visibility Similar

STS-135 - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

STS-135 - LAUNCH - 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-135 - LAUNCH - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

STS-135 - LAUNCH - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - All is quiet on Launch Pad 39A where Space Shuttle Endeavour sits prior to launch on mission STS-113 to the International Space Station. [Photo by Scott Andrews] KSC-02pd1804

STS-135 - LAUNCH - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A fish-eye view shows Space Shuttle Discovery moments after liftoff from Launch Pad 39B on the historic Return to Flight mission STS-114. At left is the Fixed Service Structure with the White Room appearing to be suspended in mid-air. The White Room provides the astronauts access into the orbiter. The liftoff occurred at 10:39 a.m. EDT. On this mission to the International Space Station the crew will perform inspections on-orbit for the first time of all of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panels on the leading edge of the wings and the Thermal Protection System tiles using the new Canadian-built Orbiter Boom Sensor System and the data from 176 impact and temperature sensors. Mission Specialists will also practice repair techniques on RCC and tile samples during a spacewalk in the payload bay. During two additional spacewalks, the crew will install the External Stowage Platform-2, equipped with spare part assemblies, and a replacement Control Moment Gyroscope contained in the Lightweight Multi-Purpose Experiment Support Structure. The 12-day mission is expected to end with touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility on Aug. 7. KSC-05pp1772

STS-135 - LAUNCH - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

code Related

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Smoke and steam billow across Launch Pad 39A as Space Shuttle Atlantis leaps into the sky on mission STS-117 to the International Space Station. Liftoff was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo courtesy of Nikon/Scott Andrews KSC-07pd1446

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Branches and leaves frame Space Shuttle Atlantis as it lifts off Launch Pad 39A on mission STS-117 to the International Space Station. Liftoff was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Sandra Joseph, Robert Murray and Tom Farrar KSC-07pd1443

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Through the large windows inside the Launch Control Center, NASA officials watch the near-perfect launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-117 to the International Space Station. Liftoff from Launch Pad 39A was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd1432

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Clouds of smoke and steam roll across Launch Pad 39A as Space Shuttle Atlantis races toward the heavens and its rendezvous with the International Space Station on mission STS-117. Liftoff was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo courtesy of Nikon/Scott Andrews KSC-07pd1441

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Trailing fire and smoke, Space Shuttle Atlantis races into the sky toward a rendezvous with the International Space Station on mission STS-117. Liftoff from Launch Pad 39A was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Ken Thornsley KSC-07pd1429

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis passes the lightning mast on the fixed service structure as it soars above the smoke and steam on the launch pad. Liftoff from Launch Pad 39A was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo courtesy of Nikon/Scott Andrews KSC-07pd1442

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-117, reflected in the water next to Launch Pad 39A, is framed by branches on the near bank. Clouds of smoke and steam billow across the launch pad. Liftoff of Atlantis was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Sandra Joseph & Robert Murray KSC-07pp1455

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Trailing fire, Space Shuttle Atlantis roars toward the sky on mission STS-117. Below it can be seen the lighting mast atop the fixed service structure. Liftoff from Launch Pad 39A was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo courtesy of Reuters. KSC-07pd1438

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Twin columns of fire rocket the Space Shuttle Atlantis into the sky above Kennedy Space Center. Liftoff of Atlantis on mission STS-117 to the International Space Station from Launch Pad 39A was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo credit: NASA/Chris Lynch KSC-07pd1454

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis is poised for flight at liftoff from Launch Pad 39A on mission STS-117 to the International Space Station. Liftoff was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo courtesy of Nikon/Scott Andrews KSC-07pd1445

description

Summary

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis is poised for flight at liftoff from Launch Pad 39A on mission STS-117 to the International Space Station. Liftoff was on-time at 7:38:04 p.m. EDT. The shuttle is delivering a new segment to the starboard side of the International Space Station's backbone, known as the truss. Three spacewalks are planned to install the S3/S4 truss segment, deploy a set of solar arrays and prepare them for operation. STS-117 is the 118th space shuttle flight, the 21st flight to the station, the 28th flight for Atlantis and the first of four flights planned for 2007. Photo courtesy of Nikon/Scott Andrews

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.

label_outline

Tags

ov 104 kennedy space center atlantis liftoff launch pad sts mission sts international space station segment starboard starboard side backbone truss spacewalks three spacewalks truss segment arrays operation space shuttle flight four flights courtesy photo courtesy nikon scott andrews space shuttle space shuttle on launch pad high resolution space flight nasa
date_range

Date

1960 - 1969
collections

in collections

Space Shuttle Program
place

Location

create

Source

NASA
link

Link

https://images.nasa.gov/
copyright

Copyright info

Public Domain Dedication (CC0)

label_outline Explore Four Flights, Backbone, Photo Courtesy

An artist's concept of a transatmospheric vehicle above the earth. PHOTO courtesy of Boeing Co

An artist's concept of a transatmospheric vehicle launch site and landing field. PHOTO courtesy of Boeing Co

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery touches down in darkness on Runway 15 of the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, bringing to a close the 10-day STS-82 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Main gear touchdown was at 3:32:26 a.m. EST on February 21, 1997. It was the ninth nighttime landing in the history of the Shuttle program and the 35th landing at KSC. The first landing opportunity at KSC was waved off because of low clouds in the area. The seven-member crew performed a record-tying five back-to-back extravehicular activities (EVAs) or spacewalks to service the telescope, which has been in orbit for nearly seven years. Two new scientific instruments were installed, replacing two outdated instruments. Five spacewalks also were performed on the first servicing mission, STS-61, in December 1993. Only four spacewalks were scheduled for STS-82, but a fifth one was added during the flight to install several thermal blankets over some aging insulation covering three HST compartments containing key data processing, electronics and scientific instrument telemetry packages. Crew members are Mission Commander Kenneth D. Bowersox, Pilot Scott J. "Doc" Horowitz, Payload Commander Mark C. Lee, and Mission Specialists Steven L. Smith, Gregory J. Harbaugh, Joseph R. "Joe" Tanner and Steven A. Hawley. STS-82 was the 82nd Space Shuttle flight and the second mission of 1997 KSC-97pc352

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The morning sky lightens behind Space Shuttle Atlantis while lights on the fixed service structure (FSS) still illuminate the orbiter on Launch Pad 39B. Atlantis was originally scheduled to launch at 12:29 p.m. EDT on this date, but a 24-hour scrub was called by mission managers due to a concern with Fuel Cell 1. Seen poised above the orange external tank is the vent hood (known as the "beanie cap") at the end of the gaseous oxygen vent arm. Vapors are created as the liquid oxygen in the external tank boil off. The hood vents the gaseous oxygen vapors away from the space shuttle vehicle. Extending from the FSS to Atlantis is the orbiter access arm with the White Room at the end. The White Room provides entry into the orbiter through the hatch. During the STS-115 mission, Atlantis' astronauts will deliver and install the 17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment on the station. The girder-like truss includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics and will provide one-fourth of the total power-generation capability for the completed station. This mission is the 116th space shuttle flight, the 27th flight for orbiter Atlantis, and the 19th U.S. flight to the International Space Station. STS-115 is scheduled to last 11 days with a planned landing at KSC. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-06pd2050

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The rotating service structure (left) on Launch Pad 39B is rolled back to reveal Space Shuttle Atlantis. The RSS provides protected access to the orbiter for changeout and servicing of payloads at the pad and then is rolled away before liftoff. Atlantis is scheduled to launch Sept. 6 at 12:29 p.m. EDT on mission STS-115. During the mission, Atlantis' astronauts will deliver and install the 17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment on the station. The girder-like truss includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics and will provide one-fourth of the total power-generation capability for the completed station. This mission is the 116th space shuttle flight, the 27th flight for orbiter Atlantis, and the 19th U.S. flight to the International Space Station. STS-115 is scheduled to last 11 days with a planned KSC landing at about 8:03 a.m. EDT on Sept. 17. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton KSC-06pd2039

STS-38 Atlantis, OV-104, lifts off from KSC LC Pad during night launch

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- After a nearly 5.3 million mile round trip to the International Space Station, space shuttle Atlantis slows down with the aid of a drag chute after landing on Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The shuttle landed on orbit 202 to complete the 13-day STS-122 mission. Main gear touchdown was 9:07:10 a.m. Nose gear touchdown was 9:07:20 a.m. Wheel stop was at 9:08:08 a.m. Mission elapsed time was 12 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes and 44 seconds. During the mission, Atlantis' crew installed the new Columbus laboratory, leaving a larger space station and one with increased science capabilities. The Columbus Research Module adds nearly 1,000 cubic feet of habitable volume and affords room for 10 experiment racks, each an independent science lab. Photo credit: NASA/Kenny Allen, Robert Murray KSC-08pp0440

Space Shuttle Columbia, STS-58 Launch

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The STS-117 crew members arrive at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility aboard T-38 jet aircraft to prepare for launch on Space Shuttle Atlantis on June 8. Mission Specialist Steven Swanson is greeted by Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach. Behind Swanson, at left, is Commander Frederick Sturckow; Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester is at center; Janet Petro, deputy director of Kennedy, is at right. During the 11-day mission and three spacewalks, the crew will work with flight controllers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to install a 17-ton segment on the station's girder-like truss and deploy a set of solar arrays, S3/S4. The mission will increase the space station's power capability in preparation for the arrival of new science modules from the European and Japanese space agencies. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd1348

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, workers adjust the sling attachment on the orbiter Atlantis. The orbiter will be lifted up into high bay 1 and lowered onto the mobile launcher platform where the external tank and solid rocket boosters are already stacked. Space Shuttle Atlantis is targeted to roll out to Launch Pad 39A on February 14 for mission STS-117. The mission is No. 21 to the International Space Station and construction flight 13A. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-07pd0327

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Atop twin columns of fire, space shuttle Discovery clears the lightning rod atop the fixed service structure at left on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Smoke and steam from liftoff billow across the pad. Liftoff was on time at 11:38:19 a.m. EDT. Discovery carries the Italian-built U.S. Node 2, called Harmony. During the 14-day STS-120 mission, the crew will install Harmony and move the P6 solar arrays to their permanent position and deploy them. Discovery is expected to complete its mission and return home at 4:47 a.m. EST on Nov. 6. Photo courtesy of Nikon/Scott Andrews KSC-07pd2974

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Following the arrival of the STS-117 crew members at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, each briefly described their role on the mission. Here, astronaut Clayton Anderson takes his turn. Anderson will be on the mission to join the Expedition 15 crew on the International Space Station. During the 11-day mission and three spacewalks, the crew will work with flight controllers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to install a 17-ton segment on the station's girder-like truss and deploy a set of solar arrays, S3/S4. The mission will increase the space station's power capability in preparation for the arrival of new science modules from the European and Japanese space agencies. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd1353

Topics

ov 104 kennedy space center atlantis liftoff launch pad sts mission sts international space station segment starboard starboard side backbone truss spacewalks three spacewalks truss segment arrays operation space shuttle flight four flights courtesy photo courtesy nikon scott andrews space shuttle space shuttle on launch pad high resolution space flight nasa