Center in Edwards, Illinois, May 1-4, 2019. The habitat print is the final level of the multi-phase competition, which began in in 2015. The challenge is managed by NASA's Centennial Challenges program, and partner Bradley University of Peoria, Illinois. Astronaut Don Thomas talks with Penn State team members Negar Ashrafi and Maryam Hojati.

Center in Edwards, Illinois, May 1-4, 2019. The habitat print is the final level of the multi-phase competition, which began in in 2015. The challenge is managed by NASA's Centennial Challenges program, and partner Bradley University of Peoria, Illinois. Astronaut Don Thomas talks with Penn State team members Negar Ashrafi and Maryam Hojati.

Center in Edwards, Illinois, May 1-4, 2019. The habitat print is the final level of the multi-phase competition, which began in in 2015. The challenge is managed by NASA's Centennial Challenges program, and partner Bradley University of Peoria, Illinois. Astronaut Don Thomas talks with Penn State team members Negar Ashrafi and Maryam Hojati.

AI. SpaceFactory of New York and Pennsylvania State University of College Park print subscale habitat structures at NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge, held at the Caterpillar Edwards Demonstration & Learning Center in Edwards, Illinois, May 1-4, 2019. The habitat print is the final level of the multi-phase competition, which began in in 2015. The challenge is managed by NASA's Centennial Challenges program, and partner Bradley University of Peoria, Illinois. Astronaut Don Thomas talks with Penn State team members Negar Ashrafi and Maryam Hojati.

Astronaut Thomas D. Akers gets assistance in donning a training version of the Shuttle extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) space suit prior to a training session in the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) (39735); Astronaut Kathryn C. Thornton (foreground) and Thomas Akers, STS-61 mission specialists scheduled for extravehicular activity (EVA) duty, prepare for an underwater rehearsal session. Thornton recieves assistance from a technician in donning her EMU gloves (39736).

Astronaut Thomas D. Akers gets assistance in donning a training version of the Shuttle extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) space suit prior to a training session in the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) (39735); Astronaut Kathryn C. Thornton (foreground) and Thomas Akers, STS-61 mission specialists scheduled for extravehicular activity (EVA) duty, prepare for an underwater rehearsal session. Thornton recieves assistance from a technician in donning her EMU gloves (39736).

X-15 personnel July 1962 Cockpit: Edward "Ed" Nice Ladder: Thomas "Tom" McAlister Back Row, left to right: William Clark, Edward "Ed" Sabo, Donald "Don" Hall, Billy Furr, Allen Dustin, Raymond "Ray" White, George E. Trott, Alfred "Al" Grieshaber, Merle Curtis, LeRoy "Lee" Adelsbach, Allen Lowe, Jay L. King, Lorenzo "Larry" Barnett. Kneeling, left to right: Byron Gibbs, Price "Bob" Workman, Ira Cupp, unidentified, John Gordon.

Astronaut Don Thomas and the crowd cheer at the moment of the Apollo 11 touchdown on the Moon during a replay of the 1969 television broadcast at the Summer Moon Festival, Wapakoneta, Ohio, Apollo 11 Moon Landing 50th Anniversary

S89-E-5215 (25 Jan 1998) --- Astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas dons the Sokol spacesuit of David A. Wolf, who has been onboard Russia's Mir Space Station since September 1997. An earlier fit check of Thomas' Sokol suit did not initially meet specifications required in the event he has to spend time in the pressurized Soyuz spacecraft, now docked to Mir. After Thomas was checked out in Wolf's suit, sizing modifications were made to his own suit and it was then verified for use by Thomas in the event of a contingency. The image was taken with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) at 17:58:58 GMT, January 25, 1998.

S96-08072 (April 1996) --- Astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas, mission specialist, is helped with the final touches of suit donning during emergency bailout training for crew members in the Johnson Space Center?s (JSC) Weightless Environment Training Facility (WET-F). Thomas will join five other astronauts for nine days aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour next month.

SS98-E-5214 (14 February 2001) --- Astronaut Robert L. Curbeam, STS-98 mission specialist, dons his extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) for the final of three space walks he shared with astonaut Thomas D. Jones on mission 5a. The scene was recorded with a digital still camera.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A suit technician helps ASTP astronaut Thomas Stafford don his pressure suit. After suitup, Stafford and crewmen Vance Brand and Donald Slayton walked to the transfer van for the trip to the launch pad.

STS102-E-5162 (13 March 2001) --- Astronaut Susan J. Helms assists astronaut Paul W. Richards, mission specialist, during suit donning on Discovery's mid deck. Shortly afterward,Richards joined astronaut Andrew S.W. Thomas for the second STS-102 space walk.

STS98-E-5176 (12 February 2001) --- Astronaut Thomas D. Jones, STS-98 mission specialist, dons his extravehicular mobility unit for the upcoming space walk on the International Space Station on February 12. This scene was recorded with a digital still camera.

S89-E-5217 (25 Jan 1998) --- This Electronic Still Camera (ESC) image (the third in a series) shows astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas donning the Sokol spacesuit of David A. Wolf, who has been onboard Russia's Mir Space Station since September 1997. An earlier fit check of Thomas' Sokol suit did not initially meet specifications required in the event he has to spend time in the pressurized Soyuz spacecraft, now docked to Mir. After Thomas was checked out in Wolf's suit, sizing modifications were made to his own suit and it was then verified for use by Thomas in the event of a contingency. Thomas is the seventh and final American astronaut assigned to a tour of duty aboard the Mir. This ESC view was taken at 17:59:34 GMT, January 25, 1998.

S89-E-5216 (25 Jan 1998) --- This is the second of a series of three photos onboard Russia's Mir Space Station showing Andrew S. W. Thomas following the donning of the Sokol spacesuit of David A. Wolf, who has been onboard Mir since September 1997. An earlier fit check of Thomas' Sokol suit did not initially meet specifications required in the event he has to spend time in the pressurized Soyuz spacecraft, now docked to Mir. After Thomas was checked out in Wolf's suit, sizing modifications were made to his own suit and it was then verified for use by Thomas in the event of a contingency. The image was taken with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) at 17:59:00 GMT, January 25, 1998.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA Kennedy Space Center, STS-114 Mission Specialist Andrew Thomas has donned his launch and entry suit before heading to the launch pad. Thomas is making his fourth space flight on the historic Return to Flight mission STS-114 to the International Space Station. On its second attempt for launch, Discovery is scheduled to lift off at 10:39 a.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 39B. It is the 114th Space Shuttle flight and the 31st for Discovery. The 12-day mission is expected to end with touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility on Aug. 7.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Operations and Checkout Building at NASA Kennedy Space Center, STS-114 Mission Specialist Andrew Thomas has donned his launch and entry suit before heading to the launch pad. Thomas is making his fourth space flight on the historic Return to Flight mission STS-114 to the International Space Station. On its second attempt for launch, Discovery is scheduled to lift off at 10:39 a.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 39B. It is the 114th Space Shuttle flight and the 31st for Discovery. The 12-day mission is expected to end with touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility on Aug. 7.

STS114-S-007 (26 July 2005) --- The STS-114 crew members, having donned their launch and entry suits, wave at KSC employees as they prepare to board the transfer van awaiting to take them to Launch Pad 39B. Eileen M. Collins, mission commander, leads the way. James M. Kelly, pilot, is at front left. Other crew members -- Wendy Lawrence, Andrew S.W. Thomas, Stephen K. Robinson, Charles J. Camarda and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi -- follow.

STS98-E-5223 (14 February 2001) --- Astronaut Thomas D. Jones, mission specialist, dons his extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) space garment in the airlock of the Space Shuttle Atlantis in this high-angle view photographed with a digital still camera. Jones was about to participate in the final of three space walks scheduled for the STS-98/5a mission.

Expedition 50 ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet dons his Sokol suit ahead of his final qualification exams with fellow crew mates NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 50 ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet dons his Sokol suit ahead of his final qualification exams with fellow crew mates NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 50 ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet dons his Sokol suit ahead of his final qualification exams with fellow crew mates NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 50 Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos dons his Sokol suit ahead of his final qualification exams with fellow crew mates NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 50 ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet dons his Sokol suit ahead of his final qualification exams with fellow crew mates NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

STS121-S-006 (4 July 2006) --- The STS-121 crewmembers, having donned their shuttle launch and entry suits, wave flags for the Fourth of July as they prepare to board the transfer van awaiting to take them to Launch Pad 39B. Steven W. Lindsey (right front), commander, and Mark E. Kelly, pilot, lead the way. Other crewmembers - Lisa M. Nowak, Michael E. Fossum, Stephanie D. Wilson, Piers J. Sellers and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany - follow.

Astronaut Thomas D. Jones, mission specialist, dons a space suit prior to participating in contingency space walk simulations at the JSC Weightless Environment Training Facility (WETF). Jones is assisted by Frank Hernandez (left) and suit technician Charles Hudson of Hamilton Standard. Jones suit is weighted to that he can achieve a neutrally buoyant state once under water. Extravehicular tasks are not planned for the STS-59 mission, but a number of chores are rehearsed in case of failure of remote systems to perform those jobs.

STS098-349-004 (7-20 February 2001) --- Astronauts Thomas D. Jones (second left) and Robert L. Curbeam, both mission specialists, prepare for one of the three STS-98 sessions of extravehicular activity (EVA). Astronauts Kenneth D. Cockrell (lower left), mission commander, and Mark L. Polansky, mission specialist, assist Jones and Curbeam as they don their Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) space suits in the airlock of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Expedition 50 NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson dons her Sokol suit ahead of her final qualification exams with fellow crew mates Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 50 NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is seen after donning her Sokol suit ahead of her final qualification exams with fellow crew mates Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

STS114-S-006 (26 July 2005) --- The STS-114 crew members, having donned their launch and entry suits, wave at KSC employees as they head out to the transfer van awaiting to take them to Launch Pad 39B. Eileen M. Collins, commander, leads the way. James M. Kelly, pilot, is at front left. Other crew members -- Wendy Lawrence, Andrew S.W. Thomas, Stephen K. Robinson, Charles J. Camarda and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi--follow.

Expedition 50 NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson dons her Sokol suit ahead of her final qualification exams with fellow crew mates Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Expedition 50 NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson dons her Sokol suit ahead of her final qualification exams with fellow crew mates Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

JSC2005-E-02824 (26 January 2005) --- Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, STS-114 mission specialist representing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), dons a training version of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit prior to being submerged in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) near Johnson Space Center. Astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas (right), mission specialist, and Letti Castillo with United Space Alliance (USA) assisted Noguchi.

STS-89 Mission Specialist Andrew Thomas, Ph.D., gives a ‘thumbs up’ as he completes the donning of his launch/entry suit in the Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building. In June 1995, he was named as payload commander for STS-77 and flew his first flight in space on Endeavour in May 1996. He and six fellow crew members will soon depart the O&C and head for Launch Pad 39A, where the Space Shuttle Endeavour will lift off during a launch window that opens at 9:43 p.m. EST, Jan. 22. STS-89 is the eighth of nine planned missions to dock the Space Shuttle with Russia's Mir space station, where Dr. Thomas will succeed David Wolf, M.D

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The STS-121 crew are donning their orange launch and entry suits for launch today on Space Shuttle Discovery. Having his boot worked on is Mission Specialist Thomas Reiter, who represents the European Space Agency. Reiter is making his first space shuttle flight. The launch is the 115th shuttle flight and the 18th U.S. flight to the International Space Station. During the 12-day mission, the STS-121 crew will test new equipment and procedures to improve shuttle safety, as well as deliver supplies and make repairs to the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

STS98-E-5012 (8 February 2001) --- The bottom portions of the extravehicular mobility units (EMU) for STS-98's two space walkers are seen in the airlock aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis during early stages of the STS-98 mission. Astronaut Thomas D. Jones will be using the suit on the left, and astronaut Robert L. Curbeam will don the one on the right. The two mission specialists are scheduled for extravehicular activity (EVA) once the shuttle is docked with the International Space Station (ISS) later in the week. The scene was recorded with a digital still camera.

STS121-S-005 (4 July 2006) --- The STS-121 crewmembers, having donned their shuttle launch and entry suits, wave flags for the Fourth of July as they head out of the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center to the transfer van awaiting to take them to Launch Pad 39B. Steven W. Lindsey (right front), commander, and Mark E. Kelly, pilot, lead the way. Other crewmembers - Lisa M. Nowak, Michael E. Fossum, Stephanie D. Wilson, Piers J. Sellers and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Reiter of Germany - follow.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The STS-121 crew are donning their orange launch and entry suits for launch today on Space Shuttle Discovery. Here, Mission Specialist Thomas Reiter, who represents the European Space Agency, is ready to go. Reiter is making his first space shuttle flight. The launch is the 115th shuttle flight and the 18th U.S. flight to the International Space Station. During the 12-day mission, the STS-121 crew will test new equipment and procedures to improve shuttle safety, as well as deliver supplies and make repairs to the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Mechanical technicians, Thomas Huber and John Poulsen, don safety harnesses and carefully guide the crane lifted Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) from the vibration table after successful testing. OCI is a highly advanced optical spectrometer that will be used to measure properties of light over portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. It will enable continuous measurement of light at finer wavelength resolution than previous NASA satellite sensors, extending key system ocean color data records for climate studies. OCI is PACE's (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) primary sensor built at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - With the Closeout Crew looking on in the White Room on Launch Pad 39B, STS-114 Mission Specialist Andrew Thomas has donned his launch suit before entering Space Shuttle Discovery. The crew is taking part in a full dress rehearsal for launch, including countdown and culminating in main engine cutoff. The rehearsal is the final part of Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities that the crew has been involved in for three days. TCDT provides the crew of each mission an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency egress training. STS-114 is the first Return to Flight mission to the International Space Station. The launch window extends July 13 through July 31.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The STS-114 crew pose for a photo in front of a solid rocket booster aft skirt in the SRB Assembly and Refurbishment Facility. In front, from left, are Cynthia Perrons, electrical technician with United Space Alliance; Commander Eileen Collins, Pilot James Kelly, and Mission Specialists Charles Camarda and Andrew Thomas. In back are Paul Gutierrez, associate program manager in SRB Element, USA; John Cleary Jr., electrical engineer with USA; Mike Leppert, project lead, Manufacturing Operations, USA; Don Noah, Materials and Processes engineer, USA; Bob Herman, deputy associate program manager, SRB Element, USA; Mission Specialist Soichi Noguchi; Dale Marlow, thermal protection system engineer with USA; Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson; Greg Henry, director, Manufacturing Operations, USA.

While donning his launch and entry suit, STS-98 Mission Specialist Thomas Jones holds a reminder that the crew will be in space on Valentine’s Day during the 11-day mission. STS-98 is the seventh construction flight to the International Space Station. Atlantis is carrying the U.S. Laboratory Destiny, a key module in the growth of the Space Station. Destiny will be attached to the Unity node on the Space Station using the Shuttle’s robotic arm. Three spacewalks, by Curbeam and Jones, are required to complete the planned construction work during the mission. Launch is targeted for 6:11 p.m. EST and the planned landing at KSC Feb. 18 about 1:39 p.m. This mission marks the seventh Shuttle flight to the Space Station, the 23rd flight of Atlantis and the 102nd flight overall in NASA’s Space Shuttle program

S67-30404 (May 1967) --- Portrait of astronaut group selected April 4, 1966. Seated, left to right, are Edward G. Givens Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell, Charles M. Duke Jr., Don L. Lind, Fred W. Haise Jr., Joe H. Engle, Vance D. Brand, John S. Bull and Bruce McCandless II. Standing, left to right, are John L. Swigert Jr., William R. Pogue, Ronald E. Evans, Paul J. Weitz, James B. Irwin, Gerald P. Carr, Stuart A. Roosa, Alfred M. Worden, Thomas K. Mattingly and Jack R. Lousma. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

While donning his launch and entry suit, STS-98 Mission Specialist Thomas Jones holds a reminder that the crew will be in space on Valentine’s Day during the 11-day mission. STS-98 is the seventh construction flight to the International Space Station. Atlantis is carrying the U.S. Laboratory Destiny, a key module in the growth of the Space Station. Destiny will be attached to the Unity node on the Space Station using the Shuttle’s robotic arm. Three spacewalks, by Curbeam and Jones, are required to complete the planned construction work during the mission. Launch is targeted for 6:11 p.m. EST and the planned landing at KSC Feb. 18 about 1:39 p.m. This mission marks the seventh Shuttle flight to the Space Station, the 23rd flight of Atlantis and the 102nd flight overall in NASA’s Space Shuttle program

Views of STS-102 and Expedition Four bailout training in the Building 9NW's crew compartment trainer II (CCT II). Images include: Expedition Four's Carl Walz gets help from a trainer during the donning of his Launch and Entry Suit (LES)(23705); STS-102 Pilot James Kelly gets help with his LES from a trainer (23706); Expedition Four commander / cosmonaut Yuri Onufrienko (left) and Expedition Four's Daniel Bursch, both wearing LES and helmets, get strapped into their seats by a trainer on the middeck of the CCT (23707); Onufrienko and Bursch seated on the middeck (23708); Onufrienko (left), Bursch and Walz seated on the middeck preparing to begin emergency egress (23709); Walz, with LES and helmet, egresses from the port hatch of the CCT and goes into a roll on the mat (23710 and 23711); from left to right, all wearing LES's, STS-106 Commander James Wetherbee, Kelly, STS-102 Mission Specialist (MS) Paul Richards, STS-102 MS Andrew Thomas, Walz, Bursch and Onufrienko seated outside the CCT while being attended to by trainers (23712); Wetherbee seated in his LES (23713); Walz talks with Bursch and Onufrienko - Thomas is visible to the left (23714); Bursch seated (23715); Richards seated (23716); Thomas in his LES (23717); Kelly in his LES (23718); and Wetherbee (left) and Kelly converse while seated (23719).

With the help of a suit technician, STS-91 Pilot Dominic L. Gorie dons his flight suit in the Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building prior to the crew walkout and transport to Launch Pad 39A. Gorie is on his first Shuttle mission. As a commander in the Navy, he flew combat missions in Operation Desert Storm and has earned a Distinguished Flying Cross as well as a master’s degree in aviation systems. Along with backing up Precourt on the flight deck, Gorie will perform the final Shuttle-Mir undocking and flyaround. He will also assist with the transfer of materials to and from Mir and the photographic documentation of the space station. STS91 is scheduled to be launched on June 2 with a launch window opening around 6:10 p.m. EDT. The mission will feature the ninth and final Shuttle docking with the Russian space station Mir, the first Mir docking for Discovery, the first on-orbit test of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), and the first flight of the new Space Shuttle super lightweight external tank. Astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas will be returning to Earth as a STS-91 crew member after living more than four months aboard Mir

NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center Director Patrick Scheuermann and astronaut Steve Robinson stand with recipients of the 2010 Silver Snoopy awards following a June 23 ceremony. Sixteen Stennis employees received the astronauts' personal award, which is presented by a member of the astronaut corps representing its core principles for outstanding flight safety and mission success. This year's recipients and ceremony participants were: (front row, l to r): Cliff Arnold (NASA), Wendy Holladay (NASA), Kendra Moran (Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne), Mary Johnson (Jacobs Technology Facility Operating Services Contract group), Cory Beckemeyer (PWR), Dean Bourlet (PWR), Cecile Saltzman (NASA), Marla Carpenter (Jacobs FOSC), David Alston (Jacobs FOSC); (back row, l to r) Scheuermann, Don Wilson (A2 Research), Tim White (NASA), Ira Lossett (Jacobs Technology NASA Test Operations Group), Kerry Gallagher (Jacobs NTOG); Rene LeFrere (PWR), Todd Ladner (ASRC Research and Technology Solutions) and Thomas Jacks (NASA).

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- STS-116 Mission Specialist Sunita Williams is helped by the closeout crew in the White Room to secure her launch suit before climbing into Space Shuttle Discovery. In the foreground, back turned, is Mission Specialist Nicholas Patrick. Williams will replace International Space Station Expedition 14 crew member Thomas Reiter, who will return to Earth aboard Discovery in her place. The White Room is at the end of the orbiter access arm that extends from the fixed service structure and provides entry into the orbiter. The first launch attempt of STS-116 on Dec. 7 was postponed due a low cloud ceiling over Kennedy Space Center. This second launch attempt is scheduled for 8:47 p.m. This is Discovery's 33rd mission and the first night launch since 2002. The 20th shuttle mission to the International Space Station, STS-116 carries another truss segment, P5. It will serve as a spacer, mated to the P4 truss that was attached in September. After installing the P5, the crew will reconfigure and redistribute the power generated by two pairs of U.S. solar arrays. Landing is expected Dec. 21 at KSC. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Don Kight

STS-91 Mission Specialist Franklin R. Chang-Diaz gets assistance from a suit technician as he dons his flight suit in the Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building. The fitting takes place prior to the crew walkout and transport to Launch Pad 39A. He is on his sixth space flight. Chang-Diaz holds a doctorate in applied plasma physics and is director of the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Houston. Franklin’s background will serve him well during the mission, since he will be primarily responsible for crew activities in support of the of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. He will also back up Lawrence with the mideck experiments and Kavandi with SPACEHAB operations. STS-91 is scheduled to be launched on June 2 with a launch window opening around 6:10 p.m. EDT. The mission will feature the ninth and final Shuttle docking with the Russian Space Station Mir, the first Mir docking for Discovery, the first on-orbit test of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), and the first flight of the new Space Shuttle super lightweight external tank. Astronaut Andrew S. W. Thomas will return to Earth as a STS-91 crew member after living more than four months aboard Mir