KSC-07pd2891

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After their arrival at the Shuttle Landing Facility of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the STS-120 crew shares high-fives for the start of the final leg of their preparation for launch. From left are Pilot George Zamka, Mission Specialists Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock, Commander Pamela Melroy (back to camera), and Mission Specialists Paolo Nespoli and Daniel Tani. Not pictured is Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson. Nespoli represents the European Space Agency. Tani will be remaining on the International Space Station to join the Expedition 16 crew after the mission is complete. The crew has returned to Kennedy to prepare for launch aboard space shuttle Discovery at 11:38 a.m. EDT on Oct. 23. The mission will be the 23rd shuttle flight to the International Space Station, delivering the Italian-built U.S. Node 2, called Harmony. The 14-day mission includes five spacewalks -- four by shuttle crew members and one by the station’s Expedition 16 crew -- to install Harmony and move the P6 solar arrays to their permanent position and deploy them. Discovery is expected to complete its mission and return home at 4:47 a.m. EST on Nov. 6. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett