A dummy space shuttle orbiter was assembled and rolled out to the launch site as part of an exercise to verify that shuttle elements are compatible with the spaceport's assembly and launch facilities, and ground support equipment

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --- In the 16th night landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, space shuttle Endeavour approaches Runway 15 to end the STS-123 mission, a 16-day flight to the International Space Station. The main landing gear touched down at 8:39:08 p.m. EDT. The nose landing gear touched down at 8:39:17 p.m. and wheel stop was at 8:40:41 p.m. The mission completed nearly 6.6 million miles. The landing was the second opportunity after the first was waved off due to unstable weather in the Kennedy Space Center area. The STS-123 mission delivered the first segment of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency's two-armed robotic system, known as Dextre. Photo credit: NASA/Tom Joseph KSC-08pd0801

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, work platforms are removed from around space shuttle Endeavour in preparation for its roll to the Vehicle Assembly Building. The rollover began at 12:53 a.m. EST and was completed at 2:08 p.m. when Endeavour was towed into the VAB's transfer aisle. Next, Endeavour will be attached to a lifting sling, hoisted over a transom and lowered into High Bay 1, where it will be attached to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Rollout of the shuttle stack to Kennedy’s Launch Pad 39A, a significant milestone in launch processing activities, is planned for early January 2010. The Italian-built Tranquility module, the primary payload for Endeavour's STS-130 mission, will be installed in the payload bay after the shuttle arrives at the pad. Launch is targeted for early February. For information on the STS-130 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts130/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2009-6742

STS-127 - Public domain NASA photogrpaph

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Space Shuttle Atlantis, mounted on a mobile launch platform, rolls to Launch Pad 39A atop a crawler transporter at dawn. First motion was at 5:02 a.m. EDT. In late February, Atlantis' external tank received hail damage during a severe thunderstorm that passed through the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 area. The hail caused visible divots in the giant tank's foam insulation, as well as minor surface damage to about 26 heat shield tiles on the shuttle's left wing. The launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on mission STS-117 is now targeted for June 8. A flight readiness review will be held on May 30 and 31. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-07pd1181

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the rotating service structure, or RSS, at left, has been moved from around space shuttle Atlantis, revealing an illuminated Payload Changeout Room. 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-08pd0180

The orbiter Atlantis, being towed from the Shuttle Landing Facility, is reflected in waters from the Banana Creek next to the towway. The orbiter spent 10 months in Palmdale, CA, undergoing extensive inspections and modifications in the orbiter processing facility there. The modifications included several upgrades enabling it to support International Space Station missions, such as adding an external airlock for ISS docking missions and installing thinner, lighter thermal protection blankets for weight reduction which will allow it to haul heavier cargo. Atlantis will undergo preparations in the Orbiter Processing Facility at KSC for its planned flight in June 1999 KSC-98pc1165

A dummy space shuttle orbiter was assembled and rolled out to the launch site as part of an exercise to verify that shuttle elements are compatible with the spaceport's assembly and launch facilities, and ground support equipment

description

Summary

The original finding aid described this photograph as:

Base: Kennedy Space Center

State: Florida (FL)

Country: United States Of America (USA)

Scene Camera Operator: Unknown

Release Status: Released to Public
Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files

date_range

Date

05/06/1979

place

Location

28.57287, -80.64898

Google Map of 28.5728722, -80.64898079999999

create

Source

The U.S. National Archives

link

Link

https://catalog.archives.gov/

copyright

Copyright info

No known copyright restrictions