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Discovery Readied For Mate to SCA (KSC-2012-2156)

In this close-up, Space Shuttle Discovery sits atop the Mobile Launch Platform on Launch Pad 39-B, with the Rotating Service Structure moved back, to await rollback decision. The flag at right shows the increased wind blowing out of the south. KSC managers developed a precautionary plan to roll back Discovery to the Vehicle Assembly Building in the event that Hurricane Georges threatens Central Florida. The decision was made in order to minimize risk and provide protection to the Space Shuttle, a national asset KSC-98pc1147

During Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities at Launch Pad 39A, the STS-92 crew poses for a group photo. Standing, left to right, on the crawlerway ramp are Mission Specialists Koichi Wakata of Japan, Michael Lopez-Alegria, Jeff Wisoff, Bill McArthur and Leroy Chiao; Pilot Pam Melroy; and Commander Brian Duffy. The TCDT provides emergency egress training, simulated countdown exercises and opportunities to inspect the mission payloads in the orbiter’s payload bay. In the background is Space Shuttle Discovery. STS-92 is scheduled to launch Oct. 5 at 9:30 p.m. EDT on the fifth flight to the International Space Station. It will carry two elements of the Space Station, the Integrated Truss Structure Z1 and the third Pressurized Mating Adapter. The mission is also the 100th flight in the Shuttle program KSC-00pp1329

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In high bay 1 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, the orbiter Endeavour is lowered onto the mobile launcher platform. The orbiter blocks the view of the external tank; on either side of the orbiter are the white solid rocket boosters. The components will be mated for launch. Endeavour will be launched on mission STS-118, its first flight in more than four years. The shuttle has undergone extensive modifications, including the addition of safety upgrades already added to shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour also features new hardware, such as the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System that will allow the docked shuttle to draw electrical power from the station and extend its visits to the orbiting lab. Endeavour is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-07pd1776

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- United Space Alliance workers move away from space shuttle Discovery after checking the sling before the vehicle's lift into high bay 1. In the bay, Discovery will be mated with the external tank and solid rocket boosters waiting on the mobile launcher platform. Discovery is targeted for launch to the International Space Station for mission STS-120 on Oct. 23. The crew will be delivering and installing the Italian-built U.S. Node 2, named Harmony. The pressurized module will act as an internal connecting port and passageway to additional international science labs and cargo spacecraft. In addition to increasing the living and working space inside the station, it also will serve as a work platform outside for the station's robotic arm. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser KSC-07pd2549

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft carrying space shuttle Discovery backs out of the Shuttle Landing Facility's mate-demate device at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The device, known as the MDD, is a large gantry-like steel structure used to hoist a shuttle off the ground and position it onto the back of the aircraft, or SCA. The SCA is a Boeing 747 jet that was originally manufactured for commercial use and modified by NASA to transport the shuttles between destinations on Earth. This SCA, designated NASA 905, is assigned to the remaining ferry missions, delivering the shuttles to their permanent public display sites. NASA 905 is scheduled to ferry Discovery to the Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia on April 17, after which the shuttle will be placed on display in the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. For more information on the SCA, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-013-DFRC.html. For more information on shuttle transition and retirement activities, visit http://www.nasa.gov/transition. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2254

STS-133 - EOM - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Standing in front of a replica of a space shuttle at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, Terry White with United Space Alliance speaks to the audience attending a 30th anniversary celebration in honor of the Space Shuttle Program's first shuttle launch. The celebration followed an announcement by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden where the four orbiters will be placed for permanent display after retirement. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-2896

GODDARD 40TH ANNIVERSARY - U.S. National Archives Public Domain photograph

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - As the orbiter Discovery, sitting on an orbiter transporter, moves away from NASA's Orbiter Processing Facility toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), workers accompany the vehicle. The rollover to the VAB marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. Once inside the VAB, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-06pd0817

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The orbiter Discovery, sitting on an orbiter transporter, turns the corner after gliding out of NASA's Orbiter Processing Facility to begin the rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The rollover marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. Once inside the VAB, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-06pd0816

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The orbiter Discovery, on top of an orbiter transporter, rolls into NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) after leaving the Orbiter Processing Facility. The rollover to the VAB marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. Once inside the VAB, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-06pd0821

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers crowd around the orbiter Discovery, sitting on an orbiter transporter, as it glides out of NASA's Orbiter Processing Facility to begin the rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The rollover marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. Once inside the VAB, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-06pd0815

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The orbiter Discovery, sitting on an orbiter transporter, turns away from NASA's Orbiter Processing Facility to roll toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The rollover to the VAB marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. Once inside the VAB, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-06pd0819

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The orbiter Discovery, on top of an orbiter transporter, heads toward NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) after leaving the Orbiter Processing Facility. The rollover to the VAB marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. Once inside the VAB, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-06pd0820

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The orbiter Discovery, atop an orbiter transporter, reaches its destination, the transfer aisle of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The rollover to the VAB marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. After the slings of the overhead crane are in place, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-06pd0829

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The orbiter Discovery, sitting on an orbiter transporter, slowly backs out of NASA's Orbiter Processing Facility to begin the rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The rollover marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. Once inside the VAB, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-06pd0822

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The orbiter Discovery, sitting on an orbiter transporter, slowly backs out of NASA's Orbiter Processing Facility to begin the rollover to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). The rollover marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. Once inside the VAB, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-06pd0823

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - As the orbiter Discovery, sitting on an orbiter transporter, moves away from NASA's Orbiter Processing Facility toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), workers accompany the vehicle. The rollover to the VAB marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. Once inside the VAB, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-06pd0818

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - As the orbiter Discovery, sitting on an orbiter transporter, moves away from NASA's Orbiter Processing Facility toward the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), workers accompany the vehicle. The rollover to the VAB marks the start of the journey to the launch pad and, ultimately, launch. Once inside the VAB, Discovery will be raised to vertical and lifted up and over into high bay 3 for stacking with its redesigned external tank and twin solid rocket boosters. The rollout of Space Shuttle Discovery to Launch Pad 39B is expected in approximately a week. Launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 is scheduled to take place in a window extending July 1 to July 19. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

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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ov 103 opf kennedy space center orbiter discovery orbiter discovery transporter orbiter transporter moves vab workers rollover vab marks launch pad bay tank rocket boosters rocket boosters rollout space shuttle discovery sts mission sts jim grossmann space shuttle vehicle assembly building high resolution nasa
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1960 - 1969
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Space Shuttle Program
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NASA
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https://images.nasa.gov/
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label_outline Explore Ov 103 Opf, Orbiter Transporter, Rollover

STS-132 ATLANTIS ROLLOUT FROM VAB TO PAD 39A 2010-2919

STS110-718-048 - STS-110 - Walheim and Smith work on the Mobile Transporter during the third EVA of STS-110

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Atlantis' main engines and solid rocket boosters ignite on Launch Pad 39A leaving behind a billow of steam as it lifts off on its STS-135 mission to the International Space Station. Atlantis with its crew of four; Commander Chris Ferguson, Pilot Doug Hurley, Mission Specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, lifted off at 11:29 a.m. EDT on July 8, 2011 to deliver the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module packed with supplies and spare parts for the International Space Station. Atlantis also will fly the Robotic Refueling Mission experiment that will investigate the potential for robotically refueling existing satellites in orbit. In addition, Atlantis will return with a failed ammonia pump module to help NASA better understand the failure mechanism and improve pump designs for future systems. STS-135 is the 33rd flight of Atlantis, the 37th shuttle mission to the space station, and the 135th and final mission of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Gray and Kevin O'Connell KSC-2011-5422

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the VAB, orbiter Endeavour is lifted to a vertical position before being mated to the external tank (bottom of photo) and solid rocket boosters in high bay 1. Space Shuttle Endeavour is targeted for launch on mission STS-99 Jan. 13, 2000, at 1:11 p.m. EST. STS-99 is the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, an international project spearheaded by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency and NASA, with participation of the German Aerospace Center DLR. The SRTM consists of a specially modified radar system that will gather data for the most accurate and complete topographic map of the Earth's surface that has ever been assembled. SRTM will make use of radar interferometry, wherein two radar images are taken from slightly different locations. Differences between these images allow for the calculation of surface elevation, or change. The SRTM hardware will consist of one radar antenna in the shuttle payload bay and a second radar antenna attached to the end of a mast extended 60 meters (195 feet) out from the shuttle KSC-99pp1381

One of two new payload transporters for Kennedy Space Center arrives at Port Canaveral. In the background is a cruise ship docked at the Port. The transporters were shipped by barge from their manufacturer, the KAMAG Company of Ulm, Germany. They are used to carry spacecraft and International Space Station elements from payload facilities to and from the launch pads and orbiter hangars. Each transporter is 65 feet long and 22 feet wide and has 24 tires divided between its two axles. The transporter travels 10 miles per hour unloaded, 5 miles per hour when loaded; it weighs up to 172,000 pounds when the canister with payloads rides atop. The transporters will be outfitted with four subsystems for monitoring the environment inside the canister during the payload moves: the Electrical Power System, Environmental Control System, Instrumentation and Communications System, and the Fluids and Gases System. Engineers and technicians are being trained on the transporter's operation and maintenance. The new transporters are replacing the 20-year-old existing Payload Canister Transporter system KSC00pp0084

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, workers use a crane to lower the Centaur upper stage of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket slated to launch NASA's Juno spacecraft onto a transporter. NASA's Juno spacecraft is scheduled to launch aboard the Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Aug. 5.The solar-powered spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times to find out more about the gas giant's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere and investigate the existence of a solid planetary core. For more information visit: www.nasa.gov/juno. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-4063

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the external tank for space shuttle Atlantis is lowered toward the solid rocket boosters (the nose cone of one of the boosters is seen here) for mating. The tank and boosters will be secured on the mobile launcher platform below. Atlantis' STS-125 mission is the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Launch is targeted for Oct. 8. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-08pd2265

S126E011306 - STS-126 - Survey of MT on the S0 Truss during Expedition 18/STS-126

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After leaving the Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, the orbiter Endeavour, atop its transporter, rolls toward the Vehicle Assembly Building. In the VAB, it will be stacked with the external tank and solid rocket boosters atop the mobile launcher platform for its launch on mission STS-118. The mission will be Endeavour's first flight in more than four years. The shuttle has undergone extensive modifications, including the addition of safety upgrades already added to shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour also features new hardware, such as the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System that will allow the docked shuttle to draw electrical power from the station and extend its visits to the orbiting lab. Endeavour is targeted for launch on Aug. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd1709

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, external fuel tank, ET-138, for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-135 mission, is lowered into high bay-1 for joining with the twin solid rocket boosters on the mobile launcher platform. Shuttle Atlantis' move, or "rollover," from Orbiter Processing Facility-1 to the VAB is targeted for May 10. Once there it will be mated with the external tank and boosters. Atlantis and its crew of four will deliver the Raffaello multipurpose logistics module packed with supplies and spare parts to the International Space Station. STS-135 is targeted to launch June 28, and will be the last spaceflight for the Space Shuttle Program. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller KSC-2011-3043

The space shuttle Enterprise is parked atop its specially-designed 76-wheel transporter at Space Launch Complex Six. In the background is the payload changeout room

Space Shuttle Challenger, Transfer - STS-13 / 41C

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ov 103 opf kennedy space center orbiter discovery orbiter discovery transporter orbiter transporter moves vab workers rollover vab marks launch pad bay tank rocket boosters rocket boosters rollout space shuttle discovery sts mission sts jim grossmann space shuttle vehicle assembly building high resolution nasa