Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Rarely Seen Shuttle Pre-Flight Activities


However, these pictures deserve a wide viewing audience: the amount of thought and engineering that goes into every launch is immense; each successful take-off represents the Mankind’s finest effort, and is a wonder to behold.

(Thanks to Tim for sending this in; images courtesy Christie L. Dyett - NASA Space Coast Launch Services.)

External tank arrives by barge from Louisiana:



External tank approaches Vertical Assembly Building (VAB):

Removing external tank:



Preparing to lift the tank to vertical:



Lifting the tank:


Solid rockets are attached:


Orbiter: External tank with Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB):

Engines are attached to the shuttle in the Orbiter Processing Facility:





Shuttle in sling ready for lift in VAB:

Shuttle has been moved to VAB and will be attached to external tank:


Shuttle is attached:




Payload Preparation in Space Station Processing Facility:



Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM):

Payload carrier leaves Canister Rotation Facility:


Payload being moved to Launch Pad:


Lifting payload into position for insertion into “Discovery”
when it arrives at the pad:



Shuttle “Discovery” leaves VAB:




Trip to launch:
Length - 3 1/2 mi
Time - 6-8 hours
Arrow indicates the Launch Pad.


Crawler Control:

“Discovery” arrives at Pad:





We Have Lift Off !





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