KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - During a Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT) in the Orbiter Processing Facility, STS-116 crew members are lowered into Discovery’s payload bay for a closer look. In the white cap is Mission Specialist Christer Fugelsang; at right is Mission Specialist Robert Curbeam. Fugelsang represents the European Space Agency. A CEIT allows astronauts to become familiar with equipment and hardware they will use on the mission. STS-116 will be mission No. 20 to the International Space Station and construction flight 12A.1. The mission payload is the SPACEHAB module, the P5 integrated truss structure and other key components. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than Dec. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
Location Kennedy Space Center, FL
Date October 13, 2006