SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMSAT A/C #31468

Nov. 1, 2006

Katherine Trinidad Headquarters, Washington 202-358-3749

Jessica Rye Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 321-867-2468

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY ROLLS TO VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING

NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery completed one milestone and is nearing another as workers prepare the orbiter for a December 7th launch to the International Space Station.

On Tuesday night, drivers moved Discovery from the shuttle processing facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery, perched on top of the giant, 76-wheel orbiter transporter system, began moving out of the facility at 9:23 p.m. EST.

In the assembly building, technicians attached Discovery to its propulsion elements, an external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters. Following those operations, final integration, preparations and closeouts began in preparation for flight.

Discovery's next milestone is the 4.2-mile trip to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for its mission, designated STS-116. During the 11-day mission, the shuttle's seven astronauts will rewire the station to bring online new power supplies generated by solar arrays installed in September.

NASA TV will provide live coverage of Discovery's move to the launch pad beginning Tuesday at 7 a.m. EST. For NASA TV downlink, streaming video and scheduling information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For more information on the STS-116 mission and crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle