Discovery prepares for a dress rehearsal

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Oct. 2 (UPI) -- National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists and technicians are preparing space shuttle Discovery for a simulated dress rehearsal launch.

With Discovery now at its launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center and poised for an Oct. 23 launch of its 14-day STS-120 mission to the International Space Station, the next step is the a full launch dress rehearsal.

The STS-120 astronauts and ground crews will participate in the four-day procedure known as a terminal countdown demonstration test beginning Sunday. NASA said the test provides each shuttle crew with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training.

Discovery's crew members are Cmdr. Pam Melroy, pilot George Zamka and astronauts Scott Parazynski, Stephanie Wilson, Doug Wheelock, Daniel Tani and Paolo Nespoli of the European Space Agency.

Tani will remain aboard the space station and return with the crew of STS-122, targeted to launch Dec. 6. Current station Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson will return to Earth aboard Discovery.