williams, who will join Expedition 14 in progress.

Following the arrival of Space Shuttle Discovery at Launch Pad 39B on Thursday, technicians are preparing the vehicle and the pad for the countdown test activities. Discovery’s journey to the pad began at 12:29 a.m. Thursday and the vehicle was at the pad about seven and a half hours later.

Events Nov. 13 – STS-116 crew arrival at the Shuttle Landing Facility: Media must arrive at the KSC Newsroom by 2 p.m. for transportation to the runway. Crew arrival will not be broadcast live on NASA Television.

Nov. 15 – STS-116 crew question-and-answer session at Launch Pad 39B: Media must arrive at the KSC Newsroom by 11:30 a.m. for transportation to the pad. The media session will be broadcast live on NASA Television.

Nov. 16 – STS-116 crew walkout for test: Media must arrive at the KSC Newsroom by 6:15 a.m. for transportation to the Operations and Checkout Building. Walkout will not be covered live on NASA Television.

Proper dress is required for all events and includes full-length pants and closed, flat shoes. No sleeveless shirts are permitted.

Permanently badged media interested in attending this event are asked to contact the Press Site at (321) 867-2468 by close of business Friday. Media without KSC credentials should submit accreditation requests via the online accreditation Web site at: https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

Since dates and times of this event are subject to change, updates are available by calling (321) 867-2525.

NASA Television will provide live coverage of the STS-116 crew question-and-answer session on Nov. 15.

NASA’s Video File airs on the Media Channel (Program 103) at 6 – 8 and 9 – 11 a.m.; 12 – 2 and 4 – 7 p.m.; and 10 p.m. – midnight. All times are Eastern. The Media Channel is available on an MPEG-2 digital C-band signal via satellite AMC-6; 72 degrees west longitude, transponder 17C, 4040 MHz, vertical polarization. In Alaska and Hawaii, it’s on AMC-7; 137 degrees west longitude, transponder 18C, at 4060 MHz, horizontal polarization. A digital video broadcast compliant integrated receiver decoder is required for reception. For media unable to receive the Media Channel, a modified version of Video File airs on the Public Channel at 9 a.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. (Eastern). For downlink, Media and Public Channel information and access, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information on the STS-116 mission and its crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle