WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

STS-88 Mission Commander Robert D. Cabana (left) and Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow (right) examine part of the emergency egress system at Launch Pad 39A, during Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities. Standing between them is an unidentified KSC worker. The crew are at KSC to participate in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT), a dress rehearsal for launch. Mission STS-88 is targeted for launch on Dec. 3, 1998. It is the first U.S. flight for the assembly of the International Space Station and will carry the Unity connecting module. Unity will be mated with the already orbiting Russian-built Zarya control module. The 12-day mission includes three planned spacewalks to connect power, data and utility lines and install exterior equipment.