Members of the Mission Specialist Robert Curbeam are in Atlantis payload bay to check out their mission payload the U.S. Lab Destiny.

Along with Scott Thurston (left), of the VITT office, members of the STS-98 crew Mission Specialist Robert Curbeam, Commander Ken Cockrell and Mission Specialist Marsha Ivins are in Atlantis’ payload bay to check out their mission payload, the U.S. Lab Destiny. The crew is at KSC for Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities, which also include a simulated launch countdown. A key element in the construction of the International Space Station, Destiny is a pressurized module designed to accommodate pressurized payloads. It has a capacity of 24 rack locations. Payload racks will occupy 13 locations especially designed to support experiments. The module already has five system racks installed inside. Launch of STS-98 on its 11-day mission is scheduled for Jan. 19 at 2:11 a.m. EST