Astronauts prepare for August mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Aug. 10 (UPI) -- NASA said it was conducting flight training and other practice sessions Monday for the astronauts of the STS-128 mission.

Space shuttle Discovery -- scheduled for an Aug. 25 launch at 1:36 a.m. EDT -- will carry some 15,000 pounds of supplies and equipment to the International Space Station during a mission that will also include three spacewalks, NASA said. In addition, the shuttle will deliver astronaut Nicole Stott, a new ISS crew member who will take the place of Tim Kopra, who moved into the station during STS-127.

Commanded by veteran astronaut Rick Sturckow, the mission's cargo includes the Colbert treadmill, an exercise device named after comedian Stephen Colbert.

Pilot Kevin Ford, U.S. astronauts Patrick Forrester, Jose Hernandez, John Olivas and Sweden's Christer Fuglesang round out the crew.

STS-128 will be the 128th space shuttle flight, the 30th to the International Space Station, the 37th for Discovery and the fourth this year.

The space agency said six flights to the station remain after STS-128 before the shuttles are retired in 2010.