From
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts116/launch/launch-vlcc.html
4:02 p.m. - The Final Inspection Team has completed its inspection of the 255-foot level and is now proceeding down to the 215-foot level.
Did You Know?
European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang was once a Swedish national Frisbee champion, holding the national title in "maximum time aloft" in 1978. Fuglesang will take one of his personal Frisbees to the International Space Station.
3:51 p.m. - The Final Inspection Team has arrived at Launch Pad 39B and is progressing up to the 255-foot level.
3:47 p.m. - At least two of the three transatlantic abort landing sites are available for launch. Only one is required, so we should not have any concerns regarding this requirement for today's countdown.
3:42 p.m. - The Final Inspection Team (also known as the Ice Team) has been given clearance to go to the pad to begin its inspection of the External Tank. The team's seven NASA and contractor personnel assess the integrity of the thermal insulation on the external tank. They also look for ice and frost formations on the tank, measure temperatures on various parts of the vehicle, and assess debris concerns on the vehicle and pad that could impact launch or flight safety.
During the two-hour inspection, team members take the launch pad's elevator from the surface of the mobile launcher platform up to the 255-foot level, and methodically work their way back down. Using binoculars and a telescope, the team can get a better look at hard-to-see areas. This launch marks the first use of a new ice detection machine.
The Orbiter Closeout Crew has also been given clearance to proceed to the pad. They'll enter Discovery's crew module through the climate-controlled White Room to make the final preparations for the astronauts' arrival at the pad at about 6 p.m.
Assisting the Closeout Crew are the Astronaut Support Personnel. Nicknamed the "Cape Crusaders," they'll help prepare the crew module for launch today. The team supporting today's launch is led by astronaut Barry (Butch) Wilmore as Prime and astronauts Michael (Bueno) Good, Kathryn (Kay) Hire, Jose Hernandez and Robert Behnken.
3:39 p.m. - Tanking is complete, with 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants loaded into Discovery's external tank. Both are in stable replenish and will remain there until the final minutes of tonight's countdown. Today's tanking operations took just under three hours total.
3:34 p.m. - Liquid oxygen fast-fill is complete and we are into the topping phase now.
3:18 p.m. - The external tank's liquid hydrogen supply is being topped off now, a good sign that tanking is drawing to a close. The liquid oxygen loading is also nearing completion. Both should be finished in the next 30 minutes.
Did You Know?
The STS-116 patch design depicts the shuttle rising above the Earth and the space station. The U.S. and Swedish flags trail the shuttle, depicting the international composition of the crew. The seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major are used to provide direction to the North Star, which highlights where the P5 truss element will be installed on the station.
3:06 p.m. - In the dining room of the astronaut crew quarters, the crew members are sitting down to a snack and posing for pictures before climbing into their pumpkin-colored launch and entry suits. They'll also receive a weather update prior to their departure for the launch pad.