Pilot Kevin Ford checks before heading to the NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A for the simulated launch countdown.

STS-128 Pilot Kevin Ford checks the fit of his launch and entry suit before heading to the NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A for the simulated launch countdown. The countdown is the culmination of terminal countdown demonstration test activities to prepare the STS-128 crew for launch on space shuttle Discovery's STS-128 mission. Discovery will deliver 33,000 pounds of equipment to the station, including science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. Launch is targeted for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett