KSC-2009-4813

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – On Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians in the rotating service structure’s control booth roll the structure from space shuttle Discovery. First motion was at 5:06 a.m. EDT. The rollback is preparation for Discovery’s scheduled 1:36 a.m. EDT liftoff Aug. 25 with a crew of seven. The service structure provides weather protection and access to the space shuttle at the launch pad. The 13-day mission will deliver a new crew member and 33,000 pounds of equipment to the International Space Station. The equipment includes science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. STS-128 will be Discovery's 37th mission and the 30th shuttle flight dedicated to station assembly and maintenance. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder