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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Morpheus lander, a vertical test bed vehicle, is moved into a building at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Morpheus is designed to demonstrate new green propellant propulsion systems and autonomous landing and an Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology, or ALHAT, system. Checkout of the prototype lander has been ongoing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in preparation for its first free flight. The SLF site will provide the lander with the kind of field necessary for realistic testing. Project Morpheus is one of 20 small projects comprising the Advanced Exploration Systems, or AES, program in NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. AES projects pioneer new approaches for rapidly developing prototype systems, demonstrating key capabilities and validating operational concepts for future human missions beyond Earth orbit. For more information on Project Morpheus, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/exploration/morpheus/index.html Photo credit: NASA/ Charisse Nahser KSC-2012-4029

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Morpheus lander, a vertical test bed veh...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Morpheus lander, a vertical test bed vehicle, is moved into a building at the Shuttle Landing Facility, or SLF, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Morpheus is designed to demo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As the sun rises over the turn basin at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the high-fidelity space shuttle model is aboard the barge that will transport it from Kennedy to Johnson Space Center's visitor center in Houston. The model was built in Apopka, Fla., by Guard-Lee and installed at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in 1993.The model has been parked at the turn basin the past five months to allow the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to begin building a new facility to display space shuttle Atlantis in 2013. For more information about Johnson’s visitor center, called Space Center Houston, visit http://www.spacecenter.org. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2012-3004

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As the sun rises over the turn basin at NASA’s ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – As the sun rises over the turn basin at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the high-fidelity space shuttle model is aboard the barge that will transport it from Kennedy to Johnson Sp... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers install a new 7-inch quick disconnect on the ground umbilical carrier plate (GUCP) of space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank. A hydrogen gas leak at that location during tanking for Discovery's STS-133 mission to the International Space Station caused the launch attempt to be scrubbed Nov. 5. The GUCP is the overboard vent to the pad and the flame stack where the excess hydrogen is burned off. For more information on STS-133, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2010-5683

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Cent...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers install a new 7-inch quick disconnect on the ground umbilical carrier plate (GUCP) of space shuttle Discovery's exter... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, the crated Phoenix spacecraft is maneuvered away from the U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III that delivered it. The crate will be transported to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. The Phoenix mission is the first project in NASA's first openly competed program of Mars Scout missions. Phoenix will land in icy soils near the north polar permanent ice cap of Mars and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks, while monitoring polar climate. Landing is planned in May 2008 on arctic ground where a mission currently in orbit, Mars Odyssey, has detected high concentrations of ice just beneath the top layer of soil. It will serve as NASA's first exploration of a potential modern habitat on Mars and open the door to a renewed search for carbon-bearing compounds, last attempted with NASA’s Viking missions in the 1970s. A stereo color camera and a weather station will study the surrounding environment while the other instruments check excavated soil samples for water, organic chemicals and conditions that could indicate whether the site was ever hospitable to life. Microscopes can reveal features as small as one one-thousandth the width of a human hair. Launch of Phoenix aboard a Delta II rocket is targeted for Aug. 3 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1058

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, the crated Phoenix spacecraft is maneuvered away from the U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III that delivered it. The crate will... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Looking into the open payload bay doors of Space Shuttle Endeavour, workers conclude closeouts. At center foreground is the orbital docking system. The red ring at top comprises rain gutters to prevent leaks into the bay from rain while the shuttle is on the pad. The payload bay doors were opened to allow for payload closeouts, including camera tests on the shuttle robotic arm and the extension, known as the orbiter boom sensor system. Endeavour is scheduled to launch Aug. 7 on mission STS-118, the 22nd flight to the International Space Station. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2121

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Looking into the open payload bay doo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Looking into the open payload bay doors of Space Shuttle Endeavour, workers conclude closeouts. At center foreground is the orbital docking system. The red ring at top compris... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After its arrival at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, the crated Phoenix spacecraft is secure on a flat bed truck for transportation to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. The Phoenix mission is the first project in NASA's first openly competed program of Mars Scout missions. Phoenix will land in icy soils near the north polar permanent ice cap of Mars and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks, while monitoring polar climate. Landing is planned in May 2008 on arctic ground where a mission currently in orbit, Mars Odyssey, has detected high concentrations of ice just beneath the top layer of soil. It will serve as NASA's first exploration of a potential modern habitat on Mars and open the door to a renewed search for carbon-bearing compounds, last attempted with NASA’s Viking missions in the 1970s. A stereo color camera and a weather station will study the surrounding environment while the other instruments check excavated soil samples for water, organic chemicals and conditions that could indicate whether the site was ever hospitable to life. Microscopes can reveal features as small as one one-thousandth the width of a human hair. Launch of Phoenix aboard a Delta II rocket is targeted for Aug. 3 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1060

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After its arrival at Kennedy Space Cent...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After its arrival at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, the crated Phoenix spacecraft is secure on a flat bed truck for transportation to the Payload Hazardous Servi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, the cargo hold of this U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III opens to reveal the crated Phoenix spacecraft inside. The Phoenix mission is the first project in NASA's first openly competed program of Mars Scout missions. Phoenix will land in icy soils near the north polar permanent ice cap of Mars and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks, while monitoring polar climate. Landing is planned in May 2008 on arctic ground where a mission currently in orbit, Mars Odyssey, has detected high concentrations of ice just beneath the top layer of soil. It will serve as NASA's first exploration of a potential modern habitat on Mars and open the door to a renewed search for carbon-bearing compounds, last attempted with NASA’s Viking missions in the 1970s. A stereo color camera and a weather station will study the surrounding environment while the other instruments check excavated soil samples for water, organic chemicals and conditions that could indicate whether the site was ever hospitable to life. Microscopes can reveal features as small as one one-thousandth the width of a human hair. Launch of Phoenix aboard a Delta II rocket is targeted for Aug. 3 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1056

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, the cargo hold of this U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III opens to reveal the crated Phoenix spacecraft inside. The Phoenix m... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III lands at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility carrying the Phoenix spacecraft. The Phoenix mission is the first project in NASA's first openly competed program of Mars Scout missions. Phoenix will land in icy soils near the north polar permanent ice cap of Mars and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks, while monitoring polar climate. Landing is planned in May 2008 on arctic ground where a mission currently in orbit, Mars Odyssey, has detected high concentrations of ice just beneath the top layer of soil. It will serve as NASA's first exploration of a potential modern habitat on Mars and open the door to a renewed search for carbon-bearing compounds, last attempted with NASA’s Viking missions in the 1970s. A stereo color camera and a weather station will study the surrounding environment while the other instruments check excavated soil samples for water, organic chemicals and conditions that could indicate whether the site was ever hospitable to life. Microscopes can reveal features as small as one one-thousandth the width of a human hair. Launch of Phoenix aboard a Delta II rocket is targeted for Aug. 3 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1055

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster II...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III lands at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility carrying the Phoenix spacecraft. The Phoenix mission is the first project in ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After its arrival at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, the crated Phoenix spacecraft has been placed on a flat bed truck for transportation to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. The Phoenix mission is the first project in NASA's first openly competed program of Mars Scout missions. Phoenix will land in icy soils near the north polar permanent ice cap of Mars and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks, while monitoring polar climate. Landing is planned in May 2008 on arctic ground where a mission currently in orbit, Mars Odyssey, has detected high concentrations of ice just beneath the top layer of soil. It will serve as NASA's first exploration of a potential modern habitat on Mars and open the door to a renewed search for carbon-bearing compounds, last attempted with NASA’s Viking missions in the 1970s. A stereo color camera and a weather station will study the surrounding environment while the other instruments check excavated soil samples for water, organic chemicals and conditions that could indicate whether the site was ever hospitable to life. Microscopes can reveal features as small as one one-thousandth the width of a human hair. Launch of Phoenix aboard a Delta II rocket is targeted for Aug. 3 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1059

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After its arrival at Kennedy Space Cent...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After its arrival at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, the crated Phoenix spacecraft has been placed on a flat bed truck for transportation to the Payload Hazardous... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the heat shield for the agency's Orion spacecraft is about to be offloaded from the Super Guppy aircraft. The largest of its kind ever built, the heat shield is planned for installation on the Orion crew module in March of next year. The Orion spacecraft is scheduled to make its first unpiloted flight test, Exploration Flight Test-1 EFT-1, in September 2014. The Orion spacecraft is designed to meet requirements for traveling beyond low-Earth orbit. The spacecraft will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry crews to space, sustain the astronauts during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space. For more information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/orion Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nasher KSC-2013-4245

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kenne...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the heat shield for the agency's Orion spacecraft is about to be offloaded from the Super Guppy aircraft. The la... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, workers oversee the offloading of the crated Phoenix spacecraft inside the cargo hold of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. The crate will be transported to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. The Phoenix mission is the first project in NASA's first openly competed program of Mars Scout missions. Phoenix will land in icy soils near the north polar permanent ice cap of Mars and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks, while monitoring polar climate. Landing is planned in May 2008 on arctic ground where a mission currently in orbit, Mars Odyssey, has detected high concentrations of ice just beneath the top layer of soil. It will serve as NASA's first exploration of a potential modern habitat on Mars and open the door to a renewed search for carbon-bearing compounds, last attempted with NASA’s Viking missions in the 1970s. A stereo color camera and a weather station will study the surrounding environment while the other instruments check excavated soil samples for water, organic chemicals and conditions that could indicate whether the site was ever hospitable to life. Microscopes can reveal features as small as one one-thousandth the width of a human hair. Launch of Phoenix aboard a Delta II rocket is targeted for Aug. 3 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1057

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, workers oversee the offloading of the crated Phoenix spacecraft inside the cargo hold of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III.... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepare to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1919

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepare to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After the dust settles at Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the ruins of the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39-B are visible. The tower is one of two that were identified for demolition. The old towers are being toppled as part of the ongoing project to demolish the historic site to prevent corrosion from becoming a safety concern. A majority of the steel will be recycled and the rest will be taken to the landfill at CCAFS. Complex 36 was the birthplace of NASA's planetary launch program. It was built for the Atlas/Centaur development program and was operated under NASA's sponsorship until the late 1980s. Complex 36 hosted many historic missions over the years including Surveyor that landed on the moon and Mariner that orbited Mars and included one to Mercury. Two of the most historic launches were the Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes that were launched to Jupiter and are now outside of the solar system in interstellar space. Also, the historic Pioneer Venus spacecraft included an orbiter and a set of probes that were dispatched to the surface. While Launch Complex 36 is gone, the Atlas/Centaur rocket continues to be launched as the Atlas V from Complex 41. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1523

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After the dust settles at Space Launch ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After the dust settles at Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the ruins of the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39-B are visible. The tower is on... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are jacking crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1930

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are jacking crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the r... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are preparing to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1921

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are preparing to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate remova... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Smoke and dust rising from the ground of Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station signifies the destruction of the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39-A. The tower is one of two that were identified for demolition. The old towers are being toppled as part of the ongoing project to demolish the historic site to prevent corrosion from becoming a safety concern. A majority of the steel will be recycled and the rest will be taken to the landfill at CCAFS. Complex 36 was the birthplace of NASA's planetary launch program. It was built for the Atlas/Centaur development program and was operated under NASA's sponsorship until the late 1980s. Complex 36 hosted many historic missions over the years including Surveyor that landed on the moon and Mariner that orbited Mars and included one to Mercury. Two of the most historic launches were the Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes that were launched to Jupiter and are now outside of the solar system in interstellar space. Also, the historic Pioneer Venus spacecraft included an orbiter and a set of probes that were dispatched to the surface. While Launch Complex 36 is gone, the Atlas/Centaur rocket continues to be launched as the Atlas V from Complex 41. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1527

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Smoke and dust rising from the ground ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Smoke and dust rising from the ground of Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station signifies the destruction of the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This panoramic view of Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station shows the two mobile service towers on the ground after their demolition. The old towers are being toppled as part of the ongoing project to demolish the historic site to prevent corrosion from becoming a safety concern. A majority of the steel will be recycled and the rest will be taken to the landfill at CCAFS. Complex 36 was the birthplace of NASA's planetary launch program. It was built for the Atlas/Centaur development program and was operated under NASA's sponsorship until the late 1980s. Complex 36 hosted many historic missions over the years including Surveyor that landed on the moon and Mariner that orbited Mars and included one to Mercury. Two of the most historic launches were the Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes that were launched to Jupiter and are now outside of the solar system in interstellar space. Also, the historic Pioneer Venus spacecraft included an orbiter and a set of probes that were dispatched to the surface. While Launch Complex 36 is gone, the Atlas/Centaur rocket continues to be launched as the Atlas V from Complex 41. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1528

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This panoramic view of Space Launch Com...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This panoramic view of Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station shows the two mobile service towers on the ground after their demolition. The old towers are bei... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are jacking crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1928

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are jacking crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the r... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Smoke and dust rising from the ground of Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station signifies the destruction of the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39-A. The tower is one of two that were identified for demolition. The old towers are being toppled as part of the ongoing project to demolish the historic site to prevent corrosion from becoming a safety concern. A majority of the steel will be recycled and the rest will be taken to the landfill at CCAFS. Complex 36 was the birthplace of NASA's planetary launch program. It was built for the Atlas/Centaur development program and was operated under NASA's sponsorship until the late 1980s. Complex 36 hosted many historic missions over the years including Surveyor that landed on the moon and Mariner that orbited Mars and included one to Mercury. Two of the most historic launches were the Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes that were launched to Jupiter and are now outside of the solar system in interstellar space. Also, the historic Pioneer Venus spacecraft included an orbiter and a set of probes that were dispatched to the surface. While Launch Complex 36 is gone, the Atlas/Centaur rocket continues to be launched as the Atlas V from Complex 41. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1526

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Smoke and dust rising from the ground ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Smoke and dust rising from the ground of Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station signifies the destruction of the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are jacking crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1929

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are jacking crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the r... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician positions a jack to lift crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1926

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Ken...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician positions a jack to lift crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate re... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The destruction of the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39-B at Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station kicks up a wall of dust. The tower is one of two that were identified for demolition. The old towers are being toppled as part of the ongoing project to demolish the historic site to prevent corrosion from becoming a safety concern. A majority of the steel will be recycled and the rest will be taken to the landfill at CCAFS. Complex 36 was the birthplace of NASA's planetary launch program. It was built for the Atlas/Centaur development program and was operated under NASA's sponsorship until the late 1980s. Complex 36 hosted many historic missions over the years including Surveyor that landed on the moon and Mariner that orbited Mars and included one to Mercury. Two of the most historic launches were the Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes that were launched to Jupiter and are now outside of the solar system in interstellar space. Also, the historic Pioneer Venus spacecraft included an orbiter and a set of probes that were dispatched to the surface. While Launch Complex 36 is gone, the Atlas/Centaur rocket continues to be launched as the Atlas V from Complex 41. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1522

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The destruction of the 209-foot-tall mo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The destruction of the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39-B at Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station kicks up a wall of dust. The tower is one of ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 36-B has been identified for demolition. The old towers are being toppled as part of the ongoing project to demolish the historic site to prevent corrosion from becoming a safety concern. A majority of the steel will be recycled and the rest will be taken to the landfill at CCAFS. Complex 36 was the birthplace of NASA's planetary launch program. It was built for the Atlas/Centaur development program and was operated under NASA's sponsorship until the late 1980s. Complex 36 hosted many historic missions over the years including Surveyor that landed on the moon and Mariner that orbited Mars and included one to Mercury. Two of the most historic launches were the Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes that were launched to Jupiter and are now outside of the solar system in interstellar space. Also, the historic Pioneer Venus spacecraft included an orbiter and a set of probes that were dispatched to the surface. While Launch Complex 36 is gone, the Atlas/Centaur rocket continues to be launched as the Atlas V from Complex 41. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1520

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Cana...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 36-B has been identified for demolition. The old towers are being to... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are preparing to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1917

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are preparing to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate remova... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepare to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1923

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepare to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, begin jacking crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1927

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, begin jacking crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are preparing to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1920

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are preparing to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate remova... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 36-B crashes to the ground. It is one of two that were identified for demolition. The old towers are being toppled as part of the ongoing project to demolish the historic site to prevent corrosion from becoming a safety concern. A majority of the steel will be recycled and the rest will be taken to the landfill at CCAFS. Complex 36 was the birthplace of NASA's planetary launch program. It was built for the Atlas/Centaur development program and was operated under NASA's sponsorship until the late 1980s. Complex 36 hosted many historic missions over the years including Surveyor that landed on the moon and Mariner that orbited Mars and included one to Mercury. Two of the most historic launches were the Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes that were launched to Jupiter and are now outside of the solar system in interstellar space. Also, the historic Pioneer Venus spacecraft included an orbiter and a set of probes that were dispatched to the surface. While Launch Complex 36 is gone, the Atlas/Centaur rocket continues to be launched as the Atlas V from Complex 41. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1521

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Cana...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 36-B crashes to the ground. It is one of two that were identified fo... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are removing track shoes from crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, prior to jacking it four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1925

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are removing track shoes from crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, prior to jacking it four feet off t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39-A of Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station careens to the left after 122 pounds of explosives eliminated the base. The tower is one of two that were identified for demolition. The old towers are being toppled as part of the ongoing project to demolish the historic site to prevent corrosion from becoming a safety concern. A majority of the steel will be recycled and the rest will be taken to the landfill at CCAFS. Complex 36 was the birthplace of NASA's planetary launch program. It was built for the Atlas/Centaur development program and was operated under NASA's sponsorship until the late 1980s. Complex 36 hosted many historic missions over the years including Surveyor that landed on the moon and Mariner that orbited Mars and included one to Mercury. Two of the most historic launches were the Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes that were launched to Jupiter and are now outside of the solar system in interstellar space. Also, the historic Pioneer Venus spacecraft included an orbiter and a set of probes that were dispatched to the surface. While Launch Complex 36 is gone, the Atlas/Centaur rocket continues to be launched as the Atlas V from Complex 41. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1525

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The 209-foot-tall mobile service tower...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39-A of Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station careens to the left after 122 pounds of explosives eliminated th... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician uses a fork lift to remove track shoes from crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, prior to jacking it four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1924

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Ken...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a technician uses a fork lift to remove track shoes from crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, prior to jacking it f... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are removing track shoes from crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, prior to jacking it four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1922

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, are removing track shoes from crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, prior to jacking it four feet off th... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Within sight of the KSC Vehicle Assembly Building (at left on the horizon), the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39-A of Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station waits for its demise. The tower is one of two that were identified for demolition. The old towers are being toppled as part of the ongoing project to demolish the historic site to prevent corrosion from becoming a safety concern. A majority of the steel will be recycled and the rest will be taken to the landfill at CCAFS. Complex 36 was the birthplace of NASA's planetary launch program. It was built for the Atlas/Centaur development program and was operated under NASA's sponsorship until the late 1980s. Complex 36 hosted many historic missions over the years including Surveyor that landed on the moon and Mariner that orbited Mars and included one to Mercury. Two of the most historic launches were the Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes that were launched to Jupiter and are now outside of the solar system in interstellar space. Also, the historic Pioneer Venus spacecraft included an orbiter and a set of probes that were dispatched to the surface. While Launch Complex 36 is gone, the Atlas/Centaur rocket continues to be launched as the Atlas V from Complex 41. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1524

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Within sight of the KSC Vehicle Assembl...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Within sight of the KSC Vehicle Assembly Building (at left on the horizon), the 209-foot-tall mobile service tower on Pad 39-A of Space Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Air For... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepare to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of the roller bearing assemblies. After inspections, new assemblies will be installed. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program office at Kennedy is overseeing the upgrades to CT-2 so that it can carry NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and new Orion spacecraft to the launch pad. For more than 45 years the crawler-transporters were used to transport the mobile launcher platform and the Apollo-Saturn V rockets and, later, space shuttles to Launch Pads 39A and B. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-2013-1918

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building a...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepare to jack crawler-transporter 2, or CT-2, four feet off the floor to facilitate removal of t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the mobile service tower on Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers check the attach points on the GOES-N spacecraft and Boeing Delta IV rocket. GOES-N is the latest in a series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites for NOAA and NASA, providing continuous monitoring necessary for intensive data analysis. GOES-N is scheduled to be launched May 18 in an hour-long window between 6:14 and 7:14 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0766

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the mobile service tower on Launch C...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the mobile service tower on Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers check the attach points on the GOES-N spacecraft and Boeing Delta IV rocke... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft is lifted into the mobile service tower. There it will be mated with the second stage of the Boeing Delta IV rocket. GOES-N is the latest in a series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites for NOAA and NASA, providing continuous monitoring necessary for intensive data analysis. GOES-N is scheduled to be launched May 18 in an hour-long window between 6:14 and 7:14 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0761

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft is lifted into the mobile service tower. There it will be mated with the second stage ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft is ready to be lifted into the mobile service tower. There it will be mated with the second stage of the Boeing Delta IV rocket. GOES-N is the latest in a series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites for NOAA and NASA, providing continuous monitoring necessary for intensive data analysis. GOES-N is scheduled to be launched May 18 in an hour-long window between 6:14 and 7:14 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0759

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft is ready to be lifted into the mobile service tower. There it will be mated with the s... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the mobile service tower on Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers guide the GOES-N spacecraft toward the second stage of the Boeing Delta IV rocket for mating. GOES-N is the latest in a series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites for NOAA and NASA, providing continuous monitoring necessary for intensive data analysis. GOES-N is scheduled to be launched May 18 in an hour-long window between 6:14 and 7:14 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0765

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the mobile service tower on Launch ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the mobile service tower on Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers guide the GOES-N spacecraft toward the second stage of the Boeing Delta I... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft arrives at the upper level of the mobile service tower and is moved toward the second stage of the Boeing Delta IV rocket (lower right). GOES-N is the latest in a series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites for NOAA and NASA, providing continuous monitoring necessary for intensive data analysis. GOES-N is scheduled to be launched May 18 in an hour-long window between 6:14 and 7:14 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0763

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft arrives at the upper level of the mobile service tower and is moved toward the second s... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft is lowered toward the second stage of the Boeing Delta IV rocket for mating. GOES-N is the latest in a series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites for NOAA and NASA, providing continuous monitoring necessary for intensive data analysis. GOES-N is scheduled to be launched May 18 in an hour-long window between 6:14 and 7:14 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0764

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft is lowered toward the second stage of the Boeing Delta IV rocket for mating. GOES-N is... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft is lifted off its transporter into the mobile service tower. There it will be mated with the second stage of the Boeing Delta IV rocket. GOES-N is the latest in a series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites for NOAA and NASA, providing continuous monitoring necessary for intensive data analysis. GOES-N is scheduled to be launched May 18 in an hour-long window between 6:14 and 7:14 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0760

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft is lifted off its transporter into the mobile service tower. There it will be mated wi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft disappears into the upper levels of the mobile service tower. There it will be mated with the second stage of the Boeing Delta IV rocket. GOES-N is the latest in a series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites for NOAA and NASA, providing continuous monitoring necessary for intensive data analysis. GOES-N is scheduled to be launched May 18 in an hour-long window between 6:14 and 7:14 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0762

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the GOES-N spacecraft disappears into the upper levels of the mobile service tower. There it will be mated w... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Discovery is lowered via a crane and sling into high bay 3 of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building. Discovery will be mated with its external tank and twin solid rocket boosters waiting below on the mobile launcher platform. Space Shuttle Discovery is expected to roll out to Launch Pad 39B later this week via the crawler-transporter. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0831

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Discovery is lowered via a ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Discovery is lowered via a crane and sling into high bay 3 of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building. Discovery will be mated with its external tank and twin solid rocket b... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In high bay 3 of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building, a crane lowers the orbiter Discovery into place alongside its external tank and twin solid rocket boosters for mating. Discovery will be mated with its external tank and twin solid rocket boosters waiting below on the mobile launcher platform. Space Shuttle Discovery is expected to roll out to Launch Pad 39B later this week via the crawler-transporter. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0832

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In high bay 3 of NASA's Vehicle Assembl...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In high bay 3 of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building, a crane lowers the orbiter Discovery into place alongside its external tank and twin solid rocket boosters for mating. Discover... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a solid rocket booster segment is lowered toward mobile launcher platform No. 2 for use on mission STS-115. The mission will deliver a truss and other key components to the International Space Station. Launch is currently scheduled for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0993

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Bui...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a solid rocket booster segment is lowered toward mobile launcher platform No. 2 for use on mission STS... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a solid rocket booster segment is lowered into high bay 3 where it will be placed on mobile launcher platform No. 2 for use on mission STS-115. The mission will deliver a truss and other key components to the International Space Station. Launch is currently scheduled for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0992

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA'...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a solid rocket booster segment is lowered into high bay 3 where it will be placed on mobile launcher platform No. 2 ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a solid rocket booster segment is lifted off its transporter below. The segment is being lifted up into high bay 3 and will be placed on mobile launcher platform No. 2 for use on mission STS-115. The mission will deliver a truss and other key components to the International Space Station. Launch is currently scheduled for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0990

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA'...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a solid rocket booster segment is lifted off its transporter below. The segment is being lifted up into high bay 3 ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a solid rocket booster segment is placed on mobile launcher platform No. 2 for use on mission STS-115. The mission will deliver a truss and other key components to the International Space Station. Launch is currently scheduled for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0994

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Bu...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a solid rocket booster segment is placed on mobile launcher platform No. 2 for use on mission STS-115... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a crane lifts a solid rocket booster segment off its transporter. The segment is being lifted up into high bay 3 and will be placed on mobile launcher platform No. 2 for use on mission STS-115. The mission will deliver a truss and other key components to the International Space Station. Launch is currently scheduled for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0989

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA'...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a crane lifts a solid rocket booster segment off its transporter. The segment is being lifted up into high bay 3 an... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a crane is attached to a solid rocket booster segment sitting on a transporter. The segment will be lifted up into high bay 3 and placed on mobile launcher platform No. 2 for use on mission STS-115. The mission will deliver a truss and other key components to the International Space Station. Launch is currently scheduled for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0988

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA'...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a crane is attached to a solid rocket booster segment sitting on a transporter. The segment will be lifted up into h... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a crane lifts a solid rocket booster segment toward high bay 3 where it will be placed on mobile launcher platform No. 2 for use on mission STS-115. The mission will deliver a truss and other key components to the International Space Station. Launch is currently scheduled for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd0991

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA'...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a crane lifts a solid rocket booster segment toward high bay 3 where it will be placed on mobile launcher platform N... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the open doors of Space Shuttle Discovery's payload bay show the cargo the orbiter will carry into orbit. At the lower end is multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo. Above it is the integrated cargo carrier that holds the mobile transporter reel assembly the astronauts will replace on the station and a spare pump module. Discovery is scheduled to launch at 3:48 p.m. July 1 carrying a crew of seven on the 12-day mission to the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd1163

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the open doors of S...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the open doors of Space Shuttle Discovery's payload bay show the cargo the orbiter will carry into orbit. At the lower end is multi-purpose logistics module L... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the payloads for mission STS-121 are being moved from the payload changeout room into Space Shuttle Discovery's payload bay. Seen in the background is the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo. Other payloads include the integrated cargo carrier that holds the mobile transporter reel assembly the astronauts will replace on the station and a spare pump module. Discovery is scheduled to launch at 3:48 p.m. July 1 carrying a crew of seven on the 12-day mission to the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd1160

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the payloads for mi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the payloads for mission STS-121 are being moved from the payload changeout room into Space Shuttle Discovery's payload bay. Seen in the background is the mul... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the payloads for mission STS-121 are being moved from the payload changeout room into Space Shuttle Discovery's payload bay. At lower right is the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo. Above it is the integrated cargo carrier that holds the mobile transporter reel assembly the astronauts will replace on the station and a spare pump module. Discovery is scheduled to launch at 3:48 p.m. July 1 carrying a crew of seven on the 12-day mission to the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd1161

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the payloads for mi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the payloads for mission STS-121 are being moved from the payload changeout room into Space Shuttle Discovery's payload bay. At lower right is the multi-purpo... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the payloads for mission STS-121 are being moved from the payload changeout room into Space Shuttle Discovery's payload bay. Here, the multi-purpose logistics module Leonardo is being transferred. Other payloads include the integrated cargo carrier that holds the mobile transporter reel assembly the astronauts will replace on the station and a spare pump module. Discovery is scheduled to launch at 3:48 p.m. July 1 carrying a crew of seven on the 12-day mission to the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd1162

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the payloads for mi...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At Launch Pad 39B, the payloads for mission STS-121 are being moved from the payload changeout room into Space Shuttle Discovery's payload bay. Here, the multi-purpose logistics ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Atlantis arrives in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, concluding its rollover from the Orbiter Processing Facility. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd1642

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Atlantis arrives in the transfer aisl...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Atlantis arrives in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, concluding its rollover from the Orbiter Processing Facility. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted in... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After leaving the Orbiter Processing Facility, Atlantis makes its way to the Vehicle Assembly Building atop an orbiter transporter. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis's launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd1639

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After leaving the Orbiter Processing F...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After leaving the Orbiter Processing Facility, Atlantis makes its way to the Vehicle Assembly Building atop an orbiter transporter. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into h... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, Atlantis is ready to be rolled out on its transporter and moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd1637

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, At...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, Atlantis is ready to be rolled out on its transporter and moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - During Atlantis's move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, a pause in the rollover enables the orbiter processing team to pose for a photograph. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd1640

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - During Atlantis's move to the Vehicle...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - During Atlantis's move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, a pause in the rollover enables the orbiter processing team to pose for a photograph. In the VAB, the orbiter will be li... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Atlantis glides into the open doors of the Vehicle Assembly Building into the transfer aisle, concluding its rollover from the Orbiter Processing Facility. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-06pd1641

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Atlantis glides into the open doors o...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Atlantis glides into the open doors of the Vehicle Assembly Building into the transfer aisle, concluding its rollover from the Orbiter Processing Facility. In the VAB, the orbi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, the solar panels on the Dawn spacecraft are stowed in preparation for Dawn's transfer to a transporter and move to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1296

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facili...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, the solar panels on the Dawn spacecraft are stowed in preparation for Dawn's transfer to a transporter and move to the Hazardous Process... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians check the Dawn spacecraft as it is lowered onto a transporter. Dawn will be moved to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1299

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facili...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians check the Dawn spacecraft as it is lowered onto a transporter. Dawn will be moved to the Hazardous Processing Facility for ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, technicians check the Dawn spacecraft as it is lowered onto a scale for weighing. Next, Dawn will be prepared for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1305

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, technicians check the Dawn spacecraft as it is lowered onto a scale for weighing. Next, Dawn will be prepared for fueling. Dawn ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, the Dawn spacecraft is weighed before fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1306

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, the Dawn spacecraft is weighed before fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 1... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, technicians check the progress of the Dawn spacecraft as it is lifted off the transporter. Dawn will be moved to a scale for weighing and then prepared for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1304

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, technicians check the progress of the Dawn spacecraft as it is lifted off the transporter. Dawn will be moved to a scale for weig... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians check the Dawn spacecraft as it is lifted off the dolly. Dawn will be placed on a transporter and moved to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1298

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facili...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians check the Dawn spacecraft as it is lifted off the dolly. Dawn will be placed on a transporter and moved to the Hazardous Pr... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians maneuver the shipping container to place around the Dawn spacecraft, at right. Dawn will be moved to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1300

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facilit...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians maneuver the shipping container to place around the Dawn spacecraft, at right. Dawn will be moved to the Hazardous Processin... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians check the progress of the shipping container as it is lowered around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn will be moved to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1301

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facilit...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians check the progress of the shipping container as it is lowered around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn will be moved to the Hazardou... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, the shipping container is removed from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn will be moved to a scale for weighing and then prepared for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1303

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside Astrotech's Hazardous Processing Facility, the shipping container is removed from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn will be moved to a scale for weighing and then prepared ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians secure the dolly holding the Dawn spacecraft so Dawn can be lifted safely and transferred to a transporter. Dawn will be moved to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1297

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facili...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility, technicians secure the dolly holding the Dawn spacecraft so Dawn can be lifted safely and transferred to a transporter. Dawn will be mo... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Dawn spacecraft, inside its shipping container, is moved out of the Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility for transfer to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn is scheduled to launch June 30 aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Dawn's mission is to explore two of the asteroid belt's most intriguing and dissimilar occupants: asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1302

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Dawn spacecraft, inside its shipping...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Dawn spacecraft, inside its shipping container, is moved out of the Astrotech's Payload Processing Facility for transfer to the Hazardous Processing Facility for fueling. Dawn ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs vertically above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. It will be lifted into the upper levels of the VAB, moved to high bay 1 and stacked with the e1ternal tank and solid rocket boosters on the mobile launcher platform. Endeavour will be launched on mission STS-118, its first flight in more than four years. The shuttle has undergone e1tensive modifications, including the addition of safety upgrades already added to shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour also features new hardware, such as the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System that will allow the docked shuttle to draw electrical power from the station and e1tend its visits to the orbiting lab. Endeavour is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1756

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs vertically...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs vertically above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. It will be lifted into the upper levels of the VAB, moved to high bay 1 and sta... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hanging above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, the orbiter Endeavour is raised to vertical. It will be lifted into the upper levels of the VAB, moved to high bay 1 and stacked with the e1ternal tank and solid rocket boosters on the mobile launcher platform. Endeavour will be launched on mission STS-118, its first flight in more than four years. The shuttle has undergone e1tensive modifications, including the addition of safety upgrades already added to shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour also features new hardware, such as the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System that will allow the docked shuttle to draw electrical power from the station and e1tend its visits to the orbiting lab. Endeavour is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1754

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hanging above the transfer aisle of th...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hanging above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, the orbiter Endeavour is raised to vertical. It will be lifted into the upper levels of the VAB, moved to high... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The attached sling will raise it to vertical and lift it into the upper levels of the VAB. Then it will be moved to high bay 1 and stacked with the e1ternal tank and solid rocket boosters on the mobile launcher platform. Endeavour will be launched on mission STS-118, its first flight in more than four years. The shuttle has undergone e1tensive modifications, including the addition of safety upgrades already added to shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour also features new hardware, such as the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System that will allow the docked shuttle to draw electrical power from the station and e1tend its visits to the orbiting lab. Endeavour is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1751

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs above the t...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The attached sling will raise it to vertical and lift it into the upper levels of the VAB. ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hanging above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, the orbiter Endeavour is raised to vertical. It will be lifted into the upper levels of the VAB, moved to high bay 1 and stacked with the e1ternal tank and solid rocket boosters on the mobile launcher platform. Endeavour will be launched on mission STS-118, its first flight in more than four years. The shuttle has undergone e1tensive modifications, including the addition of safety upgrades already added to shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour also features new hardware, such as the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System that will allow the docked shuttle to draw electrical power from the station and e1tend its visits to the orbiting lab. Endeavour is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1752

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hanging above the transfer aisle of th...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hanging above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, the orbiter Endeavour is raised to vertical. It will be lifted into the upper levels of the VAB, moved to high... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The attached sling will raise it to vertical and lift it into the upper levels of the VAB. Then it will be moved to high bay 1 and stacked with the e1ternal tank and solid rocket boosters on the mobile launcher platform. Endeavour will be launched on mission STS-118, its first flight in more than four years. The shuttle has undergone e1tensive modifications, including the addition of safety upgrades already added to shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour also features new hardware, such as the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System that will allow the docked shuttle to draw electrical power from the station and e1tend its visits to the orbiting lab. Endeavour is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1753

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs above the ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The attached sling will raise it to vertical and lift it into the upper levels of the VAB.... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs nearly vertical above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. It will be lifted into the upper levels of the VAB, moved to high bay 1 and stacked with the e1ternal tank and solid rocket boosters on the mobile launcher platform. Endeavour will be launched on mission STS-118, its first flight in more than four years. The shuttle has undergone e1tensive modifications, including the addition of safety upgrades already added to shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour also features new hardware, such as the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System that will allow the docked shuttle to draw electrical power from the station and e1tend its visits to the orbiting lab. Endeavour is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd1755

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs nearly ver...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The orbiter Endeavour hangs nearly vertical above the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. It will be lifted into the upper levels of the VAB, moved to high bay 1 an... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At Launch Pad 39A, the second payload bay door of Endeavour closes over the cargo inside. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. The mission is the 22nd flight to the International Space Station and is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2050

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At Launch Pad 39A, the second payload bay...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At Launch Pad 39A, the second payload bay door of Endeavour closes over the cargo inside. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. Th... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at Launch Pad 39A, this view shows the payload bay doors on Endeavour fully closed. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. The mission is the 22nd flight to the International Space Station and is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2053

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room a...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at Launch Pad 39A, this view shows the payload bay doors on Endeavour fully closed. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at Launch Pad 39A, workers check the closing of Endeavour's payload bay doors. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. The mission is the 22nd flight to the International Space Station and is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2051

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at Launch Pad 39A, workers check the closing of Endeavour's payload bay doors. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and ext... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at Launch Pad 39A, workers check the progress of the closing of Endeavour's payload bay doors. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. The mission is the 22nd flight to the International Space Station and is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2049

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at Launch Pad 39A, workers check the progress of the closing of Endeavour's payload bay doors. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at Launch Pad 39A, workers check the closing of Endeavour's payload bay doors. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. The mission is the 22nd flight to the International Space Station and is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2052

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — From inside the payload changeout room at Launch Pad 39A, workers check the closing of Endeavour's payload bay doors. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and ext... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At Launch Pad 39A, a worker checks the progress of Endeavour's payload bay doors closing. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. The mission is the 22nd flight to the International Space Station and is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2047

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At Launch Pad 39A, a worker checks the pr...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At Launch Pad 39A, a worker checks the progress of Endeavour's payload bay doors closing. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. Th... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At Launch Pad 39A, the first payload bay door on Endeavour closes over its cargo. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. The mission is the 22nd flight to the International Space Station and is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2048

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At Launch Pad 39A, the first payload bay ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At Launch Pad 39A, the first payload bay door on Endeavour closes over its cargo. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. The missio... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Launch Pad 39A, Space Shuttle Endeavour's payload lies nestled snugly inside the payload bay, ready for closure of the doors. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3. The mission is the 22nd flight to the International Space Station and is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2046

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Launch Pad 39A, Space Shuttle Endeav...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Launch Pad 39A, Space Shuttle Endeavour's payload lies nestled snugly inside the payload bay, ready for closure of the doors. The payload includes the S5 truss, the SPACEHAB m... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — The Dawn spacecraft is back at the Astrotech payload processing facility to wait for another launch date. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date. The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2071

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — The Dawn spacecraft is back at the Astr...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — The Dawn spacecraft is back at the Astrotech payload processing facility to wait for another launch date. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Stati... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers roll the uncanned Dawn spacecraft into an inner room. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date. The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2070

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers roll the uncanned Dawn spacecraft into an inner room. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Sta... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers guide the movement of the upper canister being lifted from the Dawn spacecraft, seen encased in a protective cover. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date. The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2066

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers guide the movement of the upper canister being lifted from the Dawn spacecraft, seen encased in a protective cover. Dawn was... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Sitting on a transporter, the Dawn spacecraft arrives at the Astrotech payload processing facility. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date. The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2062

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Sitting on a transporter, the Dawn space...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Sitting on a transporter, the Dawn spacecraft arrives at the Astrotech payload processing facility. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to A... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers consider the next step in removing the lower canister from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date. The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2067

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers consider the next step in removing the lower canister from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — The Dawn spacecraft is moved inside the Astrotech payload processing facility. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date. The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2063

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — The Dawn spacecraft is moved inside the ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — The Dawn spacecraft is moved inside the Astrotech payload processing facility. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers begin removing the lower canister from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date. The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2068

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers begin removing the lower canister from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers separate the upper and lower canisters around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date. The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2065

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers separate the upper and lower canisters around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers remove the lower canister from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date. The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2069

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing fac...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — At the Astrotech payload processing facility, workers remove the lower canister from around the Dawn spacecraft. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Forc... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Still on its transporter, the Dawn spacecraft is ready for removal of its canister at the Astrotech payload processing facility. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to Astrotech to await a new launch date. The launch opportunity extends from Sept. 7 to Oct. 15. Dawn is the ninth mission in NASA's Discovery Program. The spacecraft will be the first to orbit two planetary bodies, asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, during a single mission. Vesta and Ceres lie in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is also NASA’s first purely scientific mission powered by three solar electric ion propulsion engines. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2064

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Still on its transporter, the Dawn space...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Still on its transporter, the Dawn spacecraft is ready for removal of its canister at the Astrotech payload processing facility. Dawn was returned from Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Ca... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, Endeavour's payload bay doors are open, revealing the cargo and equipment inside. At the top is the orbiter docking system; below it are the SPACEHAB module, the S5 truss and the external stowage platform 3 holding a control moment gyro at left and other supplies. The payload bay doors were opened to allow for payload closeouts, including camera tests on the shuttle robotic arm and the extension, known as the orbiter boom sensor system. Endeavour is scheduled to launch Aug. 7 on mission STS-118, the 22nd flight to the International Space Station. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2119

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, Endeavour's payloa...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, Endeavour's payload bay doors are open, revealing the cargo and equipment inside. At the top is the orbiter docking system; below it are the SPACEHAB module,... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, one of Endeavour's payload bay doors is closed. Part of the cargo inside can still be seen in the center: the SPACEHAB module and the S5 truss. The payload bay doors were opened to allow for payload closeouts, including camera tests on the shuttle robotic arm and the extension, known as the orbiter boom sensor system. Endeavour is scheduled to launch Aug. 7 on mission STS-118, the 22nd flight to the International Space Station. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2123

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, one of Endeavour's...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, one of Endeavour's payload bay doors is closed. Part of the cargo inside can still be seen in the center: the SPACEHAB module and the S5 truss. The payload b... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, a worker checks the movement of one of Endeavour's payload bay doors as it closes. Seen in the photo are the cargo, from top, the SPACEHAB module, the S5 truss and the external stowage platform 3 with a control moment gyro at left. The payload bay doors were opened to allow for payload closeouts, including camera tests on the shuttle robotic arm and the extension, known as the orbiter boom sensor system. Endeavour is scheduled to launch Aug. 7 on mission STS-118, the 22nd flight to the International Space Station. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2122

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, a worker checks th...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, a worker checks the movement of one of Endeavour's payload bay doors as it closes. Seen in the photo are the cargo, from top, the SPACEHAB module, the S5 tru... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, workers check the closing of Endeavour's payload bay doors. The payload bay doors were opened to allow for payload closeouts, including camera tests on the shuttle robotic arm and the extension, known as the orbiter boom sensor system. Endeavour is scheduled to launch Aug. 7 on mission STS-118, the 22nd flight to the International Space Station. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2124

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, workers check the...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, workers check the closing of Endeavour's payload bay doors. The payload bay doors were opened to allow for payload closeouts, including camera tests on the ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, Endeavour's payload bay doors are again closed and secure for launch. The payload bay doors were opened to allow for payload closeouts, including camera tests on the shuttle robotic arm and the extension, known as the orbiter boom sensor system. Endeavour is scheduled to launch Aug. 7 on mission STS-118, the 22nd flight to the International Space Station. NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2125

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, Endeavour's payl...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A, Endeavour's payload bay doors are again closed and secure for launch. The payload bay doors were opened to allow for payload closeouts, including camera t... More

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