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Saturday, August 7, 2010

Rarely Seen Pics Of Space Shuttle Pre-Flight Arrangements

Shuttle "Discovery":
Pre-Flight Activities, Rarely Seen by the General Public


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

Space Exploration

External tank arrives by barge from Louisiana:
Space Exploration


Space Exploration


External tank approaches Vertical Assembly Building (VAB):
Space Exploration


Removing external tank:
Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Preparing to lift the tank to vertical:
Space Exploration


Lifting the tank:
Space Exploration


Solid rockets are attached:
Space Exploration


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


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


Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Shuttle in sling ready for lift in VAB:
Space Exploration


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


Space Exploration


Shuttle is attached:
Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Payload Preparation in Space Station Processing Facility:
Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM):
Space Exploration


Payload carrier leaves Canister Rotation Facility:
Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Payload being moved to Launch Pad:
Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Lifting payload into position for insertion into "Discovery"
when it arrives at the pad:
Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Shuttle "Discovery" leaves VAB:
Space Exploration


Space Exploration


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


Space Exploration


Crawler Control
Space Exploration


Space Exploration


"Discovery" arrives at Pad:
Space Exploration


Payload is also inside the Launch Pad:
Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Space Exploration


Ready for Launch:
Space Exploration


We Have Lift Off !
Space Exploration
 

Space Exploration
 

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