KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Tugboats tow the Pegasus barge, with its cargo of external tank No. 125, on the Banana River. Seen in the background are the Atlas V (left) and Titan IV launch complexes. Afte More
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 s More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On a cloudy and overcast day on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers monitor the progress of the rotating service structure (RSS) as it rolls away from space More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the rotating service structure has been retracted from space shuttle Atlantis as the countdown progresses toward launch on Nov More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour rolls up the ramp toward Launch Pad 39A. At right are the open rotating service structure and the fixed service struct More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Pegasus barge moves through the bridge at Port Canaveral, Fla. The barge contains the external fuel tank designated ET-133 that will be used for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mi More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In Orbiter Processing Facility 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, preparations are under way to install the chin panel on space shuttle Atlantis. The chin panel is a semicirc More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, technicians check the sensors on the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous Syst More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- STS-135 Pilot Doug Hurley prepares to perform touch-and-go landings aboard one of two Shuttle Training Aircrafts (STA) on the Shuttle Landing Facility runway at NASA's Kennedy Space Cent More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Towed on its 76-wheeled orbiter transporter, space shuttle Discovery rolls into the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Discovery will be ra More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers begin to install a new ground umbilical carrier plate (GUCP) on space shuttle Discovery's external fuel tank. A hydro More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Soft Capture Mechanism (SCM), part of the Soft Capture and Rendezvous System, or SCRS, is being prepared More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-126 Mission Specialist Shane Kimbrough gets help with his suit before entering space shuttle Endeavour. More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane moves towards the SPACEHAB Module to transport in to the Payload Canister. The SPACEHAB Module will carry racks of More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After its overnight rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building, Space Shuttle Atlantis rests on the hard stand on Launch Pad 39B. The shuttle sits on top of the mobile launcher More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-126 Pilot Eric Boe waits to finish his suit-up. He and other crew members will take part in a simulated More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the tip-top of the bright-orange external fuel tank is where workers will prepare to begin removing the quick disconnect from More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, external tank No. 125 is raised off its transporter. The tank will be raised to a vertical position and then lifted into a More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare to begin removing the quick disconnect from the ground umbilical carrier plate (GUCP) on space shuttle Discov More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Sitting on top of the mobile launcher platform, Space Shuttle Atlantis is on its slow rollout to Launch Pad 39B. First motion out of the Vehicle Assembly Building was 1:05 a.m. Th More
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. -- External tank No. 125 is moved out of the Pegasus barge at the Launch Complex 39 Area turn basin. After offloading, the tank will be transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building. More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Workers unload a container holding the cruise stage, one of the first three elements for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) that arrived at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Under a feather-painted sky, Space Shuttle Atlantis, mounted on a mobile launch platform atop a crawler transporter, creeps up the ramp to Launch Pad 39A. This is the second roll More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On a cloudy and overcast day on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare to roll the rotating service structure (RSS) away from space shuttle Atlantis. T More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Employees check out space shuttle Atlantis after it was uncovered on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the move of the rotating service structure (RSS). More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare a working model of the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, Robonaut 2, for the media to check out before space shuttle Dis More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery looms against the pre-dawn, cloud-streaked sky as it makes the slow 3.4-mile journey to Launch Pad 39A. The shuttle sits atop the mobile launcher platform, which More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - As the sun sets behind Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the rotating service structure has been moved away from space shuttle Atlantis during the T-11 hour hold i More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In Orbiter Processing Facility 1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United Space Alliance technicians roll the test equipment away from an external tank door on space shuttle Atla More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lifts the gaseous nitrogen tank from space shuttle Discovery's payload bay with the aid of a "fish More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Vehicle Assembly Building's high bay 3 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, framework is lifted to the 16th floor for modifications related to the Ares I-X. The refurbishme More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the STS-133 payload canister is lifted into the rotating service structure on Launch Pad 39A. The payload then will be moved into space sh More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh, left, is welcomed by Space Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The six a More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's Pegasus barge moves through the bridge at Port Canaveral, Fla. The barge contains the external fuel tank designated ET-133 that will be used for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-129 mi 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 Assem More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Space shuttle Endeavour on Launch Pad 39B is viewed from the air after the rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The shuttle and mobile launcher pla More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- This aerial view of NASA's Kennedy Space Center shows space shuttle Discovery, secured atop a mobile launch platform as it is moved into position at Launch Pad 39A to prepare for the STS More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, the orbiter Atlantis has been lowered onto the mobile launcher platform below for mating with the external tank and solid rocket boo More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - In the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo is lowered into the payload canister for transfer to Launc More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Viewed from behind inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, space shuttle Discovery is lifted into the upper regions for transfer to high bay 1. In the bay, Discovery will be mated More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the tip-top of the bright-orange external fuel tank is where workers will prepare to begin removing the quick disconnect from More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour rolls off Launch Pad 39B for the 3.4-mile rollaround to Launch Pad 39A. First motion was at 8:28 a.m. EDT. Endeavour is More
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - An aerial view south along the seashore shows shuttles on both launch pads. The Atlantic Ocean is a thin line on the horizon. At left is space shuttle Atlantis, preparing for its launch More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, emergency rescue personnel gently place an "injured astronaut" onto a stretcher. Volunteers and emergency rescue workers More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, volunteer Charlie Plain poses as an injured astronaut during a simulated emergency landing of a shuttle crew. Plain is a More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, an emergency rescue worker tends to an "injured astronaut" inside a rescue vehicle. Volunteers and emergency rescue worke More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, emergency rescue worker tend to "injured astronauts" during a simulated emergency landing of a shuttle crew. Known as a More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On its transporter, the spacecraft GOES-N leaves Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., on its way to Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. At the pad, More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On its transporter, the spacecraft GOES-N travels through the Launch Complex 39 Area at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on its way to Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force St More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The payload canister passes NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Control Center on its way to Launch Pad 39B. Inside are the payloads for mission STS-121: the multi-purpo More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane lowers the Port 3/4 truss segment toward the waiting payload canister for installation in the orbiter Atlantis. On the More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane is ready to lift the Port 3/4 truss segment and move it to a payload canister for installation in the orbiter Atlantis More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The next element to be added to the International Space Station, the Port 3/4 truss segment is being moved to a payload canister for installation in the orbiter Atlantis. The c More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane lowers the Port 3/4 truss segment into the waiting payload canister for installation in the orbiter Atlantis. The trus More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane moves the Port 3/4 truss segment across the floor to the waiting payload canister for installation in the orbiter Atla More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane lowers the Port 3/4 truss segment into the waiting payload canister for installation in the orbiter Atlantis. The tr More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, Atlantis' external tank and solid rocket boosters are ready on the mobile launcher platform for mating with the orbiter Atlantis, be More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building, Atlantis is lowered into high bay 3 for mating with the external tank and solid rocket boosters already installed on the mobile launcher platform. More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, the orbiter Atlantis has been lowered onto the mobile launcher platform below for mating with the external tank and solid rocket boo More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, the nose of the orbiter Atlantis is dwarfed by the external tank behind it and the twin solid rocket boosters. The orbiter is being More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Sitting on top of the mobile launcher platform, Space Shuttle Atlantis begins rolling out of the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B via the crawler-transporter underneath. More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the early morning light, photographers maneuver for the best position to capture Space Shuttle Atlantis as it rolls toward Launch Pad 39B. First motion out of the Vehicle Asse More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - This closeup of Space Shuttle Atlantis on the hardstand of Launch Pad 39B shows the surrounding area, including the Atlantic Ocean in the background. Above the orange external t More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Sitting on top of the mobile launcher platform, Space Shuttle Atlantis begins rolling out of the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B via the crawler-transporter underneath. More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the bright light of day, Space Shuttle Atlantis nears the hard stand on Launch Pad 39B. First motion out of the Vehicle Assembly Building was 1:05 a.m. The shuttle sits on to More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The tracks of the crawler-transporter are visible on the crawlerway (foreground) leading to Launch Pad 39B after the 4-mile journey of Space Shuttle Atlantis, which sits on the p More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Sitting on top of the mobile launcher platform, Space Shuttle Atlantis rolls out of the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B via the crawler-transporter underneath. First More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Sitting on top of the mobile launcher platform, Space Shuttle Atlantis rolls out of the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B via the crawler-transporter underneath. First More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Silhouetted against the rising sun, Space Shuttle Atlantis rolls toward Launch Pad 39B. First motion out of the Vehicle Assembly Building was 1:05 a.m. The shuttle sits on top o More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Finally in the bright light of day, Space Shuttle Atlantis nears the hard stand on Launch Pad 39B. First motion out of the Vehicle Assembly Building was 1:05 a.m. The shuttle si More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Looking like fireflies gathered around the behemoth mobile launcher platform and crawler-transporter, vehicles escort Space Shuttle Atlantis on its slow journey to Launch Pad 39B. More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Space Shuttle Atlantis sits on the hardstand of Launch Pad 39B after its nearly 8-hour rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building. Extending from the fixed service structure on th More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Space Shuttle Atlantis sits on the hardstand of Launch Pad 39B after its nearly 8-hour rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building. The "beanie cap," at the end of the external ta More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After its overnight rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building, Space Shuttle Atlantis rests on the hard stand on Launch Pad 39B. The shuttle sits on top of the mobile launcher More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After its overnight rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building, Space Shuttle Atlantis rests on the hard stand on Launch Pad 39B. The shuttle sits on top of the mobile launcher More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - This closeup of Space Shuttle Atlantis on the hardstand of Launch Pad 39B shows the surrounding area, including the Atlantic Ocean in the background. Extended toward Atlantis i More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Space Shuttle Atlantis, atop the mobile launcher platform, sits on Launch Pad 39B after a nearly 8-hour crawl from the Vehicle Assembly Building. At left is the open rotating se More
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 s More
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 s More
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 s More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Storm clouds fill the sky behind the Vehicle Assembly Building on the day before (L-1) the second scheduled launch attempt for Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-115. During th More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Menacing storm clouds roll through the Launch Complex 39 Area at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Seen in the photo is the lower parking lot for the NASA News Center where the media's More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Menacing storm clouds roll through the Launch Complex 39 Area at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Framed between the horizon and the clouds is Space Shuttle Atlantis on Launch Pad 39 More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Menacing storm clouds roll through the Launch Complex 39 Area at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. In the background is the Vehicle Assembly Building. In the foreground is the lower p More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the Space Station Processing Facility, technicians secure the protective coverings on the SPACEHAB Module before it is transferred to the Payload Canister. The SPACEHAB Mod More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the Space Station Processing Facility, technicians secure the SPACEHAB Module to the overhead crane for transfer to the Payload Canister. The SPACEHAB Module will carry rac More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane lowers the SPACEHAB Module into the Payload Canister. The SPACEHAB Module will carry racks of experiments, flight More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane carries the SPACEHAB Module towards the Payload Canister. The SPACEHAB Module will carry racks of experiments, fl More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane carries the SPACEHAB Module towards the Payload Canister. The SPACEHAB Module will carry racks of experiments, fli More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane lowers the SPACEHAB Module into the Payload Canister. The SPACEHAB Module will carry racks of experiments, fligh More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the Space Station Processing Facility, technicians secure the protective coverings on the SPACEHAB Module before it is transferred to the Payload Canister. The SPACEHAB Mod More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Inside the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane lifts the SPACEHAB Module from its stand for transfer to the Payload Canister. The SPACEHAB Module will carry racks More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), after being weighed, makes a return trip to its transporter. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Ag More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), after being weighed, is lifted off the scale to be returned to its transporter. The Japanese Aeros More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, workers monitor the placement of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) onto its transporter. The JEM was moved from the transporter for we More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, an overhead crane carries the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) across the facility. The module is being moved to another stand where it More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, workers on the floor watch as an overhead crane moves the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) to a stand for weighing. The Japanese Aerospa More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, workers monitor the movement of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) as it is lowered onto a weighing stand. The module will also be mea More
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Space Station Processing Facility, workers observe as an overhead crane lowers the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) onto a weighing stand. The module will also be measure More