SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

*Astronauts Practice for Launch 10 OCTOBER 2007 *

Members of the STS-120 crew began their full launch dress rehearsal this morning, boarding space shuttle Discovery for a simulated countdown. The rehearsal caps three days of exercises and training at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

STS-120 Pilot George Zamka and Mission Specialist Scott ParazynskiImage Above: STS-120 Pilot George Zamka (left) and Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski prepare to enter space shuttle Discovery from the White Room at Launch Pad 39A. Image credit: NASA TV TO VIEW IMAGE GO TO:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

"It should be a really exciting mission," Commander Pam Melroy told reporters gathered on Tuesdsay. "But I think one of the most exciting parts of it is the fact that we're going to be getting ready to open the gateway to international laboratories. So we're very proud of our part in building the International Space Station."

The crew will deliver the Italian-built U.S. Harmony module, which will serve as the future connecting point between the U.S. Destiny lab, the European Space Agency's Columbus module and the Japanese Kibo module.

When the launch rehearsal concludes today, the astronauts will return to their home base in Houston to complete their final preparations for the targeted launch of Discovery on Oct. 23.

*Mission Information* + STS-120 Mission Overview http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts120/index.html + Harmony Node 2 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/harmony_payload.html

+ Space Shuttle Discovery http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/discovery-info.html