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STS-131 - LAUNCH - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

STS-131 - LAUNCH - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

STS-131 - LAUNCH - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

STS-131 - LAUNCH - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

STS-135 - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

The STS-95 Space Shuttle Discovery sits on the Mobile Launch Platform, still atop the crawler transporter, at Launch Pad 39B, after its 4.2-mile, 6-hour trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building. On its left is the Fixed Service Structure that provides access to the orbiter and the Rotating Service Structure. Beyond the orbiter is seen the Atlantic Ocean. While at the launch pad, the orbiter, external tank and solid rocket boosters will undergo final preparations for the launch, scheduled to lift off Oct. 29. The mission includes research payloads such as the Spartan solar-observing deployable spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform, the International Extreme Ultraviolet Hitchhiker, as well as the SPACEHAB single module with experiments on space flight and the aging process KSC-98pc1109

STS-131 - LAUNCH - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is illuminated by bright xenon lights on Launch Pad 39A after the rotating service structure was moved away. The structure provides weather protection and access to the shuttle while it awaits lift off on the pad. RSS "rollback," as it's called, began at 8:02 p.m. EST on Feb. 23 and wrapped up at 8:37 p.m. Scheduled to lift off Feb. 24 at 4:50 p.m. EST, Discovery and its six-member crew will deliver the Permanent Multipurpose Module, packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, to the International Space Station. Discovery, which will fly its 39th mission, is scheduled to be retired following STS-133. This will be the 133rd Space Shuttle Program mission and the 35th shuttle voyage to the space station. For more information on the STS-133 mission, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts133/. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-1582

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The afternoon sun streaming through the Fixed Service Structure throws grid-like shadows over Space Shuttle Endeavour after arriving on Launch Pad 39A. In the background is seen the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean. Endeavour is expected to lift off on mission STS-100 on April 19, carrying the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Raffaello and the Canadian robotic arm, SSRMS, to the International Space Station KSC01pp0568

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The late afternoon sun highlights the external tank and solid rocket booster on Space Shuttle Columbia after rollback of the Rotating Service Structure on Launch Pad 39A. Visible are the orbiter access arm with the White Room extended to Columbia's cockpit, and at the top, the gaseous oxygen vent arm and cap, called the "beanie cap." Columbia is scheduled for launch Jan. 16 at 10:39 a.m. EST on mission STS-107, a research mission. KSC-03pd0074

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After rollback of the Rotating Service Structure on Launch Pad 39A, the top of Space Shuttle Columbia's external tank and solid rocket booster are bathed in sunlight. Shadows from the Fixed Service Structure stretch across the Shuttle and landscape. Visible are the orbiter access arm with the White Room extended to Columbia's cockpit, and at the top, the gaseous oxygen vent arm and cap, called the "beanie cap." Columbia is scheduled for launch Jan. 16 at 10:39 a.m. EST on mission STS-107, a research mission. KSC-03pd0075

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The driver in the foreground controls the rollback of the Rotating Service Structure from around Space Shuttle Columbia, which is bathed in shadows. Visible are the orbiter access arm with the White Room extended to Columbia's cockpit, and at the top, the gaseous oxygen vent arm and cap, called the "beanie cap." Columbia is scheduled for launch Jan. 16 at 10:39 a.m. EST on mission STS-107. KSC-03pd0073

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After rollback of the Rotating Service Structure on Launch Pad 39A, Space Shuttle Columbia is revealed atop its Mobile Launch Platform. Visible is the gaseous oxygen vent arm and cap, called the "beanie cap", extended above the orange external tank. Columbia is scheduled for launch Jan. 16 at 10:39 a.m. EST on mission STS-107, a research mission. KSC-03pd0076

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Cast in late afternoon shadows, Space Shuttle Columbia is revealed as the Rotating Service Structure rolls back. The Shuttle sits atop the Mobile Launcher Platform. Near the top is seen the orbiter access arm with the White Room at the end. The White Room provides entry into the Shuttle for the crew. Above the orange external tank is the gaseous oxygen vent arm and cap, called the "beanie cap." Columbia is scheduled for launch Jan. 16 at 10:39 a.m. EST on mission STS-107. KSC-03pd0072

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After rollback of the Rotating Service Structure, Space Shuttle Atlantis is revealed on pad 39B prior to launch. The orbiter access arm with the White Room at the end can be seen extending toward the cockpit. The White Room provides entry into the Shuttle for the crew. Above the orange external tank is the vent hood, called the "beanie cap." The Shuttle is scheduled for launch Oct. 7 at 3:46 p.m. EDT on mission STS-112. KSC-02pd1443

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the orbiter access arm, which extends from the Fixed Service Structure, is positioned against space shuttle Atlantis following the rollback of the rotating service structure, or RSS. Movement of the RSS began at 7:27 p.m. EST. The RSS provides protected access to the orbiter for crew entry and servicing of payloads at the pad. Rollback of the pad's RSS is one of the milestones in preparation for the launch of mission STS-122, scheduled for 2:45 p.m. EST on Feb. 7. This will be the third launch attempt for Atlantis since December 2007 to carry the Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station. Beneath the shuttle is the mobile launcher platform which supports the shuttle until liftoff. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-08pd0181

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After rollback of the Rotating Service Structure, Space Shuttle Atlantis is revealed on pad 39B prior to launch. The orbiter access arm with the White Room at the end can be seen extending toward the cockpit. The White Room provides entry into the Shuttle for the crew. Above the orange external tank is the vent hood, called the "beanie cap." The Shuttle is scheduled for launch Oct. 7 at 3:46 p.m. EDT on mission STS-112. KSC-02pd1442

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After rollback of the Rotating Service Structure, Space Shuttle Columbia is revealed waiting for launch Feb. 28, 2002, at 6:48 a.m. EST (11:48 GMT) on mission STS-109. In the photo is seen the Orbiter Access Arm stretched to Columbia's cockpit, plus the "beanie cap" above the external tank. The cap is a vent hood allowing release of gaseous oxygen. A Hubble Servicing Mission, the goal is to replace Solar Array 2 with Solar Array 3, replace the Power Control Unit, remove the Faint Object Camera and install the ACS, install the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) Cooling System, and install New Outer Blanket Layer insulation. KSC-02pd0186

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The late afternoon sun highlights the external tank and solid rocket booster on Space Shuttle Columbia after rollback of the Rotating Service Structure on Launch Pad 39A. Visible are the orbiter access arm with the White Room extended to Columbia's cockpit, and at the top, the gaseous oxygen vent arm and cap, called the "beanie cap." Columbia is scheduled for launch Jan. 16 at 10:39 a.m. EST on mission STS-107, a research mission. KSC-03pd0077

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Summary

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The late afternoon sun highlights the external tank and solid rocket booster on Space Shuttle Columbia after rollback of the Rotating Service Structure on Launch Pad 39A. Visible are the orbiter access arm with the White Room extended to Columbia's cockpit, and at the top, the gaseous oxygen vent arm and cap, called the "beanie cap." Columbia is scheduled for launch Jan. 16 at 10:39 a.m. EST on mission STS-107, a research mission.

The Space Shuttle program was the United States government's manned launch vehicle program from 1981 to 2011, administered by NASA and officially beginning in 1972. The Space Shuttle system—composed of an orbiter launched with two reusable solid rocket boosters and a disposable external fuel tank— carried up to eight astronauts and up to 50,000 lb (23,000 kg) of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO). When its mission was complete, the orbiter would re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and lands as a glider. Although the concept had been explored since the late 1960s, the program formally commenced in 1972 and was the focus of NASA's manned operations after the final Apollo and Skylab flights in the mid-1970s. It started with the launch of the first shuttle Columbia on April 12, 1981, on STS-1. and finished with its last mission, STS-135 flown by Atlantis, in July 2011.

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kennedy space center afternoon sun afternoon sun tank rocket booster rocket booster columbia space shuttle columbia rollback service structure launch pad visible orbiter access arm orbiter access arm white room white room cockpit oxygen vent oxygen vent arm cap beanie beanie cap sts mission sts research research mission space shuttle space shuttle on launch pad high resolution nasa
date_range

Date

1960 - 1969
collections

in collections

Space Shuttle Program

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Location

create

Source

NASA
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Link

https://images.nasa.gov/
copyright

Copyright info

Public Domain Dedication (CC0)

label_outline Explore Afternoon Sun, Oxygen Vent Arm, Beanie Cap

Topics

kennedy space center afternoon sun afternoon sun tank rocket booster rocket booster columbia space shuttle columbia rollback service structure launch pad visible orbiter access arm orbiter access arm white room white room cockpit oxygen vent oxygen vent arm cap beanie beanie cap sts mission sts research research mission space shuttle space shuttle on launch pad high resolution nasa