ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, from Belgium, and the crew of the STS-122 space shuttle mission during final training at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in November 2007, in preparation for the STS-122 space shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Frank De Winne is back-up for Léopold Eyharts who is due to launch on the STS-122 mission at the start of an extended stay on the Station as a member of the ISS Expedition 16 crew.
The crew is participating in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities, a standard part of launch preparations. The TCDT provides astronauts and ground crews with equipment familiarisation, emergency egress training and a simulated launch countdown. STS-122 will deliver European Columbus laboratory to the International Space Station.