KSC-2009-2049

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The STS-119 crew members pause for photos before boarding the Astrovan to take them to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for launch of space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station. From left are Mission Specialists Koichi Wakata, John Phillips, Richard Arnold, Steve Swanson and Joseph Acaba, Pilot Tony Antonelli and Commander Lee Archambault. Wakata represents the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and will remain on the International Space Station, replacing Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Sandra Magnus, who returns to Earth with the STS-119 crew. Liftoff of Discovery is scheduled for 7:43 p.m. EDT on March 15. An earlier launch attempt March 11 was scrubbed at 2:36 p.m. due to a gaseous hydrogen leak from the external tank at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate during tanking. A seven-inch quick disconnect and two seals were replaced. The STS-119 mission is the 28th to the space station and the 125th space shuttle flight. Discovery will deliver the final pair of power-generating solar array wings and the S6 truss segment. Installation of S6 will signal the station's readiness to house a six-member crew for conducting increased science. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett