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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Sitting on top of the mobile launcher platform, Space Shuttle Atlantis rolls out to Launch Pad 39B via the crawlerway. First motion out of the Vehicle Assembly Building was 1:05 a.m. The slow speed of the crawler results in a 6-hour trek to the pad approximately 4 miles away. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 27 for an 11-day mission to the International Space Station. The STS-115 crew of six astronauts will continue construction of the station and install their cargo, the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-06pd1706

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Sitting on top of the mobile launcher p...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Sitting on top of the mobile launcher platform, Space Shuttle Atlantis rolls out to Launch Pad 39B via the crawlerway. First motion out of the Vehicle Assembly Building was 1:05 ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis passes the turn basin as it slowly wends its way toward Launch Pad 39A. First motion out of the Vehicle Assembly Building was at 8:19 a.m. The 3.4-mile trip to the pad along the crawlerway will take about 6 hours. The mission payload aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis is the S3/S4 integrated truss structure, along with a third set of solar arrays and batteries. The crew of six astronauts will install the truss to continue assembly of the International Space Station. Launch is targeted for March 15. Photo credit: NASA/Ken Thornsley KSC-07pd0390

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis passes the turn b...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis passes the turn basin as it slowly wends its way toward Launch Pad 39A. First motion out of the Vehicle Assembly Building was at 8:19 a.m. The 3.4-mile tri... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The early morning sun falls on Launch Pad 39A and Space Shuttle Discovery, which is waiting for launch on mission STS-92 Oct. 5, 2000. Leading to the pad (from the foreground) is the ramp leading from the crawlerway, the specially built road that provides the Shuttles access to the pads from the Vehicle Assembly Building. At the right of the pad is the 300,000-gallon water tank that is part of the sound suppression system during launches. Beyond is the Atlantic Ocean. At the far left can be seen Launch Pad 39B with its water tank KSC-00pp1298

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The early morning sun falls on Launch P...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The early morning sun falls on Launch Pad 39A and Space Shuttle Discovery, which is waiting for launch on mission STS-92 Oct. 5, 2000. Leading to the pad (from the foreground) is ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Crawler-transporter 1 continues its trek along the crawlerway to Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. New jacking, equalizing and leveling, or JEL, hydraulic cylinders were installed on CT-1 and are being tested for increased load carrying capacity and reliability. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program at Kennedy continues to upgrade the crawler-transporter as part of its general maintenance. CT-1 could be available to carry a variety of launch vehicles to the launch pad. Two crawler-transporters were used to carry the mobile launcher platform and space shuttle to Launch Complex 39 for space shuttle launches for 30 years. Photo credit: NASA/Daniel Casper KSC-2013-4206

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Crawler-transporter 1 continues its trek along...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Crawler-transporter 1 continues its trek along the crawlerway to Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. New jacking, equalizing and leveling, or JEL, hydraulic cylinde... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers monitor the progress of Space Shuttle Atlantis as it moves through the doors of the Vehicle Assembly Building along the crawlerway toward Launch Pad 39A. First motion out of the VAB was at 4:43 a.m. EST. Rollout is a milestone for Atlantis' launch to the International Space Station on mission STS-122, targeted for Dec. 6. On this mission, Atlantis will deliver the Columbus module to the International Space Station. The European Space Agency's largest contribution to the station, Columbus is a multifunctional, pressurized laboratory that will be permanently attached to U.S. Node 2, called Harmony. The module is approximately 23 feet long and 15 feet wide, allowing it to hold 10 large racks of experiments. The laboratory will expand the research facilities aboard the station, providing crew members and scientists from around the world the ability to conduct a variety of experiments in the physical, materials and life sciences. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd3259

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers monitor the progress of Space Sh...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers monitor the progress of Space Shuttle Atlantis as it moves through the doors of the Vehicle Assembly Building along the crawlerway toward Launch Pad 39A. First motion out o... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour passes the fork in the crawlerway between Launch Pad 39B, at right, and Launch Pad 39A. First motion of the 3.4-mile rollaround was at 3:16 a.m. EDT. Endeavour was on standby on Pad 39B to be used in the unlikely event that a rescue mission was necessary during space shuttle Atlantis' STS-125 mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The payload on the STS-127 mission includes the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo Exposed Facility and the Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section of the International Space Station. They will be installed on the Kibo laboratory already on the station. Launch of STS-127 is targeted for June 13. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-3330

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, spac...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour passes the fork in the crawlerway between Launch Pad 39B, at right, and Launch Pad 39A. First motion of the 3.4-mile ro... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This 30-second timed exposure captures the bright lights around the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) plus the equally bright moon (upper right) as Space Shuttle Atlantis (far left) rolls out of the east side bay 1. The Launch Control Center sits between the Shuttle and the VAB. The full stack of Shuttle, solid rocket boosters and external tank are taking part in a fit check for the newly renovated crawlerway and high bay 2, which is on the west side. The major modifications to the crawlerway and VAB provide Shuttle flight hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis began moving out of VAB high bay 1 at 2:59 a.m. EDT. After the successful Safe Haven fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC-00pp1127

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This 30-second timed exposure captures t...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This 30-second timed exposure captures the bright lights around the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) plus the equally bright moon (upper right) as Space Shuttle Atlantis (far left) ... More

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB high bay 2, where a mobile launcher platform/crawler-transporter currently sits. The road restoration and high bay 2 are part of KSC’s Safe Haven project, enabling the storage of orbiters during severe weather. The crawlerway also extends from the east side of the VAB out to the two Space Shuttle launch pads. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean. To the right of the far crawlerway is the turn basin, into which ships tow the barge for offloading new external tanks from Louisiana KSC-00pp0735

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Sh...

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Across the expanse of the turn basin, Space Shuttle Atlantis is seen as it creeps toward Launch Pad 39A. At left is the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building. First motion was at 8:19 a.m. The 3.4-mile trip along the crawlerway will take about 6 hours. The mission payload aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis is the S3/S4 integrated truss structure, along with a third set of solar arrays and batteries. The crew of six astronauts will install the truss to continue assembly of the International Space Station. Launch is targeted for March 15. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd0383

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Across the expanse of the turn basin, S...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Across the expanse of the turn basin, Space Shuttle Atlantis is seen as it creeps toward Launch Pad 39A. At left is the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building. First motion was ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Carrying the Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle and mobile launcher, the transporter inches its way to the hardstand atop Launch Complex 39A. (Unfueled Saturn V weighs 1/2 million pounds,) Rollout began at 12:30 p.m. EDT today and was completed at 7:46 p.m. after positioning the 12.5-million-pound load on support pedestals. The transporter carried the vehicle along the 3.5-mile crawlerway at an average speed of less than 1 mile per hour. The 363-foot-high space vehicle is to launch Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. on the Nation's first manned lunar landing mission. KSC-69PC-249

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Carrying the Apollo 11 Saturn V space ve...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Carrying the Apollo 11 Saturn V space vehicle and mobile launcher, the transporter inches its way to the hardstand atop Launch Complex 39A. (Unfueled Saturn V weighs 1/2 million p... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the crawler-transporter delivers space shuttle Discovery atop the mobile launcher platform onto Launch Pad 39A. Traveling from the Vehicle Assembly Building, the shuttle took nearly 12 hours on the journey as technicians stopped several times to clear mud from the crawler's treads and bearings caused by the waterlogged crawlerway. First motion out of the VAB was at 2:07 a.m. EDT Aug. 4. Rollout was delayed approximately 2 hours due to lightning in the area. In the background is the blue water of the Atlantic Ocean. At left is the White Room at the end of the orbiter access arm. When in place against shuttle, the White Room provides entry into the cockpit. Discovery's 13-day flight will deliver a new crew member and 33,000 pounds of equipment to the International Space Station. The equipment includes science and storage racks, a freezer to store research samples, a new sleeping compartment and the COLBERT treadmill. Launch of Discovery on its STS-128 mission is targeted for late August. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-2009-4423

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the c...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. –At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the crawler-transporter delivers space shuttle Discovery atop the mobile launcher platform onto Launch Pad 39A. Traveling from the Vehicle Assem... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Atlantis has passed the bend in the crawlerway taking it to Launch Pad 39A, above left, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The crawlerway is flanked by the Banana River at right and Banana Creek at left. The Atlantic Ocean stretches across the horizon. The shuttle stack, with solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank attached to Atlantis, rest on the mobile launcher platform. Movement is provided by the crawler-transporter underneath. First motion occurred at 9:19 a.m. EDT. The Sept. 2 rollout date was postponed due to Tropical Storm Hanna’s shift to a northern track. Atlantis is scheduled to launch on the STS-125 mission to service NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Launch is targeted for Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd2539

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Atlantis has passed the bend in ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Atlantis has passed the bend in the crawlerway taking it to Launch Pad 39A, above left, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The crawlerway is flanked by the Banana River at r... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Mobile Launcher Platform-3 (MLP), which supported space shuttle Atlantis for its final flight to the International Space Station on the STS-135 mission, is taking its last journey from Launch Pad 39A to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). A massive crawler-transporter positioned under the MLP -- the last mobile launcher platform to launch a shuttle, begins the trek back to the VAB. A water truck leads the way spraying water on the dry crawlerway to reduce dust particles in the air. For more than 40 years, the MLPs have traveled between the massive VAB to both launch pads at Launch Complex 39, and then returned to the VAB for future use. MLP-3 was first used to launch Columbia on the STS-32 mission on Jan. 9, 1990. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-5590

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Mob...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Mobile Launcher Platform-3 (MLP), which supported space shuttle Atlantis for its final flight to the International Space Station on the STS-135... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On a cloudy Florida day, Space Shuttle Atlantis awaits launch atop a mobile launch platform at Launch Pad 39A. At the right of the pad is the 290-foot tall, 300,000-gallon water tank that is part of the sound suppression system during launches. In the foreground is the crawlerway. a 130-foot-wide roadway with a 5-percent grade leading to the top of the launch pad. Rollback of the pad's rotating service structure, or RSS, is one of the milestones in preparation for the launch of mission STS-117 on June 8. Rollback started at 10:56 p.m. EDT June 7 and was complete at 11:34 p.m. The RSS, the massive structure to the left of the shuttle, provides protected access to the orbiter for changeout and servicing of payloads at the pad. The structure is supported by a rotating bridge that pivots about a vertical axis on the side of the pad's flame trench. The hinge column rests on the pad surface and is braced to the fixed service structure. Support for the outer end of the bridge is provided by two eight-wheel, motor-driven trucks that move along circular twin rails installed flush with the pad surface. The track crosses the flame trench on a permanent bridge. The RSS is 102 feet long, 50 feet wide and 130 feet high. The structure has orbiter access platforms at five levels to provide access to the payload bay while the orbiter is being serviced in the RSS. Each platform has independent extendable planks that can be arranged to conform to a payload's configuration. This mission is the 118th shuttle flight and the 21st U.S. flight to the International Space Station and will deliver and install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. Photo credit: NASA/Ken Thornsley KSC-07pd1403

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On a cloudy Florida day, Space Shuttle A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On a cloudy Florida day, Space Shuttle Atlantis awaits launch atop a mobile launch platform at Launch Pad 39A. At the right of the pad is the 290-foot tall, 300,000-gallon water ta... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Seen from behind the mobile launcher platform, the orange external tank and solid rocket boosters all but hide Atlantis. The crawlerway stretches in a curve on the other side. The shuttle is being rolled back to the Vehicle Assembly Building where it will be examined for hail damage. A severe thunderstorm with golf ball-sized hail caused divots in the giant tank's foam insulation and minor surface damage to about 26 heat shield tiles on the shuttle's left wing. Further evaluation of the tank is necessary to get an accurate accounting of foam damage and determine the type of repair required and the time needed for that work. A new target launch date has not been determined, but teams will focus on preparing Atlantis for liftoff in late April. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-07pd0554

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Seen from behind the mobile launcher p...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Seen from behind the mobile launcher platform, the orange external tank and solid rocket boosters all but hide Atlantis. The crawlerway stretches in a curve on the other side. ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - As the sun begins to rise in the early-morning sky after its departure from Launch Pad 39A, the Space Shuttle Atlantis slowly travels on the crawlerway toward the Vehicle Assembly Building. This marks the second rollback for Atlantis since July because of hurricane threats. Atlantis, which is targeted fo liftoff later this month on the STS-79 Shuttle mission, is returning to the VAB because of the threat from Hurricane Fran. The threat of Hurricane Bertha forced the rollback of Atlantis in July. Atlantis currently is scheduled for launch on the fourth Shuttle-Mir docking mission around mid-September. KSC-96pc1038

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - As the sun begins to rise in the early-m...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - As the sun begins to rise in the early-morning sky after its departure from Launch Pad 39A, the Space Shuttle Atlantis slowly travels on the crawlerway toward the Vehicle Assembly ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The rising sun and some scattered clouds provide a picturesque backdrop for the Space Shuttle Discovery as it travels along the crawlerway toward Launch Pad 39A in preparation for the STS-82 mission. The Shuttle is on a Mobile Launcher Platform, and the entire assemblage is being carried by a large, tracked vehicle called the crawler transporter. A seven-member crew will perform the second servicing of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during the 10-day STS-82 flight, whcih is targeted for a Feb. 11 liftoff.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The rising sun and some scattered clouds...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The rising sun and some scattered clouds provide a picturesque backdrop for the Space Shuttle Discovery as it travels along the crawlerway toward Launch Pad 39A in preparation for ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After leaving the Vehicle Assembly Building, the Space Shuttle Discovery makes its slow - up to 1 mile per hour - trek along the crawlerway to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for the STS-82 mission. The Shuttle is assembled on a Mobile Launcher Platform, seen in this view taken from above, and the entire assemblage is carried out to the launch pad on the crawler transporter, which is underneath the MLP. A seven-member crew will perform the second servicing of the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during the 10-day STS-82 mission, which is targeted for a Feb. 11 liftoff.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After leaving the Vehicle Assembly Build...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After leaving the Vehicle Assembly Building, the Space Shuttle Discovery makes its slow - up to 1 mile per hour - trek along the crawlerway to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for the... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Cast in silhouette by the rising sun, the Space Shuttle Atlantis slowly and carefully makes the journey along the Crawlerway between the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Pad 39A. Atlantis and its crew of seven are targeted for a May 15 launch. STS-84 will be the sixth Shuttle docking with the Russian Space Station Mir as part of Phase 1 of the International Space Station program KSC-97pc710

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Cast in silhouette by the rising sun, t...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- Cast in silhouette by the rising sun, the Space Shuttle Atlantis slowly and carefully makes the journey along the Crawlerway between the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Pad 3... More

VAB Aerial. NASA public domain image. Kennedy space center.

VAB Aerial. NASA public domain image. Kennedy space center.

KSC's Launch Complex 39 is strategically located next to a barge site and a variety of structures, including a Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Orbiter Processing Facilities (OPF), Press Site, Launch Control Ce... More

Tour buses unload passengers at a new stop on the KSC tour that allows visitors to view Pad LC-39B. The tour road runs parallel to the crawlerway (just out of sight) that is used to transport the Space Shuttle vehicles to the pad. The length of the crawlerway from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad B is 6,828 meters (22,440 ft); its width overall is 40 meters (130 ft); each lane is 12 meters (40ft) with a 15-meter (50ft) median. This view looks south KSC-98pc1055

Tour buses unload passengers at a new stop on the KSC tour that allows...

Tour buses unload passengers at a new stop on the KSC tour that allows visitors to view Pad LC-39B. The tour road runs parallel to the crawlerway (just out of sight) that is used to transport the Space Shuttle ... More

This aerial view looking northeast shows a new stop (bottom) on the KSC bus tour that allow visitors to view Pad LC-39B (top). The tour stop is next to the crawlerway that is used to transport the Space Shuttle vehicles to the pad. The length of the crawlerway from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad B is 6,828 meters (22,440 ft); its width overall is 40 meters (130 ft); each lane is 12 meters (40ft) with a 15-meter (50ft) median. KSC-98PC-1054

This aerial view looking northeast shows a new stop (bottom) on the KS...

This aerial view looking northeast shows a new stop (bottom) on the KSC bus tour that allow visitors to view Pad LC-39B (top). The tour stop is next to the crawlerway that is used to transport the Space Shuttle... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Looking eastward, the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in the Launch Complex 39 area can be seen with its new coat of paint, along with newly painted American flag and NASA logo. The improved look was finished in time to honor NASA's 40th anniversary on Oct. 1. In order to do the job, workers were suspended on platforms from the top of the 525-foot-high VAB. One of the world's largest buildings by volume, the VAB is the last stop for the Shuttle before rollout to the launch pad. Integration and stacking of the complete Space Shuttle vehicle (orbiter, two solid rocket boosters and the external tank) takes place in High Bays 1 or 3. Stretching from the side of the VAB, on the right, is the crawlerway, used to transport the Space Shuttle to the launch pad. Beyond the VAB is Banana Creek KSC-98pc1238

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Looking eastward, the Vehicle Assembly B...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Looking eastward, the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) in the Launch Complex 39 area can be seen with its new coat of paint, along with newly painted American flag and NASA logo. Th... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle Discovery, atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler-transporter, approaches the turn in the crawlerway as it creeps to Launch Pad 39B at 1 mph. The crawler-transporter takes about five hours to cover the journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad. Liftoff of Discovery on mission STS-96 is targeted for May 20 at 9:32 a.m. EDT. STS-96 is a logistics and resupply mission for the International Space Station, carrying such payloads as a Russian crane, the Strela; a U.S.-built crane; the Spacehab Oceaneering Space System Box (SHOSS), a logistics items carrier; and STARSHINE, a student-led experiment KSC-99pp0433

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle Discovery, atop the mo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle Discovery, atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler-transporter, approaches the turn in the crawlerway as it creeps to Launch Pad 39B at 1 mph. The crawler-t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle Discovery, atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler-transporter, dwarfs the car parked at right on the median of the 130-foot-wide crawlerway. Traveling at 1 mph, the crawler-transporter takes about five hours to cover the journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B. Here it is moving toward the turn that will take it to the pad. Liftoff of Discovery on mission STS-96 is targeted for May 20 at 9:32 a.m. EDT. STS-96 is a logistics and resupply mission for the International Space Station, carrying such payloads as a Russian crane, the Strela; a U.S.-built crane; the Spacehab Oceaneering Space System Box (SHOSS), a logistics items carrier; and STARSHINE, a student-led experiment KSC-99pp0434

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle Discovery, atop the mo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle Discovery, atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler-transporter, dwarfs the car parked at right on the median of the 130-foot-wide crawlerway. Traveling at 1... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Casting a giant shadow across the crawlerway, a crawler transporter slowly maneuvers Space Shuttle Discovery, with its external tank and solid rocket boosters, toward High Bay 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building to repair damage to the external tank's foam insulation caused by hail. The necessary repair work could not be performed at Pad 39B due to limited access to the damaged areas. The work is expected to take two to three days, allowing Discovery to roll back to the pad by midweek for launch of mission STS-96, the 94th launch in the Space Shuttle Program. This is only the 13th time since 1981 that a Shuttle has had to roll back from the pad. Liftoff will occur no earlier than May 27. STS-96 is a logistics and resupply mission for the International Space Station, carrying such payloads as a Russian crane, the Strela; a U.S.-built crane; the Spacehab Oceaneering Space System Box (SHOSS), a logistics items carrier; and STARSHINE, a student-shared experiment KSC-99pp0532

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Casting a giant shadow across the crawle...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Casting a giant shadow across the crawlerway, a crawler transporter slowly maneuvers Space Shuttle Discovery, with its external tank and solid rocket boosters, toward High Bay 1 of... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a juncture in the crawlerway, a crawler transporter slowly moves Space Shuttle Discovery, with its external tank and solid rocket boosters, toward High Bay 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building to repair damage to the external tank's foam insulation caused by hail. The necessary repair work could not be performed at Pad 39B due to limited access to the damaged areas. The work is expected to take two to three days, allowing Discovery to roll back to the pad by midweek for launch of mission STS-96, the 94th launch in the Space Shuttle Program. This is only the 13th time since 1981 that a Shuttle has had to roll back from the pad. Liftoff will occur no earlier than May 27. STS-96 is a logistics and resupply mission for the International Space Station, carrying such payloads as a Russian crane, the Strela; a U.S.-built crane; the Spacehab Oceaneering Space System Box (SHOSS), a logistics items carrier; and STARSHINE, a student-shared experiment KSC-99pp0534

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a juncture in the crawlerway, a crawl...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a juncture in the crawlerway, a crawler transporter slowly moves Space Shuttle Discovery, with its external tank and solid rocket boosters, toward High Bay 1 of the Vehicle Asse... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a juncture in the crawlerway, a crawler transporter slowly moves Space Shuttle Discovery, with its external tank and solid rocket boosters, to High Bay 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building to repair damage to the external tank's foam insulation caused by hail. The necessary repair work could not be performed at Pad 39B due to limited access to the damaged areas. The work is expected to take two to three days, allowing Discovery to roll back to the pad by midweek for launch of mission STS-96, the 94th launch in the Space Shuttle Program. This is only the 13th time since 1981 that a Shuttle has had to be rolled back from the pad. Liftoff will occur no earlier than May 27. STS-96 is a logistics and resupply mission for the International Space Station, carrying such payloads as a Russian crane, the Strela; a U.S.-built crane; the Spacehab Oceaneering Space System Box (SHOSS), a logistics items carrier; and STARSHINE, a student-shared experiment KSC-99pp0533

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a juncture in the crawlerway, a crawl...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At a juncture in the crawlerway, a crawler transporter slowly moves Space Shuttle Discovery, with its external tank and solid rocket boosters, to High Bay 1 of the Vehicle Assembly... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The crawler transporter, with its cargo of Space Shuttle Discovery and mobile launcher platform, leaves tracks on the crawlerway as it makes its way up Launch Pad 39B. Behind the Shuttle can be seen part of the rotating service structure and the 82-foot lightning mast (next to the solid rocket booster) on top of the fixed service structure. The two structures are used during prelaunch preparations at the pad. Earlier in the week, the Shuttle was rolled back to the VAB from the pad to repair hail damage on the external tank's foam insulation. Mission STS-96, the 94th launch in the Space Shuttle Program, is scheduled for liftoff May 27 at 6:48 a.m. EDT. STS-96 is a logistics and resupply mission for the International Space Station, carrying such payloads as a Russian crane, the Strela; a U.S.-built crane; the Spacehab Oceaneering Space System Box (SHOSS), a logistics items carrier; and STARSHINE, a student-shared experiment KSC-99pp0566

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The crawler transporter, with its cargo ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The crawler transporter, with its cargo of Space Shuttle Discovery and mobile launcher platform, leaves tracks on the crawlerway as it makes its way up Launch Pad 39B. Behind the S... More

The walls of the Butler Building at Kennedy Space Center come tumbling down, with the help of the crane in the background. The building, which is near the Orbiter Processing Facility, is being demolished in order to extend the crawlerway leading to the high bay of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), part of KSC's Safe Haven project. The goal of Safe Haven is to strengthen readiness for Florida's hurricane season by expanding the VAB's storage capacity. Construction includes outfitting the VAB with a third stacking area, in high bay 2, that will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad into the safety of the VAB if severe weather threatens. The VAB can withstand winds up to 125 mph KSC-99pp1132

The walls of the Butler Building at Kennedy Space Center come tumbling...

The walls of the Butler Building at Kennedy Space Center come tumbling down, with the help of the crane in the background. The building, which is near the Orbiter Processing Facility, is being demolished in ord... More

The Butler Building at Kennedy Space Center is nearly demolished, with the help of the crane in the background. The building, which is near the Orbiter Processing Facility (right), is being demolished in order to extend the crawlerway leading to the high bay of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), part of KSC's Safe Haven project. The goal of Safe Haven is to strengthen readiness for Florida's hurricane season by expanding the VAB's storage capacity. Construction includes outfitting the VAB with a third stacking area, in high bay 2, that will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad into the safety of the VAB if severe weather threatens. The VAB can withstand winds up to 125 mph KSC-99pp1133

The Butler Building at Kennedy Space Center is nearly demolished, with...

The Butler Building at Kennedy Space Center is nearly demolished, with the help of the crane in the background. The building, which is near the Orbiter Processing Facility (right), is being demolished in order ... More

An aerial view of Launch Complex 39 Area shows the Vehicle Assembly Building (center), surrounded by (right) the Launch Control Center, (lower area, left to right) the Orbiter Processing Facility, Process Control Center and Operations Support Building. Looking toward the Atlantic Ocean (top) can be seen Launch Pads 39-A (right) and 39-B. The crawlerway stretches between the VAB and the launch pads. To the right of the crawlerway is the turn basin where new external tanks are brought from Louisiana via ship. The road bordering the buildings is Kennedy Parkway North. KSC-99PP-1214

An aerial view of Launch Complex 39 Area shows the Vehicle Assembly Bu...

An aerial view of Launch Complex 39 Area shows the Vehicle Assembly Building (center), surrounded by (right) the Launch Control Center, (lower area, left to right) the Orbiter Processing Facility, Process Contr... More

An aerial view of Launch Complex 39 area shows the Vehicle Assembly Building (center), with the Launch Control Center on its right. On the west side (lower end) are (left to right) the Orbiter Processing Facility, Process Control Center and Operations Support Building. Looking east (upper end) are Launch Pads 39-A (right) and 39-B (just above the VAB). The crawlerway stretches between the VAB and the launch pads toward the Atlantic Ocean, seen beyond them. At right is the turn basin where new external tanks are brought via ship, shown at its offloading site. KSC-99PP-1213

An aerial view of Launch Complex 39 area shows the Vehicle Assembly Bu...

An aerial view of Launch Complex 39 area shows the Vehicle Assembly Building (center), with the Launch Control Center on its right. On the west side (lower end) are (left to right) the Orbiter Processing Facili... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Under low clouds and fog, Space Shuttle Discovery makes its trek along the stretch of crawlerway between the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Pad 39B atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler transporter. Once at the pad, the orbiter, external tank and solid rocket boosters will undergo final preparations for the STS-103 launch targeted for Dec. 6, 1999, at 2:37 a.m. EST. The mission is a "call-up" due to the need to replace portions of the pointing system the gyros which have begun to fail on the Hubble Space Telescope. Although Hubble is operating normally and conducting its scientific observations, only three of its six gyroscopes are working properly. The gyroscopes allow the telescope to point at stars, galaxies and planets. The STS-103 crew will also be installing a Fine Guidance Sensor, a new enhanced computer, a solid-state digital recorder, and a new spare transmitter to replace older equipment, and replacing degraded insulation on the telescope with new thermal insulation. The crew will also install a Battery Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kit to protect the spacecraft batteries from overcharging and overheating when the telescope goes into a safe mode. Four EVA's are planned to make the necessary repairs and replacements on the telescope. The STS-103 crew members are Commander Curtis L. Brown Jr., Pilot Scott J. Kelly, Mission Specialist Steven L. Smith, Mission Specialist C. Michael Foale (Ph.D.), Mission Specialist John M. Grunsfeld (Ph.D.), and Mission Specialist Claude Nicollier of Switzerland, and Mission Specialist Jean-François Clervoy of France, both with the European Space Agency KSC-99padig035

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Under low clouds and fog, Space Shuttle ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Under low clouds and fog, Space Shuttle Discovery makes its trek along the stretch of crawlerway between the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Pad 39B atop the mobile launcher p... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Towering atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler transporter, Space Shuttle Discovery makes its trek along the stretch of crawlerway between the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Pad 39B. Once at the pad, the orbiter, external tank and solid rocket boosters will undergo final preparations for the STS-103 launch targeted for Dec. 6, 1999, at 2:37 a.m. EST. The mission is a "call-up" due to the need to replace portions of the pointing system the gyros which have begun to fail on the Hubble Space Telescope. Although Hubble is operating normally and conducting its scientific observations, only three of its six gyroscopes are working properly. The gyroscopes allow the telescope to point at stars, galaxies and planets. The STS-103 crew will also be installing a Fine Guidance Sensor, a new enhanced computer, a solid-state digital recorder, and a new spare transmitter to replace older equipment, and replacing degraded insulation on the telescope with new thermal insulation. The crew will also install a Battery Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kit to protect the spacecraft batteries from overcharging and overheating when the telescope goes into a safe mode. Four EVA's are planned to make the necessary repairs and replacements on the telescope. Comprising the STS-103 crew are Commander Curtis L. Brown Jr., Pilot Scott J. Kelly, Mission Specialist Steven L. Smith, Mission Specialist C. Michael Foale (Ph.D.), Mission Specialist John M. Grunsfeld (Ph.D.), Mission Specialist Claude Nicollier of Switzerland, with the European Space Agency, and Mission Specialist Jean-François Clervoy of France, with the European Space Agency. KSC-99padig032

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Towering atop the mobile launcher platfo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Towering atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler transporter, Space Shuttle Discovery makes its trek along the stretch of crawlerway between the Vehicle Assembly Building and... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Towering atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler transporter, Space Shuttle Discovery negotiates a turn in the crawlerway on its trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B. While at the pad, the orbiter, external tank and solid rocket boosters will undergo final preparations for the STS-103 launch targeted for Dec. 6, 1999, at 2:37 a.m. EST. The mission is a "call-up" due to the need to replace portions of the pointing system the gyros which have begun to fail on the Hubble Space Telescope. Although Hubble is operating normally and conducting its scientific observations, only three of its six gyroscopes are working properly. The gyroscopes allow the telescope to point at stars, galaxies and planets. The STS-103 crew will also be installing a Fine Guidance Sensor, a new enhanced computer, a solid-state digital recorder, and a new spare transmitter to replace older equipment, and replacing degraded insulation on the telescope with new thermal insulation. The crew will also install a Battery Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kit to protect the spacecraft batteries from overcharging and overheating when the telescope goes into a safe mode. Four EVA's are planned to make the necessary repairs and replacements on the telescope. The STS-103 crew members are Commander Curtis L. Brown Jr., Pilot Scott J. Kelly, Mission Specialist Steven L. Smith, Mission Specialist C. Michael Foale (Ph.D.), Mission Specialist John M. Grunsfeld (Ph.D.), and Mission Specialist Claude Nicollier of Switzerland, and Mission Specialist Jean-François Clervoy of France, both with the European Space Agency KSC-99padig036

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Towering atop the mobile launcher platfo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Towering atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler transporter, Space Shuttle Discovery negotiates a turn in the crawlerway on its trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to La... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Under low clouds and fog, Space Shuttle Discovery makes its trek along the stretch of crawlerway between the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Pad 39B atop the mobile launcher platform and crawler transporter. Once at the pad, the orbiter, external tank and solid rocket boosters will undergo final preparations for the STS-103 launch targeted for Dec. 6, 1999, at 2:37 a.m. EST. The mission is a "call-up" due to the need to replace portions of the pointing system the gyros which have begun to fail on the Hubble Space Telescope. Although Hubble is operating normally and conducting its scientific observations, only three of its six gyroscopes are working properly. The gyroscopes allow the telescope to point at stars, galaxies and planets. The STS-103 crew will also be installing a Fine Guidance Sensor, a new enhanced computer, a solid-state digital recorder, and a new spare transmitter to replace older equipment, and replacing degraded insulation on the telescope with new thermal insulation. The crew will also install a Battery Voltage/Temperature Improvement Kit to protect the spacecraft batteries from overcharging and overheating when the telescope goes into a safe mode. Four EVA's are planned to make the necessary repairs and replacements on the telescope. The STS-103 crew members are Commander Curtis L. Brown Jr., Pilot Scott J. Kelly, Mission Specialist Steven L. Smith, Mission Specialist C. Michael Foale (Ph.D.), Mission Specialist John M. Grunsfeld (Ph.D.), and Mission Specialist Claude Nicollier of Switzerland, and Mission Specialist Jean-François Clervoy of France, both with the European Space Agency. KSC-99padig033

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Under low clouds and fog, Space Shuttle...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Under low clouds and fog, Space Shuttle Discovery makes its trek along the stretch of crawlerway between the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Pad 39B atop the mobile launcher ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, teems with fish and draws white pelicans, gray pelicans, cormorants, sea gulls and more looking for a meal. The turn basin is part of the Indian River Lagoon, composed of Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west. The Indian River Lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the lagoon seasonally. The lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC-00pp0195

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, east of the...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, teems with fish and draws white pelicans, gray pelicans, cormorants, sea gulls and mo... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Next to them on a rock is an osprey eating a fish. Dolphins inhabit the waters around Kennedy Space Center, along with many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish and shellfish. Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west make up a special type of estuary called a lagoon, a body of water separated from the ocean by barrier islands, with limited exchange with the ocean through inlets. The Lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth. Nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the Lagoon seasonally. The lagoon also has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America KSC00pp0191

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle As...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Next to them on a rock is... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hundreds of birds, especially gray and white pelicans and cormorants, cover the water in the turn basin, located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway. The basin is teeming with fish, attracting the crowd for a meal. The turn basin is part of the Indian River Lagoon, composed of Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west. The lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America, plus many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish, shellfish and dolphins. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the Lagoon seasonally. The Lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC-00pp0197

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hundreds of birds, especially gray and w...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hundreds of birds, especially gray and white pelicans and cormorants, cover the water in the turn basin, located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway. T... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Dolphins inhabit the waters around Kennedy Space Center, along with many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish and shellfish. Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west make up a special type of estuary called a lagoon, a body of water separated from the ocean by barrier islands, with limited exchange with the ocean through inlets. The Indian River Lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the lagoon seasonally. The lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC00pp0193

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle As...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Dolphins inhabit the wate... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Next to them on a rock is an osprey eating a fish. Dolphins inhabit the waters around Kennedy Space Center, along with many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish and shellfish. Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west make up a special type of estuary called a lagoon, a body of water separated from the ocean by barrier islands, with limited exchange with the ocean through inlets. The Lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth. Nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the Lagoon seasonally. The lagoon also has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America KSC-00pp0191

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle As...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Next to them on a rock is... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, teems with fish and draws white pelicans, gray pelicans, cormorants, sea gulls and one of several dolphins looking for a meal. The turn basin is part of the Indian River Lagoon, composed of Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west. The lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America, plus many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish, shellfish and dolphins. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the lagoon seasonally. The lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC00pp0198

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, located eas...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, teems with fish and draws white pelicans, gray pelicans, cormorants, sea gull... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Dolphins inhabit the waters around Kennedy Space Center, along with many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish and shellfish. Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west make up a special type of estuary called a lagoon, a body of water separated from the ocean by barrier islands, with limited exchange with the ocean through inlets. The Lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth. Nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the Lagoon seasonally KSC-00pp0190

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle As...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Dolphins inhabit the wate... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hundreds of birds, especially gray and white pelicans and cormorants, cover the water in the turn basin, located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway. The basin is teeming with fish, attracting the crowd for a meal. The turn basin is part of the Indian River Lagoon, composed of Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west. The lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America, plus many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish, shellfish and dolphins. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the Lagoon seasonally. The Lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC00pp0197

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hundreds of birds, especially gray and w...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Hundreds of birds, especially gray and white pelicans and cormorants, cover the water in the turn basin, located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway. T... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A gray and a white pelican glide down to the water near a dolphin and cormorant in the turn basin to search for a meal in the fish-teeming water. Sea gulls also approach. The turn basin, which is east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, is part of the Indian River Lagoon, composed of Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west. The lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America, plus many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish, shellfish and dolphins. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the Lagoon seasonally. The Lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC-00pp0196

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A gray and a white pelican glide down to...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A gray and a white pelican glide down to the water near a dolphin and cormorant in the turn basin to search for a meal in the fish-teeming water. Sea gulls also approach. The turn ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, teems with fish and draws white pelicans, gray pelicans, cormorants, sea gulls and one of several dolphins looking for a meal. The turn basin is part of the Indian River Lagoon, composed of Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west. The lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America, plus many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish, shellfish and dolphins. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the lagoon seasonally. The lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC-00pp0198

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, located eas...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, teems with fish and draws white pelicans, gray pelicans, cormorants, sea gull... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Dolphins inhabit the waters around Kennedy Space Center, along with many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish and shellfish. Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west make up a special type of estuary called a lagoon, a body of water separated from the ocean by barrier islands, with limited exchange with the ocean through inlets. The Lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth. Nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the Lagoon seasonally KSC00pp0190

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle As...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Dolphins inhabit the wate... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A gray and a white pelican glide down to the water near a dolphin and cormorant in the turn basin to search for a meal in the fish-teeming water. Sea gulls also approach. The turn basin, which is east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, is part of the Indian River Lagoon, composed of Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west. The lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America, plus many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish, shellfish and dolphins. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the Lagoon seasonally. The Lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC00pp0196

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A gray and a white pelican glide down to...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A gray and a white pelican glide down to the water near a dolphin and cormorant in the turn basin to search for a meal in the fish-teeming water. Sea gulls also approach. The turn ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A dolphin glides through the water looking for fish in the turn basin, which is located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway. Dolphins inhabit the waters, known as the Indian River Lagoon, around Kennedy Space Center, along with many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish and shellfish. Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west make up a special type of estuary called a lagoon, a body of water separated from the ocean by barrier islands, with limited exchange with the ocean through inlets. The Indian River Lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the lagoon seasonally. The lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC00pp0194

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A dolphin glides through the water looki...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A dolphin glides through the water looking for fish in the turn basin, which is located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway. Dolphins inhabit the water... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, teems with fish and draws white pelicans, gray pelicans, cormorants, sea gulls and more looking for a meal. The turn basin is part of the Indian River Lagoon, composed of Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west. The Indian River Lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the lagoon seasonally. The lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC00pp0195

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, east of the...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The water in the turn basin, east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, teems with fish and draws white pelicans, gray pelicans, cormorants, sea gulls and mo... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A dolphin glides through the water looking for fish in the turn basin, which is located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway. Dolphins inhabit the waters, known as the Indian River Lagoon, around Kennedy Space Center, along with many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish and shellfish. Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west make up a special type of estuary called a lagoon, a body of water separated from the ocean by barrier islands, with limited exchange with the ocean through inlets. The Indian River Lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the lagoon seasonally. The lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC-00pp0194

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A dolphin glides through the water looki...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A dolphin glides through the water looking for fish in the turn basin, which is located east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway. Dolphins inhabit the water... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Dolphins inhabit the waters around Kennedy Space Center, along with many different species of oceanic and lagoon fish and shellfish. Mosquito Lagoon to the north, Banana River and Creek to the south and the Indian River to the west make up a special type of estuary called a lagoon, a body of water separated from the ocean by barrier islands, with limited exchange with the ocean through inlets. The Indian River Lagoon has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America. Also, nearly one-third of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through the lagoon seasonally. The lagoon varies in width from ½ mile to 5 miles and averages only 3 feet in depth KSC-00pp0193

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle As...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the turn basin east of the Vehicle Assembly Building and next to the crawlerway, a mother dolphin guides her baby through the water to search for food. Dolphins inhabit the wate... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, moves into the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion of the crawlerway was restored to enable rollout of a Shuttle from this third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC00pp0723

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawle...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, moves into the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion of the crawlerw... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, heads to the open door of the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion of the crawlerway was restored to enable rollout of a Shuttle from this third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC-00pp0720

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawle...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, heads to the open door of the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, heads to the open door of the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion of the crawlerway was restored to enable rollout of a Shuttle from this third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC00pp0720

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawle...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, heads to the open door of the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top tests the buried portion of the Apollo-era crawlerway leading to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay 2 on the southwest side. The road was restored as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. High bay 2 provides a third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC00pp0716

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top tests the buried portion of the Apollo-era crawlerway leading to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay 2 on the so... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On a portion of the once-buried crawlerway that was recently restored, a crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top turns toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay 2. The road was restored as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. High bay 2 provides a third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC00pp0719

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On a portion of the once-buried crawlerw...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On a portion of the once-buried crawlerway that was recently restored, a crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top turns toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) h... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top tests the buried portion of the Apollo-era crawlerway leading to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay 2 on the southwest side. The road was restored as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. High bay 2 provides a third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC-00pp0716

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top tests the buried portion of the Apollo-era crawlerway leading to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay 2 on the so... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top moves along a portion of the once-buried crawlerway toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The road was restored as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. High bay 2 provides a third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC00pp0718

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top moves along a portion of the once-buried crawlerway toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The road was restored as ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, heads through the open door of the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion of the crawlerway was restored to enable rollout of a Shuttle from this third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC-00pp0722

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawle...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, heads through the open door of the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried por... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On a portion of the once-buried crawlerway that was recently restored, a crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top turns toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay 2. The road was restored as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. High bay 2 provides a third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC-00pp0719

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On a portion of the once-buried crawlerw...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On a portion of the once-buried crawlerway that was recently restored, a crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top turns toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) h... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top moves along a portion of the once-buried crawlerway toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The road was restored as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. High bay 2 provides a third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC-00pp0718

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top moves along a portion of the once-buried crawlerway toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The road was restored as ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, moves into the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion of the crawlerway was restored to enable rollout of a Shuttle from this third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC-00pp0723

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawle...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, moves into the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion of the crawlerw... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From inside the VAB high bay 2, a mobile launcher platform atop a crawler transporter is viewed as it rolls through the doorway using the recently restored crawlerway. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion of the crawlerway was restored to enable rollout of a Shuttle from high bay 2. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC-00pp0721

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From inside the VAB high bay 2, a mobile...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From inside the VAB high bay 2, a mobile launcher platform atop a crawler transporter is viewed as it rolls through the doorway using the recently restored crawlerway. As part of t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From inside the VAB high bay 2, a mobile launcher platform atop a crawler transporter is viewed as it rolls through the doorway using the recently restored crawlerway. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion of the crawlerway was restored to enable rollout of a Shuttle from high bay 2. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC00pp0721

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From inside the VAB high bay 2, a mobile...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From inside the VAB high bay 2, a mobile launcher platform atop a crawler transporter is viewed as it rolls through the doorway using the recently restored crawlerway. As part of t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top makes its way from the Orbiter Processing Facility along the once-buried portion of the Apollo-era crawlerway leading to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay. The road was restored as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. High bay 2 provides a third stacking area.. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC00pp0717

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top makes its way from the Orbiter Processing Facility along the once-buried portion of the Apollo-era crawlerway leading to ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, heads through the open door of the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried portion of the crawlerway was restored to enable rollout of a Shuttle from this third stacking area. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC00pp0722

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawle...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A mobile launcher platform atop a crawler-transporter, heads through the open door of the Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2. As part of the Safe Haven project, a once-buried por... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top makes its way from the Orbiter Processing Facility along the once-buried portion of the Apollo-era crawlerway leading to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay. The road was restored as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. High bay 2 provides a third stacking area.. The primary goal of the Safe Haven construction project was to strengthen readiness for hurricane season by expanding the VAB’s storage capacity. The new area, in high bay 2, will allow NASA to preassemble stacks and still have room in the VAB to pull a Shuttle back from the pad if severe weather threatens. Potential rollouts of the Space Shuttle to the launch pad from high bay 2 will involve making a turn around the north side of the VAB in contrast to the straight rollouts from high bays 1 and 3, on the east side of the VAB facing the launch pads KSC-00pp0717

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launch...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A crawler-transporter with mobile launcher platform on top makes its way from the Orbiter Processing Facility along the once-buried portion of the Apollo-era crawlerway leading to ... More

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB high bay 2, where a mobile launcher platform/crawler-transporter currently sits. The road restoration and high bay 2 are part of KSC’s Safe Haven project, enabling the storage of orbiters during severe weather. The crawlerway also extends from the east side of the VAB out to the two Space Shuttle launch pads. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean. To the right of the far crawlerway is the turn basin, into which ships tow the barge for offloading new external tanks from Louisiana KSC00pp0735

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Sh...

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading ... More

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage point. The roadway leading to the tour stop runs next to the crawlerway (foreground) which is used to transport Space Shuttles to the pads KSC00pp0737

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Com...

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage poin... More

This aerial photo shows the areas recently opened as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. The curved road in the center is the newly restored crawlerway leading around the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) into the VAB high bay 2 (open on the lower right), where a mobile launcher platform/crawler-transporter currently sits. The Safe Haven project will enable the storage of orbiters during severe weather. OPF1 and OPF-2 are at the lower right. The crawlerway also extends from the east side of the VAB out to the two launch pads. Launch Pad 39A is visible to the left of the crawlerway. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean. To the right of the VAB is the turn basin, into which ships tow the barge for offloading new external tanks from Louisiana KSC00pp0728

This aerial photo shows the areas recently opened as part of KSC’s Saf...

This aerial photo shows the areas recently opened as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. The curved road in the center is the newly restored crawlerway leading around the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and Orbit... More

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage point. The roadway leading to the tour stop runs next to the crawlerway (right) which is used to transport Space Shuttles from the Vehicle Assembly Building (background) to the pads KSC00pp0738

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Com...

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage poin... More

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle processing. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road in the foreground is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB high bay 2. The road restoration and high bay 2 are part of KSC’s Safe Haven project, enabling the storage of orbiters during severe weather. The road circles around the Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) at right center. OPF1 and OPF-2 are just above the curving road. On the left of the VAB, the crawlerway also extends from high bays 1 and 3, past the Launch Control Center, out to the two Shuttle launch pads KSC-00pp0733

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Sh...

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle processing. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road in the foreground is the newly restored crawlerway leadi... More

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB high bay 2, where a mobile launcher platform/crawler-transporter currently sits. The road restoration and high bay 2 are part of KSC’s Safe Haven project, enabling the storage of orbiters during severe weather. The crawlerway also extends from the east side of the VAB out to the two Space Shuttle launch pads. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean KSC-00pp0734

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Sh...

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading ... More

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB high bay 2, where a mobile launcher platform/crawler-transporter currently sits. The road restoration and high bay 2 are part of KSC’s Safe Haven project, enabling the storage of orbiters during severe weather. The road circles around the Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) at left center. OPF1 and OPF-2 are just below the curving road. The crawlerway also extends from the east side of the VAB out to the two launch pads, only one visible to the left of the VAB. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean. To the right of the far crawlerway is the turn basin, into which ships tow the barge for offloading new external tanks from Louisiana KSC00pp0727

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Sh...

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading ... More

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage point. The roadway leading to the tour stop runs next to the crawlerway (foreground) which is used to transport Space Shuttles to the pads KSC-00pp0737

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Com...

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage poin... More

This aerial photo shows the areas recently opened as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. The curved road in the center is the newly restored crawlerway leading around the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) into the VAB high bay 2 (open on the lower right), where a mobile launcher platform/crawler-transporter currently sits. The Safe Haven project will enable the storage of orbiters during severe weather. OPF1 and OPF-2 are at the lower right. The crawlerway also extends from the east side of the VAB out to the two launch pads. Launch Pad 39A is visible to the left of the crawlerway. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean. To the right of the VAB is the turn basin, into which ships tow the barge for offloading new external tanks from Louisiana KSC-00pp0728

This aerial photo shows the areas recently opened as part of KSC’s Saf...

This aerial photo shows the areas recently opened as part of KSC’s Safe Haven project. The curved road in the center is the newly restored crawlerway leading around the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and Orbit... More

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), with the Launch Control Center at its right. The curved road on the left in the photo is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB high bay 2, where a mobile launcher platform/crawler-transporter sits. The road restoration and high bay 2 are part of KSC's Safe Haven project, enabling the storage of orbiters during severe weather. The crawlerway also extends from the east side out to the two launch pads, one visible close to the road on the left and one to the left of the VAB. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean. To the right of the crawlerway is the turn basin, into which ships tow the barge for offloading new external tanks from Louisiana. KSC-00PP-0726

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Sh...

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), with the Launch Control Center at its right. The curved road on the left i... More

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage point. The roadway leading to the tour stop runs next to the crawlerway (left) which is used to transport Space Shuttles from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the pads. Pad A can be seen in the background. KSC-00PP-0741

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Com...

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage poin... More

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB high bay 2, where a mobile launcher platform/crawler-transporter currently sits. The road restoration and high bay 2 are part of KSC’s Safe Haven project, enabling the storage of orbiters during severe weather. The crawlerway also extends from the east side of the VAB out to the two Space Shuttle launch pads. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean KSC00pp0734

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Sh...

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading ... More

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage point. The roadway leading to the tour stop runs next to the crawlerway (left) which is used to transport Space Shuttles from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the pads. Pad A can be seen in the background. KSC-92PC-2259

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Com...

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage poin... More

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage point. The roadway leading to the tour stop runs next to the crawlerway (right) which is used to transport Space Shuttles from the Vehicle Assembly Building (background) to the pads KSC-00pp0738

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Com...

This aerial view is of a tour stop on the KSC bus tour, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry. This stop allows visitors to view and photograph Pads A and B in Launch Complex 39 from an elevated vantage poin... More

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB high bay 2, where a mobile launcher platform/crawler-transporter currently sits. The road restoration and high bay 2 are part of KSC’s Safe Haven project, enabling the storage of orbiters during severe weather. The road circles around the Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) at left center. OPF1 and OPF-2 are just below the curving road. The crawlerway also extends from the east side of the VAB out to the two launch pads, only one visible to the left of the VAB. In the distance is the Atlantic Ocean. To the right of the far crawlerway is the turn basin, into which ships tow the barge for offloading new external tanks from Louisiana KSC-00pp0727

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Sh...

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle launches. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road on the near side is the newly restored crawlerway leading ... More

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle processing. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road in the foreground is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB high bay 2. The road restoration and high bay 2 are part of KSC’s Safe Haven project, enabling the storage of orbiters during severe weather. The road circles around the Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) at right center. OPF1 and OPF-2 are just above the curving road. On the left of the VAB, the crawlerway also extends from high bays 1 and 3, past the Launch Control Center, out to the two Shuttle launch pads KSC00pp0733

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Sh...

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle processing. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road in the foreground is the newly restored crawlerway leadi... More

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle processing. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB high bay 2. The road restoration and high bay 2 are part of KSC's Safe Haven project, enabling the storage of orbiters during severe weather. The road circles around the Orbiter Processing Facility 3 (OPF-3) at left. OPF1 and OPF-2 are on the right below the curving road. East of the VAB, the crawlerway also extends from high bays 1 and 3 to the two Shuttle launch pads. KSC-00PP-0736

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Sh...

This aerial photo captures many of the facilities involved in Space Shuttle processing. At center is the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The curved road is the newly restored crawlerway leading into the VAB hi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This 30-second timed exposure captures the bright lights around the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) plus the equally bright moon (upper right) as Space Shuttle Atlantis (far left) rolls out of the east side bay 1. The Launch Control Center sits between the Shuttle and the VAB. The full stack of Shuttle, solid rocket boosters and external tank are taking part in a fit check for the newly renovated crawlerway and high bay 2, which is on the west side. The major modifications to the crawlerway and VAB provide Shuttle flight hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis began moving out of VAB high bay 1 at 2:59 a.m. EDT. After the successful Safe Haven fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC00pp1127

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This 30-second timed exposure captures t...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- This 30-second timed exposure captures the bright lights around the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) plus the equally bright moon (upper right) as Space Shuttle Atlantis (far left) ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - is rolling into the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side. The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis, the twin solid rocket boosters and external tank begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. The 6-million pound crawler transporter carried the Mobile Launcher Platform and Space Shuttle around the north side of the VAB and into high bay 2. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC00pp1110

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle hist...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - is rolling into the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side. The... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Shuttle Atlantis, with twin solid rocket boosters and external tank atop the Mobile Launcher Platform and crawler-transorter, moves in the predawn hours into high bay 2 in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle is rolling around the north side of the VAB into high bay 2 on the building's west side. The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis, the twin solid rocket boosters and external tank begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC-00pp1113

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Shuttle Atlantis, with twin solid rocket...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Shuttle Atlantis, with twin solid rocket boosters and external tank atop the Mobile Launcher Platform and crawler-transorter, moves in the predawn hours into high bay 2 in the Vehi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Just after sunup, Shuttle Atlantis sits outside the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side after completing a fit check. This is the first time in Space Shuttle history that a fully stacked Shuttle is being moved into the space. The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis, the twin solid rocket boosters and external tank begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. The 6-million pound crawler transporter carried the Mobile Launcher Platform and Space Shuttle around the north side of the VAB and into high bay 2. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC-00pp1111

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Just after sunup, Shuttle Atlantis sits ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Just after sunup, Shuttle Atlantis sits outside the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side after completing a fit check. This is the first time i... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - is rolling into the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side. The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis, the twin solid rocket boosters and external tank begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. The 6-million pound crawler transporter carried the Mobile Launcher Platform and Space Shuttle around the north side of the VAB and into high bay 2. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC-00pp1110

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle hist...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - is rolling into the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side. The... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - moves into high bay 2, on the west side of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC-00pp1115

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle hist...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - moves into high bay 2, on the west side of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The VAB and ne... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Just after sunup, Shuttle Atlantis sits outside the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side after completing a fit check. This is the first time in Space Shuttle history that a fully stacked Shuttle is being moved into the space. The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis, the twin solid rocket boosters and external tank begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. The 6-million pound crawler transporter carried the Mobile Launcher Platform and Space Shuttle around the north side of the VAB and into high bay 2. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC00pp1111

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Just after sunup, Shuttle Atlantis sits ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Just after sunup, Shuttle Atlantis sits outside the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side after completing a fit check. This is the first time i... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - moves into high bay 2, on the west side of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC00pp1115

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle hist...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - moves into high bay 2, on the west side of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The VAB and ne... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The sun is rising over the Atlantic Ocean (right) as Shuttle Atlantis sits outside the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side after completing a fit check. This is the first time in Space Shuttle history that a fully stacked Shuttle has been moved into the space. The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis, the twin solid rocket boosters and external tank begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. The 6-million pound crawler transporter carried the Mobile Launcher Platform and Space Shuttle around the north side of the VAB and into high bay 2. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC-00pp1112

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The sun is rising over the Atlantic Ocea...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The sun is rising over the Atlantic Ocean (right) as Shuttle Atlantis sits outside the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side after completing a f... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The sun is rising over the Atlantic Ocean (right) as Shuttle Atlantis sits outside the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side after completing a fit check. This is the first time in Space Shuttle history that a fully stacked Shuttle has been moved into the space. The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis, the twin solid rocket boosters and external tank begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. The 6-million pound crawler transporter carried the Mobile Launcher Platform and Space Shuttle around the north side of the VAB and into high bay 2. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC00pp1112

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The sun is rising over the Atlantic Ocea...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The sun is rising over the Atlantic Ocean (right) as Shuttle Atlantis sits outside the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side after completing a f... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Shuttle Atlantis, with twin solid rocket boosters and external tank atop the Mobile Launcher Platform and crawler-transorter, inches toward high bay 2, on the west side, in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle is moving into the bay. The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC-00pp1114

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Shuttle Atlantis, with twin solid rocket...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Shuttle Atlantis, with twin solid rocket boosters and external tank atop the Mobile Launcher Platform and crawler-transorter, inches toward high bay 2, on the west side, in the Veh... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Shuttle Atlantis, with twin solid rocket boosters and external tank atop the Mobile Launcher Platform and crawler-transorter, inches toward high bay 2, on the west side, in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). For the first time in Space Shuttle history, a fully stacked Shuttle is moving into the bay. The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC00pp1114

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Shuttle Atlantis, with twin solid rocket...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Shuttle Atlantis, with twin solid rocket boosters and external tank atop the Mobile Launcher Platform and crawler-transorter, inches toward high bay 2, on the west side, in the Veh... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At 6:30 a.m. EDT an aerial view captures a first in Space Shuttle history: a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - is rolling into the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side (center of photo). The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway (circling to the left) have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis, the twin solid rocket boosters and external tank begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. The 6-million pound crawler transporter carried the Mobile Launcher Platform and Space Shuttle around the north side of the VAB and into high bay 2. To the right of the VAB is the turn basin. In the background can be seen both Launch Pads with the Atlantic Ocean behind them. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC-00pp1109

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At 6:30 a.m. EDT an aerial view captures...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At 6:30 a.m. EDT an aerial view captures a first in Space Shuttle history: a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - is rolling into the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At 6:30 a.m. EDT an aerial view captures a first in Space Shuttle history: a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - is rolling into the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on the building's west side (center of photo). The VAB and nearby rock-paved crawlerway (circling to the left) have recently undergone major modifications to provide Shuttle fliglht hardware more storage space and protection - "Safe Haven" - from hurricanes or tropical storms. Atlantis, the twin solid rocket boosters and external tank begain moving out of VAB high bay 1 on the east side at 2:59 a.m. EDT. The 6-million pound crawler transporter carried the Mobile Launcher Platform and Space Shuttle around the north side of the VAB and into high bay 2. To the right of the VAB is the turn basin. In the background can be seen both Launch Pads with the Atlantic Ocean behind them. After the successful "Safe Haven" fit check, Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39B in preparation for the STS-106 launch on Sept. 8. KSC00pp1109

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At 6:30 a.m. EDT an aerial view captures...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At 6:30 a.m. EDT an aerial view captures a first in Space Shuttle history: a fully stacked Shuttle - Atlantis - is rolling into the Vehicle Assembly Building's (VAB) high bay 2 on ... More

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