SPACEPHOTOS

(11/07/2000) --- During Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities, the STS-97 crew ride as passengers in the M-113 while trainer Capt. George Hoggard (at right) drives away from Launch Pad 39B. Seen left to right are Mission Specialists Joe Tanner and Carlos Noriega; Pilot Mike Bloomfield; and Mission Specialist Marc Garneau, who is with the Canadian Space Agency. Learning to drive the armored vehicle is part of emergency egress training during TCDT. The tracked vehicle could be used by the crew in the event of an emergency at the pad during which the crew must make a quick exit from the area. The TCDT also provides simulated countdown exercises and opportunities to inspect the mission payloads in the orbiter’s payload bay. Mission STS-97is the sixth construction flight to the International Space Station. Its payload includes the P6 Integrated Truss Structure and a photovoltaic (PV) module, with giant solar arrays that will provide power to the Station. The mission includes two spacewalks to complete the solar array connections. STS-97 is scheduled to launch Nov. 30 at 10:05 p.m. EST