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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the white room on Launch Pad 39B, STS-116 Mission Specialist Sunita Williams is helped with her gear before entering Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission crew is taking part in a simulated launch countdown, part of the terminal countdown demonstration test that includes prelaunch preparations. The STS-116 mission is No. 20 to the International Space Station and construction flight 12A.1. The mission payload is the SPACEHAB module, the P5 integrated truss structure and other key components. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than Dec. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller KSC-06pd2602

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the white room on Launch Pad 39B, S...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the white room on Launch Pad 39B, STS-116 Mission Specialist Sunita Williams is helped with her gear before entering Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission crew is taking part ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- John J. “Tip” Talone (right) poses with Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach and his wife during the annual National Space Club Debus Award Banquet. Talone received the award that was created to recognize significant achievements made in Florida to American aerospace efforts. The event was held at the Dr. Kurt H. Debus Conference Facility in the Visitor Complex. Talone is director of the International Space Station/Payloads Processing directorate at KSC that is responsible for prelaunch and launch preparations for all Shuttle payloads. He was honored for his outstanding personal and professional efforts in supporting the U.S. space program, especially in his current role. The award was created by the National Space Club Florida Committee to recognize significant achievements and contributions made in Florida to American aerospace efforts. It is named for Dr. Kurt H. Debus, first director of KSC, from 1962 to 1974. KSC-04pd0683

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- John J. “Tip” Talone (right) poses with ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- John J. “Tip” Talone (right) poses with Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach and his wife during the annual National Space Club Debus Award Banquet. Talone received the award tha... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, the Joint Airlock Module, the gateway from which crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will enter and exit the 470-ton orbiting research facility, is settled onto a flatbed trailer for transport to the Operations and Checkout Building in the KSC industrial area. There it will undergo vacuum chamber testing. It will then be moved to the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) for further prelaunch preparation and checkout. The massive, spindle-shaped airlock is 20 feet long, has a diameter of 13 feet at its widest point, and weighs six and a half tons. It was manufactured at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center by the Huntsville division of The Boeing Company. The Space Shuttle Atlantis will carry the airlock to orbit on mission STS-104, the tenth International Space Station flight, currently targeted for liftoff in May 2001 KSC00pp1348

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, the...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility, the Joint Airlock Module, the gateway from which crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will enter and exit the 470-ton orb... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, an overhead crane and sling raise Atlantis off its transporter in preparation for lifting it to a vertical position. Atlantis then will be lifted into high bay 3 for stacking with the external tank and solid rocket boosters already installed on the mobile launcher platform. After mating with the external tank and boosters, Atlantis will undergo a shuttle interface test and other prelaunch processing. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will continue construction of the station and install their cargo, the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-06pd1657

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle A...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building, an overhead crane and sling raise Atlantis off its transporter in preparation for lifting it to a vertical position. Atla... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, STS-116 Mission Specialist Nicholas Patrick is greeted after his arrival by Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Bill Parsons. The crew has returned to KSC for the terminal countdown demonstration test, which are prelaunch preparations that include a simulated launch countdown. Crew members also include Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot William Oefelein, Mission Specialists Sunita Williams, Robert Curbeam, Christer Fuglesang and Joan Higginbotham. The mission is No. 20 to the International Space Station and construction flight 12A.1. The mission payload is the SPACEHAB module, the P5 integrated truss structure and other key components. Launch is scheduled for no earlier than Dec. 7. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-06pd2511

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, STS-116...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At the Shuttle Landing Facility, STS-116 Mission Specialist Nicholas Patrick is greeted after his arrival by Kennedy Space Center Deputy Director Bill Parsons. The crew has returne... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Mission Specialist Koichi Wakata is ready to practice driving the M-113 armored personnel carrier used for emergency escape, if needed, from the launch pad. Wakata represents the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The crew members are at Kennedy for prelaunch preparation known as terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT. The training provides astronauts and ground crews with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and a simulated launch countdown. The crew of space shuttle Discovery is targeted to launch on the STS-119 mission Feb. 12. During Discovery's 14-day mission, the crew will install the S6 truss segment and solar arrays to the starboard side of the International Space Station, completing the station's truss, or backbone. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-1204

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Mission Specialist Koichi Wakata is ready to practice driving the M-113 armored personnel carrier used for emergency escape, if needed,... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator offloads NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from a flatbed truck at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida where Applied Physics Laboratory technicians will begin spacecraft testing and prelaunch preparations. The twin RBSP spacecraft arrived at Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility in the cargo bay of a U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft earlier in the day. The RBSP mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. The RBSP instruments will provide the measurements needed to characterize and quantify the plasma processes that produce very energetic ions and relativistic electrons. The mission is part of NASA’s broader Living With a Star Program that was conceived to explore fundamental processes that operate throughout the solar system, and in particular those that generate hazardous space weather effects in the vicinity of Earth and phenomena that could impact solar system exploration. RBSP is scheduled to begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts and the extremes of space weather after launch. Launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for August 23. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/rbsp. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-2638

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator offloads NASA's Radiation B...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A forklift operator offloads NASA's Radiation Belt Storm Probe B, enclosed in a protective shipping container, from a flatbed truck at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During emergency egress from Launch Pad 39A, STS-120 Mission Specialists Stephanie Wilson (foreground) and Doug Wheelock settle in the slidewire basket. Wilson reaches for the release lever. The basket can carry them to a safe landing site below, if needed. The activity is part of the prelaunch terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT. The TCDT at NASA's Kennedy Space Center provides astronauts and ground crews an opportunity to participate in various launch preparation activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training. The STS-120 mission will deliver the U.S. Node 2 module, named Harmony, aboard space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station. Discovery is targeted to launch on its 14-day mission at 11:38 a.m. EDT on Oct. 23. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd2801

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During emergency egress from Launch Pad ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During emergency egress from Launch Pad 39A, STS-120 Mission Specialists Stephanie Wilson (foreground) and Doug Wheelock settle in the slidewire basket. Wilson reaches for the rel... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Mission Specialist Steve Swanson is helped by the Closeout Crew to put on his harness. The White Room provides access into space shuttle Discovery. Swanson and other crew members will conduct a simulated launch countdown as part of the prelaunch preparation known as Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. The TCDT also includes equipment familiarization and emergency egress training. Discovery is targeted to launch on the STS-119 mission Feb. 12. During the 14-day mission, the crew will install the S6 truss segment and solar arrays to the starboard side of the International Space Station, completing the station's truss, or backbone. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann KSC-2009-1270

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the White Room on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Mission Specialist Steve Swanson is helped by the Closeout Crew to put on his harness. The White R... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft opens to reveal the /2000/78-00.htm">Joint Airlock Module</a> the gateway from which crew members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will enter and exit the 470-ton orbiting research facility. The airlock was transported from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The airlock will be transported to the Operations and Checkout Building in the KSC industrial area where it will undergo vacuum chamber testing. It will then be moved to the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) for further prelaunch preparation and checkout. The massive, spindle-shaped airlock is 20 feet long, has a diameter of 13 feet at its widest point, and weighs six and a half tons. It was manufactured at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center by the Huntsville division of The Boeing Company. The Space Shuttle Atlantis will carry the airlock to orbit on mission STS-104, the tenth International Space Station flight, currently targeted for liftoff in May 2001 KSC00pp1344

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The nose of NASA's Super Guppy aircraft opens to reveal the kscpao/release/2000/78-00.htm">Joint Airlock Module</a> the gateway from which crew members aboard the International Spa... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Mission Specialist Steve Swanson is ready to practice driving the M-113 armored personnel carrier used for emergency escape, if needed, from the launch pad. The crew members are at Kennedy for prelaunch preparation known as terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT. The training provides astronauts and ground crews with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and a simulated launch countdown. The crew of space shuttle Discovery is targeted to launch on the STS-119 mission Feb. 12. During Discovery's 14-day mission, the crew will install the S6 truss segment and solar arrays to the starboard side of the International Space Station, completing the station's truss, or backbone. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-1207

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Mission Specialist Steve Swanson is ready to practice driving the M-113 armored personnel carrier used for emergency escape, if needed,... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Student investigators Cameron Zandstra, Jack Barth and JP Peerbolte are interviewed by the media in the NASA Newsroom at Kennedy Space Center in Florida during prelaunch activities for the SpaceX demonstration test flight. The team members are seventh- and eighth-grade students at Highland Christian School in Lake County, Ind. Their experiment, “The Effect of Microgravity on the Quality and Nutritional Value of the Seed Sprout of Germinated 92M72 Genetically-Modified Soy Bean,” is one of 15 in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, or SSEP, being ferried to the International Space Station inside the Dragon capsule. The launch will be the second demonstration test flight for SpaceX for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, or COTS. SSEP, which began operation in June 2010 through a partnership of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education with NanoRacks LLC, is a U.S. national science, technology, engineering and mathematics STEM education initiative that gives students across a community the opportunity to propose and design real experiments to fly in low Earth orbit. SSEP experiments flew on space shuttle missions STS-134 and STS-135 in 2011, the final flights of space shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis. For more information on SSEP, visit http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/station-here-we-come.html. Photo credit: NASA/Gianni Woods KSC-2012-2864

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Student investigators Cameron Zandstra, Jack Ba...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Student investigators Cameron Zandstra, Jack Barth and JP Peerbolte are interviewed by the media in the NASA Newsroom at Kennedy Space Center in Florida during prelaunch activities for th... 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 boosters already in place. After the stacking, Atlantis will undergo a shuttle interface test and other prelaunch processing. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will continue construction of the station and install their cargo, the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder KSC-06pd1667

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In high bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Bu...

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. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Pilot Tony Antonelli is ready to practice driving the M-113 armored personnel carrier used for emergency escape, if needed, from Launch Pad 39A. The crew members are at Kennedy for prelaunch preparation known as terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT. The training provides astronauts and ground crews with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and a simulated launch countdown. The crew of space shuttle Discovery is targeted to launch on the STS-119 mission Feb. 12. During Discovery's 14-day mission, the crew will install the S6 truss segment and solar arrays to the starboard side of the International Space Station, completing the station's truss, or backbone. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2009-1202

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, ST...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-119 Pilot Tony Antonelli is ready to practice driving the M-113 armored personnel carrier used for emergency escape, if needed, from Launc... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During emergency egress from Launch Pad 39A, STS-120 Pilot George Zamka and Commander Pamela Melroy are in one of the slidewire baskets. Zamka, at left, reaches for the release lever. The basket can carry them to a safe landing site below, if needed. The activity is part of the prelaunch terminal countdown demonstration test, or TCDT. The TCDT at NASA's Kennedy Space Center provides astronauts and ground crews an opportunity to participate in various launch preparation activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training. The STS-120 mission will deliver the U.S. Node 2 module, named Harmony, aboard space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station. Discovery is targeted to launch on its 14-day mission at 11:38 a.m. EDT on Oct. 23. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-07pd2805

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During emergency egress from Launch Pad ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During emergency egress from Launch Pad 39A, STS-120 Pilot George Zamka and Commander Pamela Melroy are in one of the slidewire baskets. Zamka, at left, reaches for the release le... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Student investigator Ryan Puri is interviewed by the media in the NASA Newsroom at Kennedy Space Center in Florida during prelaunch activities for the SpaceX demonstration test flight. Puri, a tenth-grade student at San Marino High School in San Marino, Calif., is co-investigator of the student-developed experiment “Effect of Microgravity on the Antibacterial Resistance of P. aeruginosa.” The experiment is one of 15 in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, or SSEP, being ferried to the International Space Station inside the Dragon capsule. The launch will be the second demonstration test flight for SpaceX for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, or COTS. SSEP, which began operation in June 2010 through a partnership of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education with NanoRacks LLC, is a U.S. national science, technology, engineering and mathematics STEM education initiative that gives students across a community the opportunity to propose and design real experiments to fly in low Earth orbit. SSEP experiments flew on space shuttle missions STS-134 and STS-135 in 2011, the final flights of space shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis. For more information on SSEP, visit http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/station-here-we-come.html. Photo credit: NASA/Gianni Woods KSC-2012-2863

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Student investigator Ryan Puri is interviewed b...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Student investigator Ryan Puri is interviewed by the media in the NASA Newsroom at Kennedy Space Center in Florida during prelaunch activities for the SpaceX demonstration test flight. Pu... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, right, takes part in a crew equipment interface test CEIT in order to become familiar with the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX Dragon capsule prior to its scheduled April 30 liftoff. The interface test inside a processing hangar at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex-40 was part of prelaunch preparations for the company's next demonstration test flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services COTS program. Under COTS, NASA has partnered with two private companies to launch cargo safely to the International Space Station. Jason Tenenbaum, with SpaceX Mission Operations, left, also takes part in the test. CEIT is an activity that dates back to NASA's Space Shuttle Program, providing astronauts on Earth an opportunity to work with the actual hardware they would use in space. This exercise gave astronauts and engineers the opportunity to assess the compatibility of the equipment and systems aboard Dragon with the procedures to be used by the flight crew and flight controllers once the capsule is berthed at the space station. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/spacex_index.html. Image courtesy: SpaceX/Paul Bonness KSC-2012-1929

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, right, takes pa...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, right, takes part in a crew equipment interface test CEIT in order to become familiar with the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX Dragon capsule p... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur takes part in a crew equipment interface test CEIT in order to become familiar with the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX Dragon capsule prior to its scheduled April 30 liftoff. The interface test inside a processing hangar at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex-40 was part of prelaunch preparations for the company's next demonstration test flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services COTS program. Under COTS, NASA has partnered with two private companies to launch cargo safely to the International Space Station. CEIT is an activity that dates back to NASA's Space Shuttle Program, providing astronauts on Earth an opportunity to work with the actual hardware they would use in space. This exercise gave astronauts and engineers the opportunity to assess the compatibility of the equipment and systems aboard Dragon with the procedures to be used by the flight crew and flight controllers once the capsule is berthed at the space station. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/spacex_index.html. Image courtesy: SpaceX/Paul Bonness KSC-2012-1931

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur takes part in a ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur takes part in a crew equipment interface test CEIT in order to become familiar with the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX Dragon capsule prior to ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, foreground, takes part in a crew equipment interface test CEIT in order to become familiar with the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX Dragon capsule prior to its scheduled April 30 liftoff. The interface test inside a processing hangar at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex-40 was part of prelaunch preparations for the company's next demonstration test flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services COTS program. Under COTS, NASA has partnered with two private companies to launch cargo safely to the International Space Station. Jason Tenenbaum, with SpaceX Mission Operations, background, also takes part in the test. CEIT is an activity that dates back to NASA's Space Shuttle Program, providing astronauts on Earth an opportunity to work with the actual hardware they would use in space. This exercise gave astronauts and engineers the opportunity to assess the compatibility of the equipment and systems aboard Dragon with the procedures to be used by the flight crew and flight controllers once the capsule is berthed at the space station. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/spacex_index.html. Image courtesy: SpaceX/Paul Bonness KSC-2012-1930

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, foreground, tak...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, foreground, takes part in a crew equipment interface test CEIT in order to become familiar with the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX Dragon caps... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, center, takes part in a crew equipment interface test CEIT in order to become familiar with the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX Dragon capsule prior to its scheduled April 30 liftoff. The interface test inside a processing hangar at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex-40 was part of prelaunch preparations for the company's next demonstration test flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services COTS program. Under COTS, NASA has partnered with two private companies to launch cargo safely to the International Space Station. United Space Alliance technicians, Dan Nelson, left, and Chris Hardcastle, right, show McArthur two power connectors that are similar to the ones astronauts will use to provide power to Dragon once at the station. CEIT is an activity that dates back to NASA's Space Shuttle Program, providing astronauts on Earth an opportunity to work with the actual hardware they would use in space. This exercise gave astronauts and engineers the opportunity to assess the compatibility of the equipment and systems aboard Dragon with the procedures to be used by the flight crew and flight controllers once the capsule is berthed at the space station. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/spacex_index.html. Image courtesy: SpaceX/Paul Bonness KSC-2012-1933

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, center, takes p...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, center, takes part in a crew equipment interface test CEIT in order to become familiar with the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX Dragon capsule ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, right, takes part in a crew equipment interface test CEIT in order to become familiar with the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX Dragon capsule prior to its scheduled April 30 liftoff. The interface test inside a processing hangar at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex-40 was part of prelaunch preparations for the company's next demonstration test flight for NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services COTS program. Under COTS, NASA has partnered with two private companies to launch cargo safely to the International Space Station. Jason Tenenbaum, with SpaceX Mission Operations, left, also takes part in the test. CEIT is an activity that dates back to NASA's Space Shuttle Program, providing astronauts on Earth an opportunity to work with the actual hardware they would use in space. This exercise gave astronauts and engineers the opportunity to assess the compatibility of the equipment and systems aboard Dragon with the procedures to be used by the flight crew and flight controllers once the capsule is berthed at the space station. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/spacex_index.html. Image courtesy: SpaceX/Paul Bonness KSC-2012-1932

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, right, takes pa...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA astronaut Megan McArthur, right, takes part in a crew equipment interface test CEIT in order to become familiar with the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. SpaceX Dragon capsule p... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the rotating service structure has pulled back to the prelaunch position, the shuttle Challenger sits at Launch Pad 39-A bathed in billion candlepower searchlights ready to embark on it fourth space mission STS-41B, the 10th flight of the space shuttle. Photo Credit: NASA KSC-84PC-0080

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the ro...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the rotating service structure has pulled back to the prelaunch position, the shuttle Challenger sits at Launch Pad 39-A bathed in billion candlep... More

The orbiter Discovery is unveiled as rollback of the Rotating Service Structure begins during final prelaunch preparations at Launch Pad 39B on April 9. Space shuttle mission STS-31, carrying a crew of five and the Hubble Space Telescope, is set to lift off at 6:47 a.m. EDT, April 10. Photo credit: NASA KSC-90PC-0667

The orbiter Discovery is unveiled as rollback of the Rotating Service ...

The orbiter Discovery is unveiled as rollback of the Rotating Service Structure begins during final prelaunch preparations at Launch Pad 39B on April 9. Space shuttle mission STS-31, carrying a crew of five an... More

The orbiter Discovery is unveiled as rollback of the Rotating Service Structure begins during final prelaunch preparations at Launch Pad 39B on April 9. Space shuttle mission STS-31, carrying a crew of five and the Hubble Space Telescope, is set to lift off at 6:47 a.m. EDT, April 10. Photo credit: NASA KSC-90PC-0666

The orbiter Discovery is unveiled as rollback of the Rotating Service ...

The orbiter Discovery is unveiled as rollback of the Rotating Service Structure begins during final prelaunch preparations at Launch Pad 39B on April 9. Space shuttle mission STS-31, carrying a crew of five an... More

As part of the final STS-82 prelaunch activities, the seven crew members gather for lunch and a photo opportunity in the Operations and Checkout Building. From left, are Payload Commander Mark C. Lee, Mission Specialist Steven A. Hawley, Pilot Scott J. "Doc" Horowitz, Mission Commander Kenneth D. Bowersox, and Mission Specialists Joseph R. "Joe" Tanner, Steven L. Smith and Gregory J. Harbaugh. After a weather briefing, the astronauts will don their launch and entry suits and depart for Launch Pad 39A, where the Space Shuttle Discovery awaits liftoff during a 65-minute launch window which opens at about 3:55 a.m. EST, Feb. 11. The exact opening of the launch window will be announced a few hours before launch based on the final computation of the location of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). STS-82 will be the second mission to service the HST which was deployed in 1990 KSC-97pc268

As part of the final STS-82 prelaunch activities, the seven crew membe...

As part of the final STS-82 prelaunch activities, the seven crew members gather for lunch and a photo opportunity in the Operations and Checkout Building. From left, are Payload Commander Mark C. Lee, Mission S... More

Workers prepare to move the shipping container with the Cassini orbiter inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) for prelaunch processing, testing and integration. The /1997/66-97.htm">orbiter arrived</a> at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility in a U.S. Air Force C-17 air cargo plane from Edwards Air Force Base, California. The orbiter and the Huygens probe already being processed at KSC are the two primary components of the Cassini spacecraft, which will be launched on a Titan IVB/Centaur expendable launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Station. Cassini will explore Saturn, its rings and moons for four years. The Huygens probe, designed and developed for the European Space Agency (ESA), will be deployed from the orbiter to study the clouds, atmosphere and surface of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. The orbiter was designed and assembled at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Following postflight inspections, integration of the 12 science instruments not already installed on the orbiter will be completed. Then, the parabolic high-gain antenna and the propulsion module will be mated to the orbiter, followed by the Huygens probe, which will complete spacecraft integration. The Cassini mission is targeted for an Oct. 6 launch to begin its 6.7-year journey to the Saturnian system. Arrival at the planet is expected to occur around July 1, 2004 KSC-97pc682

Workers prepare to move the shipping container with the Cassini orbite...

Workers prepare to move the shipping container with the Cassini orbiter inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) for prelaunch processing, testing and integration. The kscpao/release/1997/66-97.ht... More

Workers prepare to move the shipping container with the Cassini orbiter inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) for prelaunch processing, testing and integration. The /1997/66-97.htm">orbiter arrived</a> at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility in a U.S. Air Force C-17 air cargo plane from Edwards Air Force Base, California. The orbiter and the Huygens probe already being processed at KSC are the two primary components of the Cassini spacecraft, which will be launched on a Titan IVB/Centaur expendable launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Station. Cassini will explore Saturn, its rings and moons for four years. The Huygens probe, designed and developed for the European Space Agency (ESA), will be deployed from the orbiter to study the clouds, atmosphere and surface of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. The orbiter was designed and assembled at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Following postflight inspections, integration of the 12 science instruments not already installed on the orbiter will be completed. Then, the parabolic high-gain antenna and the propulsion module will be mated to the orbiter, followed by the Huygens probe, which will complete spacecraft integration. The Cassini mission is targeted for an Oct. 6 launch to begin its 6.7-year journey to the Saturnian system. Arrival at the planet is expected to occur around July 1, 2004 KSC-97pc681

Workers prepare to move the shipping container with the Cassini orbite...

Workers prepare to move the shipping container with the Cassini orbiter inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) for prelaunch processing, testing and integration. The kscpao/release/1997/66-97.ht... More

Workers prepare to move the shipping container with the Cassini orbiter inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) for prelaunch processing, testing and integration. The /1997/66-97.htm">orbiter arrived</a> at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility in a U.S. Air Force C-17 air cargo plane from Edwards Air Force Base, California. The orbiter and the Huygens probe already being processed at KSC are the two primary components of the Cassini spacecraft, which will be launched on a Titan IVB/Centaur expendable launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Station. Cassini will explore Saturn, its rings and moons for four years. The Huygens probe, designed and developed for the European Space Agency (ESA), will be deployed from the orbiter to study the clouds, atmosphere and surface of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. The orbiter was designed and assembled at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Following postflight inspections, integration of the 12 science instruments not already installed on the orbiter will be completed. Then, the parabolic high-gain antenna and the propulsion module will be mated to the orbiter, followed by the Huygens probe, which will complete spacecraft integration. The Cassini mission is targeted for an Oct. 6 launch to begin its 6.7-year journey to the Saturnian system. Arrival at the planet is expected to occur around July 1, 2004 KSC-97pc680

Workers prepare to move the shipping container with the Cassini orbite...

Workers prepare to move the shipping container with the Cassini orbiter inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) for prelaunch processing, testing and integration. The kscpao/release/1997/66-97.ht... More

STS-84 Mission Specialist Elena V. Kondakova gives a "thumbs up" as she dons her launch and entry suit during final prelaunch preparations in the Operations and Checkout Building. Kondakova is a cosmonaut with the Russian Space Agency. This is her second trip into space, but her first on the Space Shuttle. She spent 169 days in space as flight engineer of the 17th main mission on the Russian Space Station Mir from Oct. 4, 1994, to March 9, 1995. STS-84 aboard Atlantis will be the sixth docking of the Space Shuttle with the Mir KSC-97PC797

STS-84 Mission Specialist Elena V. Kondakova gives a "thumbs up" as sh...

STS-84 Mission Specialist Elena V. Kondakova gives a "thumbs up" as she dons her launch and entry suit during final prelaunch preparations in the Operations and Checkout Building. Kondakova is a cosmonaut with ... More

Assisted by suit technicians and others in the Operations and Checkout Building, STS-84 Mission Specialist Jean-Francois Clervoy dons his launch and entry suit during final prelaunch preparations. Clervoy is an astronaut with the European Space Agency. This will his second Space Shuttle flight. Clervoy and six other crew members will depart shortly for Launch Pad 39A, where the Space Shuttle Atlantis awaits liftoff on a mission to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC796

Assisted by suit technicians and others in the Operations and Checkout...

Assisted by suit technicians and others in the Operations and Checkout Building, STS-84 Mission Specialist Jean-Francois Clervoy dons his launch and entry suit during final prelaunch preparations. Clervoy is an... More

STS-84 Mission Specialist Edward Tsang Lu gives a "thumbs up" as he dons his launch and entry suit during final prelaunch preparations in the Operations and Checkout Building. This will be Lu’s first space flight. Lu and six other crew members will depart shortly for Launch Pad 39A, where the Space Shuttle Atlantis awaits liftoff on a mission to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC794

STS-84 Mission Specialist Edward Tsang Lu gives a "thumbs up" as he do...

STS-84 Mission Specialist Edward Tsang Lu gives a "thumbs up" as he dons his launch and entry suit during final prelaunch preparations in the Operations and Checkout Building. This will be Lu’s first space flig... More

STS-84 Commander Charles J. Precourt adjusts the helmet of his launch and entry suit during final prelaunch preparations in the Operations and Checkout Building. This is Precourt’s third space flight, but his first as commander. Precourt and six other crew members will depart shortly for Launch Pad 39A, where the Space Shuttle Atlantis awaits liftoff during an approximate 7-minute launch window which opens at about 4:08 a.m. This will be the sixth docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. The exact liftoff time will be determined about 90 minutes prior to launch, based on the most current location of Mir KSC-97PC792

STS-84 Commander Charles J. Precourt adjusts the helmet of his launch ...

STS-84 Commander Charles J. Precourt adjusts the helmet of his launch and entry suit during final prelaunch preparations in the Operations and Checkout Building. This is Precourt’s third space flight, but his f... More

STS-84 Mission Specialist Carlos I. Noriega gets assistance from a suit technician as he dons his launch and entry suit during final prelaunch preparations in the Operations and Checkout Building. This will be Noriega’s first space flight. Noriega and six other crew members will depart shortly for Launch Pad 39A, where the Space Shuttle Atlantis awaits liftoff on a mission to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC795

STS-84 Mission Specialist Carlos I. Noriega gets assistance from a sui...

STS-84 Mission Specialist Carlos I. Noriega gets assistance from a suit technician as he dons his launch and entry suit during final prelaunch preparations in the Operations and Checkout Building. This will be ... More

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis makes the short journey from Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This photo was taken from the roof of the 525-foot-tall VAB. The "rollover" of the orbiter is one of the prelaunch milestones. Atlantis is being readied for the next mission, STS-86, which is targeted for a September launch. STS-86 will be the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle orbiter with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC1221

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlanti...

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis makes the short journey from Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This photo was taken from the roof ... More

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis makes the short journey from Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This photo was taken from the roof of the 525-foot-tall VAB. The "rollover" of the orbiter is one of the prelaunch milestones. Atlantis is being readied for the next mission, STS-86, which is targeted for a September launch. STS-86 will be the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle orbiter with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC1222

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlanti...

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis makes the short journey from Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3 to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This photo was taken from the roof ... More

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis rolls out of Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3, in background, en route to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This photo was taken from the roof of the VAB. The "rollover" of the orbiter is one of the prelaunch milestones. Atlantis is being readied for the next mission, STS-86, which is targeted for a September launch. STS-86 will be the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle orbiter with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC1225

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlanti...

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis rolls out of Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 3, in background, en route to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). This photo was taken from ... More

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis rolls into the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) . The "rollover" of the orbiter from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the nearby VAB is one of the prelaunch milestones. Atlantis is being readied for the next mission, STS-86, which is targeted for a September launch. STS-86 will be the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle orbiter with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC1226

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlanti...

Carried atop an orbiter transporter, the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis rolls into the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) . The "rollover" of the orbiter from the Orbiter Processing Facility ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- STS-86 Mission Specialists Vladimir Georgievich Titov, at left, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien, the two members of the STS-86 crew representing foreign space agencies, prepare to leave from KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after participating in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities. They are returning to Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, for final prelaunch training. Titov is a cosmonaut with the Russian Space Agency; Chretien is an astronaut with the French Space Agency, CNES. Titov will make his fifth spaceflight, and second on the Space Shuttle, on STS-86 aboard Atlantis. Chretien has flown twice before as a research-cosmonaut on Russian missions; this will be his first Shuttle mission. STS-86 will be the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. Liftoff is targeted for Sept. 25 from Launch Pad 39A KSC-97PC1375

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- STS-86 Mission Specialists Vladimir Geo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- STS-86 Mission Specialists Vladimir Georgievich Titov, at left, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien, the two members of the STS-86 crew representing foreign space agencies, prepare to lea... More

STS-86 Commander James D. Wetherbee, at right, and Mission Specialist Vladimir Georgievich Titov prepare to leave from KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after participating in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) activities. They are returning to Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, for final prelaunch training. Wetherbee will make his fourth spaceflight on STS-86, and his third as commander. Titov is a cosmonaut with the Russian Space Agency. He will make his fifth spaceflight, and second on the Space Shuttle. STS-86 will be the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. Liftoff aboard Atlantis is targeted for Sept. 25 from Launch Pad 39A KSC-97PC1377

STS-86 Commander James D. Wetherbee, at right, and Mission Specialist ...

STS-86 Commander James D. Wetherbee, at right, and Mission Specialist Vladimir Georgievich Titov prepare to leave from KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility after participating in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test... More

Two T-38 jets with members of the STS-86 crew fly over the space center after takeoff from KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility. The seven crew members were at KSC to participate in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT), a dress rehearsal for launch. They are returning to Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, for final prelaunch training. STS-86 will be the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. Liftoff aboard Atlantis is targeted for Sept. 25 from Launch Pad 39A KSC-97PC1378

Two T-38 jets with members of the STS-86 crew fly over the space cente...

Two T-38 jets with members of the STS-86 crew fly over the space center after takeoff from KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility. The seven crew members were at KSC to participate in the Terminal Countdown Demonstrati... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- STS-86 Mission Specialists Vladimir Georgievich Titov, at left, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien, the two members of the STS-86 crew representing foreign space agencies, talk to press representatives before departing from KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility. They and the five other crew members were at KSC to participate in the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT). They will return to Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, for final prelaunch training. Titov is a cosmonaut with the Russian Space Agency; Chretien is an astronaut with the French Space Agency, CNES. Titov will make his fifth spaceflight, and second on the Space Shuttle, on STS-86 aboard Atlantis. Chretien has flown twice before as a research-cosmonaut on Russian missions; this will be his first Shuttle mission. STS-86 will be the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. Liftoff is targeted for Sept. 25 from Launch Pad 39A KSC-97PC1376

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- STS-86 Mission Specialists Vladimir Geo...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- STS-86 Mission Specialists Vladimir Georgievich Titov, at left, and Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien, the two members of the STS-86 crew representing foreign space agencies, talk to press ... More

STS-86 Mission Specialist Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES, arrives at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Sept. 25 liftoff. This will be Chretien’s third spaceflight, but first on the Space Shuttle. He is chief of the Astronaut Office of CNES. STS-86 is slated to be the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir KSC-97PC1407

STS-86 Mission Specialist Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space ...

STS-86 Mission Specialist Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES, arrives at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Sept. 25 liftoff. Thi... More

As part of the final STS-86 prelaunch activities, the seven crew members gather for a snack and a photo opportunity in the Operations and Checkout Building. From left are Mission Specialist Wendy B. Lawrence; Pilot Michael J. Bloomfield; Mission Specialist Scott E. Parazynski; Commander James D. Wetherbee; Mission Specialist David A. Wolf; Mission Specialist Jean-Loup J.M. Chretien of the French Space Agency, CNES; and Mission Specialist Vladimir Georgievich Titov of the Russian Space Agency. After a weather briefing, the astronauts will don their orange launch and entry suits and depart for Launch Pad 39A where the Space Shuttle Atlantis awaits liftoff at about 10:34 p.m. EDT, Sept. 25. The exact launch time may vary slightly based on calculations of the Russian Space Station Mir’s precise location in space at the time of liftoff. STS-86 is slated to be the seventh of nine planned dockings of the Shuttle with the Mir. Wolf is scheduled to become a member of the Mir 24 crew, replacing U.S. astronaut C. Michael Foale who will return to Earth aboard Atlantis after more than four months on the Russian orbiting outpost KSC-97PC1419

As part of the final STS-86 prelaunch activities, the seven crew membe...

As part of the final STS-86 prelaunch activities, the seven crew members gather for a snack and a photo opportunity in the Operations and Checkout Building. From left are Mission Specialist Wendy B. Lawrence; P... More

With the Rotating Service Structure rolled back, at left, the Space Shuttle Atlantis undergoes final prelaunch preparations at Launch Pad 39A for the STS-86 mission. One of the final steps will be to load the external tank with approximately 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for fueling the orbiter’s three main engines. STS-86 is slated to be the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. Liftoff is targeted for Sept. 25 at 10:34 p.m. EDT during a preferred launch window which lasts six minutes and 45 seconds. Seven crew members will lift off for the scheduled 10-day flight. One of those crew members, David A. Wolf, will transfer to the Mir for an approximate four-month stay. He will replace U.S. astronaut C. Michael Foale, who will return to Earth with the remainder of the STS86 crew. Foale has been on the Russian space station since mid-May KSC-97PC1418

With the Rotating Service Structure rolled back, at left, the Space Sh...

With the Rotating Service Structure rolled back, at left, the Space Shuttle Atlantis undergoes final prelaunch preparations at Launch Pad 39A for the STS-86 mission. One of the final steps will be to load the e... More

The Space Shuttle Atlantis is poised for liftoff on the STS-86 mission from Launch Pad 39A. Now that the Rotating Service Structure is rolled back, one of the final prelaunch milestones will be the loading of the external tank with approximately 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to fuel the three main engines. STS-86 is slated to be the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. Liftoff is targeted for Sept. 25 at 10:34 p.m. EDT during a preferred launch window which lasts six minutes and 45 seconds. Seven crew members will lift off for the scheduled 10-day flight. One of those crew members, David A. Wolf, will transfer to the Mir for an approximate four-month stay. He will replace U.S. astronaut C. Michael Foale, who will return to Earth with the remainder of the STS-86 crew. Foale has been on the Russian space station since mid-May KSC-97PC1417

The Space Shuttle Atlantis is poised for liftoff on the STS-86 mission...

The Space Shuttle Atlantis is poised for liftoff on the STS-86 mission from Launch Pad 39A. Now that the Rotating Service Structure is rolled back, one of the final prelaunch milestones will be the loading of t... More

With the Rotating Service Structure rolled back, at left, the Space Shuttle Atlantis undergoes final prelaunch preparations at Launch Pad 39A for the STS-86 mission. One of the final steps will be to load the external tank with approximately 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for fueling the orbiter’s three main engines. STS-86 is slated to be the seventh docking of the Space Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir. Liftoff is targeted for Sept. 25 at 10:34 p.m. EDT during a preferred launch window which lasts six minutes and 45 seconds. Seven crew members will lift off for the scheduled 10-day flight. One of those crew members, David A. Wolf, will transfer to the Mir for an approximate four-month stay. He will replace U.S. astronaut C. Michael Foale, who will return to Earth with the remainder of the STS86 crew. Foale has been on the Russian space station since mid-May KSC-97PC1416

With the Rotating Service Structure rolled back, at left, the Space Sh...

With the Rotating Service Structure rolled back, at left, the Space Shuttle Atlantis undergoes final prelaunch preparations at Launch Pad 39A for the STS-86 mission. One of the final steps will be to load the e... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA 2), part of the first International Space Station (ISS) element to be launched from the U.S., awaits prelaunch processing in the Space Station Processing Facility after its arrival at KSC. PMAs 1 and 2 attached to a component called Node 1, a Station structural building block, will make up the first U.S.-launched ISS element. The Node 1/PMA assembly will provide key connecting points in orbit for other Space Station modules and for docking of the orbiter with the ISS. PMA 1 will provide the interface between U.S. and Russian elements of the Station; PMA 2 will provide a Shuttle orbiter docking area. The Node 1/PMA assembly is targeted for liftoff aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-88 in July 1998. KSC-97pc1530

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA 2)...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA 2), part of the first International Space Station (ISS) element to be launched from the U.S., awaits prelaunch processing in the Space Station... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA 2), at left, part of the first International Space Station (ISS) element to be launched from the U.S., awaits prelaunch processing in the Space Station Processing Facility after its arrival at KSC. PMAs 1 and 2 attached to a component called Node 1, shown in background at far right, to form the first U.S.-launched ISS element. The Node 1/PMA assembly will provide key connecting points in orbit for other Space Station modules and for docking of the orbiter with the ISS. PMA 1 will provide the interface between U.S. and Russian elements of the Station; PMA 2 will provide a Shuttle orbiter docking area. The Node 1/PMA assembly is targeted for liftoff aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-88 in July 1998. KSC-97pc1531

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA 2...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The Pressurized Mating Adapter 2 (PMA 2), at left, part of the first International Space Station (ISS) element to be launched from the U.S., awaits prelaunch processing in the Spa... More

As STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel looks on, Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine addresses members of the press and media at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility after arriving for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 liftoff. Other STS-87 crew members not pictured are Pilot Steven Lindsey; and Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency of Japan; and Winston Scott. STS-87 will be the fourth flight of the United States Microgravity Payload and the Spartan-201 deployable satellite KSC-97PC1674

As STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel looks on, Payload Specialist Leonid K...

As STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel looks on, Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine addresses members of the press and media at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility ... More

STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel addresses members of the press and media at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility after arriving for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 liftoff. The STS-87 crew members are, from left to right, Mission Specialists Winston Scott and Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency of Japan; Commander Kevin Kregel; Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine; Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; and Pilot Steven Lindsey. STS-87 will be the fourth flight of the United States Microgravity Payload and the Spartan-201 deployable satellite KSC-97PC1672

STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel addresses members of the press and media...

STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel addresses members of the press and media at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility after arriving for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 li... More

STS-87 Pilot Steven Lindsey arrives at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a T-38 jet for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 liftoff. The other STS-87 crew members are Commander Kevin Kregel; Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency of Japan; and Winston Scott; and Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine. STS-87 will be the fourth flight of the United States Microgravity Payload and the Spartan-201 deployable satellite KSC-97PC1671

STS-87 Pilot Steven Lindsey arrives at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle ...

STS-87 Pilot Steven Lindsey arrives at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a T-38 jet for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 liftoff. The other STS-87 crew mem... More

As STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel looks on, Mission Specialist Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency of Japan addresses members of the press and media at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility after arriving for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 liftoff. Other STS-87 crew members not pictured are Pilot Steven Lindsey; Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D., and Winston Scott; and Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine. STS-87 will be the fourth flight of the United States Microgravity Payload and the Spartan-201 deployable satellite KSC-97PC1673

As STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel looks on, Mission Specialist Takao Do...

As STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel looks on, Mission Specialist Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency of Japan addresses members of the press and media at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landi... More

STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel arrives at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a T-38 jet for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 liftoff. The other STS-87 crew members are Pilot Steven Lindsey; Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency of Japan; and Winston Scott; and Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine. STS-87 will be the fourth flight of the United States Microgravity Payload and the Spartan-201 deployable satellite KSC-97PC1669

STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel arrives at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttl...

STS-87 Commander Kevin Kregel arrives at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a T-38 jet for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 liftoff. The other STS-87 crew m... More

STS-87 Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine arrives at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a T-38 jet for the final prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 liftoff. The other STS-87 crew members are Commander Kevin Kregel; Pilot Steven Lindsey; and Mission Specialists Kalpana Chawla, Ph.D.; Takao Doi, Ph.D., of the National Space Development Agency of Japan; and Winston Scott. STS-87 will be the fourth flight of the United States Microgravity Payload and the Spartan-201 deployable satellite KSC-97PC1670

STS-87 Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency...

STS-87 Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk of the National Space Agency of Ukraine arrives at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a T-38 jet for the final prelaunch activities leading up to th... More

The president of the Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, shakes hands with Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk, at right, as backup Payload Specialist Yaroslav Pustovyi, both of the National Space Agency of Ukraine, looks on during prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 launch of STS-87. STS-87 will be the fourth flight of the United States Microgravity Payload and the Spartan-201 deployable satellite. During the mission, Kadenyuk will pollinate Brassica rapa plants as part of the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment, or CUE, aboard Columbia during its 16-day mission. The CUE experiment is a collection of 10 plant space biology experiments that will fly in Columbia's middeck and will feature an educational component that involves evaluating the effects of microgravity on Brassica rapa seedlings. Students in Ukrainian and American schools will participate in the same experiment with Kadenyuk in space. Kadenyuk will be flying his first Shuttle mission on STS-87 KSC-97PC1685

The president of the Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, shakes hands with Payload...

The president of the Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, shakes hands with Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk, at right, as backup Payload Specialist Yaroslav Pustovyi, both of the National Space Agency of Ukraine, looks o... More

The president of the Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, is flanked by Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk, at left, and backup Payload Specialist Yaroslav Pustovyi, at right, both of the National Space Agency of Ukraine, during prelaunch activities leading up to the scheduled Nov. 19 launch of STS-87. STS-87 will be the fourth flight of the United States Microgravity Payload and the Spartan-201 deployable satellite. During the mission, Kadenyuk will pollinate Brassica rapa plants as part of the Collaborative Ukrainian Experiment, or CUE, aboard Columbia during its 16-day mission. The CUE experiment is a collection of 10 plant space biology experiments that will fly in Columbia's middeck and will feature an educational component that involves evaluating the effects of microgravity on Brassica rapa seedlings. Students in Ukrainian and American schools will participate in the same experiment with Kadenyuk in space. Kadenyuk will be flying his first Shuttle mission on STS-87 KSC-97PC1684

The president of the Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, is flanked by Payload Spe...

The president of the Ukraine, Leonid Kuchma, is flanked by Payload Specialist Leonid Kadenyuk, at left, and backup Payload Specialist Yaroslav Pustovyi, at right, both of the National Space Agency of Ukraine, d... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. The node and PMA-1 are seen here on a workstand getting ready to be moved the next day to a weight and balance stand for an interim weight and center of gravity determination. (The final determination is planned to be performed prior to transporting Node 1 to the launch pad.) Upon completing the interim determination, the node and PMA will be hoisted into the Shuttle payload transportation canister and the doors will be closed for a two-week leak check. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc348

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station P... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. The node and PMA-1 are seen here on a workstand getting ready to be moved the next day to a weight and balance stand for an interim weight and center of gravity determination. (The final determination is planned to be performed prior to transporting Node 1 to the launch pad.) Upon completing the interim determination, the node and PMA will be hoisted into the Shuttle payload transportation canister and the doors will be closed for a two-week leak check. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88. KSC-98pc346

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station P... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and the Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. The node and PMA-1 are seen here on a workstand as a Boeing technician removes cables to get the node ready to be moved the next day to another stand for an interim weight and center of gravity determination. (The final determination is planned to be performed prior to transporting Node 1 to the launch pad.) Upon completing the interim determination, the node and PMA will be hoisted into the Shuttle payload transportation canister and the doors will be closed for a two-week leak check. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc347

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and the Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Stati... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. The node and PMA-1 are seen here being moved into the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors will be closed for a two-week leak check. The node and PMA were moved to the canister from the element rotation stand, or test stand, where they underwent an interim weight and center of gravity determination. The final determination is planned to be performed prior to transporting Node 1 to the launch pad. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc358

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. The node and PMA-1 are seen here being moved into the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors will be closed for a two-week leak check. The node and PMA were moved to the canister from the element rotation stand, or test stand, where they underwent an interim weight and center of gravity determination. The final determination is planned to be performed prior to transporting Node 1 to the launch pad. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc357

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. The node and PMA-1 are being removed from the element rotation stand, or test stand, where they underwent an interim weight and center of gravity determination. (The final determination is planned to be performed prior to transporting Node 1 to the launch pad.) Now the node is being moved to the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors will be closed for a two-week leak check. PMAs -2 and -3 can be seen against the right wall, with PMA-3 at the far right. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc355

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. The node is seen here being moved into the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors will be closed for a two-week leak check. The node and PMA-1 were moved to the canister from the element rotation stand, or test stand, where they underwent an interim weight and center of gravity determination. The final determination is planned to be performed prior to transporting Node 1 to the launch pad. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc356

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space ... More

Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. The node and PMA-1 are seen here being moved into the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors will be closed for a two-week leak check. The node and PMA were moved to the canister from the element rotation stand, or test stand, where they underwent an interim weight and center of gravity determination. The final determination is planned to be performed prior to transporting Node 1 to the launch pad. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc359

Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, an...

Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. N... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. The node and PMA-1 are being removed from the element rotation stand, or test stand, where they underwent an interim weight and center of gravity determination. (The final determination is planned to be performed prior to transporting Node 1 to the launch pad.) Now the node is being moved to the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors will be closed for a two-week leak check. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc354

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 continue with prelaunch preparation activities at KSC's Space Station ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) are seen here being moved from the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors were closed a week ago for a leak check in KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. Since the node and PMA passed the test with flying colors, they were removed from the canister one week early in order to continue with other prelaunch preparation activities. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc381

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) are seen here being moved from the Shuttle payload transportat... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) are seen here being moved into their test stand from the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors were closed a week ago for a leak check in KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. Since the node and PMA passed the test with flying colors, they were removed from the canister one week early in order to continue with other prelaunch preparation activities. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc383

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) are seen here being moved into their test stand from the Shutt... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) are seen here being moved from the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors were closed a week ago for a leak check in KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. Since the node and PMA passed the test with flying colors, they were removed from the canister one week early in order to continue with other prelaunch preparation activities. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc384

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) are seen here being moved from the Shuttle payload transportat... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) are seen here being moved from the Shuttle payload transportation canister, where the doors were closed a week ago for a leak check in KSC's Space Station Processing Facility. Node 1 is a connecting passageway to the living and working areas of the space station. Since the node and PMA passed the test with flying colors, they were removed from the canister one week early in order to continue with other prelaunch preparation activities. Node 1 is scheduled to fly on STS-88 KSC-98pc382

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the I...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Node 1, the first U.S. element for the International Space Station, and attached Pressurized Mating Adapter-1 (PMA-1) are seen here being moved from the Shuttle payload transportat... More

A smiling STS-88 Mission Specialist Jerry L. Ross prepares to exit the T-38 jet aircraft that brought him to the Shuttle Landing Facility. He joins the five other crew members, Commander Robert D. Cabana, Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow, and Mission Specialists Nancy J. Currie, James H. Newman and Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, a Russian cosmonaut, for prelaunch preparations for mission STS-88 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. The scheduled time of launch is 3:56 a.m. EST on Dec. 3 from Launch Pad 39A. The mission is the first U.S. launch for the International Space Station. Endeavour carries the Unity connecting module which the crew will be mating with the Russian-built Zarya control module already in orbit. In addition to Unity, Endeavour will carry two small replacement electronics boxes for possible repairs to Zarya batteries. The mission is scheduled to last nearly 12 days KSC-98pc1743

A smiling STS-88 Mission Specialist Jerry L. Ross prepares to exit the...

A smiling STS-88 Mission Specialist Jerry L. Ross prepares to exit the T-38 jet aircraft that brought him to the Shuttle Landing Facility. He joins the five other crew members, Commander Robert D. Cabana, Pilot... More

STS-88 Commander Robert D. Cabana smiles at onlookers after his arrival at the Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a T-38 jet aircraft. He joins other crew members Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow and Mission Specialists Nancy J. Currie, Jerry L. Ross, James H. Newman and Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, a Russian cosmonaut, for prelaunch preparations for Mission STS-88 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. The scheduled time of launch is 3:56 a.m. EST on Dec. 3 from Launch Pad 39A. The mission is the first U.S. launch for the International Space Station. Endeavour carries the Unity connecting module which the crew will be mating with the Russian-built Zarya control module already in orbit. In addition to Unity, Endeavour will carry two small replacement electronics boxes for possible repairs to Zarya batteries. The mission is scheduled to last nearly 12 days KSC-98pc1740

STS-88 Commander Robert D. Cabana smiles at onlookers after his arriva...

STS-88 Commander Robert D. Cabana smiles at onlookers after his arrival at the Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a T-38 jet aircraft. He joins other crew members Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow and Mission Spe... More

STS-88 Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow (at left) and Mission Specialist Nancy J. Currie walk across the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility after exiting the T-38 jet aircraft (in background) that brought them to KSC. They join the four other crew members, Commander Robert D. Cabana and Mission Specialists Jerry L. Ross, James H. Newman and Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, a Russian cosmonaut, for prelaunch preparations for mission STS-88 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. The scheduled time of launch is 3:56 a.m. EST on Dec. 3 from Launch Pad 39A. The mission is the first U.S. launch for the International Space Station. Endeavour carries the Unity connecting module which the crew will be mating with the Russian-built Zarya control module already in orbit. In addition to Unity, Endeavour will carry two small replacement electronics boxes for possible repairs to Zarya batteries. The mission is scheduled to last nearly 12 days KSC-98pc1742

STS-88 Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow (at left) and Mission Specia...

STS-88 Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow (at left) and Mission Specialist Nancy J. Currie walk across the runway at the Shuttle Landing Facility after exiting the T-38 jet aircraft (in background) that brought... More

STS-88 Mission Specialist Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, a Russian cosmonaut, smiles at onlookers after his arrival at the Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a T-38 jet aircraft. He joins the five other crew members, Commander Robert D. Cabana, Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow and Mission Specialists Nancy J. Currie, Jerry L. Ross and James H. Newman, for prelaunch preparations for Mission STS-88 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. The scheduled time of launch is 3:56 a.m. EST on Dec. 3 from Launch Pad 39A. The mission is the first U.S. launch for the International Space Station. Endeavour carries the Unity connecting module which the crew will be mating with the Russian-built Zarya control module already in orbit. In addition to Unity, Endeavour will carry two small replacement electronics boxes for possible repairs to Zarya batteries. The mission is scheduled to last nearly 12 days KSC-98pc1741

STS-88 Mission Specialist Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, a Russian c...

STS-88 Mission Specialist Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, a Russian cosmonaut, smiles at onlookers after his arrival at the Shuttle Landing Facility aboard a T-38 jet aircraft. He joins the five other crew mem... More

At Launch Pad 39A, STS-88 Mission Commander Robert D. Cabana gets a close look at the Unity connecting module and its two attached pressurized mating adapters. Unity is in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, awaiting liftoff of Mission STS-88. Cabana and the other five members of the STS-88 crew arrived at KSC in the early morning hours of Nov. 30 for final prelaunch preparations. The other crew members are Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow and Mission Specialists Nancy J. Currie, James H. Newman and Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, a Russian cosmonaut. The scheduled liftoff is at 3:56 a.m. on Dec. 3. Unity is the primary payload of the mission, which is the first U.S. launch for the International Space Station. The crew will be mating Unity with the Russian-built Zarya control module already in orbit. In addition to Unity, Endeavour will carry two small replacement electronics boxes for possible repairs to Zarya batteries. The mission is scheduled to last nearly 12 days KSC-98pc1745

At Launch Pad 39A, STS-88 Mission Commander Robert D. Cabana gets a cl...

At Launch Pad 39A, STS-88 Mission Commander Robert D. Cabana gets a close look at the Unity connecting module and its two attached pressurized mating adapters. Unity is in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle E... More

At Launch Pad 39A, STS-88 Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow (at left) and Commander Robert D. Cabana look over the Unity connecting module and its two attached pressurized mating adapters. Unity is in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, awaiting liftoff of Mission STS-88. Cabana, Sturckow and the other four members of the STS-88 crew arrived at KSC in the early morning hours of Nov. 30 for prelaunch preparations. The other crew members are Mission Specialists Nancy J. Currie, James H. Newman and Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, a Russian cosmonaut. The scheduled liftoff is at 3:56 a.m. on Dec. 3. Unity is the primary payload of the mission, which is the first U.S. launch for the International Space Station. The crew will be mating Unity with the Russian-built Zarya control module already in orbit. In addition to Unity, Endeavour will carry two small replacement electronics boxes for possible repairs to Zarya batteries. The mission is scheduled to last nearly 12 days KSC-98pc1746

At Launch Pad 39A, STS-88 Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow (at left)...

At Launch Pad 39A, STS-88 Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow (at left) and Commander Robert D. Cabana look over the Unity connecting module and its two attached pressurized mating adapters. Unity is in the payl... More

As part of the final STS-88 prelaunch activities, the six crew members gather for a last meal before liftoff and a photo opportunity in the Operations and Checkout Building. From left, they are Mission Specialist Sergei Konstantinovich Krikalev, a Russian cosmonaut; Pilot Frederick W. "Rick" Sturckow; Mission Specialist Nancy J. Currie; Commander Robert D. Cabana; and Mission Specialists Jerry L. Ross and James H. Newman. STS-88 will be the first U.S. launch dedicated to the assembly of the International Space Center. Liftoff aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour is targeted for 3:36 a.m. EST, Dec. 4, from Launch Pad 39A KSC-98pc1777

As part of the final STS-88 prelaunch activities, the six crew members...

As part of the final STS-88 prelaunch activities, the six crew members gather for a last meal before liftoff and a photo opportunity in the Operations and Checkout Building. From left, they are Mission Speciali... More

Workers uncrate a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) in the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC. It joins two other segments for a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pd0545

Workers uncrate a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space S...

Workers uncrate a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) in the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC. It joins two other segments for a campaign of prel... More

The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) arrives at Kennedy Space Center to begin a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pd0541

The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator Sys...

The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) arrives at Kennedy Space Center to begin a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. CSA's first contribution to the Internat... More

The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) arrives at the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC to begin a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pd0542

The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator Sys...

The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) arrives at the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC to begin a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. CSA's first cont... More

Segments of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) are lined up in the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC. They will undergo a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pp0548

Segments of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Man...

Segments of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) are lined up in the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC. They will undergo a campaign of prelaunch processing a... More

The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) arrives at the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC to begin a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pp0543

The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator Sys...

The Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) arrives at the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC to begin a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. CSA's first cont... More

Workers guide a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) past the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module in the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC. The segment joins two others for a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pp0547

Workers guide a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Sta...

Workers guide a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) past the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module in the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC. The... More

Workers guide a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) in the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC. It joins two other segments for a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pd0546

Workers guide a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Sta...

Workers guide a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) in the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC. It joins two other segments for a campaign of prelau... More

Workers move a box containing a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) into the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC. It joins two other segments for a campaign of prelaunch processing activities CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pp0544

Workers move a box containing a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's...

Workers move a box containing a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) into the Space Station Processing Facility at KSC. It joins two other segments for a ... More

Workers in the Space Station Processing Facility raise two segments of the Canadian Space Agency's Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is at KSC to begin a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. It is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pp0570

Workers in the Space Station Processing Facility raise two segments of...

Workers in the Space Station Processing Facility raise two segments of the Canadian Space Agency's Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (I... More

Workers in the Space Station Processing Facility raise a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to move it to a workstand. CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is at KSC to begin a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. It is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pp0569

Workers in the Space Station Processing Facility raise a segment of th...

Workers in the Space Station Processing Facility raise a segment of the Canadian Space Agency's Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to move it to a workstand. CSA's first contribution to the Interna... More

Workers in the in the Space Station Processing Facility move two segments of the Canadian Space Agency's Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to a workstand. CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement.. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is at KSC to begin a campaign of prelaunch processing activities. It is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-100, currently planned for July 2000 KSC-99pp0571

Workers in the in the Space Station Processing Facility move two segme...

Workers in the in the Space Station Processing Facility move two segments of the Canadian Space Agency's Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) to a workstand. CSA's first contribution to the Internati... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Space Shuttle Discovery makes the climb to Launch Pad 39B aboard the mobile launcher platform and crawler transporter. The crawler is able to keep its cargo level during the move up the five percent grade, not varying from the vertical more than the diameter of a soccer ball. At right are the rotating and fixed service structures which will be used during prelaunch preparations at the pad. Earlier in the week, the Shuttle was rolled back to the VAB from the pad to repair hail damage on the external tank's foam insulation. Mission STS-96, the 94th launch in the Space Shuttle Program, is scheduled for liftoff May 27 at 6:48 a.m. EDT. STS-96 is a logistics and resupply mission for the International Space Station, carrying such payloads as a Russian crane, the Strela; a U.S.-built crane; the Spacehab Oceaneering Space System Box (SHOSS), a logistics items carrier; and STARSHINE, a student-shared experiment KSC-99pp0565

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Space Shuttle Discovery makes the climb...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Space Shuttle Discovery makes the climb to Launch Pad 39B aboard the mobile launcher platform and crawler transporter. The crawler is able to keep its cargo level during the move ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The crawler transporter, with its cargo of Space Shuttle Discovery and mobile launcher platform, leaves tracks on the crawlerway as it makes its way up Launch Pad 39B. Behind the Shuttle can be seen part of the rotating service structure and the 82-foot lightning mast (next to the solid rocket booster) on top of the fixed service structure. The two structures are used during prelaunch preparations at the pad. Earlier in the week, the Shuttle was rolled back to the VAB from the pad to repair hail damage on the external tank's foam insulation. Mission STS-96, the 94th launch in the Space Shuttle Program, is scheduled for liftoff May 27 at 6:48 a.m. EDT. STS-96 is a logistics and resupply mission for the International Space Station, carrying such payloads as a Russian crane, the Strela; a U.S.-built crane; the Spacehab Oceaneering Space System Box (SHOSS), a logistics items carrier; and STARSHINE, a student-shared experiment KSC-99pp0566

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The crawler transporter, with its cargo ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The crawler transporter, with its cargo of Space Shuttle Discovery and mobile launcher platform, leaves tracks on the crawlerway as it makes its way up Launch Pad 39B. Behind the S... More

James Stickley (left) and Derry Dilby (right), who are with United Space Alliance, check over a spare four-inch diameter LH2 recirculation line that will be used to replace a damaged LH2 line in the orbiter Discovery. The line recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the external tank during prelaunch engine conditioning. Workers noted a dent in the line during routine aft compartment inspections Tuesday, Dec. 7. The dent measures 12 inches long and about ½-inch deep. Managers expect the replacement work to take about 3 days, followed by system retests and final aft compartment close-outs. Preliminary assessments reflect a launch date of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-103 no earlier than Dec. 16. STS-103 is the third servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope KSC-99pp1398

James Stickley (left) and Derry Dilby (right), who are with United Spa...

James Stickley (left) and Derry Dilby (right), who are with United Space Alliance, check over a spare four-inch diameter LH2 recirculation line that will be used to replace a damaged LH2 line in the orbiter Dis... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Green dye penetrant helps pinpoint the dent discovered in this LH2 recirculation line in Space Shuttle Discovery's engine compartment. The 12-inch-long dent was discovered during routine aft compartment inspections Tuesday, Dec. 7. The LH2 line recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the external tank during prelaunch engine conditioning. The line is being replaced and managers expect the replacement work to take about 3 days, followed by system retests and final aft compartment close-outs. Preliminary assessments reflect a launch date of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-103 no earlier than Dec. 16. STS-103 is the third servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope KSC-99padig039

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Green dye penetrant helps pinpoint the d...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Green dye penetrant helps pinpoint the dent discovered in this LH2 recirculation line in Space Shuttle Discovery's engine compartment. The 12-inch-long dent was discovered during r... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A small ruler shows the relative size of the bent LH2 recirculation line in Space Shuttle Discovery's engine compartment. Underneath the line is material draped to protect other components. The 12-inch-long dent was discovered during routine aft compartment inspections Tuesday, Dec. 7. The LH2 line recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the external tank during prelaunch engine conditioning. The line is being replaced and managers expect the replacement work to take about 3 days, followed by system retests and final aft compartment close-outs. Preliminary assessments reflect a launch date of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-103 no earlier than Dec. 16. STS-103 is the third servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope KSC-99padig038

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A small ruler shows the relative size of...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A small ruler shows the relative size of the bent LH2 recirculation line in Space Shuttle Discovery's engine compartment. Underneath the line is material draped to protect other co... More

A spare four-inch diameter LH2 recirculation line (shown in photo) will be used to replace a damaged LH2 line in the orbiter Discovery. The line recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the external tank during prelaunch engine conditioning. Workers noted a dent in the line during routine aft compartment inspections Tuesday, Dec. 7. The dent measures 12 inches long and about ½-inch deep. Managers expect the replacement work to take about 3 days, followed by system retests and final aft compartment close-outs. Preliminary assessments reflect a launch date of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-103 no earlier than Dec. 16. STS-103 is the third servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope KSC-99pp1397

A spare four-inch diameter LH2 recirculation line (shown in photo) wil...

A spare four-inch diameter LH2 recirculation line (shown in photo) will be used to replace a damaged LH2 line in the orbiter Discovery. The line recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the e... More

Gary Hamilton (left) and James Stickley, both with United Space Alliance, check out a spare four-inch diameter LH2 recirculation line that will be used to replace a damaged LH2 line in the orbiter Discovery. The line recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the external tank during prelaunch engine conditioning. Workers noted a dent in the line during routine aft compartment inspections Tuesday, Dec. 7. The dent measures 12 inches long and about ½-inch deep. Managers expect the replacement work to take about 3 days, followed by system retests and final aft compartment close-outs. Preliminary assessments reflect a launch date of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-103 no earlier than Dec. 16. STS-103 is the third servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope KSC-99pp1396

Gary Hamilton (left) and James Stickley, both with United Space Allian...

Gary Hamilton (left) and James Stickley, both with United Space Alliance, check out a spare four-inch diameter LH2 recirculation line that will be used to replace a damaged LH2 line in the orbiter Discovery. Th... More

Workers with United Space Alliance remove Shuttle Discovery's dented main propulsion system liquid hydrogen recirculation line. From left are James Stickley, George Atkins, and Todd Biddle. The 12-inch-long dent was discovered during routine aft compartment inspections Tuesday, Dec. 7. The line recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the external tank during prelaunch engine conditioning. The line is being replaced and managers expect the replacement work to take about 3 days, followed by system retests and final aft compartment close-outs. Preliminary assessments reflect a launch date of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-103 no earlier than Dec. 16. STS-103 is the third servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope KSC-99pp1402

Workers with United Space Alliance remove Shuttle Discovery's dented m...

Workers with United Space Alliance remove Shuttle Discovery's dented main propulsion system liquid hydrogen recirculation line. From left are James Stickley, George Atkins, and Todd Biddle. The 12-inch-long den... More

This close-up shows the 12-inch-long dent on Shuttle Discovery's main propulsion system liquid hydrogen recirculation line that was discovered during routine aft compartment inspections Tuesday, Dec. 7. The line recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the external tank during prelaunch engine conditioning. The line is being replaced and managers expect the replacement work to take about 3 days, followed by system retests and final aft compartment close-outs. Preliminary assessments reflect a launch date of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-103 no earlier than Dec. 16. STS-103 is the third servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope KSC-99pp1404

This close-up shows the 12-inch-long dent on Shuttle Discovery's main ...

This close-up shows the 12-inch-long dent on Shuttle Discovery's main propulsion system liquid hydrogen recirculation line that was discovered during routine aft compartment inspections Tuesday, Dec. 7. The lin... More

In the Payload Changeout Room, Launch Pad 39B, United Space Alliance and NASA workers look at the replacement main propulsion system liquid hydrogen recirculation line (left) to be installed in Shuttle Discovery's aft compartment. At right is the dented line that has been removed. The 12-inch-long dent was discovered during routine aft compartment inspections Tuesday, Dec. 7. The line recirculates hydrogen from the Shuttle main engines back to the external tank during prelaunch engine conditioning. The line is being replaced and managers expect the replacement work to take about 3 days, followed by system retests and final aft compartment close-outs. Preliminary assessments reflect a launch date of Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-103 no earlier than Dec. 16. STS-103 is the third servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope KSC-99pp1403

In the Payload Changeout Room, Launch Pad 39B, United Space Alliance a...

In the Payload Changeout Room, Launch Pad 39B, United Space Alliance and NASA workers look at the replacement main propulsion system liquid hydrogen recirculation line (left) to be installed in Shuttle Discover... More

In the Space Station Processing Facility, a worker performs prelaunch processing activities on the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for April 2001 KSC-00pp0508

In the Space Station Processing Facility, a worker performs prelaunch ...

In the Space Station Processing Facility, a worker performs prelaunch processing activities on the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). CSA's first contribution to the ... More

In the Space Station Processing Facility, workers perform prelaunch processing activities on the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for April 2001 KSC-00pp0507

In the Space Station Processing Facility, workers perform prelaunch pr...

In the Space Station Processing Facility, workers perform prelaunch processing activities on the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). CSA's first contribution to the In... More

In the Space Station Processing Facility, two workers perform prelaunch processing activities on the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). CSA's first contribution to the International Space Station (ISS), the SSRMS is the primary means of transferring payloads between the orbiter payload bay and the ISS for assembly. The 56-foot-long robotic arm includes two 12-foot booms joined by a hinge. Seven joints on the arm allow highly flexible and precise movement. Latching End Effectors are mounted on each end of the arm for grappling. Video cameras mounted on the booms and end effectors will give astronauts maximum visibility for operations and maintenance tasks on the ISS. The SSRMS is scheduled to be launched aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-100, currently planned for April 2001 KSC-00pp0509

In the Space Station Processing Facility, two workers perform prelaunc...

In the Space Station Processing Facility, two workers perform prelaunch processing activities on the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). CSA's first contribution to th... More

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