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NARRATOR: Training for a mission is as important for astronauts as the integrity of the

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spacesuits they wear to venture into the vacuum of space.

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One preflight training program called the Crew Equipment Interface Test, or CEIT,

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is held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prior to every mission.

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DAVE ANDREWS: CEIT is a test we do every flow and it basically gives the opportunity for the flight crew to

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come down to see their actual vehicle they're going to fly in and for the first-time fliers it might

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be the first time they've seen the actual shuttle they're going to fly in, or just the shuttle in itself.

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NARRATOR: For two days the crew has a chance to get hands-on training with the actual tools,

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equipment and hardware they'll be using in while in orbit.

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DAVE ANDREWS: It's a good training exercise both for the crew, and for the in-flight maintenance folks that

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come down here for CEIT as well, and they verify their on-orbit procedures as well.

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NARRATOR: Even as the Space Shuttle Program comes to a close,

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CEIT remains a mainstay and an essential part of flight preparation,

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but every flight requires a specific training that focuses on the mission's objectives.

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DAVE ANDREWS: In essence CEIT has been the same. Obviously every mission has been different;

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the vehicle has been configured differently over all the years.

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And so every CEIT is a little unique in that it incorporates the latest changes to the orbiter.

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NARRATOR: The crew, often dressed in clean room gear known as bunny suits,

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has a chance to climb into the vehicle and touch the actual dials, levers and switches they'll be using in flight.

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Astronauts from other space agencies also travel to Kennedy for their training.

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DAVE ANDREWS: There are times when the astronauts have come down here to KSC for the first time,

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especially when there's people that are flying in from abroad like from Canada or Japan or some or our partners,

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so they come down here. It's an all brand new experience for them.

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A lot of times when they come down here they want to look at everything, touch everything,

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be involved with everything so they really get a feeling what it is to be in and around a space shuttle.

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NARRATOR: From cable routing and tool stowage, to tile inspection and practicing in-flight maintenance tasks,

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CEIT makes the crew members better prepared to carry out their mission.

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DAVE ANDREWS: Well, one of the unique things of working with this group is we do meet the astronauts

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and occasionally we get to know them on a personal level.

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When the shuttle goes off we're with them and we say 'Godspeed' and hope to see them back there on the backside.

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Every mission you get that lump in our throat because it's more than just an expendable vehicle,

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we got the astronauts on board, which makes it pretty unique.

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NARRATOR: Every shuttle crew may be familiar with the vehicle and its equipment, thanks to mock-ups,

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virtual reality tools and other hardware training instruments at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston,

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but there is no substitute for training with the actual vehicle that will carry them into orbit.

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DAVE ANDREWS: We try to do everything here on the ground to make everything , I'll say perfect,

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or as close to perfect as we can get it so there's no issues on orbit for the crew to have to go work.