The crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-105, the 106th mission in the history
of Shuttle flight, will be at Kennedy Space Center this week for the
Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT). The crew is scheduled to
arrive at KSC Tuesday evening.

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-105
TCDT:

Wednesday, July 18 — Media are invited to attend a photo event featuring
the crew of STS-105 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 8:30
a.m. for transport to the M113 location.

Thursday, July 19 — 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 9:00 a.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 10:00 a.m.

On Friday, the crew 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 crew will depart KSC on Friday for final mission
preparations in Houston, Texas.

Discovery, on mission STS-105, is targeted for launch from Kennedy Space
Center no earlier than Aug. 9. The flight is scheduled to last 11 days, 19
hours and will feature Discovery docking with the International Space
Station (ISS). Discovery will carry the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
Leonardo and accomplish the expedition crew exchange.

Crew members for mission STS-105 are Commander Scott Horowitz; Pilot Rick
Sturckow; and Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester and Daniel Barry. The
Expedition Three crew members on their way to the Station are Commander
Frank Culbertson, Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Turin. The Expedition Two
crew members returning from the Station are Commander Yury Usachev, James
Voss and Susan Helms.