Inside the huge building, the shuttle's external tank and twin solid rocket boosters stand await mating with the orbiter, which NASA said in a statement soon will be attached to the rest of the assembly. Shuttle Discovery is set to launch on the STS-121 mission, currently targeted for launch no earlier than July 1.

The flight will continue evaluation of shuttle flight safety procedures necessitated by the Columbia disaster on Feb. 1, 2003, including inspection and repair techniques. It also will deliver more supplies and cargo for future station expansion.

Steve Lindsey will command the mission, flying with pilot Mark Kelly, spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Piers Sellers and mission specialists Stephanie Wilson and Lisa Nowak.

ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter will fly aboard the shuttle to the International Space Station, where he will remain for several months, and give the station its first three-person crew since May 4, 2003.

Related Links
Space Shuttle
Kennedy Space Center

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