NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

JSC2008-E-043221 (31 May 2008) --- A NASA helicopter escorting the STS-124 crew in its Astrovan to launch pad 39A flies in front of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on May 31, 2008, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

JSC2007-E-26204 (24 May 2007) --- The STS-124 crewmembers participate in a food tasting session in the Flight Projects Division Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center. From the left are astronauts Karen L. Nyberg, Ronald J. Garan, Michael E. Fossum, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Akihiko Hoshide, and Stephen G. Bowen, all mission specialists. Not pictured are astronauts Mark E. Kelly and Kenneth T. Ham, commander and pilot, respectively.

JSC2007-E-26206 (24 May 2007) --- Astronaut Michael E. Fossum, STS-124 mission specialist, participates in a food tasting session in the Flight Projects Division Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center.

JSC2007-E-26210 (24 May 2007) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, STS-124 mission specialist, participates in a food tasting session in the Flight Projects Division Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center.

JSC2007-E-26212 (24 May 2007) --- Astronaut Kenneth T. Ham, STS-124 pilot, participates in a food tasting session in the Flight Projects Division Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center.

JSC2007-E-26216 (24 May 2007) --- Astronaut Mark E. Kelly, STS-124 commander, participates in a food tasting session in the Flight Projects Division Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center.

JSC2007-E-24825 (17 May 2007) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide (right), STS-124 mission specialist, participates in an exercise in the systems engineering simulator at the Johnson Space Center. The facility includes moving scenes of full-sized international space station components over a simulated Earth. United Space Alliance (USA) crew trainer Stephen S. Gauvain assisted Hoshide.

JSC2007-E-24826 (17 May 2007) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide (right), STS-124 mission specialist, participates in an exercise in the systems engineering simulator at the Johnson Space Center. The facility includes moving scenes of full-sized international space station components over a simulated Earth.

JSC2007-E-24830 (17 May 2007) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide (right), STS-124 mission specialist, participates in an exercise in the systems engineering simulator at the Johnson Space Center. The facility includes moving scenes of full-sized international space station components over a simulated Earth. United Space Alliance (USA) crew trainer Stephen S. Gauvain assisted Hoshide.

JSC2007-E-24831 (17 May 2007) --- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide (right), STS-124 mission specialist, participates in an exercise in the systems engineering simulator at the Johnson Space Center. The facility includes moving scenes of full-sized international space station components over a simulated Earth.