KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After a week's delay of launching due to weather and technical issues, the crew of mission STS-115 enjoy the traditional breakfast before their second attempt to launch on Space Shuttle Atlantis. Seated left to right are Mission Specialists Joseph Tanner and Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Pilot Christopher Ferguson, Commander Brent Jett and Mission Specialists Steven MacLean and Daniel Burbank. MacLean is with the Canadian Space Agency. Following the breakfast, the crew will don their launch suits before heading to Launch Pad 39B. During the STS-115 mission, Atlantis' astronauts will deliver and install the 17.5-ton, bus-sized P3/P4 integrated truss segment on the station. The girder-like truss includes a set of giant solar arrays, batteries and associated electronics and will provide one-fourth of the total power-generation capability for the completed station. This mission is the 116th space shuttle flight, the 27th flight for orbiter Atlantis, and the 19th U.S. flight to the International Space Station. STS-115 is scheduled to last 11 days with a planned landing at KSC. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Space Shuttle Atlantis is positioned horizontally as it is lowered into the transfer aisle. The vehicle was just demated from its External Tank_Solid Rocket Booster stack in one of the VAB's high bays. The orbiter will be rolled back to Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 where processing will begin for mission STS-115, the 19th flight to the International Space Station. The tank, ET-120, is the first redesigned ET to arrive at KSC and will undergo further testing before Return to Flight mission STS-121 next year.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), the landing gear of Space Shuttle Atlantis is lowered before the orbiter comes to rest on the floor of the transfer aisle. The vehicle was just demated from its External Tank_Solid Rocket Booster stack in one of the VAB's high bays. The orbiter will be rolled back to Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 where processing will begin for mission STS-115, the 19th flight to the International Space Station. The tank, ET-120, is the first redesigned ET to arrive at KSC and will undergo further testing before Return to Flight mission STS-121 next year.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Space Shuttle Atlantis rests on its landing gear on the floor of the transfer aisle. The vehicle was just demated from its External Tank_Solid Rocket Booster stack in one of the VAB's high bays. The orbiter will be rolled back to Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 where processing will begin for mission STS-115, the 19th flight to the International Space Station. The tank, ET-120, is the first redesigned ET to arrive at KSC and will undergo further testing before Return to Flight mission STS-121 next year.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Space Shuttle Atlantis is positioned horizontally as it is lowered into the transfer aisle. The vehicle was just demated from its External Tank_Solid Rocket Booster stack in one of the VAB's high bays. The orbiter will be rolled back to Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 where processing will begin for mission STS-115, the 19th flight to the International Space Station. The tank, ET-120, is the first redesigned ET to arrive at KSC and will undergo further testing before Return to Flight mission STS-121 next year.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), Space Shuttle Atlantis is positioned horizontally as it is lowered into the transfer aisle. The vehicle was just demated from its External Tank_Solid Rocket Booster stack in one of the VAB's high bays. The orbiter will be rolled back to Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1 where processing will begin for mission STS-115, the 19th flight to the International Space Station. The tank, ET-120, is the first redesigned ET to arrive at KSC and will undergo further testing before Return to Flight mission STS-121 next year.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers check on the crawler-transporters in the event they are needed for rolling back Space Shuttle Atlantis from Launch Pad 39B. Crawler No. 2 will be used to move the STS-116 stack from VAB high bay 3 to high bay 2 and crawler No. 1 will be used to transport Atlantis to high bay 3. The rollback will be determined by the mission management team based on information about Hurricane Ernesto and its path through Florida. Atlantis has been poised on Launch Pad 39B for liftoff on mission STS-115 to the International Space Station to deliver the P3/P4 truss segment. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Crawler-transporter No. 2 is being checked before it is needed to move the STS-116 stack from VAB high bay 3 to high bay 2 and allow the rollback of Space Shuttle Atlantis into high bay 3. Crawler No. 1 will transport the shuttle from the pad. The rollback will be determined by the mission management team based on information about Hurricane Ernesto and its path through Florida. Atlantis has been poised on Launch Pad 39B for liftoff on mission STS-115 to the International Space Station to deliver the P3/P4 truss segment. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Crawler-transporter No. 2 sits outside the Vehicle Assembly Building. Workers will be driving the crawler to test it before it is needed to move the STS-116 stack from VAB high bay 3 to high bay 2 and allow the rollback of Space Shuttle Atlantis into high bay 3. The rollback will be determined by the mission management team based on information about Hurricane Ernesto and its path through Florida. Atlantis has been poised on Launch Pad 39B for liftoff on mission STS-115 to the International Space Station to deliver the P3/P4 truss segment. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The redesigned external fuel tank, designated ET-118, turns the corner toward the Vehicle Assembly Building, seen at right. The tank, which arrived at KSC aboard the Pegasus barge after a journey from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, will be moved into the VAB and lifted into a checkout cell for further work. ET-118, which will fly with many major safety changes, including the removal of the protuberance air load ramps, will launch Space Shuttle Atlantis on the next space shuttle mission, STS-115. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Dozens of KSC employees accompany the orbiter Atlantis on its rollover from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, Atlantis is ready to be rolled out on its transporter and moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The orbiter Atlantis turns the corner toward the Vehicle Assembly Building after leaving the Orbiter Processing Facility. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - During Atlantis's move to the Vehicle Assembly Building, a pause in the rollover enables the orbiter processing team to pose for a photograph. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The redesigned external fuel tank, designated ET-118, is transported on the road toward the Vehicle Assembly Building, seen at right. The tank, which arrived at KSC aboard the Pegasus barge after a journey from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, will be moved into the VAB and lifted into a checkout cell for further work. ET-118, which will fly with many major safety changes, including the removal of the protuberance air load ramps, will launch Space Shuttle Atlantis on the next space shuttle mission, STS-115. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The orbiter Atlantis is the focus of media attention as it rolls from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - After leaving the Orbiter Processing Facility, Atlantis makes its way to the Vehicle Assembly Building atop an orbiter transporter. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis's launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The orbiter Atlantis rolls toward the open doors of the Vehicle Assembly Building after leaving the Orbiter Processing Facility. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Atlantis glides into the open doors of the Vehicle Assembly Building into the transfer aisle, concluding its rollover from the Orbiter Processing Facility. In the VAB, the orbiter will be lifted into high bay 3 for mating to the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters. Atlantis' launch window begins Aug. 28. During its 11-day mission to the International Space Station, the STS-115 crew of six astronauts will install the Port 3/4 truss segment with its two large solar arrays. Photo credit: NASA/Charisse Nahser
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Both of NASA's crawler-transporters are seen parked in their area near the Vehicle Assembly Building. Crawler-transporter No. 2 is being checked before it is needed to move the STS-116 stack from VAB high bay 3 to high bay 2 and allow the rollback of Space Shuttle Atlantis into high bay 3. Crawler No. 1 will transport the shuttle from the pad. The rollback will be determined by the mission management team based on information about Hurricane Ernesto and its path through Florida. Atlantis has been poised on Launch Pad 39B for liftoff on mission STS-115 to the International Space Station to deliver the P3/P4 truss segment. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers get ready to test drive the crawler-transporters sitting outside the Vehicle Assembly Building. Crawler-transporter No. 2 is being checked before it is needed to move the STS-116 stack from VAB high bay 3 to high bay 2 and allow the rollback of Space Shuttle Atlantis into high bay 3. Crawler No. 1 will transport the shuttle from the pad. The rollback will be determined by the mission management team based on information about Hurricane Ernesto and its path through Florida. Atlantis has been poised on Launch Pad 39B for liftoff on mission STS-115 to the International Space Station to deliver the P3/P4 truss segment. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Both of NASA's crawler-transporters are seen parked in their area near the Vehicle Assembly Building. Crawler-transporter No. 2 is being checked before it is needed to move the STS-116 stack from VAB high bay 3 to high bay 2 and allow the rollback of Space Shuttle Atlantis into high bay 3. Crawler No. 1 will transport the shuttle from the pad. The rollback will be determined by the mission management team based on information about Hurricane Ernesto and its path through Florida. Atlantis has been poised on Launch Pad 39B for liftoff on mission STS-115 to the International Space Station to deliver the P3/P4 truss segment. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Both of NASA's crawler-transporters are seen parked in their area near the Vehicle Assembly Building. Crawler-transporter No. 2 is being checked before it is needed to move the STS-116 stack from VAB high bay 3 to high bay 2 and allow the rollback of Space Shuttle Atlantis into high bay 3. Crawler No. 1 will transport the shuttle from the pad. The rollback will be determined by the mission management team based on information about Hurricane Ernesto and its path through Florida. Atlantis has been poised on Launch Pad 39B for liftoff on mission STS-115 to the International Space Station to deliver the P3/P4 truss segment. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller