At the NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility, the first of the aircraft carrying STS-123 crew members is ready to taxi to the runway and take off for the return trip to Houston. The STS-123 crew members took part in a terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT, in preparation for the launch of space shuttle Endeavour scheduled on March 11. The TCDT enables astronauts and ground crews to participate in various countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency egress training.
On the STS-123 mission, Endeavour and its crew will deliver the first section of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency’s two-armed robotic system, Dextre.Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett