KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - The seven astronauts who will fly aboard Endeavour on the next shuttle mission flew to Kennedy Space Center today for three days of emergency training culminating in a countdown dress rehearsal as NASA moves forward with preparations for STS-124, targeted for liftoff November 14. VIDEO: THE STS-126 PAYLOAD IS READIED FOR LOADING INTO ENDEAVOUR VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR IS MOVED FROM LAUNCH PAD B TO PAD A FOR LAUNCH VIDEO: ENDEAVOUR'S CREW ARRIVES AT KSC FOR COUTNDOWN PRACTICE VIDEO: ADDITIONAL VIDEO LCIPS OF CREW ARRIVAL FOR STS-126 TCDT ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBERS: 1200 KBS BROADBAND VIDEO OF PAYLOAD PROCESSING ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBERS: 1200KBS BROADBAND VIDEO OF ENDEAVOUR'S ROLLOVER TO PAD A ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBERS: COMPLETE 90 MINUTE VIDEO OF CREW ARRIVAL FOR THE STS-126 TCDT "We're happy to be here," Endeavour's commander Chris Ferguson said after the astronauts landed at KSC. "We hope for weather like this when we come out for the real thing." Standing in front of the T-38 training aircraft they flew from Houston, Ferguson introduced his six crewmates and posed for a few a group photo and then boarded a bus to take them to crew quarters where they'll stay during the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT). Joining Ferguson on STS-126 are shuttle pilot Eric Boe and mission specialists Don Pettit, Shane Kimbrough, Steven Bowen, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Sandra Magnus. Magnus will remain aboard the space station when Endeavour departs, joining the Expedition 18 crew. She will trade places with ISS flight engineer Gregory Chamitoff, who will return to Earth aboard Endeavour followng a six-month stay on the orbiting complex. The astronauts arrived in pairs between 2:20 and 4:40 p.m. EDT after brief refueling stops in Maxwell, AFB and Mobile, Alabama. The Houston contingent also included two additional aircraft carrying support personnel and baggage. The extra planes are Gulfstream 2 jets that have been specially modified to simulate the handling characterists of the shuttle orbiter. Officially known as Shuttle Training Aircraft, Ferguson and Boe will use them to practice Endeavour's approach and landing at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. On Monday, the astronauts will learn how to drive the M-113 tank they would use to escape from the launch pad in the event of an emergency. Tuesday will see them gather at the launch pad for a question and answersession with the news media. Wednesday's activities include a full-up countdown dress rehearsal with the crew sitting in Endeavour's cabin. The countdown will end with a simulated launch abort and emergency egress from the shuttle. Following the completion of TCDT activities, the astronauts will fly back to Houston for final preparations for Endeavour's launch. Liftoff of STS-126 is currently targeted for November 14 at 7:55 p.m. EST. During Endeavour's 15-day mission, the shuttle's seven crew members will deliver supplies and equipment necessary to double the station crew size from three to six members, and during four spacewalks, service the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow its solar arrays to track the sun. The shuttle also will deliver Expedition 18 crew member Sandra Magnus and return Expedition 17 flight engineer Greg Chamitoff, who has been aboard the station for more than five months. (The Spacearium / Space Media Corporation)
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