WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

The STS-97 crew heads for the Astrovan and a ride to Launch Pad 39B as they continue Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities. Seen left to right are Mission Specialists Joe Tanner, Carlos Noriega and Marc Garneau; Pilot Mike Bloomfield; and Commander Brent Jett. The TCDT provides emergency egress training, a simulated launch countdown and opportunities to inspect the mission payloads in the orbiter's payload bay. Mission STS-97is the sixth construction flight to the International Space Station. Its payload includes the P6 Integrated Truss Structure and a photovoltaic (PV) module, with giant solar arrays that will provide power to the Station. The mission includes two spacewalks to complete the solar array connections. STS-97 is scheduled to launch Nov. 30 at 10:05 p.m. EST.