Ares I-X Deputy Mission Manager Jon Cowart shows a space shuttle solid rocket booster (SRB) separation bolt during a two-day NASA Tweetup event held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. NASA Twitter followers in attendance will have the opportunity to take a tour of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, view the STS-129 space shuttle launch and speak with shuttle technicians, engineers, astronauts and managers. Photo Credit: (NASA/Carla Cioffi)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a Vehicle Assembly Building technician adjusts a left-side main separation bolt that attaches the bottom of space shuttle Discovery to its external fuel tank. As technicians were attaching the bolt Sept. 10, a bolt nut slipped back into Discovery's aft compartment. To retrieve it, technicians entered Discovery’s aft section through an access door. They then moved the nut back into position to finish attaching the bolt, which is used to separate Discovery from the external tank once the shuttle is in orbit. Discovery is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39A later this month for its STS-133 launch to the International Space Station. Targeted to lift off Nov. 1, Discovery will take the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2 (R2) to the station. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a left-side main separation bolt attaches the bottom of space shuttle Discovery to its external fuel tank in the Vehicle Assembly Building. As technicians were attaching the bolt Sept. 10, a bolt nut slipped back into Discovery's aft compartment. To retrieve it, technicians entered Discovery’s aft section through an access door. They then moved the nut back into position to finish attaching the bolt, which is used to separate Discovery from the external tank once the shuttle is in orbit. Discovery is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39A later this month for its STS-133 launch to the International Space Station. Targeted to lift off Nov. 1, Discovery will take the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2 (R2) to the station. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians in the Vehicle Assembly Building inspect space shuttle Discovery, its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. As technicians were attaching the left-side main separation bolt on the bottom of the shuttle to the external tank Sept. 10 a bolt nut slipped back into Discovery's aft compartment. To retrieve it, technicians entered Discovery’s aft section through an access door. They then moved the nut back into position to finish attaching the bolt, which is used to separate Discovery from the external tank once the shuttle is in orbit. Discovery is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39A later this month for its STS-133 launch to the International Space Station. Targeted to lift off Nov. 1, Discovery will take the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2 (R2) to the station. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, a second firing of the escape hold down post has occurred during a pyrotechnic bolt test on the Orion ground test vehicle. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is attached to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters in the Vehicle Assembly Building. As technicians were attaching the left-side main separation bolt on the bottom of the shuttle to the external tank Sept. 10 a bolt nut slipped back into Discovery's aft compartment. To retrieve it, technicians entered Discovery’s aft section through an access door. They then moved the nut back into position to finish attaching the bolt, which is used to separate Discovery from the external tank once the shuttle is in orbit. Discovery is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39A later this month for its STS-133 launch to the International Space Station. Targeted to lift off Nov. 1, Discovery will take the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2 (R2) to the station. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the control room at the Launch Equipment Test Facility, or LETF, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Lockheed Martin engineers monitor the pyrotechnic bolt test on the Orion ground test vehicle at the LETF. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, the Orion ground test vehicle has been transferred to a test stand and prepared for a pyrotechnic bolt test. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- The Orion ground test vehicle sits on a test stand in the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida while engineers and technicians prepare it for a pyrotechnic bolt test. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Discovery is attached to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters in the Vehicle Assembly Building. As technicians were attaching the left-side main separation bolt on the bottom of the shuttle to the external tank Sept. 10 a bolt nut slipped back into Discovery's aft compartment. To retrieve it, technicians entered Discovery’s aft section through an access door. They then moved the nut back into position to finish attaching the bolt, which is used to separate Discovery from the external tank once the shuttle is in orbit. Discovery is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39A later this month for its STS-133 launch to the International Space Station. Targeted to lift off Nov. 1, Discovery will take the Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) packed with supplies and critical spare parts, as well as Robonaut 2 (R2) to the station. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, a Lockheed Martin technician prepares the Orion ground test vehicle for a pyrotechnic bolt test. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. -- Inside the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space in Florida, sensors have been placed on the Orion ground test vehicle and cameras placed nearby in order to monitor pyrotechnic bolt tests. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Orion ground test vehicle sits on a test stand in the Launch Equipment Test Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida while engineers and technicians prepare it for a pyrotechnic bolt test. Lockheed Martin performed tests over a series of days on the explosive bolts that separate Orion from the launch abort system. Data was collected on the effect of shock waves on Orion during the explosive bolt separation. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry crews to space beyond low Earth orbit. It will provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on a Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building, a KSC employee separates the forward assembly (nose cap and frustum) from a solid rocket booster (SRB) after removing the bolts. The destacking is part of time and cycle activities. The SRB was part of the stack on Atlantis originally scheduled for a March 1, 2003, launch on mission STS-114. The SRBs and external tank were demated in February 2003. The mission is now scheduled to occur no earlier than Sept. 12, 2004, on Atlantis.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building, a KSC employee separates the forward assembly (nose cap and frustum) from a solid rocket booster (SRB) after the bolts were removed. The destacking is part of time and cycle activities. The SRB was part of the stack on Atlantis originally scheduled for a March 1, 2003, launch on mission STS-114. The SRBs and external tank were demated in February 2003. The mission is now scheduled to occur no earlier than Sept. 12, 2004, on Atlantis.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building, Lead Technician Todd Reeves, with United Space Alliance, moves a bolt catcher into place between the Solid Rocket Booster and left and the External Tank at right.A bolt catcher is a vertical bolt mechanism at the forward end of the External Tank that attaches each booster to the tank. At approximately two minutes into launch, SRB separation begins when pyrotechnic devices fire to break the 25-inch, 62-pound steel bolts. One half of the bolt is caught in canister-like 'bolt catchers' located on the tank; the other half remains with the boosters. Discovery is flying with a modified bolt catcher, which was upgraded from a two-piece welded design to a one-piece, machine-made design as part of NASA's effort to return to safe, reliable spaceflight. Eliminating the weld makes a structurally stronger bolt catcher design. Though the bolt catcher is mounted on the External Tank, it is considered part of the Solid Rocket Booster element design. It is built by Summa Technologies, Inc. in Huntsville, Ala., insulated at Lockheed Martin’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, and installed on the External Tank at KSC.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building, Senior Technician Kevin Reagan, with United Space Alliance, prepares one of two bolt catchers for installation on orbiter Discovery’s External Tank. A bolt catcher is a vertical bolt mechanism at the forward end of the External Tank that attaches each booster to the tank. At approximately two minutes into launch, SRB separation begins when pyrotechnic devices fire to break the 25-inch, 62-pound steel bolts. One half of the bolt is caught in canister-like 'bolt catchers' located on the tank; the other half remains with the boosters. Discovery is flying with a modified bolt catcher, which was upgraded from a two-piece welded design to a one-piece, machine-made design as part of NASA's effort to return to safe, reliable spaceflight. Eliminating the weld makes a structurally stronger bolt catcher design. Though the bolt catcher is mounted on the External Tank, it is considered part of the Solid Rocket Booster element design. It is built by Summa Technologies, Inc. in Huntsville, Ala., insulated at Lockheed Martin’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, and installed on the External Tank at KSC.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - These two bolt catchers are ready for installation on orbiter Discovery’s External Tank. A bolt catcher is a vertical bolt mechanism at the forward end of the External Tank that attaches each booster to the tank. At approximately two minutes into launch, SRB separation begins when pyrotechnic devices fire to break the 25-inch, 62-pound steel bolts. One half of the bolt is caught in canister-like 'bolt catchers' located on the tank; the other half remains with the boosters. Discovery is flying with a modified bolt catcher, which was upgraded from a two-piece welded design to a one-piece, machine-made design as part of NASA's effort to return to safe, reliable spaceflight. Eliminating the weld makes a structurally stronger bolt catcher design. Though the bolt catcher is mounted on the External Tank, it is considered part of the Solid Rocket Booster element design. It is built by Summa Technologies, Inc. in Huntsville, Ala., insulated at Lockheed Martin’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, and installed on the External Tank at KSC.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building, Lead Technician Todd Reeves, with United Space Alliance, attaches one of two bolt catchers on orbiter Discovery’s External Tank. A bolt catcher is a vertical bolt mechanism at the forward end of the External Tank that attaches each booster to the tank. At approximately two minutes into launch, SRB separation begins when pyrotechnic devices fire to break the 25-inch, 62-pound steel bolts. One half of the bolt is caught in canister-like 'bolt catchers' located on the tank; the other half remains with the boosters. Discovery is flying with a modified bolt catcher, which was upgraded from a two-piece welded design to a one-piece, machine-made design as part of NASA's effort to return to safe, reliable spaceflight. Eliminating the weld makes a structurally stronger bolt catcher design. Though the bolt catcher is mounted on the External Tank, it is considered part of the Solid Rocket Booster element design. It is built by Summa Technologies, Inc. in Huntsville, Ala., insulated at Lockheed Martin’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, and installed on the External Tank at KSC.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building, workers prepare these two bolt catchers for installation on orbiter Discovery’s External Tank. A bolt catcher is a vertical bolt mechanism at the forward end of the External Tank that attaches each booster to the tank. At approximately two minutes into launch, SRB separation begins when pyrotechnic devices fire to break the 25-inch, 62-pound steel bolts. One half of the bolt is caught in canister-like 'bolt catchers' located on the tank; the other half remains with the boosters. Discovery is flying with a modified bolt catcher, which was upgraded from a two-piece welded design to a one-piece, machine-made design as part of NASA's effort to return to safe, reliable spaceflight. Eliminating the weld makes a structurally stronger bolt catcher design. Though the bolt catcher is mounted on the External Tank, it is considered part of the Solid Rocket Booster element design. It is built by Summa Technologies, Inc. in Huntsville, Ala., insulated at Lockheed Martin’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, and installed on the External Tank at KSC.

The Mars Perseverance rover is attached to its rocket-powered descent stage inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2020. The rover and descent stage are the first spacecraft components to come together for launch — and they will be the last to separate when the spacecraft reaches Mars. At about 65 feet over the Martian surface, separation bolts will fire and the descent stage will lower Perseverance onto the Red Planet. Launch, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket, is targeted between July 17 and Aug. 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy is managing the launch.

The Mars Perseverance rover is attached to its rocket-powered descent stage inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2020. The rover and descent stage are the first spacecraft components to come together for launch — and they will be the last to separate when the spacecraft reaches Mars. At about 65 feet over the Martian surface, separation bolts will fire and the descent stage will lower Perseverance onto the Red Planet. Launch, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket, is targeted between July 17 and Aug. 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy is managing the launch.

The Mars Perseverance rover is attached to its rocket-powered descent stage inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2020. The rover and descent stage are the first spacecraft components to come together for launch — and they will be the last to separate when the spacecraft reaches Mars. At about 65 feet over the Martian surface, separation bolts will fire and the descent stage will lower Perseverance onto the Red Planet. Launch, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket, is targeted between July 17 and Aug. 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy is managing the launch.

The Mars Perseverance rover is attached to its rocket-powered descent stage inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2020. The rover and descent stage are the first spacecraft components to come together for launch — and they will be the last to separate when the spacecraft reaches Mars. At about 65 feet over the Martian surface, separation bolts will fire and the descent stage will lower Perseverance onto the Red Planet. Launch, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket, is targeted between July 17 and Aug. 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy is managing the launch.

The Mars Perseverance rover is attached to its rocket-powered descent stage inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2020. The rover and descent stage are the first spacecraft components to come together for launch — and they will be the last to separate when the spacecraft reaches Mars. At about 65 feet over the Martian surface, separation bolts will fire and the descent stage will lower Perseverance onto the Red Planet. Launch, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket, is targeted between July 17 and Aug. 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy is managing the launch.

The Mars Perseverance rover is attached to its rocket-powered descent stage inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2020. The rover and descent stage are the first spacecraft components to come together for launch — and they will be the last to separate when the spacecraft reaches Mars. At about 65 feet over the Martian surface, separation bolts will fire and the descent stage will lower Perseverance onto the Red Planet. Launch, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket, is targeted between July 17 and Aug. 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy is managing the launch.

The Mars Perseverance rover is attached to its rocket-powered descent stage inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 23, 2020. The rover and descent stage are the first spacecraft components to come together for launch — and they will be the last to separate when the spacecraft reaches Mars. At about 65 feet over the Martian surface, separation bolts will fire and the descent stage will lower Perseverance onto the Red Planet. Launch, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 rocket, is targeted between July 17 and Aug. 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. NASA’s Launch Services Program based at Kennedy is managing the launch.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., a worker installs bolt cutters on one of the THEMIS probes. The cutters will separate each probe from the payload carrier. The probes will undergo weeks of testing and launch preparations. This includes a functional performance test to verify the state of health of each of the five probes and pressurization and leak checks of the reaction control systems. THEMIS consists of five identical probes, the largest number of scientific satellites ever launched into orbit aboard a single rocket. This unique constellation of satellites will resolve the tantalizing mystery of what causes the spectacular sudden brightening of the aurora borealis and aurora australis - the fiery skies over the Earth's northern and southern polar regions. These lights are the visible manifestations of invisible energy releases, called geomagnetic substorms, in near-Earth space. THEMIS will not only seek to answer where and when substorms start, but will also provide clues as to how and why these space storms create havoc on satellites, terrestrial power grids, and communication systems. THEMIS is scheduled to launch Feb. 15 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers maneuver one of the THEMIS probes before installing bolt cutters that will separate each probe from the payload carrier. The probes will undergo weeks of testing and launch preparations. This includes a functional performance test to verify the state of health of each of the five probes and pressurization and leak checks of the reaction control systems. THEMIS consists of five identical probes, the largest number of scientific satellites ever launched into orbit aboard a single rocket. This unique constellation of satellites will resolve the tantalizing mystery of what causes the spectacular sudden brightening of the aurora borealis and aurora australis - the fiery skies over the Earth's northern and southern polar regions. These lights are the visible manifestations of invisible energy releases, called geomagnetic substorms, in near-Earth space. THEMIS will not only seek to answer where and when substorms start, but will also provide clues as to how and why these space storms create havoc on satellites, terrestrial power grids, and communication systems. THEMIS is scheduled to launch Feb. 15 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers install bolt cutters on one of the THEMIS probes. The cutters will separate each probe from the payload carrier. The probes will undergo weeks of testing and launch preparations. This includes a functional performance test to verify the state of health of each of the five probes and pressurization and leak checks of the reaction control systems. THEMIS consists of five identical probes, the largest number of scientific satellites ever launched into orbit aboard a single rocket. This unique constellation of satellites will resolve the tantalizing mystery of what causes the spectacular sudden brightening of the aurora borealis and aurora australis - the fiery skies over the Earth's northern and southern polar regions. These lights are the visible manifestations of invisible energy releases, called geomagnetic substorms, in near-Earth space. THEMIS will not only seek to answer where and when substorms start, but will also provide clues as to how and why these space storms create havoc on satellites, terrestrial power grids, and communication systems. THEMIS is scheduled to launch Feb. 15 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers prepare one of the THEMIS probes for installation of bolt cutters that will separate each probe from the payload carrier. The probes will undergo weeks of testing and launch preparations. This includes a functional performance test to verify the state of health of each of the five probes and pressurization and leak checks of the reaction control systems. THEMIS consists of five identical probes, the largest number of scientific satellites ever launched into orbit aboard a single rocket. This unique constellation of satellites will resolve the tantalizing mystery of what causes the spectacular sudden brightening of the aurora borealis and aurora australis - the fiery skies over the Earth's northern and southern polar regions. These lights are the visible manifestations of invisible energy releases, called geomagnetic substorms, in near-Earth space. THEMIS will not only seek to answer where and when substorms start, but will also provide clues as to how and why these space storms create havoc on satellites, terrestrial power grids, and communication systems. THEMIS is scheduled to launch Feb. 15 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers maneuver one of the THEMIS probes before installing bolt cutters that will separate each probe from the payload carrier. The probes will undergo weeks of testing and launch preparations. This includes a functional performance test to verify the state of health of each of the five probes and pressurization and leak checks of the reaction control systems. THEMIS consists of five identical probes, the largest number of scientific satellites ever launched into orbit aboard a single rocket. This unique constellation of satellites will resolve the tantalizing mystery of what causes the spectacular sudden brightening of the aurora borealis and aurora australis - the fiery skies over the Earth's northern and southern polar regions. These lights are the visible manifestations of invisible energy releases, called geomagnetic substorms, in near-Earth space. THEMIS will not only seek to answer where and when substorms start, but will also provide clues as to how and why these space storms create havoc on satellites, terrestrial power grids, and communication systems. THEMIS is scheduled to launch Feb. 15 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., workers install bolt cutters on one of the THEMIS probes. The cutters will separate each probe from the payload carrier. The probes will undergo weeks of testing and launch preparations. This includes a functional performance test to verify the state of health of each of the five probes and pressurization and leak checks of the reaction control systems. THEMIS consists of five identical probes, the largest number of scientific satellites ever launched into orbit aboard a single rocket. This unique constellation of satellites will resolve the tantalizing mystery of what causes the spectacular sudden brightening of the aurora borealis and aurora australis - the fiery skies over the Earth's northern and southern polar regions. These lights are the visible manifestations of invisible energy releases, called geomagnetic substorms, in near-Earth space. THEMIS will not only seek to answer where and when substorms start, but will also provide clues as to how and why these space storms create havoc on satellites, terrestrial power grids, and communication systems. THEMIS is scheduled to launch Feb. 15 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- At Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Fla., the five probes of the THEMIS spacecraft remain under cover. The probes will undergo weeks of testing and launch preparations. This includes a functional performance test to verify the state of health of each of the five probes, installation of bolt cutters that will separate each probe from the payload carrier, and pressurization and leak checks of the reaction control systems. THEMIS consists of five identical probes, the largest number of scientific satellites ever launched into orbit aboard a single rocket. This unique constellation of satellites will resolve the tantalizing mystery of what causes the spectacular sudden brightening of the aurora borealis and aurora australis - the fiery skies over the Earth's northern and southern polar regions. These lights are the visible manifestations of invisible energy releases, called geomagnetic substorms, in near-Earth space. THEMIS will not only seek to answer where and when substorms start, but will also provide clues as to how and why these space storms create havoc on satellites, terrestrial power grids, and communication systems. THEMIS is scheduled to launch Feb. 15 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller