Space shuttle Discovery arrived at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, resting on the hardstand by 1:15 p.m., Sunday. The shuttle began its slow 3.4-mile journey to the pad atop the crawler transporter at 6:47 a.m., leaving the Vehicle Assembly Building in the early morning darkness.

Also at the pad is the payload canister containing the Harmony module that the STS-120 crew will deliver to the International Space Station. Harmony will be installed in Discovery's payload bay as launch preparations continue at the pad.

STS-120 is the 23rd shuttle mission to the International Space Station, and will launch an Italian-built U.S. multi-port module for the station.

Retired Air Force Col. Pamela A. Melroy will command the STS-120 mission to take the Node 2 connecting module to the station. Melroy, a veteran shuttle pilot, is the second woman to command a shuttle. Marine Corps Col. George D. Zamka will serve as pilot. The flight's mission specialists will be Scott E. Parazynski, Army Col. Douglas H. Wheelock, Stephanie D. Wilson and Paolo A. Nespoli, a European Space Agency astronaut from Italy. Zamka, Wheelock and Nespoli will be making their first spaceflight.

Expedition 15/16 Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson will return to Earth from the space station aboard shuttle mission STS-120. That flight will carry his replacement, Daniel Tani, to the station. Tani will return on shuttle mission STS-122.

Discovery and its seven astronaut crew are targeted to launch Oct. 23 on the STS-120 mission to the International Space Station.

FMI: www.nasa.gov