STS-133 Mission Specialist Michael Barratt prepares to practice driving an M-113 armored personnel carrier.

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-133 Mission Specialist Michael Barratt prepares to practice driving an M-113 armored personnel carrier. Behind him are Mission Specialist Tim Kopra and Pilot Eric Boe. An M-113 is kept at the foot of the launch pad in case an emergency egress from the vicinity of the pad is needed, and training on the vehicle is part of the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT). TCDT provides each shuttle crew and launch team an opportunity to participate in various simulated activities, including equipment familiarization and a launch countdown.

Space shuttle Discovery and its STS-133 crew will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module, packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, to the International Space Station. Launch is targeted for Nov. 1 at 4:40 p.m. For more information on the STS-133 mission, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett