SPACE
Shuttle mission STS-116 picture
December 7, 2006 - Picture shows these seven astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-116 crew portrait. Scheduled to launch aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery are, front row from left), astronauts William A. Oefelein, pilot; Joan E. Higginbotham, mission specialist; and Mark L. Polansky, commander. Back row from left) are astronauts Robert L. Curbeam, Nicholas J.M. Patrick, Sunita L. Williams and the European Space Agency's Christer Fuglesang, all mission specialists. Williams will join Expedition 14 in progress to serve as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station. The crewmembers are attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits.