KSC-06pd2707

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The crew members of mission STS-116 gather around the table for breakfast before suiting up for a second launch attempt aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. From left are Mission Specialist Nicholas Patrick, Pilot William Oefelein, Mission Specialist Joan Higginbotham, Commander Mark Polansky, and Mission Specialists Sunita Williams, Robert Curbeam and Christer Fuglesang, who represents the European Space Agency. Williams will replace Expedition 14 crew member Thomas Reiter, who will return to Earth aboard Discovery in her place. The first launch attempt of STS-116 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. 19 at KSC. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett