Space Laboratory

A security guard examines the new sign near the entrance to the Lewis Research Center one day after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was officially established. NASA came into being on O More

This September 1967 photograph shows workmen removing a mockup of the Saturn V S-IVB stage that housed the Skylab Orbital Workshop (OWS) from the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), building 4755. The mockup w More

Skylab's success proved that scientific experimentation in a low gravity environment was essential to scientific progress. A more permanent structure was needed to provide this space laboratory. President Ronal More

STS055-219-024 (26 April-6 May 1993) --- Ulrich Walter, STS-55 payload specialist representing the German Aerospace Research Establishment (DLR), demonstrates the microgravity aboard the Spacelab D-2 science mo More

STS057-S-001 (February 1993) --- Designed by the crew members, the STS-57 crew patch depicts the space shuttle Endeavour maneuvering to retrieve the European Space Agency's (ESA) microgravity experiment satelli More

In the Space Station Processing Facility, the U.S. Lab Destiny is lowered into the payload canister for transfer to Launch Pad 39A and Space Shuttle Atlantis. A key element in the construction of the Internatio More

The U.S. Lab Destiny arrives at the payload canister in the Space Station Processing Facility. Destiny, a key element in the construction of the International Space Station, is 28 feet long and weighs 16 tons. More

In the Space Station Processing Facility, workers along the edge of the payload canister watch as the U.S. Lab Destiny is lowered into the canister. A key element in the construction of the International Space More

In the Space Station Processing Facility, workers stand along the side of the payload canister as the U.S. Lab Destiny is lowered into it. A key element in the construction of the International Space Station, D More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Technicians in the Payload Changeout Room work to secure the U.S. Lab Destiny in the orbiter’s payload bay. The PCR is the enclosed, environmentally controlled portion of the rotat More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers in the Payload Changeout Room begin moving the U.S. Lab Destiny to the orbiter’s payload bay. The PCR is the enclosed, environmentally controlled portion of the rotating se More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers check out the U.S. Lab Destiny after it has been installed in Atlantis’ payload bay at the pad. Destiny, a key element in the construction of the International Space Statio More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The U.S. Lab Destiny rests in the payload bay of Space Shuttle Atlantis. A key element in the construction of the International Space Station, Destiny is 28 feet long and weighs 16 More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The U.S. Lab Destiny rests in the payload bay of Space Shuttle Atlantis before closure of the doors. A key element in the construction of the International Space Station, Destiny i More

This closeup reveals the tight clearance between an elbow camera on the robotic arm (left) and the U.S. Lab Destiny when the payload bay doors are closed. Measurements of the elbow camera revealed only a one-in More

Viewed from the floor of the Payload Changeout Room, Destiny is inside Atlantis’ payload bay, waiting for closure of the payload bay doors. A key element in the construction of the International Space Station, More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In this closeup, the U.S. Lab Destiny is seen installed in the payload bay of Space Shuttle Atlantis before closure of the doors. A key element in the construction of the Internati More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Launch Pad 39A, the U.S. Laboratory Destiny waits in Atlantis’s payload bay for closure of the payload bay doors. Destiny, a key element in the construction of the International More

In the Payload Changeout Room at Launch Pad 39A, a film crew from IMAX prepares its 3-D movie camera to film the payload bay door closure on Atlantis. Behind them is the payload, the U.S. Laboratory Destiny, wh More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Launch Pad 39A, Atlantis’s payload bay doors are ready to be closed over the U.S. Laboratory Destiny (lower left). Next to it is the Canadian robotic arm, which will play a majo More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The U.S. Laboratory Destiny rests once again in Atlantis’s payload bay, at Launch Pad 39A. Closing of the payload bay doors is imminent. Destiny, a key element in the construction More