STS-128 crew, Commander Rick Sturckow seated on right
Baja Racing Experience Launches NASA Astronaut This Week
NASA’s space shuttle Discovery Commander Rick (C.J.) Sturckow is set to lead the six man, one woman crew in to space in the early hours Thursday morning, after being post-poned from their Wednesday early morning lift-off.
Rick is a veteran astronaut on his fourth mission in to space. Interestingly, he is a former off-road racer and pit crew member, learning the ins and outs of the sport in Baja California while a teenager. Rick and his crew are scheduled for a 13-day mission to the International Space Station and back, including 3 space walks and transferring new equipment and supplies to the crew on the ISS.