KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- From the shallow water of the turn basin, the alligator in the foreground gets a unique view of Space Shuttle Discovery's journey to Launch Pad 39B. First motion of the shuttle from NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building was at 12:45 p.m. EDT. The rollout is an important step before launch of Discovery on mission STS-121 to the International Space Station. Discovery's launch is targeted for July 1 in a launch window that extends to July 19. During the 12-day mission, Discovery's crew will test new hardware and techniques to improve shuttle safety, as well as deliver supplies and make repairs to the station. Photo credit: NASA/Ken Thornsley
Location Kennedy Space Center, FL
Date May 19, 2006