SPACEPHOTOS

(04/18/2001) -- The STS-100 crew gives thumbs up on launch as they gather near Launch Pad 39A to greet family and friends. Starting at left, they are Mission Specialists Chris A. Hadfield, John L. Phillips and Umberto Guidoni; Commander Kent V. Rominger; Pilot Jeffrey S. Ashby; and Mission Specialists Scott E. Parazynski and Yuri V. Lonchakov. Hadfield is with the Canadian Space Agency; Guidoni is with the European Space Agency; and Lonchakov is with the Russian Aviation and Space Agency. In the background on the pad can be seen the tips of Space Shuttle Endeavour’s orange external tank and white solid rocket boosters. The 80-foot lightning rod towers above the Shuttle and service structures. The crew is at KSC to complete final flight plan reviews in anticipation of launch. The 11-day mission to the International Space Station will deliver and integrate the Spacelab Logistics Pallet/Launch Deployment Assembly, which includes the Space Station Remote Manipulator system and the UHF Antenna, and the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Raffaello. The mission includes two planned spacewalks for installation of the SSRMS. The mission is also the inaugural flight of the MPLM Raffaello, carrying resupply stowage racks and resupply/return stowage platforms. Liftoff on mission STS-100 is scheduled at 2:41 p.m. EDT April 19