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Endeavour crew's practice countdown
BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: April 1, 2011


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The Endeavour astronauts donned their bright orange spacesuits and went to the launch pad Friday to board the space shuttle for a countdown dress rehearsal and emergency evacuation training.

Commander Mark Kelly, pilot Greg Johnson, flight engineer Roberto Vittori and spacewalkers Drew Feustel, Mike Fincke and Greg Chamitoff conducted the simulation in preparation for the April 19 launch to the International Space Station.

The Astrovan delivered the astronauts to the seaside pad around 10:45 a.m. EDT to begin entering the orbiter and taking their assigned seats just like the actual countdown.

Clocks ticked down to T-minus 4 seconds before ending with a mock abort at about 2:05 p.m.

The Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test concluded with the astronauts exiting the shuttle to practice evacuation procedures and jumping in the escape baskets hanging on the launch tower.

Here's a collection of NASA-KSC photos from the day's activities:

Photo credit: NASA


Commander Mark Kelly
 

Mission specialist Greg Chamitoff
 

Mission specialist Mike Fincke
 

Astronauts depart crew quarters
 

Astronauts depart crew quarters
 

Astronauts depart crew quarters
 

Commander Mark Kelly prepares to board Endeavour
 

Roberto Vittori and Mike Fincke at the pad
 

Flight engineer Roberto Vittori from Italy
 

Commander Mark Kelly in his seat
 

Pilot Greg Johnson in his seat
 

Mission specialist No. 1 Mike Fincke
 

Flight engineer Roberto Vittori from Italy
 

Drew Feustel on the middeck
 

Greg Chamitoff on the middeck
 

The middeck crew practices emergency exit
 

Roberto Vittori and Mike Fincke egress from flight deck
 

Inside the escape basket
 

Crew after the countdown
 

Roberto Vittori
 

Astronauts briefed on emergency procedures
 

Astronauts briefed on emergency procedures
 

Photos by NASA