Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test Walkout

Another dawn at the Turn Basin as I wait for the dog sniff.

As part of their Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test all shuttle crews - both astronauts and ground support crews - go through all preparatory steps for a launch into space, right up to, but not including, the moment of ignition.

On Saturday April 24 the STS 132 astronauts got into their launch and entry suits, having had an early breakfast. I, too, had an early breakfast and was in the KSC Press Site car park to see another sunrise across the Turn Basin lagoon. Official assembly time was 6:30 am, and a modest media contingent boarded "Thomas" for transport to the astronaut's building in the KSC industrial area.

With so few media in attendance for this rehearsal, there was not the desperate race for prize camera positions, nor the need to bring step ladders, as there had been for the actual STS 131 crew emergence in the wee hours of April 5.

We were all comfortably set up in the quadrangle of the Operations and Checkout Building by 7:10 am, to eagerly await the scheduled 7:30 am walkout to the astrovan.

No one complained that they were quarter of an hour late. As on STS 131, the six orange space suited astronauts emerged from the building, turned to their left, paused momentarily alongside the astrovan, and then climbed aboard.

The six astronauts pause beside the Astrovan and turn to face the waiting members of the press corps.
From left to right: Piers Sellers, Steve Brown, Garrett Reisman, Mike Good, Tony Antonelli and Ken Ham.
Moments later they entered the Astrovan and were driven to Pad 39A.

See animation of this walkout.

Previous page Diary Contents Next Page The Space Show Southern FM