Crew spends Inaugural Day conducting Pad Training

While a new presidential administration took over at noon today, the crew of the next space shuttle flight were to busy to stop and watch as they conducted launch pad emergency escape training.

Even under cold and windy conditions, the seven member crew of Discovery went to the 195-foot level of the launch pad 39-A and learned about the escape baskets which slide down a cable from the pad to the ground; the white room which is the room at the end of the orbiter access arm which connects to the crew hatch where the crew will don their helmets and ingress Discovery; and took time out for a few pictures and more.

Tomorrow, the crew will dress for a mock launch countdown and board Discovery. Later, they will head back to south Houston, Texas and the Johnson Space Center for the final three weeks of training prior to launch.