KSC-2010-1887

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is lifted from the transporter which delivered it from the Orbiter Processing Facility. In the high bay, Discovery will be attached to its external tank and solid rocket boosters completing the STS-131 shuttle stack. Rollout to Launch Pad 39A is planned for March 2. The seven-member STS-131 crew will deliver the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo, filled with resupply stowage platforms and racks, to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Discovery. Work to attach a spare ammonia tank assembly to the station's exterior and return a European experiment from outside the station's Columbus module will be conducted during three spacewalks. STS-131, targeted for launch on April 5, will be the 33rd shuttle mission to the station and the 131st shuttle mission overall. For information on the STS-131 mission and crew, visit http:__www.nasa.gov_mission_pages_shuttle_shuttlemissions_sts131_index.html. Photo courtesy of Scott Andrews and Stan Jirman